Surprise, Surprise

Posted on Wed Mar 26th, 2014 @ 10:45pm by Lieutenant Commander Adria "Tempest" Desoro & Commodore Kathleen O'Shea

Mission: New Frontier
Location: Starbase 343

Adria's transport had arrived only a short time earlier. Interrupted by a call to meet with Commodore O'Shea, she headed off to find out what her Commanding Officer wanted to see her about. So far the rumors she'd heard about the station appeared to be true. Quickly straightening her uniform, Adria was able to find the designated location.

Kathleen had procured an empty office on the station while they waited for everything to be finalized for her new command. The amount of details were...well, to be honest overwhelming. The station she was to command had been heavily damaged in the war. They would have to quite a bit of repair work to get it even habitable, let alone functional. The plus side was that she was being allowed to pick pretty much everything going into the station, from the small craft assignment, to the stations Garrison ships...and everything in between, including personnel assignments. She was in the middle of one of the endless lists of materials to be transferred to the station when the door chime sounded. Happy for the interruption, she opened the door. "Ahhh...Adria." She stood and walked around the desk to embrace her in a quick hug...Kathleen tended to be a bit more personnel than most COs. "It's good to see you. Welcome to Starbase 343...paradise at the edge of the precipice of the civilized universe. Please, have a seat." Kathleen walked back around her desk and sat down.

Returning the hug quickly, "Good to see you. Seems like this is just about at the edge of every bit of known space on a map and then some." Adria took a seat allowing O'Shea to continue.

"So, I don't guess you have heard. We are headed back to the Frontier. However, things are going to be quite a bit different this time around." She took one of the numerous PADDs for her desk and, after a moment to pull up the desired information, handed it to Desoro. "This, for starters. You will be heading up a wing consisting of 120 fighters. This will be backed by numerous support craft when necessary."

For a moment Adria reviewed the data on the PADD, "That is a pleasant bit of news. Means I'll be a lot busier this time but I think that's a good thing."

Kathleen smiled. "Oh, you don't know the half of it. We are to based on Starbase 80. She need a few coats of paint and a screw or two tightened before we can move in, but we will have some good help with that. You see...I have been given command of a new Corps of Engineers Division."

Now that caught Adria's attention, "I see now that is not something I was expecting to hear given the size of the fighter wing. My orders were pretty vague, just that I'd been reassigned and report here. Came out with Morr."

"Well, the fighter wing is quite important, given the volatile environment in the Frontier. We have a large Marine presence as well. The Corps personnel will need a lot of protection. Additionally, other than a couple of patrol ships and Starbase 24, there are no other real resources in the sector."

Adria listened closely, "Glad to see someone above us made a rationale decision in that respect. Safe to say I haven't seen that happen all the time."

Kathleen had to laugh at that statement. "Isn't that the truth, Adria. I must say it pleases me to have you along for the ride. I never even imagined being in charge of something the size of the Merlin, let alone an entire Station. And it's not just that. I understand they are bringing in several orbital dry docks. Plus we have an office complex planet-side." She saw the look that spread across Adria's features. "Yes, that means we do have to play nice with the locals. Like playing politics has ever been any of our strong points."

"I was telling Vilgi on the way out that up until now I haven't ever been assigned to a starbase. Although I'm not sure we can exactly say we're just assigned to that after what you told me just now. What do we know of the locals so far?"

Kathleen took a minute to pull up some data on her terminal. "Stratkas IV...almost 5 billion inhabitants. Five continents with two major factions. Two moons...a lot of commerce and trade, given their proximity to the border. They survived the war remarkably unscathed. Anyway, we have an office in Meurdin, which is a coastal town, so bring your bathing suit."

Adria listened to the update about the natives, "Sounds good I'll keep that in mind. Looks like we've got a lot of work ahead of us."

"That we do. That's why I figured you would want to know what our new posting was." A huge grin was pasted across Kathleen's face.

For a moment Adria paused, "Although I gather this isn't the complete reason you requested to see me immediately upon my arrival here."

"Well, there is one small matter left to discuss. Your responsibilities have increased tremendously now. You are going to need a bit of help with your new duties. So..." Kathleen picked up a small box and tossed it to Adria. "...maybe this will help."

A look of surprise appeared as Adria caught the box. Opening it up she didn't know what to say. This development was very unexpected, "Thank you Commodore."

"You have saved our asses more than once...you earned it and then some."

Adria nodded with a smile, "I sincerely appreciate it. As always I was just doing my job."

"Anyways, your job is going to be a lot more complicated. You will have to deal with a lot of civilian traffic flowing through the pattern. Passenger transports, freighters, armed escorts from multiple races...not going to be an easy task."

"I gather that from the data I've seen so far," Desoro commented with a smile. "Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Not at this time. You will be leading a couple of squadrons out to the station ASAP. Oh...you get to pick the nicknames. Figured you would like that. It's a brand new air group...the 220th. An interesting mixture of craft...and yes, I picked them out myself." She handed Adria an orders card. "Your papers, my lady." She added with a smile.

Adria accepted the card with a smile, "Sounds like a good plan to me. I've always enjoyed a reason to get more cockpit time."

"Be careful what you ask for." She replied with a smile. "Be careful out there, and I will see you soon. You need anything, task it to me personally."

"Count on it Commodore," Adria replied as she stood to leave.

Lt Commander Adria "Tempest" Desoro
CAG 220th TAG
Starbase 80

&

Commodore Kathleen O'Shea
Commanding Officer
Starbase 80