Docking Port Secured

Posted on Sun 12th Jan, 2025 @ 9:02am by Commander Heriah Rex & Lieutenant JG Kellian Michaels

1,911 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: The Phoenix Gamble
Location: Security Office
Timeline: Current

Heriah, hot off the heels of her first official meeting and only hours after setting foot aboard SB109, was already entering the Security Office. She had to see to the security of the Docking Port as well as...

'Oh don't say 'in-processing.' You know these security types are but a bundle of conspiratorial nerves. They look into your past, see what they don't like, coming asking questions, you won't have the answers they like and then end up more suspicious of you than ever. Might as well let me do the talking.'

"Might as well get my Security In-processing done as well." Heriah felt a grand and mental shrug of irritation from within.

She stepped up to the desk of Lt. Michaels, who was hard at work on a report. Though she was the rank of Commander, not to mention XO of SB109, she waited politely for him to be done with his work before turning his attention to her.

Kellian heard the sound of quiet footsteps approaching. He finished writing the current sentence in the monthly activity report that had to be submitted to Captain Francis in lieu of an XO. It was hard to believe that Dallas Briggs, the previous Security Chief, had been gone for nearly a month, and it was already time to submit the AR. He glanced up from his computer screen, expecting to see an ensign or LT(jg) needing him to sign something or answer a question. Instead, he saw a very fit Trill woman wearing commander's pips.

He stood. "Hello, Commander. May I help you?" Kellian asked.

"At ease, Lieutenant," Heriah said as she stepped forward. "Yes, I have two things. Before that," she gave him a wave and a smile, "Hello, I am Commander Heriah Khatain Rex, the new XO of this starbase." Reaching his desk, Heriah thrust a hand forward, wanting a handshake.

"Honored to meet you, Ma'am," Kellian said, clasping Heriah's hand. "Lieutenant Kellian Michaels. Welcome to our starbase. You're here for onboarding?"

"I am," she said with a smile. "I need to get my in-processing done. I might as well get on with it. First thing, however, and I just got out of this meeting. We need Docking Bay 2 secured. There are to be no sensor recordings, no scans, and no people. I need you to assign Security personnel, two apiece, to guard all entrances and all avenues of access to Docking Bay 2. This includes doors, turbolifts, even Jefferies tube access. No one is to go into or out of Docking Bay 3 except if they are approved by either me or the Captain."

Kellian's eyebrows went up at the extensive list of security recordings that were not to be taken, but he listened to what Heriah told him and reached for his computer screen. He minimized the AR file and called up a schematic of the docking bay. "Hm, passenger entrance, freight entrance, two Jeffries tubes, and a turbolift out in the corridor."

He pulled up the day's duty roster and began selecting ten names. "How long is the security blackout to last?" Kellian asked.

"I have not been given that information," she said. "Just to make sure all those points are manned and secured, with no one going in or out, until told to stand down."

Kellian multiplied the number of guards needed by three shifts a day and paused. "Wait, this is Bay 2, you said?" Now he minimized the screen containing the schematics and pulled up the day's incident log. "The same place that had to be cleared for an EPS relay malfunction earlier today?" Kellian read the entry. "Hm. The habitat ring near the docking bay had to be evacuated, as well." He glanced back at Heriah. "We'll keep it locked tight, Ma'am."

"Thank you," Heriah said with a smile. She sat back in the chair. "I know nothing of the EPS relay. I just got here a little bit ago. Stepped off the Eumenides and into a meeting. I was told this place has no shortage of excitement." She nodded. "I like excitement."

Kellian chuckled. "109 definitely has its share of excitement. You should fit in here just fine, Ma'am. May I have your isolinear chip?"

"Of course," she said and went to retrieve it.

'Careful. This guy may want to get isolinear with you.'

"There you go," she held it out for Kellian to take.

Kellian inserted Heriah's chip in the security scanner and saved the information and Heriah's orders in 109's personnel database. He returned Heriah's chip to her. "Everything's in. You'll have to get your command codes from Captain Francis. Do you wish to be issued a sidearm, Ma'am?" Sidearms were generally kept in weapons lockers, but the CO and XO could be issued weapons for their quarters.

"Absolutely," she said with a grin. "Will I be getting a Type-I phaser or can I request a Type-II, preferably the new ZX-90 model, reduced weight, 50% higher phase capacity and output, fitted with a diamond-tipped focus crystal, complete with a fingerprint identification sensor?" she asked without skipping a beat, with that grin only getting bigger.

'That's my girl.'

Kellian's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "I can tell I'm going to like having you as our XO, Ma'am. Unfortunately, we don't yet have the newest model, but I can issue you a ZX-80, and you can request an upgrade when we get the new ones in."

'Well that sounds like a winner.'

