YE/D01 - Briefing Room

[Paul]

==

[Peter Jensen]

Peter was the first in the briefing room, setting up for everyone. Given the size, or lack of same, the middies would have to stand. Which was fine, honestly. He'd done so as a Middie, so they could too. Besides, how long was this briefing gonna take?
And what kind of mission was this, even? Of course that was the question before every mission, but he couldn't help but have a feeling that this mission was different somehow.

All there was to do now was wait for the Captain to come tell them.

[Mika Bowman]

Upon being summoned, Mika could feel a growing sense of nervousness. As she approached the Briefing Room, she regretted leaving her coffee thermos in the Science Lab. Although the coffee would have helped calm her nerves, it would not have been as professional as carrying a PADD for note-taking. She felt somewhat out of her element but was determined to make the most of the knowledge she would gain.
 
She was relieved to find that the ship’s schematics indicated a route to the Briefing Room that did not pass through the Bridge, which would have made her feel conspicuous. While she preferred working in the labs, she understood the necessity of attending the meeting, even though she remained unsure why she had been required to join. Upon entering the Briefing Room from the corridor, she was surprised to find that only the First Officer was present.
 
Now there is the question of how they will perceive me being the first Midshipman to arrive. I wasn't aiming to be either the first or the last, since both extremes can be problematic. It seems I should now maintain a low profile.
 
This environment was not familiar to her, and given the limited seating, she did not expect to sit down. If the Yeager were more aligned with typical Starfleet vessels, Mika likely wouldn't have been ordered to attend this briefing. Instead of working comfortably in the labs, she was now expected to stand through what she presumed would be a routine briefing. As she settled against the wall, she wished the PADD in her hand was a cup of coffee instead.

[Artemis d'Tor'an]

Artie marched into the Briefing Room with an attitude that could only be described as determination. Her hands were empty; she saw no reason to carry a PADD since her accompanying Middie had grabbed one, and Braggins didn’t usually dish out information anyway.

The first person she noticed in the room was Peter: she made eye contact and smiled, and then quickly looked away. 
There was also a Midshipman from the Science Department - she side-eyed her own Middie, remembering how much the lowest rank liked to gossip.

Not wanting to be the first person to sit down (it was a tactical disadvantage), Art waited next to a chair, facing the main doorway. 
She wished she could talk telepathically to Jensen, if only to get his personal read on what was going on.


==Tags to Jensen and Alden!==

[Leo Alden]

Not wanting to waste time or risk scrambling mid-brief Leo had his PADD prepared for taking notes by the time they reached the door.

He didn’t march in like his Department Head, but his slightly longer strides and the faint flush on his face showed the effort it had taken to keep up with her. She hadn’t said a word the entire way, and something about her pace and demeanor told him he shouldn’t either.

As they entered, Artemis greeted Commander Jensen with a quick smile before scanning the room. Leo followed her gaze, spotting a Midshipman who Leo recognised as Mika, standing against the wall, looking a tad uneasy.

To be expected, I suppose. Middies aren’t usually called into briefings. Guess we’re all on edge.

Then, d’Tor’an’s eyes flicked to him. Just for a second, a brief side-eye.

Leo responded wordlessly, a subtle but deliberate shift: shoulders back, chest out, a slight rise of the chin. He hadn’t known her long, but his gut told him it was enough. A quiet acknowledgment that he saw and understood what she meant by that glance.

Trying to present himself well, Leo took position a step back and to the side of Artemis, standing at ease, hands clasped behind his back. His grip on the PADD was a little too tight, a precaution against dropping it, but he stood firm, silent, and ready to make himself useful.

== Tags ==

[Jadaris]

Jadaris stepped into the room, and the first thing he noticed was Artemis standing across from the doorway, and then he saw Jensen. However, Jadaris didn't sit down either, due to the fact that someone had forgotten to stock a chair that was big enough for the Gorn to sit on without looking like an adult sitting on a child's chair. So he stood behind the chair in the middle of the table, between both ends.

Jadaris had a PADD, like most Engineering personnel, though this one had the Master Systems Display linked to it so Jadaris could keep an eye on everything in real time. However, he saw both midshipmen in the room standing up. Being something of a gentlegorn, Jadaris said,

"Midshipmen, either of you are welcome to my seat at the table if Midshipman Campbell doesn't show up. Its not as if I'll be sitting down in those chairs anytime soon."

Looking at his PADD, he indeed noticed that he had assigned Midshipman Campbell to another shift, but hoped the engineer would show up anyways since an order from the First Officer was one not to be ignored.

==tag==

[Arwen Qi]

<<<< Bridge <<<<

Qi smiled warmly at Mika as he took his seat. He was glad to see that she was getting a share of the spotlight on her first mission.

Just offer a couple of insights and try to keep cool. Easier said than done, but she might manage. She doesn’t seem like the nervous type.

As they waited for the captain to arrive, he spent some time reviewing the latest sensor readings on his PADD. He didn’t know what the mission would require, but it never hurt to reread the homework right before the quiz.

== Tag all ==

[GM-04]

As the final officers trickled into the Briefing Room, the doors hissed open and in stepped a tall Trill male with a tanned complexion, dark hair, and vibrant green eyes. He was exquisitely dressed in a fine business suit, that had obviously been fitted and tailored to his physique. For anyone familiar with humanoid facial expressions, the man was putting a pleasant veneer over deep-seated dislike of the situation. Behind him stood a tall human wearing the uniform of a Starfleet Security Lieutenant Commander; he too had dark hair and a scruff of facial hair, and maintained an expression of professional neutrality, though his eyes suggested he was not the civilian's biggest fan.

Jensen, and to a lesser extent, D'Tor'an, would recognise the man as Lieutenant Commander Bryan Crawford. Little brother of the famous Captain Tyra Crawford. Also Captain Braggins' husband.

The Trill looked around the room at the assembled officers, frown deepening and further creasing his features, and he released an exasperated sigh.

"Where is Captain Braggins? Can she not even be on time for her own briefing?"

Eyes scanning the room, they settled on Jensen, the only occupant wearing command maroon.

"What kind of circus is she running here, Commander?"

[Peter Jensen]

It was an open secret that Peter's relationship with Braggins had not always been...shall we say....the best? But he had come to respect her in a way.
And even just from the point of view of unit cohesion, he was loath to let anyone disrespect the ship's captain, in front of her senior staff and Midshipmen. Not even this well-dressed stranger who looked like he thought that his and/or his symbiote's excrement was not malodorous. Peter calmly stood up from his seat, meaning to portray a casual gesture, but the real intention was body language. The stranger standing up while saying that kind of nonsense was, in Peter's mind, clearly a dominance tactic.
No doubt he was important, but there was also a limit to what Peter would tale from him, and standing up to look him in the eyes rather than than looking up at him from a seated position, did make a difference.

"The Captain will join us once she is ready to deliver the mission briefing. And she's not running a circus, she's running a starship. A starship whose crew I will kindly thank you to not disrespect by calling it a circus", he said in a tone that was still well within the line of propriety but definitely also had steel behind it, and then changed the subject.

"In the meantime, perhaps some introductions are in order", he remarked, and looked at the well-dressed stranger.

"I am Commander Peter Jensen, First Officer. This is our Chief Engineer, Commander Jadaris, our Chief Science Officer,  Leftenant Commander Qi, our Chief of  Security, Leftenant d'Tor'an", he pointed out the senior staff one at a time

"And Midshipmen Alden and Bowman", he finished, gesturing to the two middies, then looked at the newcomer for his response.

