Rendezvous

Posted on Sat Apr 23rd, 2011 @ 11:33pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Lieutenant JG Zam Stott [Byrne] & Ambassador Grintol S'Reln [NPC] & Arthur Schniedt [NPC] & Commodore Jovi Varela & Provisional Lieutenant Commander Narayn Ballard

Mission: Kingdom Come
Location: USS Endeavour - Bridge, Main Shuttlebay
Timeline: MD06 1500 hours

The Endeavour dropped out of warp precisely on schedule; fifteen hundred hours, as close to the minute as was possible to get. The sensors bleeped immediately with a contact. "Federation runabout off the starboard bow, Captain," Stott (NPC) reported from the operations console at the front of the bridge. The shuttle's own rapid deceleration indicated that it too had only just recently dropped out of warp. "It's the Jankata. Opening hailing frequencies."

As the viewscreen snapped from the image of the runabout to a pair of men dressed in fashionable civilian attire - an Andorian closest to the console the camera was mounted on, and a human just behind him. "Captain," the Andorian said, smiling at Byrne across subspace. "You're quite prompt I see."

"Thank you, Mister...?" Benjamin added the upwards inflection to the standard noun, leaving a pause as he implied the question of the Andorian's name.

"S'Reln. Grintol S'Reln," the Andorian replied. "And this is my associate, Arthur Schniedt." He used his arm to indicate behind him, clearly having some difficulty with the pronunciation of the German name, but stating it confidently, as if the two of them had agreed in times past that the pronunciation wasn't important.

Benjamin bowed his head in greeting to the two. "Mister Owen, prepare the main shuttlebay for arrivals," he said, glancing down to his flight control officer. "Once the ambassador's shuttle is safely aboard, set a course for the Nevarra Cluster, and engage at warp eight."

Having already been standing when the ship dropped out of warp, Benjamin turned and headed to the turbolift, Ballard in tow. "Byrne to Varela. Our two diplomats have arrived. Would you like to join us in greeting them in the shuttlebay?" he asked, as he tapped his combadge. "Deck seven." The turbolift doors closed behind the two officers, as it began traversing down relative to the orientation of the ship.

The Commodore had been in her guest quarters when Byrne's message came through. "Yes Captain. On my way," she replied and saved the report she was reviewing before heading out to meet in the shuttlebay.

--[USS Endeavour - Main Shuttlebay]--

The runabout's engines were just settling down through their shut-off cycle as the trio of red-shirted officers entered the bay, and move to approach the opening hatch. "Gentlemen," Benjamin said. "Welcome aboard the Endeavour.

"Thank you Captain," S'Reln responded, as he stepped out onto the decking. "I'm glad you could accommodate us. I heard you had a bit of trouble with your ship systems of late?"

"Yes," Ballard piped up, "we imagine they're just bugs left over from the repairs that we still need to do but they're giving the engineering department a whale of a headache."

"I presume," Benjamin said, stepping in to stop any more of the pleasantries. He really didn't want to stand around on the shuttlebay deck for an hour exchanging them. "That you brought with you all data we have at the moment concerning the Nevarra?"

"Yes," Schniedt answered from behind the Andorian, lifting the large case in his one hand slightly to emphasise its presence. "We have all of the relevant materials with us here. If you can direct me towards your chief engineer or operations officer, we should be able to upload it to your ships library."

"Very good," Benjamin said, nodding his head towards the man. "Narayn, if you'll please take Mister Schniedt down to Engineering, I'm sure Lieutenant Jones will be more than happy to assist him."

Ballard offered the Captain a curt nod, "This way, Mister Schiedt. Lieutenant Jones will be delighted to see you, no doubt."

"Gentlemen, Commodore, I'd like to invite you all to dine with me and my wife in my quarters tonight," Benjamin said, looking between them. It wasn't often that he wanted to have guests over to his quarters, but he knew what the long-standing tradition was whenever a person of some note came aboard a ship. He hadn't offered such an invitation to the Commodore alone yet for the sheer fact he knew he'd only have to host a second dinner again. "We should be serving at around nineteen-hundred."

Jovi nodded and smiled. "I would be honored to join you," she said before turning to their guests. "If you would excuse me, but I have some important business I must tend to quickly before I rejoin you. Captain Byrne here is the most capable host." With a nod to the mentioned man, she departed to finish the necessary reports so that she could focus solely on the Endeavor's guests.

"Thank you Captain," S'Reln replied for the two negotiators. "I am gratified by the invitation. If you don't mind, I'd like to find my way to my quarters. It has been a rather long journey in such a tight space."

"Of course," Benjamin said, holding out his arm as he stepped to the side and began to lead the Andorian into the ship.

-----------------------------
Captain Benjamin J. Byrne
Commanding Officer

Lt. Commander (Provisional) Narayn Ballard
First Officer
USS Endeavour

&

Commodore Jovi Varela
11th Fleet Academy Commandant

With the following NPCs:
Lt. JG Zam Stott, Asst. Operations Manager
Grintol S'Reln, Diplomatic Negotiator
Arthur Schniedt, Diplomatic Negotiator