<USS Avalon> "Reclaiming the Avalon-B"

"Reclaiming the Avalon-B"  
 
 
Captain Skyler, Captain Adrian Phillips and  Tavi
 
Having finished dinner and cleaned  up the place Skyler began working at her 
computer while Tavi was doing some  homework of her own. She couldn't get Tery 
off her mind and desperately wanted  to call her and tell her about her 
conversation with Tavi. Instead she went to  work on ship related projects.
 
 
 
 

As she watched Tavi working on something from the  library a smile brightened 
Skyler's face. She had never thought that she would  be this happy. Never in 
a million years. I just hope I don't wake up only to  find out it is a dream. 
Interrupting her thoughts was a signal from her  comm unit.
 
"Captain Skyler we are in visual range of the  Avalon-B" It was from Philippa.
 
"I will be right there."
 
She really didn't want to leave Tavi alone even  though she knew the girl was 
quite capable of taking care of herself. Then she  came up with an idea. 
"Tavi, how would you like to join me on the bridge as we  approach the 
Avalon-B?"
 
Tavi would take any opportunity to visit the  Bridge!  Within moments, she 
had her files saved and slipped her little  bare feet into the shoes she'd left 
on the floor by her chair.  "I'm  ready," she said eagerly.
 
"How about if you comb your hair while I change  into a clean uniform?" 
Skyler suggested, and Tavi ran to comply.
 
Changed and combed, Skyler and Tavi made their way  to lift. "Bridge." Skyler 
ordered. She was a tad anxious about seeing the ship  they had just abandoned 
but thing had to be retrieved and the sooner it was done  the sooner they 
could be on their way. 
 
Reaching the bridge the two strode out of the lift  and over to the center 
chairs. Skyler took the one in the middle and pointed to  the one on the right 
for Tavi to sit. "On screen."
 
Tavi watched the screen.  It would be her  first look at the outside of the 
ship she almost hadn't left alive.
 
After a few short seconds a visual appeared. It  was the Avalon-B, exactly as 
they had left her. This time however there were no  running lights or 
anything else to indicate that the ship was still functioning.  Looking over at 
James, Skyler asked, "Anything unusual on that  ship?"
 
"Actually Captain, I am picking up another ship  and life forms on the 
Avalon-B." James continued to watch his  monitor.
 
Surprised by what she had just heard she looked at  James again. "What do you 
mean there is another ship and life forms? The Avalon  should be 
uninhabitable. That is why we had to leave her. Can you determine how  many 
life forms are 
on the ship?"
 
James looked at his monitor, "From what I can  tell there are at least 5 - 10 
people. I am guessing that they are scavengers  trying to take whatever they 
can."
 
Looking from James to Tavi and back to the screen,  Skyler had to make a 
decision she really didn't relish making. Opening the comm  on her chair she 
called Captain Phillips. "Captain Phillips please report to the  bridge at 
once." 
 
"On my way ma'am." Came the response as Adrian  paused from under a kick to 
tap on his comm. Nodding to his opponent he smiled.  "Looks like we've come to 
our destination, good one Gibbs." And chuckled as he  grabbed his jacket and 
headed out to the bridge. 
 
After a few moments with jacket uniform donned  Adrian stepped out of the 
turbolift. Wiping some sweat from his brow he took a  few steps forward and 
came 
to attention and saluted Skyler before relaxing. "You  called Captain?"  
 
"That I did Captain. It appears we have unwanted  visitors aboard the 
Avalon-B." It irked Skyler to no end that scavengers would  dare set foot on 
the old 
girl. "We have detected anywhere from 5-10 life forms  roaming around the 
ship. I would like you to pick a few of your best men to join  me on an away 
mission. We are going to rid that ship of the scavengers and claim  what is 
rightfully ours."
 
 

Tavi listened silently.  She would have loved  to go along to defend the dead 
ship, but she knew the adults would say it was  too dangerous.  Maybe it was. 
 But she knew all the best hiding places  and ways of sneaking around 
undetected.  She didn't say anything,  though.  It would be a sure way to get 
sent 
back to her room and off the  Bridge.
 

 
Skyler was holding her breath that no one would  question her need to be on 
the away team, but she didn't know how long it would  last. "There is nothing 
working as in the way of life support, weapons, shields  or anything like that. 
We will have to wear EVA suits. I will not let that ship  go into the hands 
of thieves. Is that understood?" 
 
