A Symphony of Panic -Lt Charles Matthews

[+ Alix Harford]

I cannot say enough good things about this sim. It opens up our second act beautifully. Not only does it do and excellent job of laying out clear and concise information about the planet we are headed down to, it also has wonderful moments of characterization for Lt Matthews who is leading his first mission team. Its too hard for me to choose my favorite part, but I'm especially fond of the way he uses the metaphor of a symphony to illustrate his character's inner panic. 

 

((Main Bridge, Deck 1, USS Astraeus))

 

System PE-629A. Such an unimaginative name. Yet, getting the Astraeus through the high-energy cloud and past a dangerous asteroid field had been anything but dull. Now that the ship was well clear of the bizarre anomaly, they had taken the chance to get the ship back into working order and, thankfully, all was well.

 

Charlie cast his eyes up to the Main Viewscreen just as the image had switched from the cloud behind them and back to the planets they were approaching. As they passed them one by one, the image of the “rogue” planet shimmered into view. This unassuming planet, completely dark on the side the Astraeus had approached, was a scientific marvel. Not only was it not indigenous to the star system that they were now in, but it had somehow settled into an orbit. An orbit in the habitable zone of system PE-629A. The planet was no longer a rogue. The information on it from the Borealis had given them a slight glimpse of it but, due to the nature of the electrical discharge and the cloud the ship had passed through, what they had been provided could not exactly be taken as gospel. Now, now they were finally going to get a chance to really look at the planet, up close and personal, and see what they could find.

 

Mei’konda: Standard orbit, Mr. Caldwell. All staations, begin surface scans. Let’s see what we’ve got down there.

 

Caldwell: Response

 

Lieutenant Matthews cast an eye down at the LCARS in front of him and quickly moved his hands across the coloured buttons, lightly pressing at them as he started a scan as the ship settled into its orbit. It was almost a novelty that he wasn’t aligning the targeting scanners to shoot at a hostile vessel, or raising the shields and checking their status, not that he was complaining. Getting to where they were wasn’t easy, but the Astraeus had gotten there in the end, and now they had the chance to do what Starfleet was meant to be doing, exploring strange new worlds.

 

Rosek-Skyfire / Kiax: Responses

 

Charles watched as the information started to populate in front of him. The Astraeus had as good a set of scanning equipment as most ships within the Fleet, and they would need it too. After the surprises they’d encountered when entering the system, he wanted to make sure that there were no shocks now. Electrical or otherwise. He’d had his fill of them.

 

Matthews: Hmm. No signs of technology at all, Sirs. Not yet, and not on the surface anyway. Nothing that would indicate remnants of a race. No power emanations. Ice is confirmed, covering… erm… sixty-five… no, sixty-seven-point four percent of the planet. Some areas of flat land, a couple of mountainous areas. ::turning towards Alentonis and Harford:: No atmosphere. It would have been ripped away when it was thrown from its native system.

 

Alentonis / Harford: Responses

 

He nodded slowly, quickly transmitting his findings to the upper Primary Scientific Complex on Deck Eight. Commander Delgado, still on loan from the USS Borealis, had spent most of her time there since she had been on board. The experienced Officer had requested all information on the planet to be transferred to her as and when it came in.

 

Mei’konda: Sounds promiising. At the very leaast, in environmentaal suits, we should have no problems down there, yes? Some in person sample collectiion and analysis miight be just what this crew needs. It’s a reliief that there’s nothiing that will interfere with the transporters, but it could still be a good idea to taake a shuttle, so any extra gear any away teams need will be riight there with you. Thoughts, number one?

 

Rosek-Skyfire: Response

 

Matthews listened to the exchange between the Captain and his First Officer, fully expecting the Caitian to give the order for an away team to be put together. Instead, he felt the stare from the Captain’s blue eyes focusing on him.

 

Mei’konda: I agree. And giiven that we have a lot of ground to cover - literally - two away teaams to start seems perfectly reaasonable. Commander, you’ll lead one. Mister Matthews, I’d liike you to lead the second.

 

oO Me?! Is there another Matthews here? Oo

 

Charlie could hear the red alert klaxon sounding within his head as he stared back at the Captain. He had no idea at all that he would be given an away team to lead. Commander Rosek-Skyfire getting one made sense; he would have expected Lieutenant Commander Kiax to get the second one, or Lieutenant Commander Alentonis, seeing as it was more of a scientific mission. Swallowing hard, the Human man did his best to keep his face from revealing all that his brain was thinking, which wasn’t so much a collection of thoughts but more a symphony of panic being played completely out of order, and he nodded respectfully towards his Commanding Officer.

 

Matthews: Aye, Captain.