== Yay for space Karens I guess ==

[Jennifer Braggins]

Though voices had not been raised, Jenny's enhanced hearing had picked up the entire exchange between Jensen and the diplomat as she strode through the doors into the Briefing Room, PADD in one hand and freshly-replicated mug of coffee in the other. Making no effort to acknowledge the interaction that had occurred between her First Order and the Diplomatic Corps weenie, she instead moved straight to her chair at the head of the table. She did, however, spare a small smile for her husband as she passed.

"Please take your seats, everyone."

Scanning the assembled officers, she noted that there was no senior staff representation from Sickbay, nor were several of the requested Midshipmen present. Suppressing a frown, she instead took her seat and placed her PADD and coffee mug in front of her. 

"Peter, please contact Sickbay and ensure they got your message about the briefing."

As Jensen got on that, Jenny connected her PADD to the briefing room holoprojector and the lights automatically dimmed. The projector displayed a 3D image of a solar system comprised of a main-sequence star, a class M world, asteroid belt and a series of spatial anomalies. The diplomat, not having a chair of his own, was forced to stand off to the side with the Midshipmen.

"This is the Wairara System, about thirty-five light-years to the galactic south of Starbase 214. It's home to one inhabited planet, also called Wairara. Long-range probes haven't given us much on the Wairara as a culture, but we do know they are warp capable and from intercepted communications, we also know that their culture is based around their faith in what they call 'The Great Race'; the belief that overcoming constant challenge drives the spirit of life and advancement."

Taking a sip from her coffee mug, Jenny continued.

"The Wairara system is home to several unique spatial anomalies, including a temporal-particle stream. The Wairara ships have also been identified travelling in excess of one third light speed at impulse power, without noticeable signs of time dilation. Starfleet Applied Sciences and the Theoretical Propulsion Group would very much like to get a good look at the system and its technology, which is where we come in."

Taking a breath for a moment, Jenny leaned forward and placed her arms on the table.

"The Federation Diplomatic Corps has, in its infinite wisdom, assigned us to establish First Contact with the Wairara. Wairara tradition is to greet new species by challenging them to a race. Commander Jensen will command the Glennis during the race, with Chertstone as pilot, Campbell as Engineer, Bowman as Science officer, Bremner as Medic, and Alden as Tactical Officer."

No doubt that would cause quite a stir among the crew; it wasn't often that the lower deckers were asked to do anything important, and yet Jenny was assigning them the most important task of the mission; it didn't matter how well she performed as a diplomat if they didn't demonstrate a respect for Wairara culture. Besides, Jensen deserved a chance to really show what he could do, and shepherding wayward Midshipmen was an excellent way of doing that.

"While Commander Jensen and the Midshipmen have all the fun, the rest of us will be engaging in diplomatic niceties and trying to get a good look at the things Starfleet wants us to look at. To that end, the Diplomatic Corps has assigned Mister Tomer to assist in negotiations. Before he provides us with a diplomatic briefing, does anyone have any questions?"

[Theresa Black]

== NRC – Flint Chertstone – Tactical Officer ==
>> Bridge >>

Following the Captain into the room, Flint's swagger faltered briefly when he realised it was standing room only. But that was okay. As Braggins took her seat at the head, being the last in he opted for crossing his arms and leaning back against the bulkhead trying to look as nonchalant as possible as the briefing began.

But when his name was mentioned, he straightened back up and began looking about the room putting two and two together while trying to put names to faces before his ego kicked in and a cocky grin appeared on his face as he imagined himself at the controls of the Yeager's Aeroshuttle.

Promotion to Alpha shift and now mission selected. Chertstone's personal star was certainly rising today.

[Artemis d'Tor'an]

When the Gorn walked in, it was hard to not be impressed by his height. And when he spoke, it was hard to not be impressed by his gentlemanly manner. Art wondered why he went into Engineering instead of Security, but then reminded herself that generalizing was generally not a good thing to do. Still, if she was to go on an away mission, she knew she’d feel safer with a great hulking dinosaur-like scientist.

What did put her on edge, though, was the Trill who walked -no, sauntered- into the room. He was followed immediately by what looked to be a bodyguard, and Art suppressed a growl as she realized that she had again not been apprised of who was on this ship. Being that the man was Jen Braggins’ husband may have had something to do with it, but she still didn’t appreciate being kept out of the loop. Again.

And then the Trill opened his mouth.

Luckily, Jensen got there first, retorting in a way that was nicer than Artie would have done. Peter fought with words, whereas Art fought with fists. And when the First Officer introduced the Department Heads, Art allowed herself a growl at the sharply-dressed Trill that stood before them. She also bared her teeth.

Braggins walked in, ordering everyone to take their seats in order to get the meeting started. What the Security Chief did respect was the Captain always got down to business, as she did now. The Wairara people seemed intriguing, and the space around them even more so. Being assigned a First Contact mission made her square her shoulders, taking pride that the ship of ‘misfits’ was granted such a task. It was a tactical and security nightmare, of course, but exciting all the same.

Then Braggins told them their assignments.

Alden as a Tac officer? What the what? I don’t even know where to start first with all the problems with that sentence. Art became aware that she was narrowing her eyes at the Captain, and forced herself to go back to her stone-faced expression. Still, she clenched her jaw. These Middies had been here for all of ten seconds, and they were being assigned to an Away Team for a First Contact?! Braggins asked if anyone had any questions, and Art just ground her teeth, suppressing the growl she felt threatening at the bottom of her throat.

“When do we rendezvous?” It was the only question she was able to get out behind her gritted teeth, and the only one that didn’t challenge her authority in the way that the well-dressed trash of a Trill had just done.


==Tag Braggins==

[Leo Alden]

Trying his hardest not to stare as the Gorn stood just meters away, he noted how polite he was. Obviously the chairs wouldn’t accommodate his size, but it was still a generous offer. Leo responded in kind with a nod in acknowledgement, both as a thanks and a wordless, no, thank you.

Not long after, another officer entered and smiled at Mika before seating himself. Seeing the same department colours as Mika’s, he made the connection, this must be the chief science officer. He made a mental note to introduce himself if the chance arose. After all, wasn’t it security’s job to know everyone?

Then the Trill walked in. Leo stood resolute as the tall tanned male walked in. HE noted the attitude, the perfectly tailored suit and a diplomatic mask barely concealing what had to be irritation. He had walked in as if he owned the place and Leo had to bite his lip at the man's snide comments.

I know I'm new but surely that can’t stand!

Leo flicked his eyes sideways, moving as little as possible to gauge D’Tor’an’s reaction and it didn’t look like it would be pretty. Luckily, Commander Jensen beat her to it, delivering a calm but firm response that stripped away the attache’s thinly veiled insult toward the Captain and her ship.

As the captain entered, Leo fought to hold his current, slightly relaxed posture, remembering the look of slight disappointment it earned him when he had snapped to attention the first time he had met her. Although it was taught at the academy and generally done when a commanding officer entered such a room, it didn’t seem to happen on this ship. As she walked to her seat at the head of table and enquired about the staff from sickbay, Leo took the opportunity to get his PADD ready to take some notes.

He furiously tapped away at the PADD hoping he was doing so noiselessly but he wanted to get it the first time so he had no questions. Most of the information he could double check or learn about afterwards so his fingertips worked maybe just as hard as his ears did. - The Wairara system, 35 LY south, 1 planet - Wairara, Long range probes ineffective, Warp capable, religion about The Great Race, Several spatial anomalies, temporal particle stream, ships equals one third light speed at impulse, no time dilation, theoretical propulsion group wants to look at their tech, tradition of greeting is a race, Jensen in command of the Glennis, Cherstone as pilot, campbell as engineer, bowman as science, Bremner as medic, Alden as tac.

SORRY! BLOODY WHAT NOW!!

