Post by The Admiral on Dec 3, 2010 21:49:36 GMT -8
| Location 1: USS Graves
| Location 2: Personal Quarters
| Date: Unknown in 2392
| Time: Unknown
This was going to be the first assignment for First Lieutenant Hanaaj Ralaa as Marine Commanding Officer, he had served in other roles on starships and also it would be the first time for him to serve on an Intrepid Class Refit too. The ship was small and he wondered if Marines where really needed on a ship this size. He heard about some of the upgrades Captain Kent had placed on this fine vessel. Hanaaj hoped that the Graves lived up to expectations. There was a lot riding on her success and Hanaaj knew that.
Hanaaj was a bit concerned though, the fact he was on Intrepid Class Starship. They where not the most fortified ships in the quadrant her armaments was weak in his mind but this was a new refit design and he had to go over the specs of this new refit type. The task of the Graves was not going to be an easy one and Hanaaj knew that. Hanaaj hoped the Graves would pass through with flying colors he did not want to end up a causality of this design.
As much as he hated the design and idea behind the Graves he was stuck there and he knew that. He had to make the best of this assignment. Hanaaj first started by unpacking in his quarters which where about standard size so at least he had that going for him. Time was going real slow on the Graves and the main reason for that was the ship was currently docked at the space station. She was space worthy but she was missing most of her senior staff.
Hanaaj barely had enough time to find his living quarters and to unpack when he heard the intercom go off. =A=All Senior Staff report to the Observation Lounge for a meeting in one hour=A= called out a man over the intercom. Hanaaj wondered what the Captain wanted, he assumed the man on the intercom was the Captain. Hanaaj left his quarters and made his way to the observation lounge.
Hannaj was about ready to leave his quarters when he heard over the intercom. =A=Cancel staff meeting, this was a test sorry about that=A= said the Man as he was apologetic over the intercom. Hanaaj was a bit annoyed and was going to give that man a bit of his mind. He stormed out of his quarters and made way to the bridge of the USS Graves .
"Oh great I hope this is not a sign of things to come" blurted out Hanaaj as he made his way back down. He was almost to the bridge when that call came in. Now he had to figure out what to do? He was bored and so far the only staff member on the Graves. He debated for going to his section of the ship the section where the marines would be located but at this time the area would look a little bare since most of the staff have yet to arrive on the station.
Hanaaj debated on heading down to the shuttle bay and the transporter room but that too seemed pointless, there was really nothing to do until the senior staff arrived on the Graves. So for the time being he headed back to the only place he could think of and that was his quarters. At least there he would be able to unwind for a bit.
Act 2 ~ Coming Aboard
| Location 1: Shuttle Rio
| Location 2: Cockpit
| Date: Unknown in 2392
| Time: Unknown
"Is this your first time on the Graves" asked the young pilot as she looked to Jared to see what type of response he was going to give her. She might be a bit young but she was very professional and wanted the XO to approve of her and her assignment.
"Yes it is Ensign" said Jared as he looked to the young lady and gave her a warm smile. His first thought of the lady was very professional but a bit young. He was trying not to be very judgmental but it was hard given the fact that she looked barely 18. The young lady reminded him of the little sister he never had.
"Let me be the first to say" said the young pilot as she went on to say with a big smile "Your in for a treat" replied Emily Rose the Helmsman of the Graves. Emily was not really happy about the name of the ship but she was happy to be named the Chief Control Flight Officer for the USS Graves. Emily hoped the name of this vessel would not suggest their duty to starfleet. She did not want to fly a graveyard. But Emily was still pretty knew to Starfleet and was straight out of the academy.
Graduated near the top of her class and was given a great opportunity. Not very many ca-dates where given senior staff roles straight out of the academy but Emily was one of the lucky ones and she was going to prove her worth to the XO and Captain of the Graves. Emily looked to Jared and noticed he was observing her, she hoped she was making a first good impression.
"She is a beaut" said Jared as he went on to say "So what do you think of your first assignment" asked Jared as he waited for Emily to respond.
"To be frankly honest sir" asked Emily as she hoped the XO would allow her to open up on a personal level.
"Go ahead Miss Emily Rose" said Jared as he knew that Emily had not introduced herself to him prior to boarding the shuttle. Jared knew who she was and what her role was.
Emily was a bit surprised that Jared the Executive Officer of the Graves had already knew who she was. He was a man who apparently did his homework before entering the Graves and assuming the role as XO. "I am really excited and wanted to say thanks to you and to the Captain for the faith you show in me" suggested Emily as she waited for Jared to say something in response.
