"Bridge Duty"

[Aidan Driscol 0]

"Bridge Duty"

A joint log by

Lieutenant Commander M'rrrett Sh'aow JoN's and Lieutenant Junior Grade Aidan Driscol

 

 

 

 

Kansas sighed and re-entered the final command into the tactical console to start the information download to a data padd. Nothing like an energy "arrow" left by an energy being that basically pointed to the location of this missing Umbara general to point you in the right direction. Her security training kept screaming fools errand to her however.

 

Aidan stood at the science station but wasn't quite sure what to do. The sensors were pretty much useless in this nebula, all he could really do was to confirm Tac's findings, if there were to be any. All the while he was still preoccupied with the virus and what Shadow had said about a vaccine. Shadow... Aidan hoped he'd come back alright. By now he had become more than a colleague, he had become a friend.

 

The download pinged, and Kansas swiped the padd from its console attachment. With a quick nod to D'Angelo - who retook his post at the bridge tac station - the feline officer stood and walked over to the sciences station.

 

Aidan looked up and smiled as he saw Lieutenant Commander JoNs approach. Despite a few disagreements he liked the security officer, he just hoped she was coming over with good news. "Anything I can do for you Commander?"

 

She put on a happy face, as the human saying went, and spoke to the science officer. "Aye - just wanted to bring over the latest tactical updates; I know the sensors are going wonky due to the nebula, so I thought maybe some manual downloads could help with the comparison scans." The feline offered the padd to him.

 

"Thank you very much. With the sensors hardly reading anything I don't really know what I'm doing up here." He looked apologetically but hoped JoNs wouldn't miss the glint in his eyes that indicated he was half joking. "Scientists are no good without equipment."

 

The security chief leaned in, conspiratorially, and said playfully, "Lieutenant, none of us know what we are doing up here. Shhhh, it's a secret."

 

Chuckling Aidan took the PADD- "I've always thought that to be the case, to be honest. So what do we have here?" He looked at the PADD and read the data it contained. It was of some use but he still couldn't wait to get the sensors back. He felt a bit like a kid without his stuffed animal at night.

 

"Just what we have so far tactically - a vague general direction of where this supposed Umbara general is being held. Actually, Shadow gets most of the credit with that little energy arrow trick he, she? Uh, shim did?"

 

"Although he technically has no gender, at least I think he doesn't, we've never discussed it, we generally refer to him as male. It takes some time to get used to it though, also his sudden appearances." Aidan grinned, he understood how someone who didn't work with him or interact with him otherwise might have a problem with the concept. Heck, Aidan had a problem with the concept, too, he just chose not to think about it and usually took Shadow's lead on matters like gender and the like.

 

An ear flipped back playfully. 'Those 'appearances' have sent me leaping about two feet in the air on occasion."

 

"I would have liked to see that. He's very thoughtful about that, though. He tries not to scare people. By the way, what are you thinking about all of this?" Saying this he pointed to the screen.

 

Kansas eyed the junior officer for a few quick seconds, and her mood went a bit more serious; she turned her attention to the expanse of disputed space shown on the viewscreen. "Playing as a go between negotiator between two rival powers in exchange for safe passage through this corridor of space? It is not a good situation for us to be in."

 

"No, indeed it's not. But there seems to be no alternative. I just hope this works out for us."

 

The Caitian officer's gaze stayed on the viewscreen. "...best negotiator I know is a fully charged phaser bank." JoNs muttered, and then swiped a paw across her eyes tiredly. "Crafty birds."

 

"Spoken like a true security officer Commander. But in all honesty, I'd feel better if we get through here without firing a shot." But in all honesty he just wanted them to be back on their way home, or even better, he just wanted to be back home.

 

Both of her ears flipped back in annoyance and she regarded Driscol. "I didn't necessarily mean that as a "trigger happy" remark, Mister Driscol. Let's just say I have a problem with an established power like the Umbara using the "new kid" for a courier in these playground wars."

 

As usual Aidan had picked up the Cait's mood merely by watching her ears. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. And I agree, it's not an ideal situation. We're not too different, though, we'd both do whatever it takes to make sure we get back home, both in our own way. I suppose that's why they took both of us, to help us keep an open mind and to have more than just one option." He hoped this little joke would convince her that he hadn't meant to offend her.

 

Kansas waved a paw in understanding and then spoke again. "It would be like us asking the Borg to negotiate with Orion Raiders for us."

 

Aidan laughed. "I'm sorry, but "Borg" and "negotiate" in one sentence is just very funny."

 

One ear flipped back, and JoNs favoured Driscol with a fanged smile.

 

"Well, thanks for the PADD. I think we should both go back to work now before the Colonels decide we'd be of more use scrubbing the mess hall."

 

JoNs merely nodded and walked back over toward the tactical station where she and her security officer D'Angelo began to converse.