Dinner and Drones - Part I

Posted on Thu Feb 5th, 2026 @ 6:49am by Lieutenant Rynna Csira & Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya
Edited on on Thu Feb 5th, 2026 @ 7:23am

1,267 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: A Day In The Life

The Orcrist still had a little over a day before launch, and Rynna had some thank you gifts for Raf and his nephews. She'd modified three miniature drones, two of a Vesta class for Xavier and Sam and one that looked like the Orcrist for Raf. She wrapped the two little drones for the boys and put the one for the doctor in a decorative bag, then carried all three to sickbay, hoping Raf wouldn't be too busy.

When she entered, she looked around to assess how busy sickbay was and to see if the doctor was in.

Aranya lay on the biobed nervously as the Commander ran the scanner over her abdomen. But as he expression on his face went from serious to a genuine smile her worries faded.

Looking down at his patient, "Everything's just fine and progressing nicely."

Sitting up, she let her legs drop off the side as she turned to face him. "Sorry for bothering you with nothing."

"No bother at all. Did you read through the material I sent over?"

"Yes and I forwarded a copy to my roommate and K'stahk as well. So, they know what to expect."

Pocketing his scanner Raf nodded subtly. "Good idea." Stepping back as she slid off the biobed, "Stop by if anytime."

Nodding to the Lieutenant leaning against the wall. "Lieutenant."

Ryn smiled in return. "Hi."

Raf watched her leave and saw Rynna standing there. "Ahhh...another victim." Gesturing to the biobed, "Please step into my parlor."

"I didn't actually come here for a checkup, Mr. Spider," Ryn replied with a grin. She held up her bag. "I come bearing gifts, and not just for you."

Nodding with a smirk as he rubbed his hands together. "Alrighty then. Gifts are always appreciated. But what's the occasion?"

"A thanks for the trip to Utopia Planitia." She shrugged. "And because I thought your nephews might appreciate them."

Grinning as he shook his head. "If anyone deserves a thank you it's you, but here you are bearing gift. The boys must have made an impression." Snapping his fingers, "You know I did get something from home you might like, but let's see what ya got."

"I got to spend a day with three handsome men," she countered. "But wait to see what I brought before you decide anything." She was pretty sure the boys would like the gifts, but she wasn't so sure about Raf.

Lifting his chin with a toothy grin, "Well, this is true..." There was a muffed snort from the side. from a nurse and he merely chuckled. Gesturing towards his office he walked up next to her his hand on the center of her back as they moved off.

Rynna grinned at the nurse as Raf escorted her to his office.

Leaning against his desk, "So, what do you have that needs my approval?"

She took out three small starship drones. "These are age appropriate. I modified them so they should be safe enough for the boys." She handed him the two Vesta-class starships. "They don't fly too fast, and they won't break if they hit a wall. They've been modified for an eight and twelve-year-old."

Then she took out the smaller one. "This one is more complex." She held up an Akira-class starship drone. This one was smaller and more maneuverable.

Looking at the two Vesta drones, each about a third of a meter with their own markings so they could tell one from another. They were surprisingly detailed. Setting them aside he took the Akira drone. "I take it this one's for me? What all can she do?"

"She can fly and hover, of course. And she has a camera and microphone. You can also program it to do other things. The only thing it can't do is shoot. So, it's mostly like other drones, but smaller."

Asking with a subtly evil grin, "What, no little tractor beam?"

Ryn chuckled. "That would fall under the category of special modifications. It's definitely possible, but it would cost you."

He replied tongue in cheek, "Is that right. And just what would that modification cost me?"

"I don't know. I'm open to suggestions." She really didn't have anything specific in mind, and it wouldn't take much, but she enjoyed the word banter.

"Well, I did happen to get some homemade sangria on my last trip home. Or is your price higher than that?"

"That'll do...as long as you join me in a glass or two. I don't usually drink alone." She paused before adding, "You can even help with the modifications, if you want."

"Sounds like a plan. When would you like to make my requested modifications?"

She thought for a moment. "That depends. When do you want to take the drones to your nephews? We could do it after that."

He laughed, "I'm not sure it's safe to be near my sister after jacking those two up with soda and ice cream on top of the excitement from the tour and the stations promenade. Though if you wanna risk it I could arrange a visit. Ever been to an underwater habitat?"

An underwater habitat? "No, I haven't. Is that where they live?"

"Yep. Live and work. Once the New Atlantis Project took off, it was the perfect opportunity. She's a marine biologist and her husband, David being a geophysicist. With the project's initial success and the new subcontinent stabilized more and more people were able to start living there."

"Wow. That is impressive." Ryn thought about it for a moment. It sounded like a remarkable project. "Do you think your sister would mind her kids having drones flying around? Even if they've been modified?"

His head bobbed from sided as he thought, "It's possible. They aren't too large and they are open spaces where they could fly them. Though it's a safe bet she'll make the boys keep them at my folks place outside Cordoba."

"That works. Maybe it'll give them another reason to visit their grandparents?"

"Well, it's not that they need another excuse, but... Hell, where they keep them will be their parents to deal with. But one step at a time.."

Activating his terminal, "Computer, open a channel to Karmen Lawson. Earth, New Atlantis."

The channel opened with his sister =^= RAFIE! =^= Her bright smile turning to a scowl, =^= Do you have ANY idea how long it took to get those two to go to bed? Lucky for you they didn't have school...=^=

His hand went to his chest as he pointed to himself, "Me???..."

=^= Don't act innocent with me, I'm still...=^=

"Hey it wasn't me? It was Lt. Csira, I swear."

"Don't swear at me," Ryn interjected with a grin. Then she turned her attention to Raf's sister. "But yes, it was me. Hi. I'm Rynna Csira, and I arranged for the boys to visit Utopia Planitia. And I have a gift I want to give them--with your approval."

Seeing the fresh face pop into view, Karmen, purposefully, put on a puzzled expression as she set up her younger brother. "She doesn't look like the Lieutenant mom told me you took riding..."

Ryn raised an eyebrow. "I'm not." Although she was mildly curious about it. "I'm the one who took Raf and your sons to see the Vesta class starship at Utopia Planitia. I modified two drones for them and wanted to know if it was okay with you to give them to Xavier and Sam as a thank you gift."

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Rynna Csira
Chief Operations Officer
USS Orcrist

 

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