"your welcome and I know you will make us proud" said Jared as he could tell that she was still caught up in the fact that he knew who she was. Normally most officers could careless who a low ranking ensign was. Prior to her assignment as Chief Control Flight Officer she was a shuttle pilot transporting crews to and from the station. She had to wait for the Graves to be ready to go so she just now got the transfer orders to board her ship, the ship she would be flying around in.
"Our ETA to the Graves is 20 minutes at current speed" said Emily who found herself to be speechless. Jared had caught her off guard and she had to think of something to say to break her silence and get the conversation going again. She did not want to sound like an idiot so she hoped Jared would not loose faith in her so soon.
"Well that's good news, but I take it you where surprised that I knew who you where" asked Jared as he was hoping she would answer him truthfully.
"Well to be honest I was a bit surprised" said Emily as she felt like an idiot for admitting that.
"Relax I memorized the entire crew roster" said Jared as he went on to say "Especially the Senior Staff" said Jared as he took a deep breath. He was a bit nervous as well in twenty minutes he would be landing on the Graves and assuming his role as Executive Officer.
"Thanks Sir" said Emily in a humble tone. She was not sure what else to say at this point. A few moments of silence ac-cured and then the proximity alarms went off. "We are arriving at Westerner Station" called out Emily as she wanted to get the focus off of her and back on the ship.
Jared raised his head and looked out the cockpit window the station was starting to grow in size as they flew closer and closer to Westerner Station. Jared took a moment to soak it in. He smiled as he thought about the moment coming up. In a few moments he would be on the Graves and meeting more of the crew.
"Signal the Dock Master, get us clearance" ordered Jared as he was a bit anxious to get aboard the Graves. The Shuttle was starting to make her way to the bay doors of the Graves and Jared hoped it would not take the Dock Master long to reach back to Jared and Emily as both for their own reasons where eager to get on the ship.
Emily was just as eager to get on the Graves as Jared was, she quickly opened a channel to the Dock Master and with a smile as said "Dock Master this is the Shuttle Rio on approach to the USS Graves requesting permission to fly through to the Graves" called out Emily as she wanted to get this silly protocol out of the way.
"Permission granted to deliver Commander Galloway to USS Graves" said the Dock Master as he went on to say "Safe journeys, Westerner Station out" said the Dock Master as the channel closed.
There was a few ships docked at Westerner Station and the Shuttle Rio flew by a few of them on their way to the Graves. Jared noticed an older Miranda Class Starship. "Is that the Caldarus" asked Jared as he looked to his terminal screen to get the read out on that ship.
"Ah perfect"said Jared with a smile he was hoping that the Caldarus was still at the station he was hoping to get a chance to signal his brother before they took off. Now Jared was going to get that chance and that made him real happy. He was hoping they could get together before the other had to disembark.
Emily debated about asking what was so perfect but she decided to resit the temptation, she could tell that what ever it was it brought him great pride and satisfaction.
"Open a channel to the Caldarus" ordered Jared as he waited for Emily to open that channel so he could get the chance to say hi once again to his brother Jeremiah Galloway the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Caldarus.
Emily did not waste time she opened the communications channel and looked at Jared and said "Channel Opened" said Emily with a tone of confusion in her voice she was not sure why he was reaching out to the Caldarus but she was about to find out.
"Shuttle Rio to Caldarus please come in" asked Jared as he waited for the communications officer or some one on the Caldarus to respond to his open hail. He was not sure who was going to respond.
"Yes Shuttle Rio how can we help ya" asked the communications officer on the Caldarus.
"Transfer this call to your sickbay" ordered Jared as he noticed a low ranking man on the other end of the line. Jared was using his authoritative tone he was still trying to get use to being a big time figure head.
"It will be a moment sir" said the Communications Officer. The monitor went black for a few minutes but when it came back to life there was a familiar face on the other end.
"Commander Galloway" said Jeremiah as he was happy to see his brother on the other end. He smiled as he said "What do I owe this call for" asked Jeremiah as he waited for his older brother to respond. Jeremiah was being a bit sarcastic with his voice, they where brothers and they loved to be sarcastic to each other.
"I am calling to see if you want to go dinner believe it or not" suggested Jared as he looked to his brother on the main viewer and then went on "I am about ready to dock with the station and get a tour of the Graves after that I am going to need to eat and since we are both here I was hoping we could catch up" insisted Jared as he decided to be honest with his brother he debated about being sarcastic but due to Emily being on the Shuttle he decided to be professional this time around.
