Return of the Red Kite

Posted on Sun Nov 5th, 2023 @ 5:29pm by Lieutenant JG Deezell Vox

640 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Episode 118 - "It's About Family"
Location: Starbase 400.
Timeline: MD1, 14:00hrs

Back in Main Engineering, Dee had been passed a padd containing information on the ship's still requiring repair work since the explosion in the main hanger. Underneath this information was a list of ship's that, despite the status of Starbase 400, had still arrived and been allowed to dock. She scrolled through the names till one jumped out at her.

SS. Luscenda
[B]SS. Red Kite[/b]
SS. Vanda

" No way. It can't be. That rust bucket can't still be flying. She was 60 years old when I last saw her and that was Raekwon as well."

She hesitated for a second or two, before tapping the ship's name to find out where she was docked. [i]Docking Bay 42[/i].

She put the padd on the table and after advising one of her colleagues to take charge of Main Engineering, she headed off.

On arrival, she looked out of the window into the, now pressurised bay and sure enough, there she was, the Red Kite, looking somewhat worse for wear but intact.

The Red Kite was a Ju'day class light freighter, built sometime between 2335 and 2342. She served the majority of her life as a freighter before before being acquired by the Maquis in the 2370's.

Then she was sold a barely operational, in 2390 to a trader, rogue and mercenary by the name of Jurlan Topsinenggi. which is then how Vox became aware of the ship and her, larger than life owner.

Raekwon had met Jurlan in a bar on the trading outpost of Tyree, where his expertise in antiquities became of great use to Jurlan. To cut a long story short, the two became close friends, almost family for the help Raekwon provided which allowed Jurlan and his crew to locate a stolen pendant for a client and in the process, claim both a reward and reunite the owner of the pendant with her brother she hadn't seen for 10 years and assumed was dead.

As she thought back at those times, she noticed, in the distance, down the corridor, a tall man in a dark brown cloak heading in her direction. From the way they were walking and the outfit, she knew who it was.

As the 6'6 man was about to pass her, she spoke.

"Jurlan?"

He stopped. He turned to face her and slowly removed his hood. (https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/gallery/artoftrek/unknown-alien-tng4.jpg)

"What can I do for you? " he looked at her collar. "Lieutenant. Do I know you?"

"I know you." She replied. "I am Lieutenant Junior Grade Deezell Vox. "

His eyes opened wider. He noticed her Trill spots. "Raekwon is dead? " he asked. "You're the new host?" He added.

"Sadly yes and yes. It's good to see you again Jurlan and the Kite. Looks like she needs some TLC. " She commented.

"Well, you are certainly more pleasant on the eyes, Vox. Not so rough around the edges. " He said with a smirk.

"Definitely got more hair now to contend with." Dee replied laughing.

"Yes but it suits you. Do you know who I have to speak to so the Kite gets some TLC?" Jurlan asked.

"Me. I'm the Assistant Chief Engineer for Starbase 400." She replied, standing proudly.

"You got to be kidding me. That is a serious upgrade from an antiques dealer." he replied.

"Hey, I was a great antiques dealer. I had a shop. " Dee replied.

"Yeah OK. You did help me out though, exceptionally well. "

"Yeah. Good times. Let me see if I can spare someone to come look at the Kite. We aren't in a good state right now, as you can probably tell. I am still on duty so, if you go relax on the promenade I will join you when I get off duty. "

"I really appreciate this Vox. Thanks."

The two parted company. The scene fades to black.

END. TBC.

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