His fingers froze over the PADD. His head reeled. Leo furrowed his brow, not to be impertinent but to make sure he had actually heard correctly. The captain continued on as if sending brand new midshipmen on a delicate first contact mission was standard procedure. He did not look at d’Tor’an. He didn’t need to, he already knew she wouldn’t be thrilled. Surely the Captain wasn’t particularly pleased either, but Leo wasn’t about to scan the room for reactions. He finished his notes with the senior staff’s task to be assisted by Mr. Tomer in negotiations. So that was his name, Leo had some research to do.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m pleased to be selected, and I did my Tac courses for one of my minors, but really? Oh god I hope nothing goes wrong. Who am I kidding? Its first contact, something always goes wrong!

Artemis had asked a question, so Leo looked back down at his PADD waiting for the answer to her question and any others that arose so he could take more notes. He stared intensely at his PADD, determined not to let either his excitement or nerves show.

== Tags ==

[Arwen Qi]

Qi made no effort to hide his delight as the captain handed out assignments for the upcoming mission. He couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity for the new midshipman to show off her skills, and perhaps discover a new passion at the same time.

“Excellent choice! Mika is exactly who I would have recommended for this mission, although I’m jealous that she’ll get to have all the fun.”

He turned back in his chair and tapped Mika’s shoulder. He hoped that she was excited as he was. Even the promised slog of diplomatic meetings didn't dampen his mood. The Wairara seemed interesting enough to be worth meeting.

“How much do we know about these wild spatial anomalies? How can we make sure that we don’t need to pick up our crew in another quadrant, or another decade?"

== Tag all ==

[Pax Cassidy]

Cassidy chided himself for losing track of time. His last appointment had run long, as usual. He still couldn’t bring himself to cut a patient off once they started talking. Luckily, the young Betazoid ensign who had come in for a visit didn’t seem to have anything wrong with him physically. Loneliness and stress were common among all ranks of Starfleet officers, though they were often too embarrassed to discuss them openly.

It was times like this that he wished that he attracted less attention. Even overlooking his implants, a man of his stature could hardly expect to slip into a room unnoticed.

The briefing room was a collection of faces that he recognized from the commissioning ceremony, though he hadn’t had time to meet most of them individually. He slid somewhat sheepishly into the open seat and caught most of the captain’s briefing.

“I’ll whip up an inoculation against chroniton radiation and include it in Bremner’s kit. Are these races pretty rowdy? Maybe we should put together a triage room in one of the cargo bays in case we need to beam someone out of the race in a hurry.”

== Tag ==

[T'Lari]

As the Captain went over the mission briefing, T'Lari considered the situation. This was the time she'd been involved in any sort of first contact mission. Her previous posting (not including the first Yeager) had involved Cardassian border patrols, supply runs, and the occasional smuggler. This was new, and she wondered if Starfleet had erred in assigning this ragtag ship and crew. But as she listened she understood. It wasn't just one mission.

Perhaps we will impress the Wairara people if we merely make a good showing.

The diplomatic part concerned her. While the newly-arrived Trill would be handling negotiations, he had already shown a disrespect for the Captain and crew. To immediately demonstrate such an attitude because the Captain (who had numerous demands on her time) lagged a few minutes behind did not speak well of the man. Perhaps he was one of those individuals who could hide his true beliefs behind a smile. He was, after all, a diplomat.

This is going to be a very interesting mission.

[Mika Bowman]

As Mika awaited the arrival of the other officers, she pondered the reason for her presence at this briefing. Her curiosity deepened when Qi entered the room and took a seat after offering her a polite smile. It was not only she who had been summoned; the other newly commissioned Midshipmen were also present. During the commissioning ceremony, Captain Braggins had mentioned that the Yeager operated in a more unorthodox manner compared to other Starfleet vessels.
 
Commander Jadaris arrived and offered the chair typically reserved for the Chief Engineer, which was understandable given his stature. Lacking confidence and experience in briefing sessions, Mika declined the offer, recognizing that she did not yet belong at such a level of seniority. Perhaps one day, but it was not something she anticipated in the near future.
 
A sense of anticipation filled the room when two new members entered. A Trill dressed in a business suit appeared unimpressed by the Captain's absence. The First Officer responded to the civilian's apparent rudeness with a measured tone. Mika wisely chose to distance herself from political figures, perceiving the Trill as politically inclined with a high opinion of himself. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes during their interaction.
 
Upon the Captain's arrival, the mission details became clearer. One of Starfleet's primary objectives is to establish friendly first contact with newly discovered warp-capable species. In this instance, they aimed to forge a positive relationship with the Wairara, a species known for their emphasis on "The Great Race" and challenging newcomers to racing competitions. The mention of various spatial anomalies intrigued Mika, as these could be subjects for further exploration. However, Mika realized she would not have the opportunity for extensive laboratory work. Instead, she would participate in the race aboard the Yeager’s sole auxiliary vessel.
 
Engaging closely with scientific phenomena would be ideal; however, I doubt there will be sufficient time for in-depth study. Although theoretically an excellent opportunity, my primary concern is ensuring the pilot avoids any perilous situations.
 
Qi expressed enthusiasm for Mika's involvement, though she found it difficult to share his excitement. Nonetheless, she acknowledged the importance of performing well and understood that any failure could reflect poorly on her. As the Commander requested clarification on the anomalies present in the system, Mika remained attentive, absorbing any information provided.

[Jennifer Braggins]

The assembled officers seemed to be taking the news in different ways, with varying degrees of happiness, excitement, stubborn reticence on d'Tor'an's part, and confusion. That was to be expected, Jenny reasoned, as Starfleet Academy didn't exactly teach Jenny's methods. Midshipmen in a briefing would be madness on most other ships, except as an exercise in being seen and not heard, and they certainly wouldn't be trusted with anything mission-critical. Not since Red Squad had taken the Valiant on a suicide mission some thirty years earlier. Still, the lack of  overall questions bothered her; while her own incessant questioning of orders had seen her labelled as insubordinate or a troublemaker, seeking further information or calling out stupid orders had kept people alive when otherwise they might have sailed into disaster.

It didn't mean she wasn't an insubordinate troublemaker, just that she had a good reason.

Given that d'Tor'an had asked the first question, however begrudgingly, Jenny figured her Chief of Security deserved to get the first reply. It might even cool her disposition about feeling left out whenever she wasn't the first person to get information. The math required for calculating how the Yeager's velocity would affect their estimated time of arrival wasn't something most Humans knew how to calculate in their head, but since her secret had been spilled by the woman from the Obsidian Order, Jenny didn't see the point in continuing to hide it.

"We're due to arrive in two weeks at Warp Eight. If we increase to Warp Nine, we cut that down to ten days. If we push the engines and increase to Warp Nine-point-Nine, we can be there in as little as four days. Commander Jadaris, if we increase to maximum cruise, will your teams have enough time to make any modifications to the Glennis?"

Qi's question, followed by Cassidy's comment, seemed to be a double-team about information that she'd been yet to review. Ultimately, Starfleet didn't know much about the stellar phenomena that appeared to be naturally-occurring in the Wairara system. 

"You'll have access to everything Starfleet has collected so far sent to your station for review; ultimately information is pretty thin, I'm afraid. The probe was diverted away from Wairara for...other duties. Expect gravity wells, chroniton particles, and so on. One of the reasons they're sending the Yeager is that we've got the sensor suites for the job."

She didn't need to mention that the probe had found the Wairara by accident while searching for traces of the mysterious energy signature the Yeager had discovered on her previous jaunt over the Talarian border. One, it was classified. Two, it didn't really have any bearing on the mission. 

"If there's nothing else, please deliver your briefing, Mister Tomer."

