Wheels Down

Posted on Thu Aug 14th, 2025 @ 6:56am by Major Yaeblos 'Garlic' Nhan & Petty Officer 1st Class Ayol & Captain Hadrian 'Sunshine' Palamas & Yeoman Iandau
Edited on on Sun Oct 12th, 2025 @ 2:28am

1,145 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave [3-4]
Location: CAG's Office, Docking Ring
Timeline: 1330 - MD07

When Major Nhan called out enter to the guest at his door, he wasn't expecting the willowy Kelpien Yeoman Iandau to be the one who came through the door.

"Oh. Yeoman. Hello. How can I help?" Nhan asked, trying not to be awkward in his surprise.

"I understand you requested to be notified when the Swiftsure was about to arrive. That time is upon us, sir." The Kelpien explained.

"Thank you, Yeoman. I appreciate the personal touch, but a call through the comm system is quite fine."

"Of course, sir. But I've been doing paperwork all morning, and I wanted to stretch my legs." Iandau said with a polite nod. "Good afternoon, sir."

"Goodbye." Nhan said, looking out his window, just in time to see the flash of the Swiftsure leaving slipstream.

He hurried out of his office to Delta Dock, and by the time he arrived, the ship's docking had finalised.

He gave a nod to Captain Eliss as he emerged, he was greeted by Ayol, the Captain's yeoman, together they departed in discussion. A number of other crew alighted, some in casual dress, others in uniform, but Nhan knew it was time to be ready when he saw a cluster of officers in navy blue uniforms with gold piping.

He stood at attention waiting for them, the most senior among them was the First Lieutenant who was wearing some kind of gold wreath on his head. He was visibly confused by that for a moment until he remembered the manifest he'd read, one of them was apparently some sort of demigod. He'd asked several times, and everyone had told him that wasn't a joke.

He chose to remain silent, and let them come to him, hands folded behind his back.

Palamas got a few meters in front of the Major and stood at attention. His fellow pilots did likewise. "Major Nhan, sir! Reporting for duty."

"At ease, everyone." Nhan told the group. "I'm Major Nhan, your CAG. You can only be Lieutenant Palamas. I wish I could say I've never met a deity or their offspring before, but the events of a couple of weeks ago put paid to that." He said it with a smile, in the event it came off as prejudicial. "Have you had a chance to familiarise yourself with operations here so far? If the past is anything to go by, the future is unlikely to be textbook."

"Not a milk run, sir. That much I've had summarised for me. More birds the better in that respect. Are we getting any from the Swiftsure, sir?" Palamas asked.

“A couple, yes. But for the next little while we’ll have more pilots than craft for them to fly. And to be completely honest, we haven’t had a lot of real opportunities to get out there. Where are you all joining us from?” Nhan asked.

"Harris and I are from Deep Space 25, but I think everyone else is from Sol system defence or the fighter training school at Procyon.' Hadrian said, supported by the nodding of his fellows.

Brian 'Dingo' Harris chimed in, not being able to help himself. "Is it true that that anomaly we seen as we were docking actually is a portal to other universes sir?" His Australian accent was unmistakable.

"Not just the one. In the months since it was discovered, the anomaly has shifted between universes every six and a half days. Fortunately most of them have proved to be quite empty, with any matter an unreachable distance away." Nhan explained, realising after he said it he was probably dashing any excitement with his optimistic caution.

"Struth..." Was all Harris could manage.

"Our work's cut out for us, sir. That much I was sure of when I heard this transfer order came from the CIC." Palamas said.

"Indeed we do. The rest of you should be on your way, all your assignments are finalised, the computer should be able to guide you. If you need anything contact the quartermaster, but try not to startle him." Nhan said from personal experience. "Lieutenant, if I might have a moment of your time." Nhan asked, turning to suggest that they would walk and talk.

"Of course, Major." Palamas told the CAG.

"One of our most recent connections to another universe has resulted in us coming into possession of some alien technology. Not a lot of it is particularly advanced, but it does include a wing of fighter-craft. Our Chief Engineer doesn't think there's too much to learn from them, but I'd like to put them through their paces all the same." Nhan began, scratching at one of his breather implants in his cheek.

"Normally this wouldn't be something I'd ask about so much as add to the duty roster, but one of our new advisors from said universe has let us know that the designers tended to build booby traps and sabotage systems into the fighters in the event they were stolen. While we haven't found any, there's still the risk, which is why it's up to you whether or not you want to be a part of the tests." Nhan said as they continued down the walkway, he kept a pace for Drydon to keep up with.

"You want us to take fighters with the potential for automated kamikaze mode out for a test drive?" Palamas summarised hurriedly, and without optimism.

"That's exactly it, Lieutenant, yes. They're called Udajeet, or Death Gliders in the native lingo. Captain Shrath and Three as well as Lieutenant Kardyn, and myself will be taking out six of them, and I think you're just what we're looking for in a sixth pilot for the journey." Nhan told Palamas.

"Absolutely, sir." Hadrian nodded confidently just once.

"They're designed by a species known as the Goa'uld, many of whom have come through the anomaly. It's probably worth reading up on them, we got a library dump from a human vessel in their universe where the two don't get along, and it doesn't paint a pretty picture. To cut a long story short, they're genetically bred to be warmongers and warped by a narcotic immortality device into kardashev type III-scale assholes, they conquered our entire galaxy for centuries in their universe using stolen ancient technology, and they don't like other people touching their stuff. They blow up their stuff and the entire planet its on before they let anyone touch it." Nhan cautioned.

"I trust all the right people to check twice. I don't scare easy." Hadrian told the CAG.

"They've looked more than that, trust me. Flights scheduled for as soon as all the leads get here." Nhan assured him. "We're having drinks at the Spot tonight to give everyone a chance to get acquainted. Will we see you there?" He asked Hadrian.

"Count on it, sir." Hadrian said with a wide grin.

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