The Grand Tour, Part 1

Posted on Fri May 22nd, 2020 @ 3:16am by Second Mate Colleen Branagan & Master Steward Othor Jaxz Ghost of the Second Star

1,601 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Proving Ground
Location: Various, on board Second Star
Timeline: Prior to Mission Launch

{Second Star- Bridge}

Othor was waiting, padd and gifts in hand. His long black robes, cinched with a simple belt at the waist concealed most of his form danced at his feet while he loomed near the rear doors. He had earned the nickname "Ghost" by his peers for the willowy movements full of grace. They didn't realize how close to his wartime name they had gotten, but such conversation would only invite further scrutiny.

They had a science officer, one gifted from a benevolent god, as she was Starfleet to boot. Nobody needed to say that he had to impress, it was part of his job to know. Othor knew the standard crewman's quarters for ships like this was a shared bunk unless you carried rank. Though limited, Colleen's training and position dictated her rank well enough that she had been given one of the state rooms, converted into a private suite.

He pondered her role, and what was to come. The secret agenda he had long held was second nature to him, and he barely registered it most days. He thought to himself, She is probably the one to bring us all home in a few years... but those were dangerous thoughts.

His attention snapped back to the observation lounge which was now an oversized office suite for their Shipmaster Fala. Colleen left the room, looking thoroughly talked to. Job applications and hiring processes were draining even under ideal circumstances. What had brought Colleen here was certainly less than ideal.

"Officer Branagan?"

Hearing her name, the scientist turned in the direction of the sound and saw a handsome black man with short hair and beard waiting for her. "Yes. Are you the Master Steward? I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. All the business of hiring took longer than I ever expected."

Othor replied with a gentle half bow, gesturing for her to come over to him.

She walked toward him, not certain exactly how ranks on Second Star worked yet, but thinking that being politely friendly was always acceptable. She held out her hand to him. "I'm not up to speed on Second Star yet, so please forgive me if I make mistakes."

Othor took her comments as they were, presuming she didn't intend offense. They had just rooted out more than a dozen operatives and their very own Security chief as Intelligence moles. He took her hand in a gentle clasp with both of his, noting how warm her skin was to the touch.

Diligence was to be expected, though he did offer, "Had you the experience of our previous two weeks perhaps the scrutiny of hiring another Starfleet officer would feel justified."

He released from the handshake, continuing on with a gesture to the Turbo-lifts,"... and worry not, there are no mistakes on our maiden voyage, just opportunities for growth. I'd be delighted to show you our operation, take any questions or concerns?"

Smiling again, Colleen felt she was going to like this one. She turned toward the lift and replied, "And I'd be delighted to have answers and see how things work. It's rather strange to be aboard what seems like a Starfleet vessel and suddenly turn a corner where nothing seems to be as it should. I know I'll get used to the changes, but a little guide through them is most welcome." She stepped aboard and waited for the Master Steward to join her and give directions.

She was a bright spot on his telepathic periphery, and gave him a mental aftertaste similar to lemon freshness. He liked her, it was immediate, and instinctual. Kas had wanted Othor to get a good sense of her, but he frankly knew at a glance from this short interaction that she was exactly as she seemed. Honesty was rare, and charm was a treat. Colleen had both in spades.

He entered after her taking up station at her side, while amiably chatting to her, "You've seen the bridge, and we will return here to have our first Officer Kas Shar'shzen begin your first day orientation. We can skip Deck 2, highlights include collapsed decks with honeycombed reinforcements, Impulse plasma arrays, maintenance access to Bridge systems, be still my heart." He hoped sarcasm was a suitable humor for her.

Branagan laughed. "By all means, let's skip that deck! I think probably looking at my sensor screens at the plasma arrays will tell me all I need to know. Seriously, though, was that part of the rebuild of the ship? Collapsed anything doesn't sound good, but sometimes things have to be torn down to be rebuilt in a better image. Or so my Academy instructors assured me during combat training!" she smiled again.

