(Blythe, Lower Decks)

Tyler, Wong and Tesa had worked their way down to deck 10 on their quick tour of the vessel. They were making their way around the second deck with the ‘corridor berthing’ for the lower decks. It was 0930h and here and there they walked past crewman, petty officers and ensigns in small groups or solo.

Whenever the 3 officers walked through an area where people were Tyler was constantly having to tell them to stand easy or say ‘as you were’ or ‘carry on’. They chatted with some and walked through if the people seemed busy or involved. The ships crew was actually going to be around half of a standard compliment, so there would be plenty of berthing room aboard Tyler had realized.

‘Number 1, make a note, since we will have a half strength crew I’d like to optimize the berthing assignments so that everyone has the best quarters available…by my math, we should not have to use the the corridor berthing at all on deck 11, and even crew assigned to decks 9 and 10 could all be berthed in groups of 4 at the intersections and corners with nice big window views’ Tyler said to Wong.

‘Oh that’s right, I’m a Chief Engineer here, I get senior officers quarters now. Sweeeeeet.’ Said Tesa enthusiastically.

‘I’ll come up with a revised berthing plan soon then sir. But you are right, we are not wanting for bed space. At 1000h about half of our are to crew report for duty. The the other half will be reporting over the next 9 hours as they arrive on transports or beam up from the planet. The half showing up at 1000h were already here or assigned to SB 86, like Lt. Kira here.’ Wong said.

‘I prefer to not go by that name Sir. Just call my Tesa or Lt. Tesa. I’ve heard Kira stories my whole life, its honestly boring and annoying. Probably a big part of the reason I like fixing things over contact with others. Ha!’ Tesa said.

‘Duly noted Lt. Shall we carry on sir, the rest of this deck is more of the same’ Wong inquired.

Tyler replied ‘No, I think its fine if we end here. We should probably get back to the bridge, and I’m sure the Lt wants to go see her engine rooms.’

Tesa smiled ‘You read my mind sir. You mentioned wanting a senior staff meeting at 1100h right sir?’ Looking at Wong.

‘Yes, our senior staff being what it is, all except 2 of the dept heads are on the 1000h duty roster. And the 2ICs of both of them will be onboard.’ He said as Tesa then departed and he pulled up the senior staff roster on his padd, it read;

Senior Staff-

COMMAND- Cdr Tyler, LCdr Wong

NAVIGATION/HELM- LtJG Lasage

OPERATIONS- LCdr Aruin, CPO Ford

TACTICAL- LCdr Wong, LtJG Mendoza

ENGINEERING- LtJG Tesa(Wong typed her preferred name in as he read it) Chief Fronn

MEDICAL- Dr Pretty Lady, CPO Patron

SCIENCE- Cdr Tyler, LtJG Haron

Attached logistics team- Lt Traskov(To be picked up at Hargusta Colony)

Wong passed the padd to Tyler and said ‘All in all, a decent senior staff, but our problem will be Beta shift if we plan to use experienced veterans on Delta, we dont have a lot of middle management types. Outside of that, the list of the other officers assigned to the ship are on page 2, a few JG’s the rest are ensigns. And then all the crew on page 3, the 14 chiefs listed at the top. You’ll see my Template for the duty roster on page 4.’

‘Um, this all looks good, but no offense number 1, unless you plan to do the warp calculations and navigational safety manuevers at warp speeds yourself you’re missing an important member of the senior staff?’ Tyler said.

‘Oh, which department did I miss sir?’

‘Cetacean Ops, Commander…only the most important department when it comes to safe warp travel.’ Tyler said as he passed the padd back to Wong as they made their way back to the turbolifts.

Wong retrieved the padds ‘I’m sorry sir, I guess as a fighter jock and staff officer for most of my career I just always assumed that Cetacean ops was a part of the science department.’

Tyler, as the scientist, now had a chance to educate Wong a little. The previous night Tyler had learned several things about starship command and leadership responsibilities, now it was his turn to teach.

