Coming aboard

Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2020 @ 5:02pm by Lieutenant Mica Rue

Mission: Into The Delta Triangle
Location: Transporter Room

The plastic grip on the handles of Lt. Mica Rue's sac creaked with the tightening of her fists as she re-materialized onto the lit pad on the floor. She opened her eyes, never one to enjoy keeping them open through the process of dissemblance and re-integration.

"Welcome to the Astraea, ma'am." the young Lt behind the panel smiled as she came around. "I have quarters designated for your use while your here and would be happy to have someone show you to them--"

"--No need." Mica spoke quickly, with a lightness her voice hadn't possessed these two months past. "I am...somewhat familiar with the ship and can find the way on my own." She stepped past the other woman, pausing when the doors opened. She looked over her shoulder. "Thank you."

The Lt listened to the swish of the closing doors behind her, relishing in how one little sound could bring back so much assurance. The Capital Technologies Building on Trill had no such add-ons. Doors simply opened and closed, no hydraulic hint to their operation. One would think this would make for a more peaceful work environment.

They would be wrong.

Mica hesitated along every corridor she wandered, slowing her steps every time yet another crewmember entered or exited their quarters. The swishing was like a homecoming to Mica, and although she knew her visit here was temporary, it was so very badly needed.

Finding her assigned quarters took less time than Mica had hoped, and, upon entering, she waited for that door swish again. It did, and she sighed with contentment. Placing her bag on the bed she looked out of the window, enjoying the hazy glow of the stars around her, the intrepid hum of the ships engines all around. Even with the bulkheads between them she could feel the crowd of people that occupied the ship. Reaching up, Mica's fingertips brushed the device temporarily implanted behind her ear. She considered if she should turn it off, if she could. Reconsidering, she shook her head and flattened her now short hair over it, hiding the grey-blue piece of technology.

Again she glanced out the window. The last time she had been here, she had been Chief Engineer. It had been brief, barely long enough to even say she had held the title. But she had been, nonetheless. But then there'd been the accident. There'd been her mother and father...

Mica shook her head. She wouldn't get back into that headspace. It had taken her a long time to resolve her feelings over their death. And, in the end, it had given the woman a new purpose, a new direction. Despite her rejection of the Capital's job offer at first, it had been just what she needed, and the two months of heading up her team in medical engineering had given her a new passion for technology and the benefits it can make on society. And the time back on trill had given her more time with her brothers...

Smiling, Mica took in a deep breath. And now she was back, on orders from the capital and the federation, as a visiting engineer. She had no idea why yet - the details had been foggy at best. Mica wondered, to some degree, if she had been selected because they wanted to test out the implanted inhibitor that dampened Mica's Enaran ability to project thoughts and memories. What better place than a familiar ship with hundreds of people trapped aboard surrounded by space. She shook her head. It was a silly thought. Regardless of how free-natured they could be, trill were calculating and surely they wouldn't have been so carefree with one of their own adopted daughters.

Squaring her shoulders, Mica went to the small mirror, brushing her fingers over her hair once more. She looked tired, though travelling by shuttle from trill to earth then off again to rendezvous with the Astraea was hardly a pleasure-jaunt. And, Mica thought, she looked...different. Older. Time and grief and experience away from starfleet had aged her. She no longer held that joyous light in her eye. The corners of her lips no longer curved inadvertently into a smile. She thought of engineering, wondering if she would have a chance to see it again and wondered about the Warp Core that she never had named. She hoped the new chief was treating him well.

Expelling the thoughts which she had since learned on trill made many sentient beings nervous, Mica reached sent a quick message to the Captain letting her know of her arrival. Then she stepped into the corridor, waiting for that swish again...