[Jadaris]

Jadaris stood silent, listening to the admonishments of Lieutenant Commander, and Jensen's own rebuttal. He was happy to see the situation being handled with something more than Zaldan diplomacy. Then Captain Braggins arrived, and the real information began to flow.

The Midshipmen being assigned to the race wasn't that much of a surprise. Star Fleet loved its sink or swim situations, and quite often midshipmen were dropped into the thick of things with the tools they needed, just to see how innovative they could be. It also brought to the fore who would be a capable leader in the future, and reflected on their Chiefs. When he was a midshipman, he had been assigned to bridge duty right out of the gate, and had to use all his education and experience to scan for a secret underwater base.

“How much do we know about these wild spatial anomalies? How can we make sure that we don’t need to pick up our crew in another quadrant, or another decade?"

Jadaris had his own questions as well, but he knew the scientific data from those types of probes was limited at best, and the Yeager would be responsible for gathering more data.

"We're due to arrive in two weeks at Warp Eight. If we increase to Warp Nine, we cut that down to ten days. If we push the engines and increase to Warp Nine-point-Nine, we can be there in as little as four days. Commander Jadaris, if we increase to maximum cruise, will your teams have enough time to make any modifications to the Glennis?"

Jadaris's brow, or what passed for it among Gorn, furrowed as he did the math. His idea of refitting the Glennis consisted of the installation of spatial sensors to detect chroniton eddies in real-time, as well as gravimetric and subspace sensors that could map out the interior of the anomaly. Jadaris, already having some experience with flying a shuttle through a temporal anomaly, knew what science might be looking for, but also what not to bring due to the risk of anomaly destabilization. He then replied,

"The difference of a few days will mean whether or not its jury-rigged, or properly refitted. I can probably refit the Glennis alongside my staff with sensor pallet modifications within a day, and if science can run the calibrations of said sensors, we can retune the engines, and given its a race, outfit her with more efficient energy relays. Those last few might take about two to three days, but I'd give it four to five days to have everything properly refitted and tested. I can do it in three, but we'll be pulling longer shifts."

"As for answering Commander Qi's question partially, there are special laws of quantum stabilization stating that older and stable anomalies generally contain less energetic chroniton eddies that can toss a ship out of its normal timestream. With the sensor modifications I have in mind, the Glennis should be able to detect those energetic quantum disturbances more precisely, but the inevitable proton buildup on the sensor arrays will likely be more severe the faster the shuttle goes at sublight speeds. We'll have to recalibrate our sensors to scan the anomaly, though we might be able to use the chroniton integrator on the ship to match our sensors to the resonant frequency of the anomaly's tensor fields and get more accurate readings. I would not recommend using the quantum slipstream drive anywhere around the system though, until we get a better understanding of subspace around the anomaly."

Having been a scientist and an engineer, Jadaris was capable of using both disciplines to achieve some interesting results, though he had to remind himself that he wasn't a first officer anymore. Stepping on toes was always possible being cross-trained, but at least it was more avoidable than trying to dance as a Gorn.

==tag Captain and Qi==

[Theresa Black]

== NRC – Flint Chertstone – Tactical Officer ==

Chertstone was mostly now thinking of being allowed to compete in a sanctioned race. And was already virtually accepting the trophy for first place. There had been other recorded events he'd read about while at the academy. After all, apart from the events of the Voyagers travels in the delta quadrant all those years ago that were as ever required eading, the one that had always stood out to him was the stories of the Antarian Trans-stellar Rally. It may have been only 30 years ago, but that was longer than he'd been alive, and so it represented the ancient history on a bygone age in his head.

Briefly he surfaced from his daydream and noticed the discomfort of the young security midshipman who'd been given the tactical role... Cherstone glanced over at T'Lari. His own senior officer for the moment. She seemed impassive at the assignments.

Don't worry kid. He thought to himself as he made a note to talk to the junior officer later. I'll teach you everything I know. I'll make you into the best darn tactical officer in the fleet, after me of course, by the time we win this race. We're gonna smoke them turkeys!

[GM-04]

The quick back-and-forth between Braggins and her crew had not left Tomer much time to interject, despite opening his mouth several times to do exactly that. Instead his expression became more surly as the briefing progressed, to the point where he looked absolutely indignant by the time he had finally been addressed by name and not simply referred to.

"If there's nothing else, please deliver your briefing, Mister Tomer."

Tomer's attention snapped back to Braggins, eyebrows furrowed in a frown. When he spoke, his voice carried the even tone of a career diplomat who was thoroughly upset.

"Captain Braggins, I must protest your decision to send...Junior Officers to participate in the race. The Wairara consider it a sacred event, and will no doubt consider it a calculated insult."

He folded his arms as he approached the table.

"The Diplomatic Corps requested you because of your background as a pilot. Which, I might add, is also why I was assigned."

His expression briefly became smug, before gesturing to Chertstone and casting a sneer at the Tactical Officer who nonchalantly stood leaning against the wall looking like the proverbial cat who got the canary.

"Even if they don't take it as an insult, what makes you believe that this...Officer...will sufficiently impress the Wairara enough to open formal diplomatic relations?"

[Leo Alden]

Leo stood frozen looking down at his PADD still, the information still filtering through his ears and attempting to find somewhere to settle within his mind. The senior staff, as expected, began to ask their questions although there weren't as many as he had expected and whether she had studied for this or was simply showing off somehow, the Captain reeled out answers nonchalantly as if reading them from a list laid before her.

Reminding himself he was here for a purpose, Leo started moving his fingers again, entering more data into his PADD; estimated arrival to Wairara, some retrofits to the Glennis and a lack of information about the systems possible problems and that more research would need to be done before their arrival.

The shock had come and gone. Now, as he looked around at the people who would essentially be his new family, Leo decided to relax for a moment and stop reading the room for once. It was his job to be aware at all times, yes, but not every second of the day he surmised, until the ship's guest had once again opened his mouth.

A voice full of obvious discontent and uncomfortableness almost brandished the Captain.

“Captain Braggins, I must protest your decision to send...Junior Officers to participate in the race. The Wairara consider it a sacred event, and will no doubt consider it a calculated insult.”

Leo did wonder for the smallest of moments given the pirate rumours, that if she had a phaser pistol within arms reach, if she'd shoot him in Response.

The man folded his arms, a classic sign of defence for anyone who understood body language, as he continued his attempt at controlling the situation.

"The Diplomatic Corps requested you because of your background as a pilot. Which, I might add, is also why I was assigned”

So there's history there? Is that a good or a bad thing in this instance?

"Even if they don't take it as an insult, what makes you believe that this...Officer...will sufficiently impress the Wairara enough to open formal diplomatic relations?”

The Trill male gestured towards Cherstone with his last dig and clearly the man was upset, but to go off on a Captain, in front of their staff, he was either brave or foolish.

She has to know what she’s doing, right? She wouldn’t have chosen us if we weren’t up for it. But is this a test for us? For Jensen? A lead-up to a promotion? Or is she testing Starfleet itself? Seeing how far she can push the rules?

Whatever the case was, Leo could do nothing but follow orders and only speak up should he feel the need to, like now, he was security after all, and this man seemed to be blowing a mental conduit fuse at the Captain.

“My apologies Sir but that is no way to speak to the captain upon whose vessel you stand as a guest whether Starfleet told you to or not.”

Not sure whether or not he would get a good scolding for it later, probably from both the Captain and his Chief, but he had started so he may as well finish so he lowered the PADD to his side as he took a step forwards to address the attache more clearly.

“We are all Starfleet officers here and we have all earned and proved the right to be called such. We Midshipman may not have a list of world breaking achievements but not many officers, regardless of rank, do. And whilst you may look down at us, Sir, did the Captain not say that a big part of The Great Race is about overcoming constant challenge. Surely the people of Wairara would respect us for trying, because winning the race doesn't seem to be the point.”

