MISSION POST: Bridge - Day 47 - Open

[into_the_skies]

They dropped out of warp at the edge of the Ravanna system at 10:42 ship time. Adrian would freely admit that he'd been anticipating the moment since he came on shift nearly three hours earlier. The chance to take the ship in on sublights to the coordinates where their Aian escort would meet them was a very welcome one. Caretaking while she was at

Comments

[comm_cat]

"Scanning all channels for transmissions, Sirrr," M'Ress informed Captain Kirk once the ship had dropped out of warp. The Ravanna assignment, and Lieutenant Uhura's odd disappearance, had been unexpected gift. She didn't have a grudge against the senior communications officer, or wished her ill will. In fact, she was concerned for the other woman. It was not like the ambitious and professional lieutenant to miss an assignment of such great importance. By gift, Shiboline was referring to the opportunity to work on alpha shift as Uhura's alternate. Working on board a starship was still quite new and unique for her, and she was only an ensign. Despite this, she'd been entrusted with a lot of responsibility. M'Ress was anxious to show everyone that while she could not hope to 'fill Lieutenant Uhura's boots', she could do an admirable job.

Her console began beeping as a distinct and regular frequency was detected. Narrowing the focus of her scan, she was pleased to add, "Captain, I have a positive identification. Our escort is present and awaiting a hail. Pppprb."

[owns_the_chair]

"Alright, Ensign," he said calmly and checked over his PADD for the necessary information. "Hail our escort and tell them we're ready to go meet some diplomats."

It was unsaid that he expected her to rephrase the request to more amicable words and much more diplomatic ones.

[comm_cat]

M'Ress looked up to blink at the odd command. She was still getting used to the Captain's unique way of doing things. It took her a moment to remember that his style of command was usually more relaxed. "Yes, Sirrr." Turning back to her console, M'Ress quickly composed something more formal to transmit.

"Aian transport, this is the Federation starship U.S.S. Enterprise, requesting communication. We are prepared for escort to Maros An and await coordinates. Prrrrrrb?"

[into_the_skies]

For form's sake he waited for the confirmation to come through before taking her forward, matching course and speed with their escort. They were sleek, deadly-looking things, the Aian ships; the agressively clean lines of craft designed above all else for combat. The escort was of five ships, each of them not quite a third of the Enterprise's length. Three led the way, flying ahead, but the other two came around behind to flank them in a way that made his fingers itch on the controls.

Their route took them close enough past Aia to see the lights of habitation on its moons, a constant flow of ships passing back and forth between them. Though they joined what appeared to be a main shipping lane for the final approach to Maros An, the other ships gave them a wide berth.

Ahead, the night side of Maros An glittered with tiny points of light. Their trajectory curved away from the planet itself, toward a space station in geosynchronous orbit. Adrian glanced up at the ensign in the comm officer's seat; "Do we have permission to dock?"