‘They are certainly related to the science department, but they are more narrowly focused on safe warp travel, navigational calculations, and few other niche subjects. And it appears we’re lucky, in that we have 3 very experienced cetacean crew members. Mee IH Enh, me Me eheh, and Joe. LCdr Joe is actually one of the top tsiopsid officers in the Task Force….though he is known to take some liberties with crewmates who take him up on his skinny dipping offers. And LCdr Mee IH Enh, is actually one of the longest serving Beluga Officers in the fleet. As long as we keep their haddock and pollock food tubes open and retrieve their beach balls when they get caught in the water circ vent ports, our warp travel should be very safe indeed.’ Tyler, as a quantum and warp field theorist knew quite well how valuable the cetaceans ops officer were.

‘Jeez I had no idea about that Captain.’ Wong admitted.

‘Don’t worry about it, most starfleet officers ignore them unless they’ve ever been assigned shifts in the cetacean ops department…the rampant reports of impropriety and harassment also tend to keep people away too I suppose.’ He shrugged before continuing. ‘But that aside I’ve had many fruitful conversations and collaborations with cetacean officers over the years…’ they entered the turbo, and Wong deciding to stop and speak with 2 dept 2IC’s before meeting Tyler back at the bridge.

(Blythe, Logistics Office 0940h)

Wong walked in to the office and found Ford engrossed in Dueterium survey reports about his new moon, while his Bolian underling lugged gear and supplies around the logistics bay next door.

‘Oh, hey sir, uh, welcome aboard.’ Ford sputtered as he stood up. He had chosen logistics as a specialty because interactions with senior officers was usually minimal, and only when they needed something. The former captain before the ordeal, a Bolian had commanded the Blythe for 9 months, and Ford had only met him once, by chance in the mess hall.

Wong said ‘Chief Ford?’ He continued after Ford nodded, ‘We will be holding a senior staff briefing at 1100h, the captain and I would like you there to represent Ops as your department head won’t arrive until later today.’

Ford replied ‘Uh, yeah, yes sir. I’ll be there….where will that briefing take place?’

Wong frowned slightly, ‘Senior Staff Lounge, next to the bridge, you can’t miss it. We’ll see you there.’ He said as turned and left the room. The door closing behind him.

Ford moaned ‘Ahhh shit…maybe this smaller crew thing isn’t so great…’ He had never even been on the bridge in his 14 months assigned to the Blythe. He was a bottom decker, and felt as though the ‘senior staff’ were essentially nothing more then bureaucrats who slowed things down, or ruined his fun. But now he’d have to fake his way through the meeting.

(Blythe, Medical Bay 0945h)

CPO Patron, the 117th Child of Tama to join Starfleet since the day ‘Picard and Dathon at El Adrel’ had occurred. He had been unable to join Starfleet Academy due to his accent causing him to fail the entrance exam twice. He instead had joined as a non-commissioned officer and excelled during his career as a Physicians Assistant. He had been assigned to the Blythe as the sole PA, and defacto Asst Chief Medical ‘Officer’ since the department only had LtJG Pretty Lady as the sole Doctor, and only 2 other officers who were both nurses.

‘Shaka, when the Gutrak flew through his window. This place is organized not so terribly. Nurse? Could Jebra have beaten the fool at the Feltaa games?….Ahem, I mean, have you been here for long?’

The lovely nurse he had spoken to did not know the Tamarian language at all and simply turned and said ‘About 20 minutes only.’

‘Jedda, with her blouse unfurled[Expressing anxiety due to here shear beauty]. Its a pleasure to meet you Ensign. I’m Patron, just assigned here from the Land that Dathon conquered at sunset with grace and courage[ Unintelligble-Stating he is from the planet El Adrel.’

The ensign was still quite confused but was aware that the UT did have trouble with some Tamarian translations still. ‘Its nice to you meet you too Chief.’ She smiled thinking to herself ‘So my senior staff is going to be an exocomp and a nearly unintelligble Tamarian, eeek’

Just then LCdr Wong entered, introduced himself, and asked Patron if he could show up to the staff meeting to represent the medical department.

