"Mount Up" #1&2 - "And so it begins"

and off course as we write the first posts we have mistakes :D:P Caelen is actually a Lt. Commander and Kristiana is off course Lieutenant (as correctly described in the second post :D) sorry for this small error.

John Conahan a.k.a. Lt. Cmdr. Caelen LaBrie

--- In OF_pegasus@yahoogroups.com, "John Conahan" <fng- rotten_emu@h...> wrote: > > OOC: I would like to Welcome you all to the USS Pegasus, I hope > we're going to have a great time playing in this simm. You should > see this post as the start sign. After I've posted this you can fire > away! Good Luck and Have Fun! > > "And so it begins" > > -={On}=- > [Starbase 137, 18.45 hours] > > Caelen looked out of the window on the promenade, with his daughter, > Alex, on the hip he was admiring his new ship, his new home. A > Centaur class, as close to unique as any could ever come. "There's > our new home" he said to Alex pointing at the USS Pegasus. "But it's > so small" she reacted to her father, in comparison with the > Excelsior where she grew up on she was right. "Well at least it's > not a Defiant class" Caelen reacted with a smile. > > As they were looking at the ship they'd see a standard Type VIII > shuttle flying past, between their viewport and the ship. It heads > for the nearby docking port .. a call on the PA 'Shuttle Executor > now arriving. Repeat, shuttle Executor now arriving'.. Caelen would > know that his new XO was onboard that shuttle. Lieutenant Commander > Kristiana Petrova. > > "Hey, Alex, go back to mom" Caelen said to his daughter, his wife > was somewhere on the promenade as well. As soon as Alexandra spotted > her she flew off towards Jennifer. Caelen walked towards the bay > where the shuttle had docked, he arrived just in time to see his new > XO stepping out of it. "Commander Petrova I presume?" he said when > he came into hearing range. > > She'd halt and glance around for the source of the voice. Gaze > finally settling on Caelen, she'd smirk softly. Nods, and would > salute. "Kristiana Petrova reporting for duty, Sir. I was told our > ship was somewhere near here .. But I must've blinked, and missed > it." > > Caelen showed a broad smile, he had read about Kristiana, her > personality, her quirks, her being send off ships for dubious > reasons. He had also read that she was highly capable of her task > and a rather intelligent individual. Every admiral would've stopped > Caelen from making Kristiana his XO, but alas the Admirals had > little to say about his crew. "Follow Me" Caelen said leading the > way back to the window he had stood only minutes ago with his little > girl. > > An eyebrow would raise, as Caelen just told her to follow him, and > then promptly turned and headed off. She shrugged a bit, hefting her > back, and started after him - her full, toned 6'1" moving with > decisive steps. "alright .. " following her new CO to the window. > > "There she is" Caelen said with pride in his voice, you could see it > in his eyes and stature, he was proud he got handed the Command of > this small and maneuverable ship. He then turned to > Kristiana, "Caelen LaBrie" he said holding out a hand finally > introducing himself to his new XO. > > She stood besides him, not even bothering to put her - doubtlessly > Heavy - bag down. She looked at the ship for a few moments, seeming > not at all that impressed. Finally she turned to her CO and returned > the handshake - her own handshake very strong. ".. Pleased to meet > you, Cap." "and for what it's worth .. I'm sorry you got stuck with > me as your XO." A knowing smirk would tell Caelen that she was half > joking. Only half. > > Caelen smiled letting go of the vice grip that was Kristiana's > handshake, "I'm sorry that you were the only one that applied" > Caelen answered with a broad smile, he was joking and making sure > Kristiana got that. "So why did I get over twenty messages from CO's > and Admirals that advised me against taking you on my ship?" he > asked in a bit more serious tone. He wanted to know her side to the > story, not the political correct side that was always in the logs > and profiles of the officers in Starfleet. > > "Mostly because I don't know how to keep my mouth shut when I don't > like something, Sir." She answered with that same knowing > smirk. "This tends to rub them the wrong way. A woman, telling them > down. It eats away at their pride." She'd look at the ship again, > her expression once more changing to unreadable. > > Caelen