Stepping back and breathing a bit heavier than maybe he even realised, Leo looked sheepishly to the captain as took his place next to d'Tor'an once more. Now he knew not to look at his Chief, he could only imagine the fury that was building up in her at her Midshipmen's burst.

== Tags ==

[Artemis d'Tor'an]

It was a testament to her patience that Artemis stayed quiet, without so much as a growl. There was, as was expected, some comments from the rest of the department heads regarding who Braggins had chosen for the Away Team. Luckily, Braggins chose to answer Art’s question first: they were to arrive in two weeks. Two weeks to whip Midshipman Alden into shape for an Away Mission. Two weeks to prepare the young man for the coveted task of First Contact.

Art already felt a tension headache forming. Especially since Braggins added that they could be at their destination as soon as four days. That was the first growl that Artie had to suppress.

The second would-be growl came when Ambassador Assistant Tomer sneered, his tone attempting to cut the Captain down as he objected to the assigned officers. The Chief wondered when the real Ambassador would show up, and perhaps hit the young man for her.

In response to the spoiled Assistant, Midshipman Alden took the stage.

“My apologies sir,” he started, “but that is no way to speak to the Captain upon whose vessel you stand as a guest, whether Starfleet told you to or not.”

He wasn’t finished.

“We are all Starfleet officers here, and we have all earned and proved the right to be called such. We Midshipmen may not have a list of world-breaking achievements, but not many officers, regardless of rank, do. And whilst you may look down at us, sir, did the Captain not say that a big part of The Great Race is about overcoming constant challenge? Surely the people of Wairara would respect us for trying, because winning the race doesn't seem to be the point.”

Alden stepped back and caught his breath, the third would-be growl dying in Art’s throat as he completed his small speech. She was reminded of a line in a book from hundreds of years ago, which had since been clipped into a small adage: “Is it true you shouted? You called them a liar? You’re grounded. Have a cookie.” It was a cute little saying that rang true for parents and Security Chiefs alike - you were in trouble, but what you did was good. She felt like saying it to Alden now.

Instead, she chose to fold her hands on the table, and give a pointed look to the rude young man. The smile Art gave, however, was more like a predator baring its teeth. With that look, Art dared Tomer to speak against her officer.


==Tag GM==

[Theresa Black]

== NRC – Flint Chertstone – Tactical Officer ==

Flint listened as the man in the expensive suit began talking once the Captain had given him permission to do so.

"Captain Braggins, I must protest your decision to send...Junior Officers to participate in the race. The Wairara consider it a sacred event, and will no doubt consider it a calculated insult.
The Diplomatic Corps requested you because of your background as a pilot. Which, I might add, is also why I was assigned."

The man sounded like a whiny little SOB in all honesty, and having missed his earlier insults before they'd entered. Flint wondered; You were assigned cause you're a pilot too? A Pilot Pen Pusher. More like it..

The the man turned his attention in Flint's direction. Flint confused, glanced momentarily sideways at the hulking Gorn who was stood nearby before he realised it was actually him the man was now referring to.

"Even if they don't take it as an insult, what makes you believe that this...Officer...will sufficiently impress the Wairara enough to open formal diplomatic relations?"

Flint pushed off of the wall with the intention to give a more intimidating stance and make a cutting reply, which he hadn't actually thought of yet, but the young security officer got there first.

“We are all Starfleet officers here” He began, “and we have all earned and proved the right to be called such. We Midshipman may not have a list of world breaking achievements but not many officers, regardless of rank, do. And whilst you may look down at us, Sir, did the Captain not say that a big part of The Great Race is about overcoming constant challenge. Surely the people of Wairara would respect us for trying, because winning the race doesn't seem to be the point.”

Flint couldn't agree more with what Alden had said. Except for the last bit about winning not being  the point. Surely that was the whole point?

Crossing his arms, Chertstone straightened his pose fully and made sure to level his best wry smile back at the tailored man, hoping to imply a 'beat that!' attitude without having to actually respond himself.

[Arwen Qi]

Qi was impressed by Jadaris’s grasp of astrophysics, though he still had some concerns. After all, the Wairara had likely learned how to cope with the dangers inherent in such a chaotic region of space over many decades. The Yeager had days to get up to speed, at best.

Before the two had time to discuss scientific details, the diplomat made clear his feelings about the captain’s crew assignment which prompted surprisingly forceful pushback from the redheaded security officer.

“We are all Starfleet officers here and we have all earned and proved the right to be called such. We Midshipman may not have a list of world breaking achievements but not many officers, regardless of rank, do. And whilst you may look down at us, Sir, did the Captain not say that a big part of The Great Race is about overcoming constant challenge. Surely the people of Wairara would respect us for trying, because winning the race doesn't seem to be the point.”

Qi wasn’t so sure. In many cultures, respect had to be earned. A poor showing could easily damage their relationship with the Wairara. He kept his mouth shut, not willing to say anything to undermine the crew’s unified front. Still, in that moment, he decided that they were going to win. He would do anything necessary to make it happen.

== Tag all ==

[Leo Alden]

Leo stood still, barely breathing, staring at a single point on the opposite wall.

D’Tor’an hadn’t said a word. But the way she folded her hands, the way her smile bared just a little too much teeth, told him everything he needed to know.
She wasn’t angry. Well. She was. But with a bit of luck, not at him. Leo didn’t dare glance her way, but he had the distinct impression that she was challenging Tomer to keep talking.

Oh. That’s… not the look of someone about to rip my head off.

He resisted the urge to exhale in relief and instead focused on his PADD, waiting to write down more questions and answers when he caught the movement near him.

Chertstone had straightened up, arms crossed, expression cool but unmistakably firm.

Alright. Maybe that wasn’t as reckless as I thought.

Flint didn’t say anything, but the look he gave Tomer was a challenge in itself. The only thing that made Leo pause was the slight shift in expression. A flicker of something that didn’t quite match full agreement.

Wait… but what if the Wairara care more about winning?

Leo now wondering what some the others might be thinking, peeked a glance at some of the other officers and found the Chief Science Officer also changed his expression. Not to outwardly disagree, but maybe he believed the same as Flint, winning was more important.

OK. Winning would be a massive boon, but maybe finishing the race was enough to prove we'd overcome the challenge?

Now was not the time to dwell on it. Leo had made his stand and spoken from the heart. But maybe his idealistic view would need reviewing.

== Tags ==

[Jadaris]

"Captain Braggins, I must protest your decision to send...Junior Officers to participate in the race. The Wairara consider it a sacred event, and will no doubt consider it a calculated insult."

Well, talk about counting eggs before they've hatched. What does he know that we don't?

Jadaris waited as Midshipman Alden defended the Captain's reasoning, allowing himself a smile as the Midshipman reminded him of the way things used to be when he had a lot less pips.

Drawing from some of the experience he had, Jadaris said,

"Mister Tomer, given your experience in diplomacy, if this is a First Contact scenario, then we all have no clue what constitutes an insult to this species except by trial and error, or by asking nicely. Speculating on the beliefs of a First Contact species without accurate information is a nice way to set yourself up for a gaffe. What if the Wairara consider a ship crewed by veteran pilots to be cheating, or a concerted effort to win without being sportsmanlike? In this case, acceding to the experience of the Captain is what defines First Contact diplomacy, since we have such limited information. That being said, giving our junior officers the opportunity to prove themselves may be the unpredictability that pulls off a diplomatic win."

