Retrieval (Part I)
Posted on Fri May 23rd, 2025 @ 3:00am by 1st Lieutenant Kara Melo & Major Cameron Bourne & 1st Lieutenant Maria Zamorano & 1st Lieutenant Mazal Falk & Ensign Chevy Tuff
1,269 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission: Broken Mirror
ON
Standing in the transporter room, Cam was waiting for his team to arrive as he thought over the situation. It was a basic search and rescue, but with the addition of an engineer for a computer hack, things weren’t so simple. He’d have to divide his squad to maintain surprise in order to achieve both objectives. “Damn it Captain, you had to send a Fleetie with us didn’t you” he said under his breath before the doors opened again.
Kara was second to arrive. She knew she'd be working with Cam at some point, but didn't expect it to be quite so soon. She still needed time to come to terms with the fact that her ex-husband was once again her superior officer. But it didn't matter if she was here or back on Deck 14. He was constantly on her mind. Might as well get used to it sooner rather than later. "Captain," she said, nodding to Cam as she approached him. She always kept her go bag ready with everything she'd need for an away mission. She tried to calm her breathing and her rapid pulse as she stopped next to him. This was going to be harder than she thought. At least there would be a lot to focus on.
"Lieutenant" Cam said, returning the nod. This away mission was going to be a good test for him when it came to Kara, would he keep things professional or would he let his feelings get in the way of the mission. Honestly, Cam hoped he would be professional enough to keep the good of the away team above his personal feelings, but there was always a chance.
Moments after the comm from Cam to the bridge, an over seven foot tall Betelgeusean slowly strolled into the room. He was wearing an engineering uniform. "I am to understand that someone required my presence. Can anyone tell me what we are doing and where we are going so that I can adequately prepare for this mission?"
Mazal arrived after Chevy arrived, a bit curious as to the tall blue and brown feather duster person. "I am here, hello Lieutenant Melo. And..." looking at Chevy.
Unused to being anything but the last person to arrive, Chevy cocked his head over at Mazal and said, "I am Ensign Chevy Tuff," he replied simply. Audibly he hummed, silently debating whether he should say anything else.
A straggler arrived, 1st Lieutenant Maria Zamorano "Sorry I am late. Hello Captain Bourne, and Ensign Tuff. Lieutenant Falk, Lieutenant Melo."
"Hi." Kara had yet to meet the two new arrivals.
"Right, now that you're all here, here's the rundown. We're about to board a ship using the transporters. Our objective is to search the ship for our missing scientist and return them. Mister Tuff, you'll be coming along to access their computer systems and retrieve any information you can," Cam explained, turning to Kara, "Lieutenant Melo, you'll be playing babysitter on this one, Make sure Tuff gets to the core and back to the beam out sight. Zamorano, Falk, you'll be with me. Everyone clear on their roles?"
Chevy shuffled uncomfortably. Did he really ask for "any information"? That was terribly broad and did not give him a lot of instruction. Perhaps he should raise that point? He hummed audibly as he debated what he should do. Finally, he decided, "Any information is rather broad. Is there something specific that you are seeking that I should find? And when I retrieve it, what would you want me to do with all this information? Dump it onto the Calypso? I would presume that you would want safety protocols in place before such a dump occurred. I would not want to risk the health of the ship." He half sighed and half grumbled his discontent with the vagaries of his instructions.
Babysitting duty. And not only had Kara been ordered to keep an eye on Chevy, Cam was going to go after the scientist with the two new Marines. She knew she was the best one on the team to try and wrangle Tuff, but dang it, why did that niggling green monster tell her he was taking advantage of the opportunity. She took a firm grip on her thoughts and turned to Chevy. "It's broad because we need any and all information we can get on these mercenaries. If the amount is small enough, copy it to a data crystal. If not, send it back to the ship. No, there won't be time for you to make sure every micron of data is safe. We have to get in and out as quickly as we can."
"We're with you Sir." Maria replied.
"Looks like they're ready for us to beam aboard, sir," Mazal responded, taking her place upon the transporter pad.
Chevy tilted his head awkwardly towards Melo, "Just so I am clear, my orders are to not consider the safety of the ship in retrieving all data related to mercenaries." He paused before continuing, "That is against standard protocol."
Cam turned to Chevy, "Your orders are to retrieve any information you can and not die in the process, and to that end I'm putting you in Lieutenant Melo's capable hands. You will do what she says, when she says it, is that understood?"
Chevy cocked his avian head, more questions running through his head than could be answered, such as: What if Lieutenant Melo commands me to kill myself? What if I retrieve information and do die in the process? How can I avoid dying? What if I'm halfway through retrieving information and something forces me to choose between dying and not? Whatever the case was, Major Bourne certainly was confusing, and he decided that perhaps asking more questions would just confuse the poor Major further.
Kara smiled her thanks to Cam. His support with Tuff meant a lot.
Mazal's lips went into a thin line, this feather duster was taking up too much time with his questions. She stepped down off the transporter pad, wrapped her arms around Chevy's waist, picked him up and bodily moved him to the transporter pad. "Enough, we need to go and get that information," she grunted out. "We need to go now."
Maria's mouth dropped open, clapping it shut and made her way to the transporter pad.
"If you'd like to file a report, do so, after we get back, Sir." Mazal softly growled out.
Chevy considered the possibilities of making a report or not but decided that there was urgency to what was going on, regardless of his incomprehensible instructions. He would just have to figure out how to interpret them on his beam down."
Stepping up onto the transporter pad, Cam pulled out his phaser, "circle up marines, prepare for deployment. Ensign Tuff, stand in the middle."
Well, that was clear enough. Chevy estimated where the middle might be and placed himself there, hoping others would gather around him.
Kara found a spot on the pad and waited for Cam to give the order.
Mazal and Maria took their places and waited for the order to be given for them to be transported to the ship where the scientists were.
Kara turned to Cam. "On your order, sir."
Giving one last glance around, Cam looked to the transporter operator, “Punch it.”
(To be continued...)
Captain Cameron Bourne
Marine XO
USS Calypso
1st Lieutenant Kara Melo
Squadron Leader
USS Calypso
Ensign Chevy Tuff
Engineer/Computer Specialist
USS Calypso
1st Lieutenant Maria Zamorano
Marine
USS Calypso
1st Lieutenant Mazal Falk
Marine
USS Calypso
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