‘Shaka, at the gates of Fenbad[With forthright certitude]… I would be honoured to Commander. I will see you at 1100h, Treba bathing in still waters at Plaska[I promise to clean myself appropriately before I attend]’ Patron replied.

(Back on the Bridge, 0955h)

When Wong arrived back on the bridge to his satisfaction he found that all 4 of the crew that he had assigned to bridge duty were already there. Each just milling around their stations or running routine check ins. Tyler was seated in the Captains chair, cross legged, leaned back and reviewing a Padd. As Wong walked over and had a seat in the XOs chair next to him. “We are all set for the staff briefing at 1100h sir.”

‘Oh very good number one. I’m just reviewing our itinerary for the first leg of our tour of duty. Hargusta Colony 3 days from now. Overseeing the completion of a power plant reconstruction project next week at Sadeena 5… then we have a set rendezvous on stardate 81086.1 at Terra Eridani to pick up VIPs and transport them to a diplomatic celebration on Nimbus III…we will be tight for time the next few weeks. If we want to stay on schedule, our orders say we need to leave no later then 1500h tomorrow.’ Tyler said conversationally.

Wong injected ‘Yes, about that sir. I recieved word from my friend on Vestic Prime. He said that he could have 2 fully functional Danubes ready for us to pick up on the way to Hargusta…so I reccomend we schedule our departure for 1230h to stay ahead of the pace’ Wong said and then typed a message that showed up on his armrest console in text form, reading:

HE WILL GIVE US THE DANUBES IN EXCHANGE FOR 4 CASES OF SAURIAN BRANDY.

Tylers prim and proper, scientific mind recoiled in revulsion at the concept of ‘bribery’, but he caught himself quickly, and recalled a few interactions he had had with quartermasters over the years. He may not like it, but it was the way of the service, and he was a ships Captain now.

Just then a communique chirped from a console behind them. The Ensign at the tactical console, slowly tapped a few buttons and then reported. “Captain, we are receiving a hail from Starbase 86.”

Tyler and Wong looked at eachother. Tyler then stood, performed the Picard manuever, and said ‘Onscreen.’

The view of a redshirted yeoman appeared, and spoke in a cheery yet rushed tone. ‘Greetings Captain. I’m the Commodores yeoman, he wanted me to contact you and apologize for not being able to supply you with the additional officers and crew you requested yesterday morning. But he has been able to free up a dozen Cadets who were set to depart on a summer cruise on a ship that was delayed due to the Vaadwaur Invasion. They will be ready to report aboard the Blythe at around 1400h today.’

Tyler smiled. ‘Excellent. That is great news. Please relay my gratitude to the Commodore, and have the Cadets report to my first officer when they come aboard Chief.’

‘I will pass that along. Good luck Blythe. SB 86 out.’ The man said as if he was in a hurry.

Tyler turned to Wong with a smile on his face.

‘Add 12 warm bodies to the crew manifest number 1.’

Cadets, Tyler knew, were not always the most professional or skilled. But at this point any crew was a welcome addition, and even cadets could sometimes step up and fill larger roles then their rank would suggest.

Wong replied as he made a note ‘Gladly sir.’

A few seconds later Tylers comm badge chirped and the squeeks, squeels and barks of one of the ships cetaceans blared in his ear.

It was LCdr Joe, one of the tsiopsids(dolphins) “mee eeeeeh eeeh Meh Meeee Urh, mEee meEEeh me eehh eh urf meeehh eh enh eh eh eh meeeeee [We were beamed aboard 20 minutes ago boss, we got no bloody food, and our beach balls and other playthings have not arrived either. This is bull$h!t sir! I lost 6 good friends on the Blythe when she was shot up by the Vaadwaur, and still no flippin funerals for them, its a shameful continuation of the racism towards cetaceans by Starfleet . If there’s no food, no funerals, and no fun toys this ships isnt f$%&ng flying anywhere. Cetacean ops out.] Joe abruptly closed the channel.

