Busywork [✱1]

Posted on Sat Sep 27th, 2025 @ 2:43pm by Captain Rovak & Ambassador Oriath Velt & Commander Alex Flynn & Lieutenant Commander Intharia T'Zor & Lieutenant Commander S'Lace & Lieutenant Commander Yy & Lieutenant Rune Thul & Ensign Mana'i & SubCommander Saa & Master Chief Petty Officer Gaz & Captain Hadrian 'Sunshine' Palamas & Yeoman Iandau
Edited on on Sun Oct 12th, 2025 @ 2:27am

1,518 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: UnderMind [4]
Location: Pier 3 - D-Dock, DS13
Timeline: 1030 - MD01

The IKS Praxis’ Claw (plraqSIS’pach) departed with the entire senior staff of DS13 watching on. A Vor’cha class battleship, it had been a regular sight in the area, this was its third stop at DS13.

“Ambassador, we must seriously reassess diplomatic protocols. The departure of a Klingon vessel is not an event justifying senior staff attendance. Or any attendance beyond the crew responsible for the administration of the departure. It is simply not a diplomatic matter.” Rovak said quietly to the Ambassador as everyone stood around waiting to be dismissed.

“They’re our allies, Mr Rovak. And they love it. I think when a military ally - without whom we’d have lost the last couple of big fights we got in - wants our respect, we should give it.” Velt said, not unconvincingly.

“You may have an official reception party with up to four non-diplomatic crew, with their department head’s permission.” Rovak allowed.

“Four people? If we want to insult them directly we should just pre-load disparaging remarks about their mothers into the standard hails.” Velt responded sarcastically.

“Four will suffice.”

“Says who? Not the Klingons. Four is a very inauspicious number in their culture.” Velt grumbled.

“Says the Captain. Send as many diplomatic staff as you like. That is their job. I will also assign a yeoman to assist, in addition to the four.”

"Ayol?" Velt asked eagerly, knowing the Vorta was literally bred to obey him personally, being a gift for having saved a Founder's life when he was a Captain.

"Iandau." Rovak clarified, knowing the Ambassador would not have such an easy time manipulating the Kelpien. Velt also seemed to realise, and his enthusiasm died a little.

“Fine, fine. Pull rank on me. Not like I don’t deserve it." Velt said, speaking up then to all in a louder voice. Thank you all for attending. Our foreign relations depend on such acts of allyship.” The Ambassador made his way back towards the centre of the station.

“If you would all please follow me, I would like to discuss a few matters while we are together. This should eliminate the need for our meeting at 1100.” Rovak said to the senior staff, beginning back down the empty gangway, not veering off for the nearest turbolift. They also had Mana'i with them, the decision had been made to keep her at Commander T'Zor's side wherever feasible even now that she was a provisional member of the crew.

“With Commander Atna’s departure, I have appointed Colonel Vhau as Second Officer on a temporary basis. I appreciate that many, myself included, have just concerns about marines in the chain of command, but outside of any situation where multiple command staff including Commander Flynn and myself are incapacitated, the Colonel will provide support for whoever is in command on a rotating basis, without taking it himself.” Rovak explained.

"Not that I'm planning on being incapacitated again any time soon." Flynn clarified.

“Subcommander, we have received confirmation from SALCOM. We will be taking responsibility for any extradimensional craft that come into our possession. Accordingly, I would like you to organise the disassembly of Glory of Hera, and independent testing arranged for its components as per the recommendations of your report. Ensure that any non-weapons technologies surplus to testing are made available for Jaffa acquisition. Anything not taken by them may be scrapped. Please speak to Commander Onda if you believe any Jaffa from the colonies will be required.” Rovak told Saa. He knew they’d already helped themselves to a few of the choicer parts, particularly most of the internal ring systems. He was loath to tear Saa away from whatever they had collected for her at Eridani shipyards, but duty called.

"They'll need security clearances," Saa offered as the barest suggestion of a stall, as she cruised respectfully beside. Indeed, the subcommander smelled like a vacuum suit. She'd had to change out of her equipment for this ceremony, and Rovak suspected she'd been on her dataport the whole time.

"So long as they were not among Hera's forces, I do not foresee any delays." Rovak told Saa.

