Grey Boarding

Posted on Tue Mar 1st, 2016 @ 11:03pm by Commander Eva Grey

739 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Pathways

Eva tried hard not to stare out the shuttlecraft view port as the Hyperion drifted closer. She had been fortunate to grab a ride from the USS Ailyn, her previous ship, on one of the shuttles that had been ferrying officers and crew to and from the shipyards where the Ailyn was currently undergoing a resupply stop to where the Hyperion was currently parked. Like Eva, several members of the Ailyn crew had been transferred to the Hyperion, mostly because they were due for promotions or transfers anyway but also because the Ailyn would be most likely be docked for several weeks. Unlike Eva, those crew members only had to settle into their quarters and relax, while she would barely have enough time to find her quarters before she went straight to work.

The dual position of chief science officer and executive officer was actually frightening to Eva, but she had already served as chief science officer on the Ailyn for several years. The difference she faced on the Hyperion was not only the fact that the majority of the Hyperion’s crew compliment was dedicated to science personnel, the Hyperion had a much larger crew. The position of executive officer would also add new challenges that Eva had never faced before, but she was determined to do so. It concerned her that she still knew nothing of the Hyperion’s mission assignment or even where the ship would be heading to, but the commanding officer would hopefully fill her in on that. As the shuttle slowed in speed and banked for its final approach, Eva forced herself to calm her nerves.

The shuttle bay was large and despite the number of shuttles that were parked about the main flight deck, it didn’t seem to be crowded. Taking a step out of the shuttle, Eva could tell why. While she hadn’t had access to the mission parameters or the destination of the Hyperion, she had been given the technical specifications and load out of the ship. The shuttles assigned to the Hyperion were most likely stored in the storage bay beneath the shuttle bay. The only exception was the pair of runabouts that had been assigned to the ship, but both of those had been set to the side, making room for the endless stream of shuttles coming and going. With her travel bags in hand, Eva crossed the shuttle bay to the entry hatch where a lieutenant stood handing out quarters assignments and checking names. As she approached, the lieutenant noticed her rank and stiffened to attention.

“Commander?” he asked politely.

“Commander Eva Grey,” Eva replied with a smile. “I should be listed as chief science and executive officer.”

“Yes, Ma’am, I have you right here. Your quarters are located on Deck Three, cabin zero three one five,” the quartermaster said as he made a notation on the padd he was holding.

“Very well. Can you tell me where the captain might be? I’d like to go ahead and report to him as quickly as possible,” Eva said as she shifted her bags.

“He’s not aboard yet, Commander. You’re the first command officer to arrive,” the quartermaster said.

Eva almost stopped and stared at the lieutenant, but she quickly shook her head. She hadn’t expected that, but in a way she supposed that it shouldn’t surprise her either. Most of the time, officers and enlisted crew had weeks of notice before they were transferred. Eva had only been informed the day before the Ailyn arrived at the shipyards, giving her barely any time to pack. She supposed that the same had been true for the captain as well.

“Alright, I’ll get settled in and try to find out when he’s supposed to come on board, then,” she said.

“Yes, Ma’am. Oh, and Commander, there’s a Lieutenant Commander Daniel Divero who has been requesting to see you when you arrived. He’s the chief engineer and arrived a few hours ago. I told him that I would inform you when you arrived,” the quartermaster said.

“Could you inform Commander Divero that I’m aboard, then?” Eva asked. The lieutenant nodded and tapped another note, hopefully sending a message to the commander. Eva gave the quartermaster a parting nod before she headed on her way to her quarters.


Commander Eva Grey
Executive Officer
Chief Science Officer
USS Hyperion

 

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