Leave of Absence/SANS Project Work Part 2

Posted on 26 Aug 2025 @ 3:30pm by Lieutenant Commander Remington Dodd

1,455 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: Transport heading to Starbase 51

[ON]

The hatch had closed to airlock and then to the transport. Dodd was now once again enroute back to Starbase 51 and it has not even been a full day since he left there.

This time he was closer to getting his crew to work on a dream project. He was excited to get work on a pet project along with a fellow crewmember and a close friend who was also a crew member. He knew this project would benefit the whole of Starfleet and maybe beyond.

11 A & 11 B were escorted to their arranged quarters and left to their business. They would likely remain in there for the whole time of the trip as they had a lot to upload and updates to download.

Meanwhile, Dodd was escorted to a sleeping pod as the crew member of the transport knew he had not been at the orbital station long enough to get any rest.

"Here you go commander, this was arranged for you because your transport logs showed us you did not have much time on the station and so we wanted to make you comfortable. Please make your self at home and the replicator is also at your disposal. We will departed the station in approximately fifteen minutes after the checklist is complete. Also, all your equipment is stowed and secured in place."

"Thank you, I appreciate the arrangements." Dodd replied as the crewmember stepped away from the door to the room where Dodd was assigned.

This room was likely a crew member's quarters but it was vacant on this trip and made available for him. He set his duffle down and walked over to a portal to look out at Rigel VIII. He had never actually been on Rigel VIII but he had been on the orbital station many times. He then realized he may need to get some rest as he had been awake for almost three days now. He went over to the replicator. "Computer, a warm Talamarian Cocoa with Risian nutmeg." The replicator complied and produced his beverage. Dodd then took his uniform off and sipped is beverage. He consumed the cocoa and stepped into the sonic shower which was in the corner of this room.

After a refreshing shower, Dodd sat in the sleeping pod and activated the meditation mode. He was asleep in a matter of minutes and even before the transport departed the station.

As the shuttle took off, all was smooth. The course was as direct as it could be with the only exception being the predicted Ion storm in the path. The small deviation for that meant the transport would arrive at Starbase 51 in 12 hours and 9 minutes.

The Bynars were in their quarters and doing what Bynars do to rest, they were linked to their homeworld computer to download and upload data back and forth. They were to be new ambassadorial residents on Starbase 51 as well as representatives on behalf of the Kavain Nanite Collective.

As Dodd slept, he was having a strange dream. He was back on the Tomcat and it was a ghost ship, not a single crewmember to be seen. He was alone and yet the ship was fully operational. He could not figure out what was going on. He was sort of please as this situation allowed him to be fully comfortable and be au naturelle as well as free form all the random thoughts and emotions he normally senses from the crew.

Meanwhile, the transport was very uneventful. That is until they neared the region where the Ion storm was predicted. This storm was much larger than expected. It caused a more significant deviation than expected. The Pilot was able to make the adjustments but it meant that it added almost another hour to the flight and it caused an issue with the communications array when they hit the edge of the storm.

By the time the transport approached the storm the Bynars were complete with their data exchange and so they were unaffected. Dodd was still asleep and in the sleeping pod which was sort of a protection for him as he never felt the affects of the storm. The only negative glitch was the extension of the trip's time.

After the sleep pod's cycle had concluded, the pod door opened and Dodd awoke. He was rested and refreshed. However, the dream he had made him wonder what to expect when he arrive back to his ship and the people he thought of as family. He stood up and walked over to the portal to see a view that was not what he expected. He then realized they were not as close to Starbase 51 as he calculated they should be. He then realized they likely had to make a bigger adjustment for the ion storm. So Dodd then got himself freshened up with a shave and some cologne, brushed his teeth and put on some pants and his boots, grabbed a shirt. He approached the door to exit his room and as it opened there stood the crewmember. Dodd was startled as he did not expect to see her.

"Hello Commander. I was sent to check in on you. Hope you had a good rest." The crewmember stated.

"Wow, I think I had one of the best sleeps I have had in a good long time." Dodd stated still just holding his shirt as he picked up on the thoughts of the crewmember. "is there something wrong?" Dodd asked.

"No, I was just to check in on you, as some of the internal communications systems have been on the fritz since the ion storm." She replied with a hint of nervousness to her voice. "I was not expecting to see you as you were at the door."

Dodd could tell she was liking the view and he was sort of liking the attention. He had not had relations with a female in a while since Autumn left suddenly. "Well, I would be willing to take a look at the communications system. I am an engineer by trade and an XO by loyalty and commitment."

"I think that is really what the pilot was hoping you would say." the crewmember replied. "By the way, I am Ensign Quinzel."

"Well, since I am not on duty, I am Remington." Dodd replied. "It is nice to meet you. So where is the engineering room on this transport?" Dodd replied even though he really knew where it was.

Ensign Quinzel led Dodd to the bow of the transport and to a small room where the main systems were housed. Dodd was still without is shirt and starting to glisten from perspiration from the heat as this section of the ship was very hot.

"Well, I am glad I did not get fully dressed or I would have to removed my shirt by now." Dodd stated as he was sensing Quinzel's thoughts.

"Well, I don't mind, I hope you are able to fix this issue." Quinzel replied with a little giggle.

Dodd turned around and took Quinzel in his arms and lifted her up to allow him to kiss her. She was quick to respond and soon they were making out in the systems room. With internal communications down the pilot or copilot would not be calling them, so they carried on for a few minutes.

Dodd then stopped kissing and released Quinzel. "So very sorry, not sure what came over me." Dodd stated.

"I don't mind, I sort of lost myself for a moment but all is fine." Quinzel replied as she attempted to adjust her tunic and her hair.

Dodd turned and looked at the communications system. "Here is the problem." He made a few adjustments and pressed a few leads into new ports. "There that should fix the issue and it will be almost as good as new."

"Really that did not take as long as I thought." Quinzel replied.

"Well, I am happy to help, but I feel we should get back to other issues." Dodd then picked up his shirt and used it to wipe his brow while he picked up on Quinzel's random thoughts of having more with him.

"Maybe I should go get a fresh shower. If only there was a real shower and not just a sonic one." Dodd stated knowing what she would reply from her random thoughts.

"Well, I have access to the hydro shower in the crew quarters." She replied and grabbed his hand and led him to empty crew quarters.

The rest as they say is history for them...

[OFF]

------To be continued-------

 

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