Jadaris wanted to add that veteran pilots who were young would be considered better assets, but pushing Tomer's buttons further might result in an ego core breach in the briefing room, not to mention that Jenny might take offense about being called old. He was also tempted to comment that if Tomer didn't like junior officers racing without him, there was always stealing a shuttle to go compete yourself, but he figured Artemis didn't need more headaches, not when her midshipman could create more for her. However, Jadaris did add,

"Just so that its out there, but I believe I'm the only person in the room who's flown a shuttle into a temporal anomaly during their Star Fleet career. And its not something you want to do by yourself, or even a two person crew. We barely managed to rescue most of the crew of the Renaissance from that temporal cloud we encountered, but a diverse team able to think on the fly I believe would have been more successful."

That time, Jadaris had stolen a shuttle while he was temporarily driven crazy by an imzadi bond that was attenuating in that temporal cloud. The loss of Ki'sa Orano had since caused him to lock down mentally and emotionally, and though he eventually got over the loss, he had undertaken steps to prevent that from occurring again. Especially the part of stealing shuttles and using prefix codes to escape tractor beams.

==tag==

[Peter Jensen]

Peter was definitely caught off guard by the changing circumstances of the mission. Not only was this a First Contact mission - which would be his second of his career - but he was going to lead the "practical"  aspect of it.
Not that he didn't feel he could, of course. He was nervous, sure, but that was the hallmark of a good officer, he thought. Nerves before important missions - and there were few missions more important than first contact - were important to make sure everyone was at their best.

No, his apprehension didn't spike until she assigned him his crew. Chetstone as pilot. Alden as tactical officer. The others were at least trained in the roles they were assigned, but assigning a security officer as tactical struck him as a mistake, and a potentially big one.
He wasn't going to go out and say such, of course. And he tried to remind himself of the famous Worf, who had started as a security officer, but turned into quite the tactical officer in his own right.
And trying to ignore the voice in the back of his mind which reminded him that when Worf went on to tactical, he was quite a bit further in his career than a Middie fresh out of the Academy.

Peter was happy that his back was turned as he'd headed over to a nearby console to send a message to Sickbay to kindly attend the meeting they'd been called to, please, and thank you, because that allowed him to close his eyes and take a deep breath so that his feelings on this matter wouldn't show. He took that moment, and then turned back to take his place again.

When the Trill started speaking, however, Peter found himself wishing he'd stop. His fist ever so tightly clenched when the suit started disrespecting his crew in front of them. Had the Captain not been here, he would have had choice words for the man, more than before, even, but she was. So he held his tongue.
Alden, however, did not, and Peter had to force himself to not chuckle loudly. The kid had balls, that much was certain. And oh, how it must have bothered the suit to be spoken to like that by a Midshipman. Peter was almost gleeful as he noticed Art's reaction, and he read it well. It was definitely both a reproach and "I have your back" at the same time, and he approved wholeheartedly.
He would have done the same as COS.

I suddenly like Midshipman Alden a lot more than a few minutes ago.

When Jadaris spoke up, Peter could have kissed him, if he had been inclined that way, and if he wasn't already in a committed relationship with one of his subordinates. His thoughts mirrored Jadaris'. They simply didn't have enough information to go on to draw any kind of conclusion.
And on that subject...

"Cdr. Jadaris brings up excellent points", he said, looking at the not-so-diplomatic diplomat. Until now, the apperance he'd likely given was one of a man who had listened and taken in all of the perspectives being offered before offering his own. "We don't really know enough about them to make a lot of conclusions of any kind, do we? Also, I will also thank you to note the fact that the crew will not be exclusively junior officers. Unless, of course, you consider the First Officer junior too?", he said pointedly, then continued before the man could respond:

"Another question, on the same line of thought as Cdr. Jadaris: Is there any indication as to whether or not the race is ceremonial, or meant as an actual challenge? I mean are we expected to do our best to win the race, or are we expected to treat it as a Roman triumph and keep ourselves behind the Wairarans? Any taboos to avoid? Any bit of confirmed information would be helpful"

He didn't expect there to be much, of course, given the nature of the mission, but even a little bit, he would gladly take.

First Contact-missions were risky enough by their very nature. Going in there more blind than necessary was an idea he did not relish.

[GM-04]

==Those...were some fantastic responses! I have a feeling I'm going to like working with this crew!==

Tomer's face turned an alarming shade of crimson when Alden spoke, and a vein started to quite obviously throb in his forehead while the Midshipman dressed him down. He had barely even had a chance to consider a retort before more of Braggins' merry band of misfits tried to pile it on, adding their own inane thoughts about how First Contact should be conducted, and how he should treat members of the crew.

How I should treat them!

It was ludicrous to the extreme. How dare these uniformed lackeys talk to him in such a way? He was the diplomatic specialist, so he had civilian oversight on how this endeavor was to proceed, and he wasn't about to be talked-down to by a bunch of stiff-necked and jackbooted warmongers. Especially this group, who had so far pushed the limit of peace with Cardassia twice, not to mention the fiasco with the Tholians. Yes, he was here to clamp down on Jennifer Braggins and her reckless behavior, and ensure that the Wairara made the correct choices when it came to picking their friends in the interstellar community.

Forcing himself to keep his composure, and willing the redness to fade somewhat from his face, Tomer adjusted his expensive jacket quickly and cleared his throat.

"Due to the Starfleet probe not having sufficient time to collect much data from the Wairara's communications broadcasts, we cannot be sure if this race is ceremonial or not. What we do know, is that racing is a major part of their culture, winning teams are lavishly rewarded. They have named their star Zun, after their god of Engineering, and their faith is based on the constant need to overcome challenge. This leads the Diplomatic Corps to believe that the race has both religiously ceremonial aspects, while also being meant as an actual challenge."

He didn't mention that the information he had delivered was virtually everything of cultural significance that the Diplomatic Corps had gathered on the Wairara. They didn't even know what one looked like. On the other hand, the uniformed peons only needed to show up, compete in the race, and look good for the cameras as Tomer completed his first First Contact and permanently secured his career path. This "briefing" was just, in Tomer's mind, a formality. A box to be checked off.

"I therefore believe it is in the best interests of interstellar diplomacy, that a veteran crew participate in the race. I believe, Captain, that those were your instructions from Ambassador Langtree?"

[Pax Cassidy]

Cassidy fiddled with a port on his mechanical arm, feeling the irritation boil in his stomach. The sheer arrogance of this Mr. Tomer was nearly too much to bear. He smirked openly as the Engineering midshipman fired back, enjoying the way that the Trill’s handsome features twisted with contempt.

“With all due respect,” Cassidy’s low voice rumbled through gritted teeth. He had practiced that phrase often. “I wouldn’t let you tell me how to run my operating room, and I doubt the captain will let you run her mission. Unless you have any further information for us, I think we all have important preparations to complete.”

Cassidy shifted impatiently in his seat, turning to the other officers.

“Jadaris, let me know if you need any help modifying the Glennis. It’s been a while since I’ve worked on anything as big as a shuttle, but I’m still pretty good with a hyperspanner.”

In truth, Cassidy had spent many hours working on shuttles. His father made a hobby of salvaging them and fixing them up in his spare time. Some of Cassidy’s earliest memories were of holding a light while his father muttered curses at a loose panel plate. As he got older, he played a more active role in the repairs. It didn’t give him the same satisfaction that it seemed to give his father, but he enjoyed the time together. The thought made him a bit homesick.

== Tag all ==

[Jennifer Braggins]

Tomer was certainly among the more...entitled and...vocal...members of the Diplomatic Corps that Jenny had encountered, and she felt a familiar fire burning in her stomach as he spoke. Though she was a great proponent of civilian oversight, a necessity in any true democracy, she didn't appreciate meddling. Meddling got people hurt. For a brief moment, despite Tomer expressing what he considered quite reasonable concerns regarding how she intended to proceed, Jenny was torn between options for how to deal with the diplomatic attaché.

