When the Dust Settles

Posted on 31 Jul 2025 @ 6:39pm by Captain Bane Plase & Lieutenant Commander Temerant Bast & Commodore Xaeralan

1,318 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Festival of Unity
Location: Elysia
Timeline: After the storm

The transporter beam effect faded, and the curtain of light dissipated before Commodore Xaeralan's eyes, affording him with his first real view of the devastation left behind by the storm. The beach was a wasteland, littered with debris from the surrounding jungle and shrapnel from the cabins - or what was left of them.

Locals and Starfleet officers alike were busting themselves with cleaning up the beach, and in the distance, he could see some of the wounded being tended to by what he assumed to be medical personnel.

A short distance away, he spotted the Cygnus's commanding officer, standing next to a Trill who he assumed to be the First Officer. Both were rather scantily dressed, in the standard-issue Starfleet underwear

"Captain Blain," said Xaeralan, walking up to the pair. "I see you had a rough night."

Plase looked from Bast to the Commodore. The differences were stark when comparing the Commodore to the Captain and Commander. Where Bane and Bast were bruised, exhausted, barely wearing any clothes, hair greasy from the sweat and sea water and adrenaline that had been pumping through their bodies, and sporting stubble on their faces, Xaeralan was well-rested, clean, clean-shaven and wearing a crisp flag-officer uniform. “It’s Bane, sir,” Plase corrected him. “And yeah, we sure did.” Bane looked around, his eyes darting from the destroyed huts that used to be where they had been sleeping to the beach where debris from nature and civilization had fallen where it did, much like a puzzle hitting the ground and rapidly disassembling, to the calm, lapping waters and the crystal clear sky. “I am thankful most of us made it through the storm and the swells.”

"About that," said Xaeralan, clearing his throat. "Based on sensor readings, we did a basic head count, based on the last sensor data we had before the storm, so this might not take into account the latest movements. We have detected thirty-six fatalities on the island. Eight bodies carried out to sea, we're trying to get a transporter lock on them but the residual ionization is making it difficult. And twenty-three unaccounted for."

Bast shifted his weight, trying to conceal the fact that he favored his left leg. The exertion of the previous night had awoken the discomfort of his right leg, where the shattered femur had been replaced by a cloned implant. "Did you get a chance to look at the weather modification grid? It should have dissipated this storm."

Xaeralan turned to the Trill. "Commander... Lockhart, isn't it?"

"Lochees. Actually it's Bast now." Bast looked to Bane. "I did an Academy internship at Starbase 375, under then-Captain Xaeralan."

"Right," said Xaeralan, suddenly remembering where he knew Bast from. "You were good at structural engineering."

"Propulsion," corrected Bast.

"Just as I said," replied Xaeralan, waving the mistake aside. "To answer your question, we haven't had a chance to look at the grid yet. FEMO's resources are stretched a little thin, we're covering the entire sector, including the recent seismic events in Alastair Seven. I could pull Engineering resources from the Cygnus refit," he added, angling a look in Bane's direction.

Before the Captain could respond, Bast stepped up to the plate. "Sir, I think we can help with the resources we have here on the ground, no need to divert your staff from the refit. With Captain Bane's approval, we can have Lieutenant Ahmad inspect the grid's mainframe, and have a team perform an inspection of the individual satellites. In the meantime, our medical staff is already hard at work helping the injured."

Bane watched with pride as his Executive Officer, a Lieutenant Commander, argued, toe-to-toe, with a Commodore, a man that was literally three ranks above his own. Temerant had been the Executive Officer of the Cygnus for almost two years at this point, and had grown significantly in his career, his maturity, his confidence and in his resolve. When Bane first met Temerant, he had come aboard as the Chief of Operations, a position he had excelled at, for sure. It was only when now-Captain Larsen had left the Cygnus did Temerant get the opportunity for command, and the young man had not disappointed Bane for even a moment during that entire time. Temerant Bast had literally bled for the Cygnus, had nearly given his life for it on more than one occasion. He had earned the admiration and respect from Bane a dozen times over, and this instant, standing in a disaster area after having survived a major hurricane (something Bane had never even considered being in, what with being a space-faring man that he was), exhausted and clad in clothes that were entirely too small and revealing, stood up to a Flag Officer, making plans and reallocating resources as needed to help the injured, and to start repairs and clean-up. “I couldn’t agree more, Commander. We could have Lieutenant McConnor assist in checking the orbital satellites. I think Lieutenant Commander Stovek and his teams would be perfect organizing clean-up efforts here in Elysia. Do you have any other recommendations,” Bane asked Temerant, the both of them all but ignoring the Commodore now.

"If we had industrial replicators available, we could have Operations and Engineering work with Ensign Chell to replace the damaged cabins," suggested Bast.

"Thank you for your suggestions, Lieutenant Commander," broke in Xaeralan. "I don't remember you being this assertive during your internship." He turned his back on the Trill and faced Bane. "Do what you can to find out what went wrong with the grid. I'll have Operations personnel from 375 get in touch with your Chief of Operations on replacing the damaged cabins. I think the replicators on the Shanghai are available. Your medical personnel seems to be on top of things."

Bane noticed the lack of respect and near-total disdain for Bast. It would be something Bane would address later. It was not the time nor place to raise a stink. "Yes sir. We are on it."

Bane waited for the Commodore to get out of earshot before he continued with Bast. "Sorry he treated you that way, Temerant. I would love to hear the story of your experience with him before this. However, these people need our help. Damage aside, this festival is a major cultural event. Let's see what we can do. Get with Lieutenant Seitha and have his team get with the local magistrate. I am sure we can augment their police force and searching for survivors. I will get with Lieutenant Ziyi to study the formation of this storm, which she can then coordinate with Lieutenant Ahmad and her team to calibrate the upgrades to the weather control network." It was a mouthful, but Bane wanted to get that information out there so they both, Bast and Bane, understood exactly what was going into the next 24 hours.

"To be perfectly honest, it will take at least a few drinks to get that story out of me," said Bast, shooting a dark look in the Commodore's direction. Xaeralan simply stated back, and tapped his combadge. They saw him mouth a few words that they couldn't make out at this distance, and he disappeared in a curtain of shimmering light.

Bast turned back to Bane. "Much as we might like walking around with our bums and crotches on full display, I think we'll be a lot more efficient with standard uniforms. I'll see about finding some. Then I'll get in touch with Lieutenant Seitha about the search and rescue, and have the team head out to inspect the grid satellites."

Bane nodded, turned to go deal with other matters, stopped and faced Bast again. Sounds good, Commander," then winked mischievously, a very obvious thumbing to the Commodore.


Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commmanding

Lieutenant Commander Temerant Bast
First Officer
USS Cygnus

Commodore Xaeralan
Head of Starship Maintenance Operations
Starbase 375

 

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