"I almost forgot that you where coming here" said Jeremiah as he was a bit taken up in the response of the mission he was working on. He heard that the Graves was there but he did not put two and two together that his brother was going to be her XO til he just reminded him which was bad since they are brothers after all. "What time where you thinking" asked Jeremiah as he wanted to redeem himself in his eyes and in his brothers eyes as well.
"Seventeen Hundred Hours" asked Jared as he looked to Jeremiah as he waited to see if that time worked for him.
"Lets make it Seventeen Fifteen" said Jeremiah as he was just coming off duty and wanted to meet his brother on time.
"Done" simply replied Jared as he was happy that his brother could have dinner with him tonight.
"Perfect I get off at Seventeen Hundred so this works out" said Jeremiah.
"Then I will see you at the airlocks later tonight" said Jared as he waited to see if his brother was going to respond at all.
"I will be there" simply replied Jeremiah as he went on to say he went on to say "I have some work to do and I have no doubt that you do too so I will see you later on" said Jeremiah as he looked ready to end the call. Seeing that nothing was said he closed the call. Jared was so relieved to make contact with his brother now they can catch up.
"brothers" softly spoke Emily as she cracked out a little smile. She hoped that Jared did not hear her. She did not want to but into the conversation of Jeremiah and Jared especially since he was her XO after all.
"Indeed" said Jared in a sarcastic tone. He was mocking the Vulcan's like for the word and he was trying to make his new Helm Officer laugh a bit. He hoped that it worked. "Do you have siblings as well" asked Jared as he was trying to make small talk he knew according to her files that she did but he could not for the life of him remember if it was a brother or a sister.
" A sister" said Emily as she went on to say "Julia Rose believe it or not a Security Officer" said Emily as she went on to smile as she thought about her sister for a moment.
"On the USS Caldarus right" asked Jared as he remembered that both of their siblings where stationed on the same ship.
"By a strange coincidence, yes sir" said Emily as she wondered where the XO was going with this line of questioning. She wanted to change the subject she felt strange talking about her sister. "There she is sir" said Emily as she went on "The Graves man she is a Beaut" said Emily with a smile as she thought about the fact that she was going to fly that wonder ship.
"Well look at that" said Jared with a smile on his face he went on to say "Poor Jeremiah and Julia get the Caldarus and look at what we get" said Jared as he took a moment to soak it in. Emily did as well as she waited for him to say what it was. "We get that wonderful ship" said Jared as he was just as excited as Emily was.
"Shuttle Rio to the USS Graves, please come in" called out Emily as she took her eyes off the incoming view and back to the display console in front of her. Emily wanted to board the ship as soon as possible.
"Go ahead Shuttle Rio" said Some One from the USS Graves. Presumably it was the Communications Officer but Jared and Emily could be wrong. So it was best not to say his name in this case.
"Requesting permission to dock" said Emily as she took a breath and went on to say "I have Lieutenant Commander Jared Galloway the on board with me" said Emily as she waited for the Communications Officer to say something.
"Permission Granted" said the Communications Officer as his voice sounded a bit surprised that Jared was already on his way to the ship. He was not sure if this was a good thing. They should have been prepared for his arrival by this stage in the game.
"See you in a few" said Jared as he got on the channel.
"Welcome to the Graves Sir" said the Communications Officer as he closed out the channel.
Jared would have to get use to the fact that people would be calling him out and wanting to thank him and ask him for thing all the time its part of the job of being an XO and he knew he better get his game face on before they land on the Graves.
The Graves was docked at Pylon 3 and the Shuttle Rio was making her approach to the tail end of the ship where the shuttle bay was for the Intrepid Class Starships, she looked like the other ships of her class but in her saucer section she had two twin borg buster cannons integrated into her hull that carry a big punch.
The shuttle landed smoothly on the shuttle bay deck without incident it was a text book landing and Emily powered down the shuttle and said in a soft voice "I think they are ready for us opening the hatch now" said Emily as she hot the button from the cockpit and then powered off the shuttle. As she did that she noticed that Jared grabbed both of their bags.
"Thank you sir" said Emily as she walked over to him and headed towards the tail end of the shuttle. Jared wondered who would be meeting them at the door way. He knew that Marine Detachment Commander Hanaaj Ralaa was already on board but he was not sure if he was out side of the hatch to greet him.
"As Jared predicted the bay door opened up, and to his surprise no one was their to greet them. Jared was really surprised by this. He would have figured that some one would have been there to greet him after all he is the Executive Officer of the Graves. Jared started to walk around the bay he noticed the other shuttles in the bay he wondered why the other shuttle had not left yet to get the Captain he should be boarding the ship shortly.
