[Bridge - Deck One - USS Chimera NCC 96899-C]
Rayna was glad the Captain gave her permission to skirt around the Grand Banks Nebula on the return trip home, and that he also granted her request to proceed on a course at the Chimera's max cruising speed into the Aeran system. Though trekking through the Nebula's stellar nursery would have been quicker, Dior hated flying blind through galactic soot. Most of the crew, she believed, would concur. She would settle for flying in warp 9.5 around it.
Still, it was a to day trip. Just enough time for medical to take control of all the critical cases brought aboard from the contaminated freighters and for Operations to catalog the stockpile of biological warheads. Science too, R-Zerphimi included, was involved in the study of the new material aboard and was running simulation after simulation on the deadly potential of the enemy weaponry aboard. This left Dior with the responsibility to navigate the return trip course herself, while the enigmatic science officer toiled away in his laboratory. She didn't mind though. It was almost pleasant running navigational sensors and scanning for anomalies - almost Zen like in is practice.
Her console beeped, they were five minutes out from the Aeran system. She double-checking the navigational sensors and the ship's position against the navigational buoys as she called the Captain over the comm. "Dior to Captain Rojac."
+Rojac here.+
She had to smile at hearing his voice. "As requested, sir," She began, her voice decidedly less business-like than it had been in the bale of Canna III, "I am informing you of our pending arrival to the Aeran System in four minutes and thirty seconds."
+Very well, Lieutenant. Thank you.+ The Captain replied.
Dior ended the comm and looked over her shoulder toward the Operations console where the Beta shift bridge officer stood. "Ensign, we're arriving in space dock in less than ten minutes. Time to call alpha shift to the Bridge."
"Aye." The Ensign replied. He then busied himself at his station sending notice to the XO, COps, CSci, and Tac Officers. Seconds later, Captain Rojac stepped through the turbolift doors and approached the center console. Dior grinned as she turned to face the view screen.
"Report." Rojac called.
"Dropping into the Aeran System in two minutes, sir." The senior bridge officer one-by-one appeared on the bridge as she spoke relieving the beta shift. "We are cleared for docking at pylon-C by the Station Quartermaster. Designated approach vector is alpha-three, and quarantine teams are on stand-by at the docks to receive our patients and cargo." She looked back over her shoulder toward the Captain and he Executive Officer now seated beside him, "Dropping Warp in one minute."
Rojac swiveled in his chair toward Reese at the Ops station. "Captain Reese, I want you and Lieutenant Kroitzer to report to the cargo transporters and oversee the transport of the warheads personally."
"Aye sir." The experienced marine officer replied. Dior liked Reese, but hadn't spent much time with the Marine Captain. She kept to herself most of the time, and was always heavily involved in her work as the Chimera's Chief of Operations. There was no doubt that she was highly adept at her job. Reese waved over a relief officer and then made way to the cargo transporter to begin her assigned duties.
"Dropping warp." Rayna reported as she slid her fingers down the throttle of the Chimera's warp drive. The humming that had grown in the ambiance of the starship ceased along with the streaks of streaming stars. UNITY station appeared in front of the green and blue orb of the M Class Aeran III. Dior was never more glad to see the Fortuna class station. "Receing course telemetry."
Rojac nodded to Trzetrzelewska, and the XO gave the order. "Take us in, Lieutenant. Half impulse."
It all happened nice, slow and majestically as the sleek Century Class Chimera-C maneuvered into docking position. Five kilometers out, impulse power was cutoff as the station docking tractors locked onto the sleek battleship gray hull and pulled the mighty vessel into dock. There was little for Rayna to do now other than to wait to give the final word, which came quickly.
"Docking completed, Captain." She said. Turning around and smiling.
Rojac returned the smile and stood. "It is good to be home." He looked around to the gathered crew. "Good work everyone. Take the night off, but remember we have an awards ceremony at 1800 hours tomorrow evening. Ops, give everyone a reminder in their inbox."
"Aye sir."
Rojac tapped the ship-wide comm on his Captain's chair. "Gamma shift to docking stations." Calling the skeletal crew to man the key positions of the ship while she was in dock. He then turned to Natalia and whispered a few things to her as Rayna stood from her station at the fore of the bridge. When their conversation ended and Natalia headed for the turbolift, Rayna approached the Captain.
"Captain." She said.
"Lieutenant." Rojac nodded.
"I need a date for the banquet tomorrow evening. Will you join me." She said.
Rojac smiled. No doubt he was used to Dior's aggressive demeanor by now. "It sounds lovely, Lieutenant." He always made a point of addressing her by rank in public, especially on his bridge. "Shall I pick you up at 1500?"
"If you don't mind waiting." She grinned, and started to walk away.
[End Log]
Lieutenant Rayna Dior
Chief Helm Officer
USS Chimera NCC 96899-C