Shoot him here. Or airlock him after the briefing?

Jenny clamped down on that train of thought pretty quickly. Though she knew it came from her genuine dislike of meddlers and tin gods who thought they owned everything, she was also well aware of where giving in to the intrusive thoughts would take her. 'Superior ability breeds superior ambition' was something she took care to remind herself of every day, lest the intrusive thoughts win and she embark on a course that would make her the next Khan Noonien Singh.

As it happened, however, Jenny didn't need to jump on the impertinent diplomat. Her crew, from young Alden all the way to her First Officer, were handling themselves rather well; defending themselves and her decision as Captain. To prevent herself from smiling, Jenny instead plucked a cigarette from her pocket and lit it, reclining in her chair as she watched the back-and-forth with a look of amusement on her face. Tyra had said that being a Captain was like being a parent, and Jenny hadn't really seen it during her tenure on the Philadelphia. The scene before her, however, was definitely proving her sister-in-law correct. With a quick glance at Bryan, she saw the disapproval in his eyes as she exhaled a cloud of smoke through her nose, she'd promised she'd try to quit, but she also saw the same glimmer of amusement as he rolled his eyes at whatever Tomer had just said.

I'd better stop this before it gets out of hand.

"That's enough, gentlemen."

Sitting upright in her chair, Jenny held the smoking stick between her right index and middle finger.

"Mister Tomer, I understand your misgivings. However, my orders from the Diplomatic Corps did not expressly order me to be the pilot, nor would I agree to such orders on the grounds of safety; I haven't had a chance to requalify since taking command of the Yeager, and outside of an emergency situation, that means I legally cannot pilot a craft. It's also worth noting that I'm not a racing pilot, I was a combat pilot; it's two completely different skillsets with only a few overlaps."

That was a little white lie; utilising the Holodecks and bouts of insomnia during the night shift, she'd kept her flight certifications current and had gained qualified status on the Yeager and Aeroshuttle. As the Yeager did not possess any certified flight instructors besides herself, she could not officially qualify, though she doubted anyone at Starfleet Tactical would bat an eyelid if she used her own instructor certification to renew her qualification. It was something she would need to address in future; it never hurt to have a few people with advanced knowledge capable of teaching new skills aboard, especially when the shit hit the fan.

"Furthermore, I remind you that I am Captain and designated mission leader. You are here to assist with the diplomatic side of things. Until I receive written orders from Starfleet Command placing you in charge of this mission, I will employ my ship and crew in the manner that I think is most appropriate, and you will respect and follow any orders given. If you cannot in good conscience do that, then I respect your decision, and you will spend the rest of this expedition in your quarters."

Jenny rose from her chair and placed her hands on the desk, the humour had vanished with her face, replaced with an expression that was deadly serious.

"Am I understood?"

[Theresa Black]

== NRC – Flint Chertstone – Tactical Officer ==

Flint listened as Jadris and Cassidy both spoke, stating how they were both interested in applying modifications to the areoshuttle. The engineer he decided would be useful. The medic, despite the big man having half his body replaced with more mechanical parts than he considered healthy, Flint wasn't too sure of.

Besides, in his head right now, Flint was already crossing the line in the lead and performing a victory roll in his ship.

But when the diplomat then made it clear that he deemed it that the Captain should be the one doing the piloting, Flint had to stop himself coughing an expletive under his breath at the thought of having his moment of glory ripped out from under his feet before they'd even began.

Skinny little...

But then the Captain spoke, and set the man straight. There was something about the way she silenced the room. Flint's cocky grin widened as he said; “If you want change your mind, Ma'am. The co-pilots seat is yours for the taking.”

He underlined his admiration with a subtle thumbs up. He didn't wink. After all, he didn't want to send the wrong message.

[Artemis d'Tor'an]

To back up Alden’s speech, and Chertstone’s attitude, and Art’s feral glare, the biggest muscle of them all spoke up as well. Jadaris, a Gorn of over 7 feet tall and nearing 400 pounds, was not someone to be trifled with. As it were, the man was sweet and sensical, and brought a sense of logic to the Starfleet argument.

What really impressed her was his admittance that he had flown a craft inside of a temporal anomaly, something she wanted to request his logs for.

To bookend that, the First Officer spoke up. Art wondered faintly if the entire room was going to say their peace to this young arrogant man, and what he would make of that. “A bit of confirmed information would be helpful” almost made Art laugh out loud.

Tomer was obviously -visibly- not taking this well. The crew was ganging up on him, the Captain wasn’t stopping them (but knowing Braggins, why would she?), and he was losing their respect by the second.

The Chief Medical Officer, who had been late to the meeting but certainly wasn’t late to being insulted, threw in a comment or two. Art thought the vein in Tomer’s head was going to blow, and then Cassidy would really have something to work on. To top it all off, Braggins leaned back and ignited a small nicotine stick, finally calling order to the circus.

“Am I understood?”

Well, if anything, Art could certainly tell that the young woman was a mother. She did not falter in her glare at the assistant Ambassador, however, as the entire room waited to see what he would do or say next.

Of course the gym-rat Chertstone had to speak up, the lone voice in a sea of silence, like the singular call of a bird. He even gave the Captain a thumbs up. Had Art been any closer to him, she would have smacked him upside the back of the head. She settled with shifting her glare from Tomer to Chertstone.

“yItamchoH!” She said instead to him, quietly. He might not understand Klingon, but he would understand the hushed sentiment.


== “yItamchoH” = Be quiet / shut up ==

[GM-04]

Tomer opened his mouth to speak, to interject, to fundamentally disagree with everything that Braggins said, but her stream of consciousness (some might call it word-vomit) prevented him from getting a chance. He'd gone an even darker shade of red, almost purple, when he realized that she was not taking the situation seriously; she was letting her crew try and stamp all over his authority, and had the audacity to do something as disgusting as smoking in his presence.

The levels of unprofessionalism amongst this crew truly was astounding! She'd even threatened him with being confined to his quarters!

"Am I understood?"

She was finally done! He would finally get to put her in her deserved place. Tomer paused, however, words freezing on his tongue as he looked at the diminutive Captain staring at him from the other end of the table. She hadn't raised her voice, in fact her inflection hadn't changed at all, and yet the expression on her face had him locked in place. It was the look of a woman used to being underestimated, fed up of being a pawn in some political game, and who had seen horrors beyond his comprehension. A woman who probably would not hesitate to put Darpen Tomer out the nearest airlock given the slightest reason. His face briefly drained of color as his jaw worked without sound. 

Eventually, he found his voice again.

"Understood."

This time, his cheeks flushed with shame. Shame for being spoken to in such a way, shame at being denigrated, and shame for letting it happen.

[Leo Alden]

Leo kept his head down, fingers hovering over his PADD, watching the senior officers. He didn't type. Not yet. Jadaris had spoken first after Leo, and that was a relief. He hadn’t dismissed him. Instead, he expanded the argument:

"Trial and error. Speculating without accurate information is a nice way to set yourself up for a gaffe."

That stuck with Leo. They were all guessing. Even Tomer. Jadaris' experience flying into a temporal anomaly made Leo pause, adaptability and teamwork mattered just as much as experience.
Then there was the XO. He had kept his emotions carefully in check, turning his back to summon the missing medical staff. It gave him a moment to compose himself.Leo didn’t know exactly what the XO was thinking, but the pause before turning back made him suspect he wasn’t thrilled about the Midshipmen’s assignments. Did he doubt them? But Jensen didn’t question it. Instead, he asked the real question:

"Are we expected to win? Or are we expected to hold back?"