Jared continued to walk around and after few moments an older looking man walked into the bay. He rushed over to the side of Jared and Emily. With a smile and salute the man said "Sorry about the delay sir" said the Transporter Chief as he waited for Jared to respond.
"Ahh Chief, permission to come board" asked Jared as he wanted to get protocol out of the way.
"Of course Sir and welcome aboard" said the Transporter Chief.
"I will take your bags sir I will make sure they get delivered to your quarters" said the Transporter Chief as he reached out to grab them. Jared smiled and looked at him and then handed him his bags and made his way to the corridors, he wanted to look around. He made his way to the bridge by going down the corridor and then up the turbo lift.
"So Ensign" asked Jared as he waited for Emily to speak up, he was still pretty new to the area and he was hoping that Emily would be able to assist him so with a breath he went on "What can you tell me about the 16th Task Force" asked Jared as he waited for Emily to say something.
"Not much, I'm afraid" said Emily as they walked down the corridors. They where heading to the turbo lift that would get them up to the bridge area of the USS Graves. Emily took a breath before going on "All I know sir that the UDF allowed us to buid this station to help manage things on this side of the galactic gate" said Emily as she felt very useless for information.
Act 3 ~ The Talk
| Location 1: USS Graves
| Location 2: Bridge
| Date: Unknown in 2392
| Time: Unknown
It only took a few moments for Emily and Jared to reach the bridge area of the Graves. They both walked onto the bridge and Emily made her way over to her chair and with a warm smile she almost cried out but manage to use a calm voice and say "Bigger than I was expecting" said Emily with a tone of surprise in her voice this was her first time on the bridge as well.
Jared smiled as he said "I know what you mean" said Jared as he looked at the two dual chairs in the center of the bridge. Jared was not comfertable with the idea of having his own chair but he did accept the assignment so he would have to sit down in that chair at some point. Jared decided that point was not going to be at this very moment for the time being he was going to get use to the idea of being the Executive Officer of the Graves.
"Do you mind if I take my station sir" asked Emily as she was eager to get started on the USS Graves.
"If you want too Ensign" said Jared as he decided that he was still not going to sit down in his chair. Before he could really do anything he heard the doors to the turbo lift open up and a bad feeling poured over him. He hoped it was not the Captain they where not ready yet for his arrival. Emily was the first to look behind and Jared could see the fear in her eyes, he knew it was the Captain by her look.
"Attention on deck" called out Emily as she turned around fully and snapped to the position of attention. Commander Adam Kent aka the Captain of the USS Graves had walked onto the bridge of his new ship. A ship he had built to his design spec requirements. Emily noticed that everyone went to the position of attention.
"At ease" called out Adam as he walked over to Jared and smiled as he said "You must be Commander Galloway" asked Adam as he waited for Jared to respond. Jared was still at parade rest and Adam thought he was going to strain a muscle if he did not lighten up a bit he looked to Jared and said "Commander you better relax before you strain a muscle" demanded Adam as he hated starfleet protocol some times.
"Yes Sir and good evening sir" said Jared as he tried to relax and open up a bit with the Captain of the Graves he was a bit surprised that the Captain manage to come aboard without his knowledge now he needed to make small talk and find a cleaver way of saying why he was not their when the Captain arrived. Adam made his way over to the command chair.
Behind the Scenes by Jay Galloway
Author's Notes
Please note that the story from the USS Graves was incomplete and was printed out to paper form before the forums where deleted. I revamped the story for continuity and want to say Chris Miller did a hell of a job getting the story moving more smoothly.
The idea for me on this novel is to show the crew's reaction to the new assignment and some of their pasts and how those past interact with the novel. While I am opening up the characters I am also revealing a tidbits of information about the upcoming war and the crew's desperation to find a peaceful solution most of them are tired of war and want peace they want to be explorers but they fear that war is coming.
Act 1 ~ Arrival
Now originally there was not a lot back history on the character, it mentioned how he felt about the assignment but it did not say why so when I worked on revise I decided to give Hanaaj Ralaa some more depth and explain some of the reason why he was not in favor his new assignment, It is my hope throughout this first book to show you more and more of this character. Working on building him up.
Act 2 ~ Coming Aboard
In this scene we meet the XO and the Helmsman of the USS Graves and the two of them share a scene and Emily the Helmsman of the USS Graves gets to see a rare side to the XO when she happens to be in the same room with Jared the XO when he gets on a call with his brother the Chief Medical Officer Officer of the USS Caldarus.
Act 3 ~ The Talk