Special Delivery

Posted on Tue Apr 2nd, 2019 @ 11:37am by Lieutenant Commander Sofia Nikedoros & Lieutenant Gunnar Arnason

1,030 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Deep Freeze
Location: Haumea Colony
Timeline: MD01 1200

Nikedoros checked through her growing list of medical issues, needs, and requests. So far, in addition to a number of coughs and colds, the frigid conditions had resulted in several cases of frostbite, particularly among species poorly suited and/or unaccustomed to subzero temperatures. That and almost daily occurrence of sprains or breaks from spills on the frozen ground, were keeping the few medics she had at her disposal busy. With the small hospital still primarily occupied with caring for the remaining serious casualties from the crash, it wouldn't be long until they were stretched thin. While she had enough first aide training to pitch in for the simpler cases, she was not really qualified to serve as a head of medicine.

Feeling increasingly out of her depth, Sofia lifted her eyes toward the high windows. “Lord, throw me a line here…”

Her comm chirped and she sighed, anticipating not answered prayer but another problem. “Nikedoros here.”

“Commander, a Dosadi Raider just entered orbit. There’s a human who-“

“Thank God!” Sofia exclaimed. Then cleared her throat, returning to Starfleet demeanor. “That is, yes, I know him. Tell flight control he’s expected. I’ll be right there. Nikedoros out.”

She'd already started moving at 'Dosadi Raider' - it wasn't how she'd expected him to arrive, but if they'd decided to let him hitch a ride, it was certainly a lot faster than a shuttle. Quickly grabbing her cold weather gear, she paused only to pull on boots, putting the rest on as she headed for the door.

And then braced momentarily against the blast of cold as she passed through it. Shaking it off, she moved swiftly but carefully along the path, walking with a gliding shuffle through the layer of snow that was at least considerably more shallow than the mounds to either side. Still, by the time she reached the civilian landing zone a shuttle was landed and she could see a tall man duck through the hatchway, careful not catch the duffel slung over his back. He looked like he was dressed for late fall - knit hat and gloves with a scarf draped loosely about his neck, ends hanging over an unbuttoned great coat that looked to be a civilian version of Dosadi uniform jacket.

Sofia suppressed a chuckle. At least he wasn't in shorts and t-shirt, which she had seem him in before despite frost on the ground. "Gunnar!" she called as she headed toward him, letting her voice identify her since she was swathed in a long thick winter coat with the hood drawn up against the cold.

"Reverend," he called back, stepping out onto the frozen ground and looking around with a bright grin. "I thought you said it was cold here?"

"Careful who you say that to," she chided the Icelander affably. "You're not going to make many friends talking like that."

"How about if he comes bearing gifts?" T'Ango asked, springing from the hatch and motioning to crewmen behind her who were guiding out an anti-grav pallet laden with various containers. "An extra generator and sundry cold weather supplies," she announced, sweeping an arm across the offering with a gesture that ended with a hand to her chest as she made short bow, complete with a graceful tail flourish. "A gift from the Dosadi Imperium to our friends in the Federation."

"T'Ango," Sofia said, smiling as she placed a hand on her shoulder in formal Dosadi greeting. "On behalf of Starfleet and this colony, let me extend our deepest gratitude." Then she pulled the petite felinoid into a brief hug. "And on my behalf, thank you for getting Gunnar here so quickly."

"Eh, it wasn't much of a detour from our mission route," she replied, whiskers flicking in a grin. "But he's just on loan, you understand. I fully intend to retrieve him later." She cast a glance up at Gunnar. "Preferably in the same condition."

He lifted his brows, giving her a look somewhere between teasing and caring concern. "You're the one who needs to be told to come back in one piece."

T'Ango's whiskers waggled side to side. "Maybe. But you do too. So..." she cocked an ear at him, ticking items off on her fingers, "...don't run into enemy fire, take on an armed Sindereen iwth nothing but a medscanner, get yourself shot, abducted, zapped into an alternate dimension, or..." she looked around at the snow covered landscape, "trapped in an ice cave or buried in an avalanche."

"Hey, I've avoided ice caves since I got lost in one when I was 10," he objected deadpan.

She chuffed a laugh. "Just be careful." Stepping closer, she put on Big Sad Pleading Kitty Eyes. "Please?"

Gunnar laughed. "I will, if you will," he promised, folding his arms around her in a farewell hug. "I'll miss you."

"I know." T'Ango grinned at him, then leaned into the hug and rubbed her head up under his chin affectionately. "I'll miss you too." Pulling back, she turned to Sofia. "It was good to see you again. Keep this one," she flipped her tail toward Gunnar, "out of trouble."

"I'll try," she replied, and gave her a knowing look - despite the list for Gunnar, T'Ango was the one with enough wound badges to nearly crowd out her other decorations. "Keep yourself safe too."

"I'll try," she echoed back. Then headed into the shuttle, pausing only to lift a hand in farewell as the hatch closed.

Gunnar returned the gesture, but quickly looked away.

Sofia turned from the shuttle as well. There was an old Dosadi superstition, shared by several cultures from earth, that longer you watched someone as they left, the longer it would be before you saw them again. She had never known either of them to be superstitious, but a sentiment was honored in observing it.

After a moment, Gunnar took hold of the cargo pallet's handles. "So, where I am taking this?"

Sofia stamped her feet, driving feeling back into her chilled toes. "Some place warm." She put a guiding hand on the other end. "But button your coat first. If you catch pneumonia, T'Ango will never forgive me."

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