We Love Logistics
Posted on Mon Jul 29th, 2019 @ 12:52am by
Edited on on Mon Aug 5th, 2019 @ 10:26pm
Mission:
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Location: Starfleet Academy Flight School
Timeline: Five Days Prior to MD01
1438 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure
Starfleet Academy
Surface to Orbit Movement Terminal
Five Days Prior to MD01
The San Franciscan sunshine filtered through the window as Lieutenant Sullivan finished packing the remaining items from her office that she would be taking with her to the Majestic. The past two days in the office had been filled with joyful celebrations with friends and colleagues. The past two nights had been filled with new memories resulting in headaches, the latest of which was slowing Sullivan's progress down.
"Hey Lil', not to be an alarmist, but the shuttle leaving for the Gatineau is leaving pretty soon. It's probably time to get down to the terminal." One of the assistants was keeping a close eye on the clock, and for good reason - Lilith's callsign of "Pocketwatch" had been bestowed upon her many years ago for running late.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm almost done," Lilith retorted. "Computer, dim the windows by fifty percent. Nobody asked the Sun to come into work today, but the bastard did anyway." She continued clearing out her desk, checking drawer by drawer. "Oh look, my sunglasses, I'll be needing those today."
One final round of hugs and well wishes ensued, after which she made her way via hover-taxi to the Surface to Orbit Movement Terminal. A Starfleet crewman dressed in an Operations uniform was manning the desk that new arrivals were being directed to.
"Good morning ma'am," he greeted once Sullivan reached the head of the queue. "Sign in, please. What is your destination today?"
"Gooooooooood morning," Lilith flashed a smile behind her aviator-style sunglasses. She was traveling light, carrying nothing more than a large duffel over one shoulder and a small personal bag over the other. "Um, sorry, I'm a little bit on the back foot this morning, I apologize."
"No worries Lieutenant, take your time. I heard there was quite an event last night in your honor."
Lilith looked over the top of her glasses at the crewman, pausing her search for the PADD which contained her itinerary. She couldn't help but grin, "Yeah, it was something, that's for sure. Gonna take a long nap to get back in the swing of things. Ah, here we go," she produced her PADD from her jacket pocket, "I should be listed to fly and meet the Gatineau. Looks like she's going to be close enough to the Claddin Empire for me to meet up with my next assignment on the Majestic."
"Ah, very good ma'am. May I see your PADD? I'll get you all checked in. Looks like that shuttle will be boarding in the next half hour or so, feel free to stop by the lounge and take a break before boarding. Don't worry, there's strong coffee in there. Max makes some of the best."
Thank. You. Lilith mouthed as she made her way towards the lounge. Well, lounge was a bit of an overstatement - it was more or less an array of chairs, hastily arranged around a table which held the aforementioned coffee maker and a tray of some less than appetizing snacks. Still, Sullivan wasn't the only one with coffee on the mind - a group of four other travelers were encircled with their mugs in hand.
"Morning all," Sullivan acknowledged them with a nod of the head. A far too eager Ensign snapped to attention, nearly spilling his coffee. "At ease, don't pull a muscle brother. It's too early for that s---. Where y'all headed anyway?"
"Pluto Colony, ma'am. Just visiting some friends."
"Ah, very good," Lilith topped off her mug with some decidedly average coffee. "Enjoy it, and no matter what they say, don't let those Plutonians get to thinking they're going to get their planethood back. It's been almost four centuries." This got a few chuckles. "Ah, thanks. I appreciate the courtesy laugh."
A bit of idle chatter continued between the group. Nothing of substance, but it was a fine way to pass the time. Somebody's great-grandmother's recipe for cheesecake was the saveur du jour at the moment the gate agent made the announcement for boarding.
"All personnel for shuttle three four nine with service to the USS Gatineau, please make your way to hangar number seven for boarding. Once again, all personnel headed to the Gatineau, please report to hangar seven."
"That's me, I guess I'd better be going," Sullivan waved as she finished her coffee. "Take care y'all, and save me some cheesecake for when I rotate back planetside next time, okay?"
It was a short walk to the hangar. No doubt the others walking towards the shuttle were a mix of transfers reporting to the Gatineau. Many of them were walking with purpose, ear buds in, body language closed. There would be no friendly chatter as they continued onto the shuttle. Out of curiosity, Lilith took a peak up front to see if she recognized either of the pilots and breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't recognize either. The epitome of irony to an Academy flight instructor would be being killed by a former student.
"...and we know you don't have a choice, but thank you anyway for flying with us. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the thirty five minute flight to the USS Gatineau."
The final announcements completed, the boarding door closed and the shuttle began to climb higher into the atmosphere. From her viewport, Sullivan watched as the Academy shrank into an indistinguishable part of the North American continent as they continued their climb out of the Earth's atmosphere. Soon enough, the USS Gatineau came into view. The short jaunt from the surface to the starship was just an appetizer for the nearly five day journey at warp to reach the Majestic.
For its part in her journey, the Gatineau was a more than capable vessel, large enough to house the shuttle in an interior shuttlebay. As they completed their approach, the skilled Ensign at the helm expertly maneuvered into place, and the tractor beam from the starship guided them for the last few hundred meters.
Lilith exchanged a nod between pilots with the helmsman as she exited the shuttle and walked onto the flight deck. She caught her reflection in a nearby piece of reflective metal which alleviated any fear that she might look as bad as she felt. Internally, Sullivan was slowly and stubbornly beginning to accept that she was past her prime when it came to late nights and partying, but on the outside, she looked as calm and composed as ever. Looking around, the officer of the deck was already busy greeting new arrivals.
"Lieutenant Lilith Sullivan, I request permission to come aboard, sir," she stated, handing over a PADD with her assignment orders.
"Ah, yes Lieutenant, we've been expecting you. Permission granted. We'll have you to the Majestic in no time, I promise. The quartermaster is located on deck twelve. I think they might even have enough space for a private bunk for you, but I won't make any promises. His name is N'Rehu, and I won't speak for him."
"Understood, thank you Ensign. I'd take a ride in a shipping container as long as I get where I'm going. Quite the operation you lot have going on here."
"Oh yes ma'am. We're big into the modular logistics program here. It's been a challenge to try and get everything running smoothly, but I think we've just about got it."
"Oh Jesus," Sullivan rubbed her temples. "You people aren't the ones with that We Love Logistics slogan pasted over your crest, aren't you?"
"Yes ma'am," the OOD grinned, far too excited. "That would be us! We've moved more freight in the last six months than most of the one fifty sixth logistics division by ourselves. We're anticipating growing our year over year efficiency by double digit percentages. In fact, one of the passengers on your shuttle is our new Chief of Operations, and I'm told he has some great ideas on how to continue to improve."
"Goodbye Ensign, thank you for everything," Lilith extricated herself, and more importantly, her headache from the situation. Now was simply not the time to listen to a mouthful of numbers. There would be plenty of time to explore over the next five days, but for now, it was time to find a bunk and sleep off the past twelve hours.
Lieutenant Lilith Sullivan
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Majestic