"Well that sounds like a winner," she said. "As long as it has the fingerprint identification sensor. Believe me, from personal experience...symbiontic experience I mean...there is nothing like having an opponent pick up your weapon, point it at you and then be reduced to all kinds of confusion when they cannot fire it. When your opponent fearfully realizes the playing field is level, then you have already won."

"Yes, the ZX-80 model does have the fingerprint lock," Kellian said. "So you're joined? I used to play in a chamber music ensemble with a joined Trill. She was extremely good, even though the viola wasn't an instrument she'd grown up with. Her name was Yenu Vay, if you've ever heard of her."

"I've come across the 'Vay' name a time or two while thumbing through the Joined Compendium. That is a historical compilation of all Joined Trill and for our eyes only, with special dispensation to Trill seeking Joining, after signing an NDA, of course. But I am unfamiliar with Vay myself." Heriah sat back and shuffled a bit for comfort; crossed her legs. "Rex's last 3 hosts were all militaristic with some martial arts, weapons expertise, and tactical knowledge mixed in. Though a previous host did dabble in music, it seems my focus is more in the gym, on the sparring mat, and at the shooting range."

"It sounds like you're putting Rex's experience to good use," Kellian said. "As for Vay, she's well worth listening to. If you'll wait here for a moment, I'll get your sidearm." He went to the weapons locker. Soon, the whine of two quick bursts of phaser fire could be heard.

'Executing the previous owner?'

"Two test fires, Rex," she said, barely audible, to herself. "To ensure it works."

A couple of minutes later, he returned with a small case containing Heriah's phaser and two charged battery packs, which he handed to her. "It's working, but if you'd like to test that for yourself, we have a test range. Once you've tested it, I'll just need to record your thumbprint to show you've taken possession of it, and you'll be all set."

Heriah perked up gleefully as Kellian returned. And, without skipping a beat, took the case, opened it and inspected the two battery packs, lightly brushing her tongue over the adverse poles. She gave uncomfortable squirms and grunts to the affirmative with each one. She chewed, unceremoniously, on her tongue while she picked up the phaser, tossed it over in her hand, inspected the battery compartment, slapped in a battery then removed it, testing the ease with which it would slide in and out. She aimed the phaser at the wall while ensuring she never pointed the business end at Kellian. She pressed a few of the buttons. Of course, nothing happened. "This one is barely used," she said. "One, maybe two, before me have used this weapon. That means fewer modifications have been made to it," she sounded satisfied. "No need to test it first, I will be disassembling it before I take it to the range anyway. I'll give my thumbprint now." She was putting everything back into the case. "And, from a Tactical background, I would feel better if we added a retina scan to the authorization."

Kellian nodded. "We can do that." He handed Heriah a PADD that displayed the usual Starfleet sidearm waiver with a field for a thumbprint. Once Heriah provided that, he opened a retina scan application on his PADD and had Heriah look at the screen. This recorded an image of her retinas, which Kellian stored in the phaser's memory and in the Security database. "The thumbprint scanner can be used for retinal scanning also. When you use it for that, scan your right eye and then your left."

"Gladly," Heriah said as she took the PADD. She shook her head, tossing a lock of hair over her ear, looked at Kellian briefly before focusing on where the PADD was indicating. The PADD did its thing and gave a pleasant sound. "There's one," she said, then batted her eyelashes while focusing her other eye on the PADD. It scanned again and produced another pleasing sound of affirmation.

Kellian laughed at Heriah batting her eyelashes.

"There." She handed the PADD back to Kellian.

"Loveliest retinas I've ever seen," Kellian assured her. He checked that the file was stored properly and set the PADD back on his desk.

'While you're at it, maybe you want him to perform a scan up in your...'

"I think that should about do it," she broke in on Rex's thoughts. "Unless if there is anything more you need from me."

"No, that's everything, Ma'am. Thank you for coming by. You're good to go," Kellian told her. "I hope I'll get to see you practice with that phaser someday. Something tells me you're extremely good with it."

'Well, if it shoots, or if I can swing it...'

"Well, if it shoots, or if I can swing it..." Heriah started then paused, reflecting on the words that were about to flow forth. "Well, I have several hosts' worth of experience with weapons. With some of my own. Tell you what," she stood and held onto the phaser case with a pry-it-from-my-cold-dead-fingers style of grip, "you pick the time for us to meet at the range and I'll be there. Truth be told, I also want to see your skills as well; make sure the security of this starbase is in good hands."

Kellian's eyes widened slightly. "Mm...Would Wednesday of next week work? About 1900 hours or 1930? Whatever time is best for you. The range here is usually open."

"1930 next Wednesday," Heriah repeated to herself but audibly. "Plenty of time for me to finish my in-processing and meet the senior staff. Yes," she regard him with a smile, "that sounds splendid."

 

RSS Feed

Comments (1)