 

Rosek-Skyfire: Response

 

Mei’konda: You maay both select any equipment you think you would need. I will also leaave the choice up to each of you as to whether you would raather beam down, or taake a shuttle. However, I think there are a few key officers who will baalance out your groups well.

 

He blinked slowly as the Captain turned back towards the front of the Bridge.

 

oO Shuttle? Shuttle, right? Yeah. We’ll take a shuttle. We can cover more ground, take more specialist equipment with us, pattern enhancers, scanning equipment, stuff like that… Maybe we should use the transporters? It’ll be quicker. We’ll use the transporters… The equipment though. Damn. Carrying equipment in an EVA suit. Shuttle. Definitely a shuttle. Oo

 

Mei’konda: Lieutenant Caldwell, I’d like you to accompaany the First Officer. Lieutenant Tam is an excellent officer as well, Commander, and… Ensign Wright has done a good job up here today. What do you say we giive her the chance to go on her first away mission?

 

Rosek-Skyfire / Caldwell: Responses

 

Mei’konda: Excellent. Lieutenant Matthews, I would liike you to take Commander Alentonis, Lieutenant Ral, and Doctor Harford with you.

 

He bit his lower lip.

 

oO Harford? Great(!) Oo

 

Mei’konda: You may both also select any additional personnel that you liike to accompany you from the vaarious depaartments on the ship (NPCs). Any questiions?

 

Matthews: ::turning towards Rosek-Skyfire:: Commander, any preference on where you and your team will start? There is an area of flat land in the southern hemisphere on the dark side of the planet, it seems to have a high mineral composition. I’d like to start there, if it’s all the same to you. ::smiles weakly::

 

Rosek-Skyfire / Caldwell: Responses

 

Kiax / Alentonis / Harford: Responses

 

Charlie nodded.

 

Mei’konda: Very well. Let’s get to it. Commander Kiax, let’s get the relief officers up here, includiing Lieutenant Beyett to taake over Tactical, and we will monitor thiings from orbit. You’re dismissed, everyone. Taake some holos for the rest of us, will you?

 

Matthews found himself smiling again, and felt little flecks of excitement fill him.

 

Matthews: Aye, Captain. We’ll make sure to put the flash on. ::pause:: Commander Kiax, do you have anyone who can prep an appropriately sized shuttle with the appropriate equipment? Scanners, pattern enhancers? The works. I’ll fly it but someone with piloting experience would be great. They can come along, the more the merrier.

 

Kiax / Rosek-Skyfire / Caldwell: Responses

 

Alentonis / Harford: Responses

 

His eyebrows twitched slightly. He recognised the name, but he just couldn’t put a face to it, though he would soon find out who it was once they met in the Shuttlebay.

 

Charlie directed his smile towards Esa before looking at Lieutenant Commander Alentonis and Doctor Harford in turn, nodding at each of them as he did, the smile remaining on his lips, though it did wane slightly as he looked towards Alix. He just couldn’t help it.

 

As he left his post on the Bridge, he made his way to the turbolift, entering it first as he held the door open for the others to enter. He moved his hand back from the door as Alentonis and Harford joined him in the lift, the deep red doors closing with a whoosh behind them.

 

Matthews: Deck Four. ::taps combadge:: =/\= Chief Ral, come in please. =/\=

 

Ral: =/\= Response =/\=

 

The familiar voice of Wyatt crackled through the combadge as the turbolift set off to its destination.

 

Matthews: =/\= Lieutenant. Matthews here. We’re going planetside, Chief. Captain Mei’konda wants you to be a part of the team. ::pause:: A shuttle is being prepped. =/\=

 

Ral: =/\= Response =/\=

 

Matthews: =/\= Brilliant, see you there. We have to EV up before departure. We’ll launch as soon as the shuttle is ready. Matthews out. =/\=

 

He turned his attention to the other two Officers with him in the turbolift as he tapped the combadge, closing the channel to the Chief Engineer. If the situation was better between them, he'd be delighted that Alix was here to see him leading his first away team. Not only would she give him confidence, but she was a damn good doctor. However, the situation wasn't good between the pair of them, even after their conversation when she'd turned up to his quarters in an emotional state.

 

oO Right. I can't let whatever is between her and I mess this up for me. She's an Officer, I'm an Officer. It's as simple as that. We're investigating the planet, not rehashing our past. Oo

 

Matthews: So, anything your specific departments think we should be looking for? ::looks between both of them:: Commander? Doctor?

 

Alentonis / Harford: Responses

 

Matthews: We know so little about this planet, and where there is a lack of information, there is always potential danger. ::pauses:: I’m hoping we can find something though, but I’d also appreciate not having to put my skills to use.

 

Alentonis / Harford: Responses

 

 

---

 

 

Lieutenant Charles Matthews

Acting Chief of Tactical & Security

USS Astraeus NCC-70652

A240012CM1

 

 

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