Swimming in Crates & Hopeful Love

Posted on Tue Aug 2nd, 2022 @ 10:53am by Lieutenant Nause Kallan & Ensign Kanti & Staff Warrant Officer Aoife Ó Móráin & Warrant Officer Gemma Allusa & Senior Chief Petty Officer Astrid Köler

Mission: Mission One
Location: Main Shuttlebay / Sickbay

Deck 5 - Main Shuttlebay

"Okay, but did we have to put quite so many crates in here, Aoife?" Warrant Officer Gemma Allusa asked, her arms crossed before she pointed toward the main shuttlebay doors. "The bay is small enough without them partially blocking my doors."

"It can't be helped, Gemma," Aoife Ó Móráin, the boatswain, replied, her Scottish accent beginning to become more pronounced, which happened when she began to get frustrated. "Captain said to use the shuttlebay after the cargo bays were filled, which they are, and so we did."

Gemma let out an angry huff. "As if we weren't a small enough ship, the Admiral thought it was okay to cram us to the gills with this...stuff." Her brow furrowed and she resisted the urge to kick one of the crates.

"It could have been worse." Aoife gestured to the obvious paths out of the bay in front of the waiting shuttles. "I left you room to get in and out--"

"Barely," Gemma interjected.

"--by putting some of the crates in astrophysics," Aoife continued, not letting Gemma goad her into an outright argument, "and in the botany lab. They're not to fookin' happy, I can tell you that."

Aiofe matched Gemma's stern look until the El-Aurian Chief Support Craft Pilot finally eased up, then sighed.

Dropping her arms, Gemma looked around. "Yeah, you're right." She shrugged. "You know how overprotective I am of my babies," she said as she patted one of the shuttles.

"Aye. As you should be, but I doubt there'll be much call for shuttle operations during the trip there. Besides, I even gave you plenty of room around each of your babies," Aoife said with a smirk, "to work on them if you needed it."

"Lieutenant Burke and I appreciate that as well," Ensign Kanti said as she walked into the bay. "Thank you, Aoife. And as always, Gemma, thank you for being so diligent in your duties."

Both warrant officers looked at the Native American Algonquian Ensign and gave a brief nod. While young, and still somewhat inexperienced as an officer, Ensign Kanti quickly received a reputation for being a solid officer who was both very good at her duties, and very good with people.

"At least that explains why several of the science staff were in such a bad mood this morning in the mess," Kanti said with a small smile. "Having to dance around storage bins isn't fun."

"No," Aoife replied, "but it was the best that Lieutenant Vagho and I could come up with. Astrophysics and botany aren't quite as busy as other parts of the ship." She then let out a chuckle. "He suggested putting them in some of the crew quarters."

"Ha! I can only imagine the number of complaints the XO would have gotten if he'd done that!" Gemma said. She then turned and looked around the shuttlebay again. "Sorry, Aoife. I guess I just wanted to complain and you had the unfortunate luck of being on the receiving end of it."

Aiofe waved a hand at her. "If I didn't know you, Gemma, I'd gie ye a skelpit lug! But yer a braw hen. Nae bother."

Both Kanti and Gemma looked at each other, completely lost. Aiofe sighed, shook her head, and walked to the exit. "Rubbish universal translator," she mumbled as she walked. "It's pooched!" When the doors opened automatically, she held up two fingers. "Och, get tae fuck!"

While Kanti tried to hide a smirk, Gemma let out a chuckle. "She has a point, though. The universal translator can decipher all kinds of languages, but not heavy Scottish accents or Gaelic?"

Kanti shrugged. "Technically, she's speaking Federation Standard, so I guess the computer doesn't feel the need."

"Anything I can help with?" Gemma asked.

"No. Lieutenant Tepic asked me to see if there was room for the Waverider in here, which there isn't."

Gemma's eyebrow popped up. "The waverider? What for?"

"He and Lieutenant T'reth wanted to have a look at it to see if it could be retrofitted with a warp drive."

