EXETERRPG: (1, 0800) CO, Captain Trip Williams and Medical Observer, Commander Ailynn Bracken - Downtime mission starter

[Will Banowsky]

NPRG: Please note the new mission title and stardate. Also the goal of this
mission is to build character relationships, build your characters, etc.
but there is a framing device. The Exeter is studying a nebula. So that is
what sort of drives the tension. How do we cope when the assignment is
boring or monotonous? What do we do to keep ourselves sane while waiting
for tests to run. Etc. I am not giving out particular assignments. I want
each player to come up with something that their character might be
assigned to do in all this. That doesn't have to be the focus of these next
two months, but it should't be all just off duty fun. If you get stuck give
me a shout, but I'm leaving it up to y'all to drive most of the action. Oh
and Ailynn is back, but as a blue uniform wearing Medical observer SPC.

RPG:

Mission: Space was cool before it mattered
Day: 1
Stardate: 2446.04.25

(USS Exeter - Shuttle Bay 1 - CO, Captain Trip Williams and Medical
Observer, Commander Ailynn Bracken - 0800)

Three days, three boring days. That is how long Exeter had been studying a
newly discovered nebula just beyond Cardassian space. The Exeter had been
called to go and begin a scientific study of the Nebula, primarily because
as a newer ship it had some of the best scientific equipment in the fleet.
The other reason was that the Exeter was cued up for a string of unexciting
assignments to keep the Exeter, and primarily Trip out of trouble. While
Starfleet had understood the reasons behind Trip’s bending of the prime
directive, they felt it best that he be out of the spotlight for a while.
Trip had even heard rumblings when he was back for his Sister’s wedding
that some were questioning whether it had been wise to give a ship to a 23
year old. Still, Trip had his ship, even if it was a boring survey.

It was all becoming routine. A boring simple routine. They had spent weeks
traveling out to the Nebula. Everyday was filled with monotony. Even the
survey of the Nebula was rather boring. However he was getting some good
news, a special Starfleet envoy to join them in the survey.

The first survey ship to send in the initial survey study identified that
some of the radiation had properties that, if harnessed in the right way,
could have medical properties. They were sending Ailynn who happened to be
on Deep Space Nine for a seminar. Starfleet Medical felt that she was the
best representative to send. It also meant that she would be present for
his birthday the following day. A fact he managed to keep relatively
secret, with very few of the crew knowing that fact, he was pretty sure
none of the senior staff knew. Having always shared his birthday, he was
used to having it low key and not making a big deal of it all. Of course
this was the first time he would celebrate a birthday as the Captain of the
Exeter. He had doubts as to whether he would, or could, keep it secret for
yet another year.

As the shuttle docked, Trip waited for the passengers to disembark, caring
more about the survey team’s leader than the rest of the team. Seeing her
exit first he ran up and gave her a gentle hug.

“It’s good to see you Ailys,” Trip said with a sweet smile.

Ailynn stepped down from the shuttle, stretching her legs and back
slightly, happy to be back on board the Exeter. “Trip!” She smiled as he
approached, leaning forward awkwardly and returning the hug, her abdomen
rather getting in the way.

“So how are James and Jamie doing?” He said with a wink, referring to the
twins that Ailynn was pregnant with.

Laughing, she rested her hand on her bump. “Silly.” she said, then winced
slightly. “One of them is golden, never any trouble. The other has been
punching me in the bladder for a few weeks now. Good news is that they’re
both clear of any effects of my dextrocardia, that was a big worry.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Of course they will find other ways to give you
grief and worry. Trust me.” Trip replied.

“How’s Ash and the family?” As a result of her upbringing, family was
extremely important to Ailynn, and being separated from those close to her
always caused her some distress, Ailynn had however used the time at home
to build even more bridges with her mum, and the two were now closer than
ever, the incipient arrival of Ailynn’s children had been a catalyst for
this, but not the only factor, Ailynn had grown up a lot in the last year.

“They are good. Ash is taking to her new role very well. Makes me wonder if
she had gone to the academy, if we might all be serving under her.” Trip
said with a chuckle.

She found herself unusually wary of her next words. “And Ronnie?” it still
hurt, she accepted it and was happy to be ‘cool aunty Ails’ but she missed
the woman that Ronnie had been.

“She is currently in timeout for throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of
the bridge. It also means that breakfast with daddy in the ready room is
canceled for the foreseeable future.” Trip smiled.

“Aww. Daddy’s a meanie.” Ailynn said whimsically, and somewhat
theatrically, playfully stuck her tongue out at Trip. Smiling in happiness
she continued. “There’s more passengers to follow, not sure why it was
necessary, but any news?”

