Vesta's the Best - Part I

Posted on Thu Sep 25th, 2025 @ 3:51am by Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya & Lieutenant Rynna Csira

1,374 words; about a 7 minute read

[COO's Office]

Rynna did know someone stationed at Utopia Planitia. They'd been in several Ops classes together. Mike said he could get them into the viewing area for twenty minutes to watch the new Vesta-class being assembled, but he couldn't promise more than that.

Once she had confirmation of the time, she tapped her combadge. "Csira to Montoya. I can get up to four people in to see the Vesta Class tomorrow at 1500 hours. Does that work for you and your nephew?"

[CMO's office]

Raf was revising a few things on a paper he had been working on when the call came in. He hadn't actually expected anything to actually happen but he sat upright at the news and acknowledged to call. "Oh, I'm sure I can convince my sister to let him. If no, I will say it's an early birthday gift and guilt her into it."

[COO's Office]

"A brother after my own heart," she teased. "Where and when do you want to meet? My schedule's pretty flexible right now." She figured she'd leave it up to him to decide the details.

[CMO's Office]

"Well, the Captain already mentioned he didn't want any guests aboard at the moment so how about we head over to the station main transporter hub and then take a shuttle from there?

[COO's Office]

Rynn checked a PADD on her desk and put it in a basket to deal with later. "Sounds perfect. I'm ready whenever you are."

[CMO's Office]

"I still have to contact my sister and make those arrangements. So let me reach out to her and I will call you back to confirm everything."

[COO's Office]

"Okay. I'll wait to hear from you, then. Good luck." She hoped he could talk his sister into letting her son go with them. Rynn loved fueling a young teen's interest in starships.

[CMO's Office]

"You got it."

Closing the channel, he checked the time where she was and seeing that she should be home he opened the channel. Samuel answered, "Hey Uncle Raf. Do we get to come to your ship?"

"Sorry bud, but the Captain said no..."

His excitement shifted to abject disappointment, "But you promised."

"Now now. I said I would ask and I did. There is still a lot of things going on here so the Captain said no. But, I got something else I'm working on. I need to talk to your mom."

His excitement rekindled, "Mooom! Uncle Raf wants to talk to you."

Karmen came into view but now both his nephews forcing their way in. Karmen huffed and sent them on their way. You guys go so I can talk to your uncle."

"But..."

"No 'buts', now go."

The pair moved off, but the youngest was muttering as they rounded a corner.

Karmen leaned in closer. "Ok what are you scheming now?"

Raf leaned back grinning seeing the edge of a head peak around the edge behind their mother. Whispering, "You have a spy behind you."

Turning her head. "You two better get or you won't be doing anything."

Through the silence you could hear the muffled arguing between them fade and the left and Karmen turned back with a musical huff. "Now what are you planning to stir them up with?"

"Ok what are they doing tomorrow"

"Going to school." She said very matter-of-factly.

"Any chances I could get them at 2pm?"

She leaned back crossing her arms, "For what?"

"I wanna beam them up to the Starbase then take a shuttle to Utopia Planitia. There is a Vesta Class ship under construction and a friend has managed to get permission for them to see it."

Civilian use of transporters was extremely limited and then there was not just the interplanetary shuttle ride, the Starbase, but being able to get into Utopia Planitia to see a ship actually being constructed. "Are you kidding...You're not kidding."

"Nope...dead serious. I'll even make sure they get something to eat coming home."

Blowing out a breath. "You don't do anything small do you? Okay. I will let the school know you will be..."

Raf had a moment of inspiration and interrupted his sister. "Just a sec." Turning away he bent a rule or two and accessed the boys’ medical records and replicated two communicators coded to them both. "Computer transport the two communicators to the site of my current communication."

Returning to his sister, "Did you get them?"

"You sent them communicators? You know they are gonna play..."

"They're set only to work after receiving and activation code. Just give them the communicators and let the school know...just don't tell them what's going on. Just that they'll be leaving early."

"Ok ok...you and your scheming. I want holoimages of the trip."

After farewells he closed the channel and sent a message to his partner in crime. All set. See ya tomorrow.

[1345 - the next day]

Getting off-duty early, thanks to his awesome assistant, he was standing at the umbilical waiting for Rynna to join him with small holo-imager in hand.

Rynna would have preferred wearing jeans and a blouse, but looking official made it easier to get through the check points. And it wouldn't hurt for Raf's nephews to be guided by a Starfleet officer that wasn't their uncle. It made the trip a little more official.

When she saw Raf, she grinned. "I feel like I'm playing hooky."

"You too, huh. It's...community outreach. Beside the Captain did say I could spent time with family while the departure prep was completed. If I can take a liberty, surely you can as well."

She laughed out loud, then put a hand over her mouth to stifle it. "Sorry. Sometimes I think I take too many liberties. Not with my work, but..." She shook her head. "Never mind. I'm looking forward to this."

"Great. I'm sure the boys are going to be a bit surprised as well."

[School playground]

As predicted, both Xavier and Samuel were showing off the combadges they had been given but the small group around them were too busy mocking them. "See..." Tapping it harder and harder "...nothing."

"Hey my uncle beamed them down from his ship..."

"Yeah whatever..."

[Spacedock]

Having arrived at the station transporter hub, Raf spoke to the operator who grinned. "No problem. I think I know exactly what you are wanting." Sending the signal to activate the badges the operator hailed the unsuspecting pair of youngsters.

[School playground]

Samuel face was covered in sad disappointment that no one was believing him, while Xavier was starting to get mad at those who were supposed to be his friends. Suddenly...

=^= Space dock control to Xavier and Samuel Lawson. =^=

Xavier ran over to his brother as he pressed the badge to his shirt, and he did the same for Sam. "Xavier Lawson here."

Sam tapped his. "Me too"

=^= Stand by for transport. =^=

Sam was a little scared since he'd never been transported before. As the beam took hold the other of the other kids stood there, their mouths wide, but both Xavier and Sam were "Wooooo..."

[Spacedock]

As the two materialized their excited exclamation continued. "...oooh! THAT WAS COOL!!"

"It is, isn't it?" Rynna said, grinning at the two boys. "Hi. You must be Xavier and Sam. I'm Lieutenant Rynna Csira, chief operations officer on the USS Orcrist. I serve with your uncle and I have something I want to show you." She wasn't going to tell them directly as she wanted to surprise them.

The boys looked from her to their uncle, "Where we going?"

"That's a surprise. But first we need to get to the shuttle bay so we can get there on time. Afterwards we'll come back and get something to eat on the Promenade."

Xavier was all smiles and Sam was bouncing with excitement and grabbed Rynna's hand, "Let's go!"

"Okay." Rynn smiled at Sam, delighted by his enthusiasm. "Remember, you'll both have to be on your best behavior. So, no running off. We have some checkpoints to clear and I'd hate to lose you."

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Rynna Csira
Chief Operations Officer
USS Orcrist

Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya
CMO

Xavier & Sam Larson
Raf's Nephews
Played by Montoya

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