"Wise they are, we cant afford the price for Starfleet to fix it, so we simply reinforced the sections in hopes that we can rebuild in more flush times. Curious how the Federation has no money economy yet our debt rises by the day for our time here." He spoke those words a touch more forcefully than he would have liked, softening again, "Deck Three, features the Agora Skylight and overlook. I'd say that would be a fine place to begin, yes?"

"It sounds promising," Colleen agreed as she stepped off the lift. "Does Agora have any special meaning? And what does it overlook?"

"Deck Three, Judah. Thank you. This is the top level, but the Agora runs four decks beneath it." The lift arrived, and they stepped into it as he continued to speak, "...there was a gaping tear in the saucer section, so our skylight is a plexi-steel frame cap with paneled aluminum and the space converted into open air shopping. Agora is from the Earth culture, it means a central place for business and entertainment alike. Market commerce, culture, government, all could be seen within its boundaries at any given time."

"Interesting," Colleen replied. "Are you a student of old Earth history?" She studied his face. He was polite, he spoke well, he was knowledgeable, Betazoid ... that accounted for his slightly different way of speaking. She smiled at him. "You could probably pass for human in some places. Your white robes would make you fit right in with some of my Irish cousins who do history re-enactments of the time of the Druids. I find you ... intriguing."

He was delighted by her company as well, "Enchante! Ta façon de sourire est charmante! I adore Old Earth Culture, Muy Bueno. Betazed has far too much civility and pompous trappings, Humans really know how to change themselves. I contrast the two vastly different worlds as a hobby. Their final World War should have been the end of a warlike people's last gasp at escaping their world. Yet here we all are."

"Yes, here we are, a resilient people. I'm embarrassed to say, I haven't learned nearly enough about Betazed to make a comment on its history. I'll have to remedy that. You've sparked my interest now, and that could turn out well. Or maybe not," she laughed.

The turbolifts opened to Deck Three and the topmost access to the Agora. The ceiling and skylight were on the same plane as they, so the light source was obvious, but only by standing underneath could you look out.

Othor directed her to a viewing gallery, close to the lifts. He walked there gesturing for her to follow and behold, "My pride and joy."

The Agora was curved so seeing end to end wasn't possible, it made for a cool trick, enlarging the idea of the space while truthfully it was narrow. Recessed alcoves and flush storefronts capitalized on every bit of space available to slope backwards. Benches and open green spaces dotted the bottom level, while four floors of shopping arrayed both sides of the metal canyon.

The "ground floor" took on a new meaning for the crew as they enjoyed the grass and dirt. There was a small Vivarium and coursing river through it, which emptied into a tiny lake in a shared basin with the amphitheater. Among other overlooks, there was a lounge over the aptly named Cherry Lake.

The lake was perfectly round, with a small run off to the water filters comprising the stem of the cherry for its shape on the Agora Diagram. On the map, the shape was like a crescent moon with the middle of the arc having a larger circular facet. The aft half of the Agora had a downhill slope into the business end of the ship and Engineering Hull.

The gouge had been at its worst here, when it ripped out the installed impulse engine. Due to gravity plate imperfections, this direction was being regarded as "Downhill", whereas the uphill direction, which had branches to the Bridge, School, and Habitat levels, was now termed uphill despite being perfectly level with the rest of the ship.

"Wow," Branagan said, looking over the whole thing. "I haven't seen anything like this on a ship. In fact, I only know one starbase that has a river. This is amazing! Did your engineers add all this after finding the ship?"

"I have never seen its like myself. Master N'tach, Chief Callahan, Akio Itachi, Inia Shar'Zhen are responsible for this. Truth be told, the water mains flooded initially to give them the idea to form a lake and river. My designs were purely cosmetic once the features were built, but the idea of community bringing life and vitality is represented in this."

Master Steward Othor Jaxz
Ghost of the Second Star

Second Mate Colleen Branagan
Sciences Administrator

 

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