nodded "Well I hope you point out my mistakes..." he said, > hoping that he wouldn't unleash something like a mother in law like > machine that told him he was doing wrong over and over again "...I'm > not perfect you know" he added. He looked back outside "just make > sure everything you say and do is in the interest of the Pegasus" he > said nodding to the ship outside the window. > > ".. No promises." She'd narrow her eyes slightly, taking in every > detail of the medium cruiser floating outside the viewport. She > remains silent for a few more moments, before speaking again .. "... > With all due respect, Sir. Are we going to just stare at her, or > actually Board her, some time ?" > > Caelen looked at the Pegasus a second longer before > sighing, "alright..." he exclaimed. Starting to walk towards the > corridor that would lead them to the airlock connected to the USS > Pegasus. Just when he wanted to turn right, into the corridor > Jennifer and Alex, his wife and daughter, caught up with > him. "You're going into the ship?" Jennifer asked, Caelen nodded, he > then turned to Kristiana "This is my wife Jennifer and my daughter > Alexandra" he said introducing the three to each other. > > She'd follow again, carrying her heavy bag, but with a measure of > ease, it seemed. A nod given to Jennifer and Alex, along with a bit > of a smile. "Pleased to meet you. Kristiana Petrova .. Kris for > short." The tall, toned woman gave Jennifer a sturdy handshake and > ruffling young Alex's hair a bit. > > Alex smiled, "can I come daddy?" she then asked pulling Caelen's > arm, "I'm sorry hunny but Daddy's got some things to talk over with > Miss Petrova over here" he said softly stroking her head. "I'll take > you and mommy for a tour on the ship later tonight, ok?" Caelen said > when he saw the disappointment in little Alex's eyes. They > brightened up somewhat but it didn't fully make her happy > again, "Hey Jenn, all our stuff is already brought to our new > quarters, as soon as I get back we'll arrange put everything in > place, ok?" he said looking at the love of his life. Jennifer smiled > and kissed Caelen before answering "Sure" > > A silent eyebrow raised at that. Miss Petrova ? Sheesh. She waited > silently for Jenn and Alex to bugger off and for Caelen to continue > towards and, hopefully, eventually Into the ship. <tag> > > Caelen got a kiss from his daughter and resumed his course towards > the ship, hearing that Kris was still following him "let's first get > that heavy luggage into your quarters" he said looking over his > shoulder, he would offer her a hand but was afraid that it would be > taken wrongly. When they arrived at the airlock Caelen opened it > with his code and as the doors made their trademark hiss Caelen his > face lightened up, it was the same old boys with toys story. > > A story that most girls - at least not this one - did not share. > She's seen ships. A Lot of them. Inside and out. She's served on > many of them, and would scarcely even bother unpacking all of her > stuff, knowing that she'd likely not stay there for a long time, > anyways. She'd glance boredly at the airlock doors opening. ".. This > is your first command, hm ? .. It shows." <tag> > > Caelen let out a soft and short laugh, "ha... yeah... very exciting" > he said glancing only shortly at Kris, she couldn't ruin this > moment, this was his moment. Caelen took the first step onto the > ship with thoughts of his lost friend going through his mind, if > only he was here, if only he was his XO, or even CO, as long as he > would be here, but alas. It hurt him in his chest, every great > moment hurt him in his heart nowadays, his wedding, the birth of his > daughter and now his own command. He quickly walked on to the turbo > lift, all systems were activated already as several Engineers from > the starbase were making the ship ready for whatever it might face. > > She'd follow him, letting him take the first step on. As blunt as > she could be with her words, she did notice in his speech and in his > movements that this was a big moment for him, and she granted him > that moment. She'd also prove that she'd read his own profile, > before meeting him, as she spoke. "Well, congratulations, Sir. And > I'm sure that your friend Alex would be proud of you .. From > wherever he is watching you." > > Caelen was a bit shocked when he heard that his new XO knew about > his best friend, he looked at the ground trying to fight back all > the feelings of