Change of plans

Posted on Thu Jun 16th, 2022 @ 9:04pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Commander Diane Doctrine & Lieutenant Etan tar-Lexros & Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton

Mission: The Lost Brother
Location: Conference room
Timeline: Current

Xavier had remained in the conference room after Commander Doctrine and Commander Stoffel left while he had a few things to catch up on. Walking over to the screen, he brought up the three missing officers, then went over to the replicator, and replicated a large pitcher of water and some glasses. It was something that Captain Benoit always did and he found it offered a nice stance. These meetings always had the feeling that something was going to happen, and just having a drink seemed to make people relaxed... but then again that was on the Wellington, this was a different crew and a different ship. But it couldn't help to try.

Once those had been replicated he brought the glasses and the pitcher to the table as well as the glasses, then placed pads out around the table. Pausing he thought about if he had missed anything, not thinking of anything he sat back down, poured himself a drink, and waited.

Arriving at the conference room Sky walked in stifling a yawn as she did so. Taking a seat she gave Xavier an apologetic smile. “Sorry, my energy levels are in the floor today.”

Xavier gave a smile, and nodded understanding.

Taking her seat Sky poured herself a drink and sat back to wait for the other arrivals.

Lt. Commander Wagnor walked in with Serious expression on his face, he managed a smile at the Captain of the Councilor. The Angosian picked up glass and poured himself some water, as his eyes swept the room. He sat at chair near the end of the table where he could see the door.

Diane strode in next with a PADD in hand and sat on the side of the table no one else had sat at yet. She nodded a greeting to each present.

Paige came in next a PADD tucked into the crook of her elbow. Her tunic was in science blue and wrapped around her upper body in a way that accented her curves without being blatant about it. Her leggings were black and ankle boots were also black, and glinted with silver. A comm badge was built into her wrist computer.

Tony was one of the last to come in. It was still hard for her to compose herself and she hoped she would make it through this meeting keeping her composure. A crew should not see their XO cry. She nodded to those present and took a seat near the head of the table.

Sky looked towards Tony offering a smile, for now it was all the support she could offer. Resting back in her seat she nibbled a ginger biscuit as she waited for the briefing to commence.

Soran wordlessly took a small medallion out and be rolling crossed his knuckles. It was a nervous habit that helped when he found himself waiting for something.

Sky noted what Soran was doing offering a polite smile given what had occurred between them the previous evening. “You’ll have to teach me how to do that sometime Commander.”

Tony found herself watching the interaction between her two friends curious to see how Ren would react.

"Perhaps," Wagnor said with a neutral expression.

He snapped his fingers and the medallion seemed to disappear. "However there's far more to it than meets the eye."

Sky smiled apparently enthralled by the trick. “I’m a fast learner.” She looked towards Tony and offered a smile before looking back at Wagnor.

Wagnor reached out his hand in front of him and pinched the air and the medallion was in his hand again. "Slight of hand is good for the mind."

Sky grinned. “Now that is clever! I ought to make it part of patient therapy it certainly helps focus the mind.”

Paige hid a smile behind her hand at their interaction. "You're more likely to frustrate people into not coming to therapy if you make it a requirement."

"And I instruct security officers to watch people doing slight of hand more carefully," Wagnor laughed. "Because the same skill set used to entertain can be used for less innocent purposes." He slid Sky’s PADD back to her.

Sky looked surprised. “Well I never...” She smiled. “I seriously need to be more vigilant.”

Etan was also a somewhat late arrival, dressed in a short-sleeve uniform variant and obviously having shed a disposable coverall very recently. He intended to make good on his promises to the Captain, that no one in the Galaxy would be able to repeat the mistake he'd made, or the danger the ship could have been in had the safety systems not been engaged prior. His thin white hair was somewhat out-of-sorts, and both that and his hands had some odd-colored stains, likely from the thermal paste he was applying while socketing and soldering the new ODN connections to increase bandwidth between the Ops boards and the Tactical division. Part of what gave away what he'd been doing, other than the stains, was the fact that he was carrying his toolbox, which he set down on the floor beside him. "By way of a status report, sirs, uprates are continuing as needed."

Doctor milton came in and toook the seat closes to the door as he had a strained ankle in Sick Bay before this and was delayed.

"Welcome everyone," Xavier greeted everyone, as he stood. "First of all, just want to acknowledge a few people Lt Commander Zoran Wagnor, our new chief Security Officer, and tactical office taking over for Commander Johnson, who has been accepted into command training, and possibly will be joining us in the future in some form. As well as Miss Bryant, who will be assuming the role of science chief of the ship, although she is not Starfleet, her record as a civilian scientist speaks for itself." He paused, "And... Lt Thorne, our new Chief helm that just arrived merely an hour ago."

Tony was surprised. Xavier had not discussed this with her that he was bringing on a civilian as chief of science. Maybe he had thought she had enough to think about already. "Welcome miss Bryant." She said with a smile. "Commander Wagnor and I have had a chat already." Then she turned to Etan. "Good work Lieutenant."

Sky looked towards Bryant and offered a warm smile. “Welcome aboard Miss Bryant, and you too Lieutenant Thorne.”

