In Deep

Posted on Sun Jun 9th, 2013 @ 8:43pm by Lieutenant JG Aidan Murphy

888 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Mission 83 - Recovery
Location: USS Lexington-D Bridge
Timeline: Concurrent with Mission

As the Lexington roared deeper into Romulan territory, Warrant Officer Talan began running passive scans of the sector. These types of scans were undetectable as they were generally weak which resulted in much less data returned. However, minimal information was better than flying blind.

The first data began streaming in and indicated nothing of an alarming nature. There were a few minor astronomical phenomena which might necessitate small course corrections. Talan transferred his readings to a PADD and made his way to the vacated OPS seat next to the Conn and sat down next to Aiden Murphy who seemed deep in thought.

Talan laid the PADD on Aiden's console. "I found some potential obstacles for you to overcome," Talan said flatly. "However, I have a feeling you will likely want to 'power through' said obstacles."

At present, with the course laid in Aidan did not have much else to do but think. His fingers fidgeted with the wirey hairs on his chin as his gaze was set straight forward at the main view screen, his mind a thousand light years away. He did not see Talan approach, but was not startled when he sat down beside him. He glanced at the PADD but made no move to pick it up. "You're absolutely right." he said with a smirk. "If I learned anything at all in flight school it's that sometimes you just have to power your way through..especially behind the helm of a machine as fine as this." he said, patting the console affectionately. Though he doubted this mission would facilitate his deepest desires, Aidan would leap at the chance to see what the Lexington could really do. A glance at Talan for some reason forced him to scoop up the PADD and humor him. "Let's see what we got here anyway, eh?" he sank back in his chair, punching a few buttons on the screen. "Mhm." he said as he skimmed through the text. "Yup, easy." he offered the PADD to Talan as he exhaled heavily. "I'll tell you what though - this is always the worst part of a mission, for me anyways. The calm before the storm...perhaps I'm a tad impatient but I hate the uncertainty that comes with building up to some kind of big event."

Talan attempted to understand Aiden's anxiety, but still regarded such feelings as unproductive and unnecessary. "The mission will unfold as it will, Mr. Murphy. Your apprehensions have no bearing on the outcome." Realizing his attempt to alleviate Aiden's misgivings likely sounded cruel, he attempted to lighten the mood as it were. Talan gestured to the Conn console. "I trust you are...having fun?" It was Aiden's first time at the helm of a Sovereign-class after all.

Aidan frowned a little at Talan's response to his apprehension, though he had not really expected a heartfelt sense of comfort to come from his new friend, and the frown quickly changed to a smile when Talan gestured to the conn. "You can count on it. I mean...just look at it!" he said, gesturing to the control panel. "Isn't it a thing of beauty?"

Talan considered the console and it's internal workings. In comparison to the technology utilized by the Borg, Aiden's console was antiquated and cumbersome. Talan was going to let Aiden know as much, but realized it was important to him, flying this machine. "It is a technological marvel, Mr. Murphy."

He chuckled, arching a brow as he gave his companion a sideways look. "Ya might want to work on your inflection." he teased. "Makes you sound more believable - your words are convincing enough, sure, but words aren't always enough on their own." He tried to read Talan's expression but found it difficult as ever. "Just a bit of free advice, buddy." he said as he gave Talan a friendly slap on the shoulder. "And a wee bit of trying to give the old counselor a hand with your integration."

Talan took Aiden's suggestion at face value, though he likely had a point. He knew he would need all the help he could get to assist him in his integration. "I will attempt to monitor my cadence, tone and pitch." A chirp rang out from the tactical station. "I should return to my station. Enjoy the flight."

Aidan pulled a face at Talan. "Yeah..I guess that's what I meant." Though it was proving somewhat difficult to interact with the tactical officer, Aidan's interest in Talan was beginning to stretch beyond the morbid curiosity that initially attracted him. He was beginning to recognize qualities that he admired, and to show a genuine interest in helping him with his integration. Plus, it was a neat little bonus that he could now brag to his step sister and friends back home that his new friend was an El-Aurian former drone. "Aye I will." he responded, turning back to his console, his fingers breezing over the buttons. "And you enjoy yer uh..scans..or whatever it is that you do over there when there ain't shit going on." He shot Talan a wry look despite the fact that the sentiment would probably be lost on him, and found that he felt slightly less anxious about the mission with the knowledge that the tactical station would be well manned.


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