Last of The Supplies

Posted on Wed Feb 19th, 2025 by Ensign Valencia Roma & Lieutenant JG Zotras Lazol

1,082 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: M01 - The Hooke
Location: Cargo Bay 01, USS Hooke
Timeline: Present

Zotras had barely arrived on board when the Lieutenant Operations Officer set to work. He was handed a data pad almost immediately after getting his belongings to his assigned quarters. Zotras wasn't surprised by this as it almost seemed as if the ship was suddenly in a rush. The data pad that was in his possession had a manifest list of all the things being beamed aboard to the cargo bays.

Most of the things on the manifest would be moved from the cargo bays to their respective locations. Zotras entered the cargo bay to find many of the operations personnel busy gathering things off the transporter pad and moving them aside so additional items could be beamed aboard. He'd barely been in the cargo bay when he heard the doors open and close a second time.

Zotras turned and immediately saw a young female ensign in teal standing behind him. It was difficult to discern who she was, "Can I help you Ensign?"

Valencia went over to the operations officer, much like him she'd only just arrived on board from Earth. Her things had been put away in her shared quarters before deciding to check on the items that were meant for the hydroponics bay. She crossed her arms, "I'm assuming you're in charge here Lieutenant?"

Zotras shrugged, "Sort of," He answered. "I only just came aboard and was handed the data pad and told to check up on things. I'm guessing we've received orders and been told to head that way. Did you need something Ensign?"

Valencia looked over his shoulder at the pack of objects coming off the transporter pad, "I'm hoping you can tell me whether or not the plants for the hydroponics bay have come aboard?" She asked, "I would like to get hydroponics ready so that the crew doesn't have to eat replicator food for dinner tonight."

Zotras nodded, "I'm Lieutenant Lazol by the way," He told her while looking at the data pad. "It appears that the plants for hydroponics are coming aboard last." He returned his gaze back upon her, "I can get ahold of someone and see if they can be beamed up here sooner?"

Valencia considered this, "Ensign Roma," She said. There was something really strange about Zotras but she couldn't quite place it. Rather than worry about it, however, Valencia ignored it. "If it's possible for the plants to come sooner that would be great."

Zotras nodded, "I'll see what I can do." He then left the Ensign to her own devices for a moment. Zotras went over toward one of the operations officers standing near the transporter pad keeping track of things as they came off the pad. He looked over at the Ensign, "Do you know when the plants for hydroponics are supposed to come aboard? This says they're last."

Jameson looked at his own data pad before the Chief answered the junior officer. "They are coming aboard last sir." He verified the information the Lieutenant was seeing. "Logistics from the planet doesn't want to shuffle things around either. She's not the first to ask for something to be beamed quicker."

Zotras looked from the Chief toward the Ensign, "She's not going to like that." He said to Jameson, "I'm presuming that's so nothing gets lost in the process?"

"Correct sir," Jameson told the Lieutenant, "Now if you don't mind I'm really quite busy."

Zotras sighed, "All right," He answered. Then Zotras went back over to the Ensign, "I'm sorry Ensign Roma," He began to tell her, "They're not going to be able to beam your plants up any faster."

Valencia lowered her shoulders, "I'm assuming the Chief over there told you why that was?"

"Yes," He remarked with a nod. "They want to make sure everything is on board. If they shuffle things around then something may get lost or forgotten about. He also mentioned that you're not the only one who's asked and he's turned them down as well."

Valencia found herself sighing, "Well I suppose there's nothing that can be done about that." She scratched the back of her head. If she couldn't get the hydroponics bay going anytime soon then it would be replicator meal for the night. There were other ingredients that were coming aboard as well, but nothing for it. "I'm glad I didn't tell the Captain or Exec that it would be a cooked meal for the evening."

Zotras frowned, "I'm sure everyone would be looking forward to that. We'll just have to rough it this time," He felt kind of bad for her. There wasn't anything that could be done, however. "Perhaps you can scrounge around and see what's in the crew mess?"

Valencia thought about that for a moment, "I doubt it." She answered finally after a short time. To be fair and completely honest, Valencia didn't know what was in the ship's kitchen. "Oh well, I'm sure I'll have the entire day tomorrow to get things ready to go."

Zotras nodded, "Sorry," He told her. He then looked over toward the transporter pad and wondered just how much more was left to come aboard. "I'll contact you as soon as the plants you need start coming aboard."

Valencia nodded, "I would appreciate that." She answered. Valencia then turned and started to leave before coming to a stop. "Do you know if anything had been put in hydroponics while the ship was still in drydock?"

Zotras was beginning to think this young officer had a difficult time letting anything go. "Let me look," He said. Zotras went over to the nearby work station and started his search. It didn't take long for him to find out that nothing in the name of supplies had been brought aboard, at least not what she was looking for. "Other than materials for engineering and the science department, no."

Valencia frowned, "All right," She lowered her shoulders and started for the exit once again. She found it kind of hard to believe that the plants she'd requested hadn't been brought aboard yet. It must not have been at the top of the priority list, which was probably why it was at the bottom. "Thanks anyway Lieutenant."

"Sorry again Ensign," Zotras said as he deactivated the computer.

Valencia waved her hand then went the rest of the way through the door. She headed for the crew mess to see if there was anything that could be done. However, at this point she highly doubted it.

 

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