Unaccustomed Arrival
Posted on Thu Aug 28th, 2014 @ 7:40am by Commander Jordan Gunning & Cadet Senior Grade James Anderson & Gunnery Sergeant Avery Nakano
Mission:
Vagrants, Vagabonds, and Thieves
Location: Passenger Lounge, East Lansing
Timeline: MD10: 0900hrs - Before the arrival of USS Montreal
[ON]
[Passenger Lounge, East Lansing]
"James...hey, Jimmy...Cadet Anderson..."
The familiar voice of Cadet Senior Grade Jeffery Halloway (PNPC) was enough to pull James from past memories back to their present surroundings. He immediately noticed the look of concern which passed briefly across the engineering cadet's face before being replaced by one of genuine amusement.
"They just announced we've entered the system defense perimeter," Jeff continued, casually pointing toward the large viewport running along one bulkhead of the ship's lounge, "so we should be in visual range of the station soon. Did you want me to ask them to slow it down a bit so you can finish whatever it is you're reading?"
James opened his mouth, ready to fire back with some sort of witty reply, but promptly shut it again when he realized what Jeff was trying to do. The reading to which Jeff was referring was how James had chosen to pass the time. Unlike his more outgoing counterpart, James had spent much of their trip from Earth trying to learn everything he could about their new assignment, especially the Diligent-class garrison vessel's specifications. Closest he'd ever come to an assignment like this was when he was living aboard the Sentinel-class USS Eagle with his father. Somehow, James had a feeling it wasn't going to be quite the same.
Both young men turned their attention toward the large viewport just as the transport slipped past one of the system's navigational markers. Even though they were still quite a ways out from the station itself, Starbase 332 was already visible as a seemingly small metallic speck in orbit of the Archa system's fourth planet. The speck rapidly grew into a massive, clearly recognizable form...that of a Stardock-class starbase.
James' attention was soon drawn to where a small fleet of workerbees darted about the jagged edges of a large hole in the station's outer hull. Some were delivering supplies and personnel to areas in need of detailed work while others towed large sections of replacement hull plating into position. Seeing how the small craft seemed to buzz to and fro really helped to solidify the image of bees buzzing about their own hive. As the East Lansing drew closer to the station itself, one of the workerbees passed so close to the transport James could clearly see a look of intense focus on the pilot's face. It seemed yet another indication of just how serious whatever situation had caused the breach was.
[Twenty-Three Minutes Later, Starbase 332]
It took surprisingly little time for the East Lansing to receive docking clearance, despite having to make her way through all the bustle surrounding the damaged station. The transport took up position at one of the undamaged docking ports where it immediately began offloading both personnel and supplies.
"Almost as busy in here as it is out there," James observed as he and Jeff made their way through the crowd of people moving in every direction. It reminded him very much of their experience rendezvousing with the East Lansing aboard the original Stardock-class Earth Spacedock only a few weeks prior. New arrivals like themselves were trying to figure out where they were going while those already aboard the station were making every effort just to go from one side of the disembarking area to the other.
"No kidding," Jeff replied. Although a few inches height gave him somewhat of an advantage over many of the others pressing in around them, the blond-haired cadet was having just as difficult a time navigating the ebb and flow of the crowd without trampling on too many people.
"Name." The booming voice came from the black-uniformed officer Jeff had almost walked into. Warrant Officer Michael Appiah was almost as livid as his companion, Gunnery Sergeant Avery Nakano at having to pitch in at a lowly docking station.
The two cadets exchanged a surprised look. Neither of them were all that familiar with the events that had been taking place in the Galactic South as evidenced by their surprise upon seeing a large, gaping hole in the side of an otherwise seemingly intact Stardock-class station. James supposed whatever it was would have explained the need for increased security. Getting through security aboard Earth Spacedock certainly hadn't been this intense. Although the Warrant Officer standing before them couldn't have been much taller than James, certainly a head shorter than Jeff, he didn't seem like the kind of person willing to explain anything at that point. The dark-haired cadet wasn't about to test that theory either. Before he could say anything, however, Jeff moved slightly forward and opened his mouth to speak.
"Cut the crap, kid. I've got another six hundred Sol system brats to shove through this door today and I could do without hearing your memoirs. Hang on a minute." Appiah waved a hand at his Marine counterpart with the practiced flippancy of a true Customs Officer.
Nakano grimaced and checked the settings on his phaser rifle. He had never been more tempted to exercise a little "creative" crowd control.
"All of you, form an orderly queue so that we can check your documentation!" He bellowed as the small processing station fell silent. And if any of you are Sojourner Agents, can you please hand yourself over now. He thought as the throng of passengers from the East Lansing suddenly fell into step.
"That's better." Appiah beamed from his position on the moral high ground before turning back to the cadet with a thunderous expression. "Name?"
"Cadet Senior Grade James Anderson," James interjected before Jeff had a chance to say anything, "and this is Cadet Senior Grade Jeffery Halloway. We've been assigned to the Academy Adjunct."
"If you're not relief officers for this station then I couldn't give a good god damn where you're assigned." Appiah admonished the Cadet for giving too much information while feeling nothing but jealousy for them not being stuck on this forsaken wreck. "Where are your Assignment PADDs?"
James did his best not to let the Warrant Officer's brusque response intimidate him, but it certainly wasn't easy. He knew there were dozens of people behind them all waiting to get through the security checkpoint and their respective destinations. The longer it took for them to process through, the more likely things were to get out of hand. Not wanting to be the one responsible for dragging things out any longer than they already had been, James adjusted the shoulder strap of his travel bag, extended his arm, and offered a single PADD to the man standing before him.
Appiah took a careful glance at the PADD. The assignment was valid and the PADD contained a valid clearance code. He thrust it back into the young man's hand and wheeled on Halloway. "And yours?"
Ordinarily, Jeff might have made some sort of off-handed remark in an attempt to lighten the mood or something. Having just seen what happened to his companion, however, the blond-haired cadet rightly opted to keep his mouth shut. He simply turned over his Assignment PADD without a word and waited for the Warrant Officer to review it.
A cursory glance and a low guttural growl saw Appiah send the two cadets on their way.
"Well that was interesting," Jeff remarked once they were finally away from the concourse and out of the customs agents' earshot.
"No kidding," James replied, adjusting the shoulder strap of his bag as they passed through an adjacent corridor toward a nearby lift access point. Things had certainly changed since he and his father had last been through the Galactic South and clearly not for the better...
[OFF]
Warrant Officer Michael Appiah (NPC)
Temporary Customs Agent
Starbase 332
Played by: Commander Gunning
Gunnery Sergeant Avery Nakano (NPC)
Temporary Customs Agent
Starbase 332
Played by: Commander Gunning
Cadet James Anderson
Flight Control Cadet: Starship Division
Starbase 332
and
Cadet Jeffery Halloway (PNPC)
Engineering Intern
Starbase 332
Played by: Cadet Anderson
