Posted by David Fergusson in Main Sim - Bridge - The Finite War
[snip]

“You have the Merrimack,” Glen told Nkosenye. Taking responsibility without making excuses, that is called leadership… and you can do no worse than when I left Dr. Cross in charge of the Bridge… that was only a joke, by the way, in case she gets to hear I said that!”

And the CoS would hear someone trying to stifle a giggle ,while another did his best to turn his laugh into a cough...................

“Looking forward to seeing you in action again, Sir!” said NEWideAwakeClub from the Nav station, to the CoS.

Nkosenye simply nodded and looked at the helm officer. “Once we confirm the Captain and Commander have arrived safely, go to three-quarter impulse and start patrol pattern using the Avenger as the center point. Science, continuous scans of the surrounding area for any other vessels or objects. Any contacts relay to me immediately. And scan the Avenger now for current life signs and send a damage report to Engineering. They may be able to assist in fabrication of needed components.”

“Aye, Aye, Sir!” said NEWideAwakeClub. “Initiating patrol pattern, Nkosenye-alfa-one! Locked in and set!”

Tinga turned to Nkosenye.

“Recommend at least one of them keep an open comm link as a security precaution.” she suggested.

Tia watched them go and kept her own giggle at the parting comments to herself. At that moment she was just glad she want the ranking officer on the bridge. Regardless of what anyone else did, she knew she wasn’t ready for ‘the chair’.

She did her own power scans of the AVENGER. She checked engine signatures, weapon arrays, and any other power or heat signature she could find. She began comparing them to Star Fleet records from her last overhaul. Any difference could me core leaks, weapons on standby, or possible breaches.

Scans of the Avenger showed to match Starfleet records as of six weeks ago though some damage was registered to her port nacelle and shield grid nothing seemed amiss in the way of breaches or the like.

William nodded and spun around in his chair. He started a rotating scan of the system assigning it to flag anything of interest so he could start a more detailed scan manually. He also forwarded the sensor scans to the engineering console although he was certain she had already started her own scans.

Scans of the System were as noted before two dead mineral rich worlds without atmospheres and a ton of comets and asteroids spinnging about in random orbits. The only real oddity was the large number of comets and asteroids otherwise the system was normal.

Nkosenye took his seat in the center chair and began watching the screen and checking on the Avenger. “Comms. Make sure the Avenger lets us know when the Captain and XO are safely aboard.”

Ginger entered the Bridge and ran along the edge of the viewscreen. Then he walked over to the Captain’s centre chair and rubbed against Nkosenye’s feet.

Tinga’s left antenna twitched in acknowledgement and she sent the query to the Avenger.

After a bit a hail came in letting them know the CO/XO were aboard safely and meeting with the Avenger’s senior staff.

Ginger jumped up onto the Helm station where it knocked NE Widewakeclub’s coffee cup over and spilled the contents over the console. He then jumped down and ran to the rear of the Bridge where he disappeared into the air conditioning pipework that lead to the Jefferies Tubes.

Sparks shot up from the helm console as the coffee soaked into the panel the smell of burnt circuits soon rising up mixed with coffee. Looks like someone from engineering would need to replace some panels to get the helm console working.

William watched the cat with great interest “You know I’ve often considered tagging that cat with a camera, perhaps something subdermal to see what it sees, must be a fascinating life” Will said with a gleeful smile before turning back to his console “On a side note, this might be the least interesting system this side of the neutral zone. Not counting the abnormal numbers of planetoids that is.”

As the sparks popped out of the panel, Nkosenye cursed and then jabbed the comms on the chair. [O] Bride to Engineering. Helm console damaged. Report immediately for repair. Transfer helm control to auxiliary duty station immediately. [O] and he looked at NE Wideawakeclub and said “Now we know why there aren’t coasters on the duty terminals, don’t we Ensign?” and then verified helm control had been changed over.

“Aye Sir,” replied NE Wideawakeclub, “It won’t happen again, Sir.” He put the blame squarely upon NE Sleepy, for making him stay up all night playing cards.

Instead of laughing aloud, Tinga’s antennae twitched several times.

“Captain Glen and Commander Cord safely aboard sir.” she stated.

“Perhaps there should be cupholders on the chairs?” William said without a shred of joking in his voice “I have never known an Officer to survive long on a tour without a nice cup of coffee” He spun around in his chair “Although I myself am partial to black tea for my caffeine intake” He explained without being prompted as was his way.

NE Wideawakeclub was busy wiping himself down as the carpet cleaning and console repair squads both efficiently arrived at the same time. “What was that, Sir? I was distracted and didn’t quite catch what you said.”

William turned his chair to face the clumsy ensign “I said that perhaps cupholders would reduce the risk of further burn injuries, property destruction and personal embarrassment” He said with a half smile before swiveling back to his console.

“Oh! Right Sir! Yes, Sir!” replied NE Wideawake. “Mind where you point that thing!” he added to the technician with the ultrasonic cleaning tool.

Tinga was fine tuning her instruments to take into account anything that might be in the nebula.

Fine tuning of the comms revealed a long band ‘hum’ coming from within and outside the Yuria system. Spanning much of the length of the comm systems range to communicate. It wasn’t interfering per say but it sure was annoying.

=/\= Engineering to bridge. We have a serious situation down here and I know it might sound strange or odd. But we’re having freshly picked fruit off of a uniform and its now raining fish here presently. Please advise? =/\= Jasper said as he continued to collect data and sent it to the science section for a more in-depth analysis.

“NE Wideawakeclub wondered to himself if the fish were still alive, or fried in butter, and served with a smoked-almond romesco sauce.

Jasper knew this sounded crazy and he was waiting for an order to follow up his inquiry with a visit to the counselor. As he left the channel open as he did what he could from keeping other from falling into the same fates as the other officers.

Tinga’s antennae twitched at the annoying hum. She was trying to figure out if it was natural or artificial when the comm from Engineering came in.

=^=Take a breath and repeat please?=^= she asked rather confused.

-NE Wideawakeclub, Helm

“I’m sorry what” William exclaimed aloud as he read the sensor readings coming from engineering. He set the computer on a full analysis of the data “Nkosenye, I think it’d be best if I go down there with some of my precision equipment and get a better reading” He pointed to his screen “That just doesn’t make any sense” He said in the same incredulous voice as he started with.

CSO