“Dr S’Lace, Starfleet Medical have given yours and Doctor Iyel’s Jaffa symbiote-replacement treatment the green light. You’re free to begin inoculation of any who want it on Dreizhen III.” Rovak said. “On that matter, if you could please name an Assistant Chief at your convenience. I appreciate Dr Pfeiffer’s departure may be a difficult void to fill, but I know Admiral Gali will follow up if a role remains vacant for too long.” Rovak told and asked the Doctor.

Between performing deep background research on the Iconians, running her department, mentoring Ipae, and in her few spare moments practicing with the peculiar weapon her former archeology students had gifted her with as something of an amusing joke, S'Lace had during that time almost forgotten about those from Dreizhen III. Well, 'forgotten' was not the proper term: humans forgot. It was more a matter of the...Dreizhenians(?) being a momentary low priority until the symbiote issue was resolved. It seemed she would have to either give up practicing with the bull whip or stop mentoring Ipae directly.

Or...delegate.

She gave the captain the slightest of nods of acknowledgement. Hmmm, perhaps she could mentor Ipae and conduct bullwhip practice at the same time...

“Chief, we’re all very impressed with the speed the repairs have been completed. Please ensure any engineers and operators of particular note are put forward for commendation.” Rovak asked Gaz.

"Got a few in mind already, sir. I'll pass them along." Gaz responded.

“Commander T’Zor, please confer with the Subcommander to assist with analysis of the Goa’uld technologies, I encourage any theories about applications that you may conceive of.” Rovak asked the new Chief of Science. It had now been the better part of a month since she started in the position.

"Of course sir, we've already had quite the head start." Intharia said. While she didn't much care for Dr Enu'Tha who had taken over her role leading multiversal science, his analysis of the technologies he'd already had access to had been insightful.

“Mr Saez, please confer with Commander Creon in Strat Ops to ensure that readiness drills are being conducted that can safely incorporate the fighter wing.” Rovak told the Navigation Chief.

"Aye, Captain." Saez nodded. He'd heard about this new Creon, but hadn't spoken to her yet. She looked tough.

“Mr Thul, have the Remans or Cardassians been up to anything worth mentioning?” Rovak asked of the non-allied embassies now operating on their base.

Calmly, and a little softer tone than he'd usually use. "While both have cooperated with Security at every interaction, the Remans seem to remain within their embassy and surrounding area." Rune supplied, he glanced around. "Cardassians have been venturing out amongst the commerce areas of the station, no reports of altercations yet from any sides, but Security is maintaining a slightly higher alert status since their arrivals." He detailed with concern.

"The more high profile dignitaries on board, I'm going to meet with Diplomatic Security more often," Rune added. "I have a few ideas I want to run by them."

"I am sure Lieutenant Kingsley will be interested." Rovak acknowledged Thul's idea, before turning back to the newest among them, the fighter pilot Palamas.

"Mr Palamas, have the new aerospace crew settled in?" Rovak asked, knowing that of their recent crew surge, the last few to arrive were a half dozen pilots who arrived yesterday. With Nhan out on manoeuvers, Drydon had been left in charge for the shift, and summoned with the rest of the senior staff to this questionable event.

"Yes Captain, from what I've seen everyone has settled in. They're eager to know if they're it though, or will we be getting more birds?" Palamas asked.

"I do not have a definitive date for any further material deliveries, Lieutenant. I expect Major Nhan will keep you apprised as he is informed. They are however the last of currently planned transfer assignments. Every department has now reached standard operating levels." Rovak told Palamas.

'"Copy that, sir." Palamas said.

At the rear of the assembled seniors, Yy wasn't surprised not to be questioned, mental healthcare was unexciting like that. She felt an opportunity to introduce herself to Ensign Mana'i, the biomechanical beauty and miracle of technology. "Ensign Mana'i? I'm Counselor Yy. It's such a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh. So to speak." She added carefully, in case she didn't have flesh and the suggestion she did offended her.

"Thank you." The female biomech smiled at the one speaking to her. "And fret not about your phrasing. I am still partly flesh - if you decide to broaden your definition of the word."

"I'm always looking for horizons to broaden, thank you for your help with that." Yy said with a smile. She sensed sincerity and curiosity from Mana'i, there was a purity to her essence that Yy had not experienced before.

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