sadness and anger again, "I..." he started > swallowing a big lump in his throat "...know" he added after a split > second pause. They arrived at the Turbo lift and the doors opened > automatically, as always, he stepped into the turbo lift waiting for > Kris to join him "Deck three" he exclaimed remembering where to find > the Senior officer's quarters. > > She'd join him. She sighed softly, and with a soft wince put her > heavy bag down for a bit. "It's a nice ship, Sir. How old is > she ? .. Looks well maintained." changing the subject back to > the 'boy's toy' > > "She's been through the Dominion war, produced after the heavy loses > lead in the battle for Wolf 359, but the designs are from the early > 2320's" Caelen explained from the top of his head. The lift came to > a stop on the 3rd deck and the doors opened again, "it was made from > Excelsior and Miranda parts" he added. Caelen didn't know if Kris > was interested at all but he just liked elaborating about things he > knew, he resumed his way towards the XO's quarters, which weren't > far away from the turbo lift. "it's designed to use 85% of the > resources and strength an Excelsior would need and have with only > half the amount of crew" he added to the explanation of this ship. > He stopped at the doors of the XO's quarters. "here we are" he said. > > She hefted her bag again as she let her CO explain. Men like to > explain about the things they like. It was a universal constant. And > as long as he was explaining, she could remain quiet, which in turn > decreased her chances of upsetting her CO on her first day in. She'd > follow him to her new quarters. Nods. "Thanks Cap." > > Caelen tapped a few buttons on the outside of the door before it > opened "Just throw your bags inside and let's get to the bridge" he > said when the doors had fully opened and Kris had stepped inside. > > She took a moment to look around a bit. "Water shower .. Very nice. > Let's see .. Separate bedroom .. Mmm .. I can get used to this." > She'd say with a smile as she placed her bag on the floor and > stepped out of her new quarters again. > > "Let's Go!" Caelen said perhaps a bit to happy and eager. Back > towards the turbolift, waiting for Kris to get in and the doors to > close, "The Bridge" he said as the lift slowly got into motion > again, "so tell me a little more about yourself" he said still > trying to break the ice between him and his new XO, as it seemed to > be a bit forced and distant up until now. > > "... " He caught her a bit off guard with that. "Well, what is there > to tell that isn't in my profile already ? I'm single, not > specifically looking .. I'm .. past 30 - " she diplomatically > says .. " - I've served on many ships in various bridge functions. > Started out as security, then rose through the ranks .. Became > Lieutenant Commander just a few months ago." as she would follow him. > > The lift stopped again at the bridge, the doors opened slowly > revealing the bridge of the girl. Everything was in the right place, > it all smelled new and looked it as well. Caelen stepped onto the > bridge, this was it, his new command, his own ship, this was it. > Caelen walked towards the Captains chair with Kris following closely > behind him. He slowly lowered himself into the centre chair and > motioned Kris to take place in the XO's chair "We'd better get > comfortable in these..." Caelen said "... we're going to spend a > long time in these" he added looking proudly around him to scan the > entire bridge. > > With a sigh she'd let herself flop in the XO's chair, closing her > eyes, leaning back. Slowly a smile would form, before she opened her > eyes again and looked around at the entirety of the bridge. ".. Not > bad. It's no galaxy, but .. Not bad." She'd admit to him. "This is > my first post as XO .. I'm hoping that, perhaps, this time things > will be different, and I might stay long enough to unpack." > > "I'm sure we'll work something out" Caelen said looking at the > XO, "my daughter loves unpacking" he added with a short laugh > following. He knew that he should stop laughing over his own jokes > but he couldn't help it. > > She'd give him a smirk, then a nod, as her smirk turned into a > smile. A warm, genuine smile. ".. thank you, Sir .. For taking me > on. I'll certainly do my best not to disappoint you." > > -={Off}=- > a JP by: > > Commander Caelen LaBrie > Commanding Officer > > & > > Lt. Commander Kirstiana Petrova > Executive Officer > > USS Pegasus >