Leo’s grip on his PADD tightened.

That’s what I should have asked.

His earlier assumption, that trying was enough, was crumbling. Maybe winning really did matter. Not for ego or pride. Because it proved they could overcome the challenge. He felt a touch foolish about speaking too soon, without enough information. A mistake he would hopefully learn from.

Tomer had turned red with rage, his forehead vein pulsing. Leo had almost expected him to explode. Instead, he forced himself to stay composed and doubled down.

"Winning teams are lavishly rewarded. Their faith is based on the constant need to overcome challenge."

Leo’s stomach tightened. That was it. The final confirmation. Winning wasn’t just for prestige. It was proof. Proof that they could overcome. His grip on his PADD tightened further.

Cassidy had no patience for Tomer’s arrogance and Leo bit his tongue to suppress a chuckle at his words. Cassidy’s approach was simple. Direct. No debating, no arguing. Just shut him down and move on. Despite keeping his head low, Leo had been watching the Captain. Braggins had been silent, amused, even lighting a cigarette while her crew verbally tore Tomer apart. She had let it happen. Had she been testing them? But when she finally stepped in, her response was sharp, decisive, absolute.

"I remind you that I am Captain and designated mission leader. You are here to assist."

The room had been alive with tension, officers weighing in, voices rising and falling. But now? Dead silent. The Captain had spoken. Final and Unshakable. It wasn’t a warning. It was a final decision. And if Tomer didn’t like it? He’d be confined to quarters. Leo held his breath. Had she been waiting for Tomer to push too far? Or had she let the crew vent before shutting it down? The difference mattered. And Leo wasn’t sure which it was. That unsettled him. The finesse of command was a balancing act upon a knife’s edge. He had spent years studying leadership, but now? Now he was seeing it firsthand. If he ever wanted to sit in the big chair, he had a lot more to learn. Then Flint spoke.

Leo’s eyes flicked up just in time to catch Flint’s cocky grin and subtle thumbs-up. Leo’s fingers twitched slightly over his PADD. It wasn’t the words that struck him. It was the confidence. Flint didn’t hesitate. Didn’t overthink. Didn’t analyze every angle. Leo wasn’t there yet. He was still questioning, trying to understand authority and action. Flint already knew where he stood. Leo made a note of that. Then, just as quickly, he lowered his gaze back to his PADD. And then,

"yItamchoH."

Leo recognized the phrase immediately as 'Shut up'. D’Tor’an’s words had been quiet, but firm. A reprimand, aimed directly at Chertstone. Leo flicked a glance toward Flint. Would he even get it?

The contrast between himself and Flint was becoming clearer by the second. Flint didn’t question anything. Just rolled with the moment, cocky as ever. Leo? Leo was still analyzing everything. He wondered for a moment how it would affect them working together on the Glennis, would their differences work like a giant melting pot of ideas and strategies, or would it help them secure a unfixable stance in the eyes of the Wairara. 

And then there was Jadaris. Unlike Flint, Jadaris knew when to speak and when to be silent. His words had weight, not just because of his size, but because of how and when he used them. Leo’s gaze dropped to his PADD again.

This crew operated differently. On another ship, the Captain wouldn’t have let any of this happen. Was she testing them? Or letting them learn something the hard way? Leo kept his head down, fingers hovering over his PADD, still absorbing everything. And then,

"Understood."

Tomer’s voice lacked all its earlier confidence. The arrogance was gone, replaced with something, quieter. Leo glanced up and the man looked humiliated. Flushed red for all the wrong reasons and the shift had been so sudden that Leo almost didn’t believe it. A minute ago, he had been ready to tear into Braggins, convinced of his own authority. But Braggins hadn’t fought him. Hadn’t raised her voice. Hadn’t even argued. She had just stood her ground. Tomer had assumed authority. Braggins embodied it.

Leo swallowed as he considered if he ever wanted to be in a position where just a look could silence a room? He had thought about command before, everybody had, but now? Now, he wasn’t sure. He was rapidly learning that authority wasn’t about knowing the right thing to say. It wasn’t about pushing orders through. It was about owning the space you stood in. Filling the room without needing to raise your voice. Could he ever do that?

Leo exhaled slowly, turning his focus back to his PADD. One thing was clear. He had a hell of a lot more to learn.

[Jennifer Braggins]

Jenny watched without amusement as Tomer backed down. Though she felt like she'd earned a sense of pride in forcing the man to accept that he wasn't actually in charge, she also knew she'd opened herself up to all sorts of grief from the civilian Powers That Be the moment the assignment was completed, regardless of result. Given the attitude the Trill diplomat had shown, having not actually bothered to introduce himself to her crew, Jenny had the distinct impression that his continued presence aboard was going to be A Problem. Unfortunately, she had no justification to confine him to quarters.

Yet.

Slipping back into her seat, Jenny reclined and pondered her next course of action for a moment, cigarette still held between her index and middle knuckles, wisps of smoke rising from it and being sucked straight into the ventilation system above her head for purification and recycling.

Making her decision, Jenny returned her chair to an upright position and placed her hands on the table before her.

"If there's nothing else, I think we should consider this briefing over. Mister Chertstone, increase speed to Warp Nine. You are to spend every waking hour not on duty practicing for the race; if the Wairara take this as seriously as Mister Tomer believes, I need your A-Game. I'll be monitoring your progress, and if I see you so much as think about anything other than your duty or the race, I'll revoke your flight status so fast you'll think you'd been run over by a Borg Cube."

Turning to the more senior members of the crew, Jenny continued.

"Jadaris, Arwen, I want you brushing up on everything you know about chroniton particles and any other spatial anomalies the race might pass through, and come up with an ingenius way to protect the Glennis from it. I know we're on a tight schedule, so it doesn't have to be pretty, it just has to work. And make sure Miss Bowman and Mister Campbell have the knowledge they'll need to work the modifications in the field. 

Peter, I want your team in the holodeck getting used to working as a team. I don't need to remind you that this is high-stakes, and while I'd rather you won, the priority is making a good showing and coming back in one piece. Actually, that reminds me; Artemis, I want you to arrange some survival excercises for the team in case something goes wrong during the race. Abandon ship procedures for the Aeroshuttle, EVA survival, that kind of thing."

With her crew given their orders, Jenny dismissed them with a wordless shoo-ing motion. Eight days, that's how long they had until Jenny's second First Contact mission as Captain, and hopefully it went better than the previous one had...

[Artemis d'Tor'an]

Diplomatic Assistant Tomer backed down. He swallowed his pride, which must have been a big load, and more or less apologized to the Captain. Still, Braggins did not seem happy. Art had a faint thought that the woman never seemed to be happy unless she was seemingly violating some half a dozen Starfleet laws, but for now, they were on the same side. The Captain may have used a calm voice to soothe the Trill’s tempers, but Art was still not above biting the man.

Then the orders came. Chertstone to eat, breathe, and sleep racing; the brains were given chroniton-related homework; First Officer was to work on getting the team to work cohesively; and Art was given the task of putting them all through a crash-course in survival training.

Artie’s lips curled into a wicked smirk.

Her mind was already racing as she stood up from the chair, throwing a glance towards Alden that told him to follow her back to Security. So Peter would have one holodeck, and she would take the other; anyone else wanting it for a midnight cruise would just have to wait until this annoying Assistant Diplomat was off the ship.

Another jolt of wickedness shot through her as she realized that Tomer would have to be a part of her survival training. She didn’t think Braggins would actually mind if he were to ‘accidentally’ break an arm or a leg. Or both. At the same time. The thought almost made her laugh as she and Alden walked back to their department’s spot on the ship.

Maybe this mission would be more fun than she thought.


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