Wagnor put the medallion away he'd nodded in acknowledgement when the Captain had spoken of him. He nodded to Bryant in welcome. His expression was neutral, it was time for business.

Xavier sat, "There has been some change of plans," Xavier restarted off, as he leaned forward. "The Commander here, has a missing brother in the sector, I have offered the Resolution to head up the search for him and his team. Given the change of events, I will be sending a team to the demilitarized zone led by Commander Doctrine. Where Commander Dixon will start negotiating for the evacuation."

This news did not surprise Diane. She pretty much had a team picked out but wanted to make sure Xavier had who he wanted for his side quest.

Tony felt all eyes on her and it took all she had to remain outwardly cool and collected. She did not want the team to think of her as weak. Like the captain the XO had to appear superhuman. But it was taking all she had.

Sky offered Tony a reassuring smile, she was there to offer her support to her superior officer, and friend.

To Etan, who was one of the newer and less social department heads on the ship, the news that Commander Stoffels had a brother was a surprise, let alone that he would be missing. He saw the woman and his first thought was how brave she was, sitting here without much reaction, and not taking a leave for her grief. He'd already respected her as first officer. Now, he looked up to her as one of the bravest, and strongest, people he'd ever met. He sat up a bit straighter and looked between the others. "Um, I apologize for interrupting, but if I may, Captain... Commander, do you have a record of your brother's biosigns? Dr. Milton, Miss Bryant, and I might be able to tune the ship's sensors to locate him, or do so with a Type 1 probe. I don't think the DMZ regulations prohibit the firing of unarmed scientific probes, but... I would cede that to someone who's more familiar with that situation. We would be able to tell any authority figures that we're doing a biological study, and while it might stretch the truth, it wouldn't be a lie."

"I could certainly fine tune some of my more adept bioscanners for that purpose. We could even extrapolate based on the Commander's biosign and a transporter log, should push come to shove." Paige answered, thoughtfully. She jotted down a note on her PADD 'Check transport buffer logs.'

"Will shuttles be needed to evacuate the wounded?" Milton asked. "Some injuries are worsen through transporter shifting molecules and such." Milton added. I would like to be part of team on the ground to evaluate the wounded if I could."

Wagnor listen as the others spoke, he figured if anyone had a question for him they'd ask.

"Shuttles may not be large enough," Diane spoke up for the first time. "If we have a runabout aboard, I think that would be a better choice for carrying supplies down and bringing evacuees back up. If not, two of the largest shuttles we have would suffice."

"The evacuation, isn't due to an attack. Its due to the rising hostilities and tying to prevent deaths. The search will however may require medical attention." He turned to the Doctor, "If there is a medic you can send we can send a medic." Turning to Diane, "Take a few shuttles or whatever you feel is necessary."

Pausing, he turned to Tony. "Admiral London's two children were also part of the mission, I promised him we would find them as well."

It was another shock to Tony. Why hadn't uncle Wain or aunt Denni told them herself. Those boys were like brothers to her as well. It took all she got not to moan and keep her face impasse. "Good ideas everyone." She said in a level tone. "I really appreciate this everyone."

Jaya gave a slight wave as she was introduced. She had slipped in behind a somewhat disheveled looking peer and taken the empty seat nearest the door. One hour in and already in crisis mode, it seemed.

Soran maintained his neutral expression as he sized up the woman who sat across from him. He gave her a nodded of acknowledgment.

"So what is the first step?" Tony asked eager to get them going.

"Our first step would be to determine who goes where, Commander Doctrine, I will need the list of your team within the hour as I would prefer arrival to the demilitarized zone by end of day, Commander Stoffels, I want you to take the afternoon off. Clear your head. While we head to the last known position of the away team."

Tony opened her mouth to object but looked at Sky and then nodded. "Yes sir."

"You aren't cut out commander, just there really isn't much to do but go over some paperwork. The less you stress over that, the more clear headed you can be when the actual search starts." He turned to Sky, giving her a 'spend time with her' look.

"No problem, sir." Tony said again face expressionless. "You are the captain."

Turning to Soran "Commander, once the Commander and her team leave, meet me in the ready room, although the mission details is classified, we can discuss certain elements in trying to locate them planet side."

Tony had to fight to keep her face impassive. Why the hell was Xavier giving her the afternoon off and not including her in an important mission briefing. It was her brother out there and two of her best friends. Did he not trust her to do her job. But outwardly she showed absolutely nothing.

"Of course, Sir." Wagnor answered.

"Doctor, until we get to the planet and actually find a starting point to start the search, all I can say is be ready for away team." Xavier replied and turned to his chief science and operations. "Work with the bio scanners and see if you can get them fine tuned. Or whatever it is you need to do... i ain't familiar with all the scientific mumbo jumbo, pardon my term."

Xavier had been watching Tony for most of the meeting, and although one not in on the cues would pass off as nothing. Years in the security field his fathers training to look for signs told him otherwise. "Commander, after the meeting, please remain, Lt Jansen you as well please."

"Sir." She said sounding more like the marines in her family.

"Commander Doctine, meet me in your office in thirty minutes." Xavier replied. "Any questions about anything anyone?"

Diane offered a curt nod of affirmation.

Sky shook her head. “No questions Sir.”

"Very wll, any questions my door is always open. Dismissd."