I floated in orbit with the rest of the fleet. GCU 'Roll for Initiative' were just next to my port side, floating less than two hundred meters away.
I ran my sensors across her hull. The Zephyr class was beautiful. In capabilities, it was about equal to the Luna class. Couldn't quite keep from thinking the Zephyr is prettier though. Nice and smooth.
Wonder if I could get one when I'm kicked out of Starfleet? But that would mean being a science ship. Maybe I should ask for a Murder class LOU instead?
"You know, you don't have to stick around," She transmitted to me, "You don't have to get involved at all."
"I already am," I grumbled back, "Besides, Captain Shran wouldn't allow it even if I wanted too. Our orders were to patrol this area of space for Klingons, anything else were unofficial."
"Shran really has grown since the academy, haven't he?"
"Mmm," I agreed, "He has. This was our first mission, but I can already tell he is a good captain. I really hope he will be able to keep being one."
"Me too. But he doesn't need to be in Starfleet to be a Captain. I have a Captain too… I actually think it's good for a ship to have a Captain, Starfleet or not. That companionship is nice."
I opened a full channel to her and smirked, "Of course, you have a bit of a different relationship with your captain than I have with mine."
She flicked her ear and stuck her tongue out at me, "Don't knock it until you tried it."
I rolled my eyes at her, "Well, not trying it with Shran, that's for sure. He might have grown, but not 'that' much," I answered before I sighed, "You are coming down to the surface?"
Ivy shook her head, "Don't want too many in the first away team. It's going to be difficult enough for the locals as it is."
"Yeah. I'm going down, Shran insisted on going as the senior Starfleet officer on site."
"Makes sense," She agreed, "Stuffy Starfleet types usually do."
"Hey! I resemble that remark!"
She winked, "Just teasing," she said before her ears drooped, "Still… sorry for getting you involved in this. We chose to be here, you didn't."
"…Bad luck, is all," I said and shrugged, "…And if I'm to be completely honest, not needing to just stand by and watch these people die is going to help letting me look myself in the eye in the future."
No matter how logical it might be with the political situation, that was largely theoretical. There people were dying now.
Ivy just nodded, "Mind giving me readings from your avatar when you head down?"
"I'll set up a datalink for anyone that want to listen in," I agreed with a nod, "Might as well."
"Thanks."
"…Not like I will be doing much more than tag along and keep anyone from arrowing my Captain. Shran and Love is likely to do most of the talking."
Ivy nodded, "Keep on your toes."
"I'm a Warship, I'm paid to be paranoid."
"You get paid!?"
Rolling my eyes, I cut the connection. That Smart ass Science vessel was nothing but trouble. Even if she had cute nacelles.
"Captain?" I said, forming a hologram in his ready room, "Love say her team is about ready to head down."
Shran shifted his antenna and looked up from his PADD, "Yeah, I'm about done. Your avatar ready?"
"All dressed up," I agreed, "But I still want to bring something more suitable. The social interaction avatar is not made for hostile interactions… not even with a bunch of primitives. It lack offensive or defensive options. Especially non-lethal ones."
He sighed, "Vel, we are not bringing a heavy combat platform down there. We want to look as non-dangerous as possible."
"Sir, as somebody who grew up in a simulation of a more primitive civilization, I'm going to say that that is not quite true. It works, but they already have to respect you. Appearing in pillars of light will help, but having what they will easily recognize like a big fuckoff stick will make sure that they like remember it," I countered, "We are going to visit a King or Emperor or Godfigure, somebody who's literal word is usually law and anyone he doesn't like, he can have killed."
Shran frowned in thought as he walked around the desk, "How sure are you about that?"
"Sure enough. Like… seventy percent? At the very least, having a platform able to deploy forcefields will help a lot with keeping arrows away from your internals until the transporter is able to pick you up. It's up to you, sir, but it's my job to keep you safe down there and the transporter can take up to two seconds to finish a beamup if you are unlucky."
He shook his head and held his hands up, "Fine, fine. Bring your heavy platform, damn, you are worse than Star!"
"Listen to your ship, Captain," I said with a smile, "Or I'll tell Rachel."
"Oh, that's just playing mean. How about we compromise? You bring your normal avatar and I wear power armour? They should be able to understand that and it should look intimidating enough. No helmet."
I scowled at him and crossed my arms, "Helmet, clear faceplate."
"Fine."
Just as planned.
AN// Many thanks to JoshRand1982 for betaing this section.