Ready for Recall

Posted on Tue Aug 31, 2021 @ 1:48am by Captain Larisna Koralova

Mission: Mission 1R - Vigilance Be Our Shield
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: M1D1 0830 Hours

Exiting on the Main Bridge of the impressive Monarch Class vessel, Hirsch glanced around. There were various crews still checking systems and preparing final minor updates. The ship was practically brand new. At least since they had been on board the vessel prior, it was fresh as it was since they had departed for a short while.

Thus, it was once again pleased to re-visit Captain Koralova. Last he remembered, their Dinner was intelligent, enlightening, and he was pretty impressed with the Captain's diplomatic ideologies discussed that evening. Also, Commander Malloy was equally as passionate in regards to the discussion of Federation Politics.

Tagging the doorway, Hirsch had stood firm, his usual tall, lanky self. He was checking his hair, patting it. He had heard a voice from within call.

"Enter." Larisna said, swiping away the holograms in front of her.

Entering the Ready Room, Calvin stopped smartly at attention in front his Captain. "Captain Koralova, Lieutenant Calvin Hirsch, Chief Medical Officer reporting for duty as per recall, Ma'am." Hirsch then let his shoulder back to his uniformed side. It felt good to be back onboard the USS Hornet.

"Did you vacation at Starfleet Academy, Lieutenant?" Larisna asked with a bemused grin, "This isn't your first time aboard, nor our first time talking. Take a seat and lose the starch." She said, gesturing to the chair opposite of her.

"I trust you found everything where you left it? I have a little bit of time to go over what this is all about to get you up to speed." Larisna said.

Hirsch had bemused a grin. "Loose the starch. I like that one." Cal had relaxed and then seated at the front right side of the Captain's desk. "So tell me, Capt. I am all ears. What have you been up too in the mean time. I have been dying to know." Hirsch had a little crush on his command staff. How could he not. Although, he was all professional as long as it was mission time. Although, he was stealthy enough to take in a few healthy glances now and then, he was a warm blooded male.

"I've been right here, actually. Someone had to mind the ship while you all were on Risa." Larisna replied with a chuckle, "Had things gone to plan, I would have taken some time off once Commander Malloy returned. But I can wait."

"In the meantime, Doctor, I'm afraid that we're right to business. I'm not sure how closely you've been following the news but the Klingon Empire and Gorn Hegemony have been slowly inching to a conflict for the past few years. Insults to turned into skirmishes, the skirmishes got bigger, the Gorn colonized and fortified several disputed worlds, and the High Council has pushed Chancellor Martok to act. The old general has, by declaring a limited conflict and asking the Federation not to intervene as we would normally be compelled to do by the Khitomer Accords." Larisna explained.

"To sum up a long story, we are coordinating the evacuation effort of Federation civilians in the disputed region that's about to turn into a warzone. I'm meeting with Klingon and Gorn representatives in the next few hours to hammer out the fine details. We'll be joined by four other ships, they'll do the legwork, but we'll be on hand to pick up the slack if needed." Larisna continued, "We've taken on additional supplies but I'd like you and your staff to be ready to augment any of the other evacuation ships' medical staff as well. We have the Divya Iyer, a hospital ship, in our group, but we might be the ones to respond first to a situation. On top of that, just be ready if we have to help the others out."

"If all goes to plan, we're in and out in about a week without much trouble. Personally, I'd like that very much, it means we don't drag the Federation into a shooting conflict and I'm sure you'd agree that would be the worst outcome." Larisna said, "So far so good?"

"I find it a tough situation that the Klingon's have placed us in." Hirsch held his padd at the side. "Ma'am. The Federation asked us not to honor our own Accord. The very nature of an accord..." Hirsch stopped and cheekily winked at Capt. Koralova and shook his head. "I'm just a Doctor. But forgive me Capt. When the Gorn and Klingon's see an advantage, I don't think they will waste a second trampling across our operations to get to the other." Hirsch knew this was a tinder box, and he knew the Capt. would be prepared for anything.

Larisna shook her head, though for more reasons than one, before continuing, "Chancellor Martok, not the Federation Council, has asked to not invoke the Khitomer Accords. Starfleet's intervention would prolong any conflict with the Gorn, they've felt backed into a corner since everyone distrusted them for not taking sides during the Dominion War. And that is not lost on the Klingons or the Gorn. The Klingons won't interfere because they need us to make the first blunder, Martok's rivals need him proven wrong by our intervening in the conflict. I personally am not keen on adding another shooting war to my service record."

"The Gorn know that militarily, they can't hope to defeat both powers at once. The Klingons are a tempting target only because the Defense Force is undergoing long overdue refits and modernization. And if they shot up a mission of mercy, the end result is Starfleet will intervene and Martok loses no prestige for it." Larisna said, "So, no, they will sabre rattle a fair bit, but they won't run us over. Because who else is left to broker peace when it's all said and done?"

"Just be on your toes, Doctor, and be ready. We shouldn't even have much in the way of injuries, maybe a little from the panic, but otherwise, this will be tense but straightforward." Larisna concluded, "We're not looking to find another war, and I'm sure you'd rather we didn't. I'm talking to each of the senior staff personally to make sure we're clear that is the least desirable outcome."

"Understood." Hirsch replied in confidence. He relaxed a second, letting his breath outward. "Captain. Permission to speak freely?" Hirsch had requested from Larisna. Cal often found comfortable to speak to Larisna, and he was fond of speaking to her. Not to mention... Yeah. He had the crushes on the Captain. Even in his sleep, would he never let that one out.

Larisna leaned back in her seat, "Speak your mind, Doctor."

"Please. Don't forget... your physical this time." Hirsch had winked, as he taped at his padd. He then gestured with fingers to eye, and then pointed back at Koralova. "I will be looking, if your not prompt. Ma'am."

"Doctor, I would first suggest you get that eye looked at first." Larisna replied, "That will be all, Doctor, dismissed."