Tyler looked to Wong “Well that’s no type of way to speak to your commanding officer. Is it?”

Wong chuckles, ‘I mean…you’re the science guy cetacean expert sir. You tell me’

Tyler frowned. They would have to have a word with the insubordinate Tsiopsid, and immediately. ‘I think you and I should go and deal with this right away number 1.’

Though mutinies on starfleet vessels were relatively rare. Statistically speaking, in the last 30 years, Cetacean officers had initiated or been co-conspirators in nearly 45% of all recorded mutinies or cases of direliction of duty. And cetaceans also were responsible for 36% of all cases of insubordination, though they only made up 2.8% of the officer corps.

Tyler and Wong both walked towards the turbolift, Tyler then stopped and whispered to his XO, ‘We’re always supposed to directly leave someone in charge when we leave, right?’

Wong grinned ‘You’re catching on quick skipper.’ He turned back and said ‘Lt Lesage, you have the bridge. Forward any external comms to us immediately, and log all crew who report aboard please.’

(Cetacean Ops, Blythe)

Tyler and Wong we nearly struck by a 2 foot wide, hardened rubber beach ball, that Lt. Me me eheh, the dolphin had tail whacked right toward the bulkhead doors of the large science lab/aquarium. The beach bays and other playthings has been beamed over to the ship while they had been on their way.

‘Meeh meee enh enh urru me meeeeeeeeheheh me meee enh me meh urnf urgl mE Me[Oops, I wasn’t actually expecting anyone quite this quick. In all honestly, we are just a bit peckish after beaming over from SB 86. And Joe is kinna upset over the lack of official funerals for his homies…But hey while you’re here though, would you mind activating the Aquatic food dispenser system on that console over there sirs?] The dolphins wiggled his tail vigorously causing him sway to and frow and rise up from the water surface of the 10 metre wide opening of the pool in the middle of the room.

Wong started ‘That outburst over the comms was because you were JUST A BIT PECKISH? We could bring your friend Joe up on charges for that you know Lt. Me me eheh?

The Tsiopsid, slowed his swaying and tail whipping. ‘Meeee enh enh me me me enh eh in me mE urf enh[Settle down sir, you and I both know that you won’t do that. You need us to fly safely at warp, and we need you for food, toy retrieval and the occasional romantic skinny dip. I apologize for Joe, he might need a house call from the ships counselor to help deal with the grief though]

Tyler called off Wong with a wave of one hand. ‘Alright, let’s drop the horse hockey Lt. You’re a starfleet officer and I am willing to let this lapse in discipline slide this time…’ He walked over to the feed system console and activated it, and also enabled the small underwater console that let the cetaceans operate their own live food dispenser.

‘But, you must understand that going forward the XO and I cannot allow outbursts like Joe’s to occur over open comms and go unpunished. I have nothing but the highest respect for the fine service of the 3 of you and of the rest of your species and phylum. Starting this afternoon, we will ensure that a terrestrial humanoid is on station here to assist you in your duties. But insubordination like that wont fly. Understood?’ Tyler finished just as Joe swam to the surface and sullenly propped himself on the edge of the pool deck with his Flippers and hunghis head low, obviously depressed and slightly ashamed of himself.

Joe let out a long low dolphin version of a sigh and said meekly ‘me enh inh ee me mee…[Oh, I’m sorry sirs…I just lost my cool and vented my own trauma on you, and that was unfair and uncalled for. It wont happen again sirs. I promise. LT Me me is right though, I probably do need to see a counselor to discuss my grief]

Tyler nodded sympathetically. ‘We’ll see what we can do. Until then…’ He loaded the ships provisional flight path into the cetacean ops computer ‘Can you 3 get working on these route? We department at 1230h tomorrow.

LT Me me squeeked affirmatively and he and Joe done below the surface to being their calculations.

As Tyler and Wong departed, the XO asked ‘Should I send the ships counselor down to speak with Joe.’

Tyler reported ‘Nope. They’re just using that as excuse to get the counselor to come skinny dipping with them. Have the counselor perform an interview over comms instead’