Open Agenda
Posted on Sun Jul 5th, 2026 @ 6:57pm by Ensign Julia Vonner & Lieutenant Marques Hunt
1,196 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Fabulae Explorationis
Location: Deck 11: Shuttle Bay
Timeline: Just prior to "Planet Hell - Journey to the Planet - Part I"
Lieutenant Marques Hunt stared down from the upper deck as the shuttle bay crew prepped the shuttle for the upcoming away mission. For whatever reason the Klingons hadn't taken the place for themselves, which was a bit concerning. But Intelligence wanted the crew of the Hecate to find out what was down there. So that was the task at hand immediately after the senior staff meeting.
Hunt had instructed the shuttle crew to do a full inspection before the launch. If anything was to go wrong, it wouldn’t be the condition of the shuttle. Before getting ready to head out, he wanted to speak with Ensign Vonner. With him off ship, she would be the next one in line to run this within the department. There were still a few minutes before she was scheduled to meet with him at the upper deck.
Julia’s Austrian-born, Starfleet-reinforced sense of time wasn’t the sort to ride a time margin into its final seconds. She strode into the shuttle bay control room with just over a minute to spare, bearing a smile over curiosity as to why her department leader wanted her to come down mid-shift.
“You want to see me, sir?” she asked, stopping beside the craft diagnostic table at the small room’s center. He’d been the sole occupant before her entry, an interesting, if not especially telling detail on its own.
Redirecting his attention from the shuttles being worked on to the Ensign who entered. "Yes, Julia. Just wanted to speak with you regarding the away team mission that will take place in the next twenty-four hours."
That was news to her, made somewhat concerning by their course keeping Hecate within a proverbial arm's length of Klingon space. Several of Santorini's missions attested to their capacity and inclination for harassment beyond their borders, which kept Julia wary even as they put Qo'noS further into their wake.
"Where are we even dispatching an away team to?" she asked, it also occurring to her that she'd yet to come into any indication of there being anywhere warranting such attention.
"That would be Beta Aguilon Three," Hunt answered. "Based on long-range scans and some intelligence intercepted, they feel that Beta Aguilon Gamma, is possibly suited for a future base. Honestly, I don't feel the Klingons would be happy with the Federation in their backyard. But needless to say, we're going to check it out."
Julia wasn't surprised by the potential conflict of interest, having been prepared by the musings of past, more geostrategic colleagues. And she agreed with the generality of Hunt's opinion, hence her concern for who would comprise the away team.
Did he call her down to ask or order joining it of her? Part of her hoped not, as she wasn't keen to chance revisiting dodging disruptor bolts. At least not with a shuttlecraft.
"Has the team already been selected?"
"The team has been selected, and I will be piloting the shuttle. You will be here to ensure things are running smoothly in the flight control department. Like I mentioned already. Seriously doubt the Klingons are going to like us setting up in their backyard, regardless of this whole Khitomer Accords."
"We can only hope that's considered in whatever the powers that be choose to do, sir," Julia offered through a thin smile, the lone hint of enthusiasm with her ascent to acting department lead. She otherwise felt weighed down by uncertainty with how to address Hunt's very valid misgiving.
"Is there anything you need me to do?"
"Stay ready," he answered. "This ship will need a competent pilot at the helm. As you know shooting at the bad guys is half the battle." Going silent briefly, the Lieutenant didn't want to put way too much pressure on the Ensign.
"I'm confident that I can depend on you to keep the Hecate safe. Your scores in the simulations are excellent."
She nodded appreciation. "I'll certainly try, sir." Never one to boast, Julia nonetheless recognized that her acknowledgement lacked conviction in light of his fathomable concern and moved to shore it up. "Hecate is my best shot at my own quarters, after all."
"Sounds like someone is vying for a promotion," Hunt acknowledged. "You certainly are eligible with your time in service."
"I know," Julia chuckled, shifting her clasped hands from behind to in front of her. She hadn't intended her quip to spark an earnest conversation about promoting and wasn't sure how to carry it along. "I've been reminded of that a lot lately. I wouldn't mind it."
"So, let's talk about your goals. Where do you see yourself career wise in the next five years?"
Her brow crinkled. "Better resolved? More intentional?" Julia's broadened smile gave way to chuckling acknowledgement of the inadequacy of her answers. "I'm still figuring out how, sir. I didn't commit to getting into the academy until I was 17. I just wanted to experience what the spacefarers who visited my village regaled. Now that I understand what it all contributes toward, I'm. . .overwhelmed by the options."
Marques couldn't help but to smile. It was something about that honest answer, that he found refreshing. "You're just two years out of the Academy. It's going to be a while before you have any idea what the long-term future looks like. But what are your interests outside of flight control?"
"Being outdoors," Julia said, relieved she hadn't earned a puzzled stare from him. "I hope we find planets that can be trekked on this mission. I was born and raised in the Alps. A part of me will always demand time with nature."
"So, you're definitely an explorer at heart. You managed to find yourself on the right ship. This assignment will have plenty of new discoveries. How does your family feel about you being away for so long?"
She shrugged, and her expression sobered. "I don't know. We became estranged when I chose to pursue the academy."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Assuming that you're the first in your family to join Starfleet?" he questioned.
"As far as I know. My parents—especially my father—were mum about their lives before me."
"So, you're from a family full of secrets. Have you done any digging to find out what those secrets are?"
"No." Julia's reply was swift relative to everything prior. Not unpleasantly so. Resolute. "Why would I?"
"To have an idea about your family," Marques elaborated. "Though you don't seem to care about that."
The younger pilot blinked. That felt like an attack, and she momentarily reflected on why. She determined herself guilty of taking Hunt's words more personally than he intended and blamed her sensitivity to the subject, which she moved to change.
"Is there anything else you need to tell me?"
"Nothing else. I'll be gone for a few hours. Perhaps a day at best. The Department is all yours, until I return."
"Please ensure that you do, sir," Julia bade, not wanting to part ways harboring any enmity.
Simply smiling, Hunt turned and exited the room.
Lt. Marques Hunt
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Hecate
&
Ens. Julia Vonner
Flight Control Officer
USS Hecate
RSS Feed