Posted on Sun Feb 17th, 2019 @ 3:31am by Oliver Stone
Edited on on Mon Feb 18th, 2019 @ 9:59am
720 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Deep Freeze
Location: Oliver Stone Residence
Timeline: MD -06, 0800 Hrs
His home had been fabricated the way he wanted, in the style of a ranch house with it's own stables to the side. It even had horses which made him happy. This was one of the perks of being the Director that with him being there from the beginning his home was already set up, a large porch area outside the front that looked down at Haumea as his home was on a hill.
He sat on one of his rocking chairs, his big warm coat on and his Stetson on his head as he lit a cigarette. As he breathed he saw his breath appear before him as the cold morning lingered. Recently it had been struggling above freezing and that wasn't normal, nor did it fit in with the projections initially set by the Federation when they decided to colonise. They wouldn't have put people in harms way on a planet they'd freeze to death on and something he felt was wrong, or suspicious at least.
In the distance he heard the sounds of gravel underfoot and he turned to see his aide, a young man but bursting with enthusiasm and youthful energy, JJ Payne.
"Morning Boss." came the usual chipper response that he'd came to recognise. The man looked as if he'd never felt the cold before as he wore an outfit that suggested he was going skiing.
"JJ." Oliver replied as he took a draw of his cigarrette, "Heading up the mountains today?" he asked in reference to his outfit.
He looked a little confused by this but then realised. "Very funny. I have the latest reports on population and residence." he passed him the PADD. "Also still nothing about this cold front that's moving in. People are beginning to worry and based off the back of the Io destruction I'm not surprised. They still haven't recovered from their losses there."
"I've noticed..." Oliver replied as he read through the PADD. "The chapel still at full capacity?" he asked.
JJ nodded, "Rev. Nikedoros is doing her best, I believe she has had experience in this kind of care."
"She's Starfleet if I recall?" he replied in his southern drawl.
"She is."
"Well as long as everyone is holding up alright down there. See to it that they get some extra blankets and food rations for those in need. The loss of the Io and despair rarely result in favourable endings and a show of faith to them, some kindness can make all the difference. They are under our care after all." Oliver took a sip of his coffee and stubbed out his cigarette on the ashtray behind him.
"I don't know how you can stomach that sir." JJ stated in reference to the cigarette.
"Years of practice son." Oliver brought up a holo-projection of the colony. Some areas were red, orange and green. He began to rotate it and 'zoomed' into the red zone. The medical facility. "They still low on supplies, equipment and personnel?"
"Starfleet personnel are pretty sketchy due to their explosion within the Io's sickbay, same reason can be said for lack of equipment and supplies." JJ said in a sombre tone, he knew a lot of people had lost something but the medical bay took a beating.
"Task the industrial replicator with assisting them, they could use some equipment more than the engineers or residents right now. If we don't have adequate medical care then we don't have people to populate the colony. I'll put in a request for further medical personnel the next time the comms. buoy comes round."
JJ nodded taking notes on his own personal PADD, if he was ever seen without it then there was a problem. Even at the saloon he had it, tapping away.
"Is there anything else?"
"Oh hundreds." JJ's youthful inexperience coming through.
Oliver gave him one look as if to say 'Seriously son?'
"Sorry, it's all on that PADD Director. You also have a meeting with Commander Mahone later this afternoon to discuss how his people are and stuff like that."
"Alrighty." Oliver said louder than needed as he finished his cup of coffee. "Lets do some rounds."
Oliver and JJ set off down the path and began to walk towards the interior of the colony, speak to the people.