“We checked with the second shuttle, they should be arriving in about 6
hours. Gives you time to get settled in before they arrived. And by they I
mean Caity.” Trip said with a laugh indicating that only he found himself
funny. “We have set up some guest rooms for your survey team, and put you
and Caity up in VIP quarters. If you want your old quarters back, you’ll
need to take that up with Commander Jones. I think he is rather fond of
those quarters at the moment.”

“So long as he puts the toilet seat down that’s all I ask.” She said
passing the Duty Security Officers, who she acknowledged with a nod and a
smile. “So I hear you’ve been making waves, making the Federation bigger
and all that…?

“Yeah, more like being bendable with the rules and making people wonder why
they ever gave a ship to a 23 year old. Not like you, Miss fancy title.”

“Yeah… ‘Fleet Special Envoy Bracken’ it’s obscene isn’t it. Whatever
happened to plain old ‘Ailynn’?”

“Surely there was some other pencil pusher your mom could have sent. What
about your sabbatical?”

“Hey. My leave was ending anyway. Besides, there’s no other medical opinion
mum trusts.” She smiled.

“Except her own.” Triop retorted.

"Touché." She smiled, glad that they had the relationship that they did.

“So are you here for a medical survey or to keep an eye on me. I heard the
rumors last time I was home."

"Mostly the medical to be fair. Medical HQ is all over this new Nebula
radiation. They wanted a safe pair of hands. I'd been working in mums
office and got volunteered. However, although mum knows why you did what
you did, others weren't so convinced. It's not that you're under
investigation, they just need some reassurance."

“Yeah, well I mean, I’m sure there are still folks who thing my captaincy
is the result of nepotism or politics.”Trip replied.  ~A sentiment that
sometimes I wonder if it is true.~

"It's nothing. The second that the next crisis happens they'll realise that
they need people like you doing exactly what you do. Don't worry."

“Yeah, well I mean, some of the most decorated Starfleet Captains of all
time played fast and loose with the rules, so I guess I am just one in a
proud tradition.”

"So Ash mentioned you guys talked about a quieter posting? More family
friendly?"

“Thinking about it. Nothing to do with anything that happened on Vandalos,
and everything to do that I want to spend time with my kids. Drew is four
months old, so he really isn’t that interactive. But Ronnie is just a lot
of fun, more fun than the bridge, and I just wouldn’t mind a posting that
would make it easier to be there to tuck her in at night. Not have days
where she doesn’t even see me. God bless our nanny.”

Ailynn smiled. “Yeah, give it a few short weeks and I’ll need one myself.
We need a creche down on deck 9.”

“Something like that…One of the benefits of the old Galaxy Class ship. They
were large, sure, but in many ways they were like a giant resort in space.
Not very many families on board. Not yet anyways.”

“That’ll change soon enough, I’m certain.” Ailynn smiled, nodding a
greeting to a passing officer who’d acknowledged her return. “I kind of owe
you an apology. I know I was resting, this came up though, besides, there’s
only so much being pandered to that I can take, it was more stressful
resting than fighting a bloody Pah Wraith or going through Quella’s
trials.” She smiled gently. “I’m not back as FO though, not yet anyway.”

"Well you might have to fight AJ for it."

Ailynn smiled gently. “I fight dirty.” she chuckled to herself. “Nothing’s
decided yet.”

"And who knows, they may not send you back here. They may send you
elsewhere. He's doing a good job. Fleet may make him the permanent FO here."

“That’s out of my influence at the moment.” She sighed gently. “It’s good
to be back. I know it’s not been long, but I’ve missed this, and I’m
running a simple medical investigation, literally zero stress.”

"You'll find a way to get into trouble." Trip replied.

“Trouble? Me? I’m hurt. I always stay out of trouble. Not my fault that
trouble keeps picking on me is it.” She pouted playfully.

"Rumor has it they may offer you the Constitution. Either as CO or FO.
Exeter class but geared towards medical and humanitarian missions. Maybe
trouble will be good to get you back here rather than your own chair."

Ailynn nodded. “I heard that rumour. I turned down the Hood, and I’ll turn
the Constitution down for similar reasons. I’m honored, truly, but your job
isn’t me, not at the moment.”

"It's just a rumor anyways."

“I know. I’ve been in mum’s office enough to see all the rumours flying
around.”


"Anyways, I hope you find your stay at the Exeter Inn an enjoyable one."


“I will, thank you Trip.” She regarded her oldest friend. “I meant it when
I said that I missed her, all you guys too.”

"Welcome home."


On a whim she leant forward and kissed his cheek, genuinely happy to her
soul to be back on board “I’m going to go unpack, then go and steal your
son for hugs. Catch up later?”

"You know how to find me." He said with a smile.

(reply none)
(posted by Will and Mark)
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