The El-Aurian's eyes narrowed. "They're going to mess with my, uh, I mean, the Captain's yacht?"

"As approved by Commander Sullivan and Lt. Commander Bevan, yes," Kanti replied. "Relax, Gemma. They only want to look at it to see if it's possible."

"To what end?" Gemma shot back. "It's not meant for extended warp travel, just atmospheric flight. They can't just slap a warp drive on it and call it a day! They'll have to--" She stopped when Kanti held up a hand to silence her.

"When have you ever known T'Reth or Tepic to not consider all options, Gemma?" Kanti asked her.

Gemma let out an angry snort and crossed her arms again. "Never...I guess. But I want to be included in this. You know I don't like anyone messing with my babies."

"We are all well aware of your affinity toward them," Kanti said, reassuringly. "I don't see that as a problem. You know the ships inside and out, and I'm sure your expertise, both technical and from the pilot's chair, would be welcomed."

Gemma waited a moment before replying. "Thank you."

Kanti nodded. "I'll inform Lt. Burke of your vested interest, and I'm sure she'll be able to have you roped in." The Ensign looked around the bay again. "For now, it'll probably be in one of the holodecks, or Engineering since we can't bring it in here at the moment. But I will let you know."

Ensign Kanti's communicator chirped slightly, a reminder she had programmed into it like an alarm clock. "Shift change soon. I should head to the bridge."

"I'll be here," Gemma replied, "swimming in crates."

* * * *

Deck 3 - Sickbay

Astrid popped her head into Lt. Kallan's office. "Sorry, Doc. I lost track of time."

Nause's head looked up, and she smiled at her Physician's Assistant. "And I told you not to worry about it. Did you have a good time?" she asked, beckoning Astrid in to have a seat.

The young Senior Chief was all smiles as she sat across from her boss. Letting out a happy sigh, she said, "I did. I enjoy spending time with her."

Nause took a few moments before she replied, wondering if she should be so forward. In the end, however, she just went with it. "Okay, Astrid, quit pussyfooting around. When are you and Maurek going to make this thing official?" When Astrid's eyes went wide, Nause continued, giving the Senior Chief a knowing look. "Don't act surprised, Astrid. We can all see it. You two are amazing together, but you both seem to keep each other at arm's length. I'm not talking marriage or anything, but are you two even officially dating yet? I mean, you may as well be."

Astrid's face was beet red as she looked down, embarrassed. "We are not," she replied quietly before looking back up at Nause. "I'd like to be, I just don't know how."

"Tell her how you feel. Simple as that," Nause replied. "Chief Maurek is incredibly smart, Astrid. And from what I've seen of you both together, I'm sure she feels the same way. She just might be having the same reservations you are. So, how about you both go somewhere where you can talk privately, discuss your feelings for her, and just see where it goes?"

"I haven't dated anyone in a long, long time, Nause," Astrid said. Normally she wouldn't have used the Doctor's first name while on duty, but this was a private, personal conversation, and Nause had made it clear that in some situations, a first name basis was absolutely fine. "I don't want to mess it up."

"Well, that's always a possibility for both you and Maurek," Nause said, leaning closer over her desk, "but it shouldn't stop you from finding happiness. And from an outsider's perspective, I think you are both each other's happiness."

Astrid smiled. "I hope so."

Nause sat back, pulled up something on her console, then looked back at Astrid. "She's off duty soon. Now, shoo. Go talk to her."

"But I was late getting--"

"I don't want to hear it. Sickbay is empty. Get out of here and go talk to what woman!" Nause said with a big smile. "And good luck, Astrid."

The Senior Chief stood, a hopeful smile on her face. "Thanks, Doc."

---------------
Lt. Nause Kallan
Ensign Kanti
Staff Warrant Officer Aoife Ó Móráin
Warrant Officer Gemma Allusa
Senior Chief Petty Officer Astrid Köler