"EVA suits and looters huh? Well, there's a  primary solution to that. 
Operations if you would please provide me with the  PADD with all information 
on the 
current situation." He seemed to almost become  a different person for a 
moment, with almost no break for thought or  questioning involved in speech, 
spoken with precision like a computer, just not  as dry. "I would assume that 
due 
to the situation explained to me for  Avalon B it would be a better course of 
action for the away team to transport  down in one of the marine APC shuttles. 
I will assemble the team for a seek and  capture routine, with the level of 
contact assumed at hostile until noticed  otherwise." 
 
He paused for a moment and looked at Skyler.  Is it truly wise for her to 
join us. She would just slow us down. However I  understand her urge to cleanse 
her previous domain. Adrian just nodded  then. "Captain, if you plan on joining 
us I suggest you suit up and meet us in  shuttlebay one in about 5 to 6 
minutes. It's best to get the quickest  opportunity before these people notice 
we've arrived and try to make a getaway."  He lighted up after speaking this 
and 
smiled over at Tavi. "And then perhaps  afterwards we can look into this dance 
that the little one wishes to learn, once  the current situation is dealt 
with." 
 
Embarrassed, Tavi felt her face heating up.   She sat very very still.
 
He thinks I am going to slow him down. He  doesn't know me as well as he 
thinks he does. "I assure you Captain, I am  not going to slow you down. So you 
have the two choices, either I go with you or  I go alone. As for the lessons, 
that is up to Tavi." She looked over at Tavi and  smiled. She knew how much the 
girl wanted to learn the needed "dances" so she  could feel protected.
 
Skyler paused for a moment. She then looked at Tavi. "I know you know all  
the good hiding places and ways of sneaking around without being found. Do you  
think you could show me these hiding places if I showed you the schematics of  
the ship? It would really help out a lot."
 
Nodding, Tavi said, "Some of the  best hiding places are little, though."  
They were big enough for  her, but she was only a kid.  And small for her age.  
Still,  there were other places no one ever went that were plenty big enough 
for a  couple of grownups.  Skyler didn't even have to show her the schematics; 
 she knew how to call them up on any terminal.
 
As much as it bothered her, the more Skyler  thought about it the more she 
realized that her job was to remain on the bridge  and let Phillips do his job. 
"All right Captain, I am going to leave you in  charge of this mission and 
remain here. I want you to get those scavengers off  that ship. Once that is 
done, I will be over to retrieve what we left behind.  Once that is done I may 
be 
left with no choice but to destroy the Avalon-B. It  is not something I relish 
doing but I am not going to let her fall into someone  else's hand. She 
deserves better than that." 
 
Adrian looked at Skyler for a moment and then  shrugged. "As you wish 
Captain. Alpha Company will be ready to launch in 7  minutes max. Once we have 
secured the ship we'll beam into the marine APC and  you can disembark and 
gather 
what you need and my men of course will be at your  disposal during this time. 
I 
will also keep you and ship informed of our  progress throughout the 
mission." Too bad she's not going, wonder if she's  ever seen marines in action 
before. He stiffened for a moment, coming  slightly more to attention. "Any 
other 
orders ma'am or are we dismissed to begin  with the operation?" 
 
Looking at the marine shrug his shoulders gave Skyler pause. She knew what  
he was thinking. She really did what to go on this mission but it was her duty  
as acting CO in the absence of Ketchum to remain on the ship. If he were here 
she would go in a heart beat or would she. Was  being with Tavi stopping her 
from taking the dangerous jobs? Was the thought  of not being there for Tery 
stopping her? NO it was her job, at least  at this point, to remain on the ship 
until the other one was secure. "Believe me  Captain, if the Admiral were 
here to cover the bridge I would go with you in a  heart beat. We will have 
other 
missions where you can show off your  marines."  She hadn't meant for it to 
sound as sarcastic as it did. She was  angrier with herself than with anyone.
 
 
Skyler took the PADD from Tavi, skimmed it  quickly and handed it to Captain 
Phillips. Tavi continued to surprise her each  and every day. She was amazed 
at how fast she had done what had been asked of  her and how accurate it was.
 

"At the present time I have no new orders. Just keep  me informed at  all 
times. I know you are well prepared but I would appreciate it if you would  
take 
the schematics with the hiding spots marked as well. Tavi knows that ship's  
innards probably better than anyone. I suggest you take it seriously. She may 
be  a child but she is wise beyond her years."
 
Skyler looked at Tavi and then back at the Captain awaiting his response.  
She got the PADD from James that he had requested and handed it to Phillips. 
She 
 envied him this mission. But her place was on the bridge. Her time would  
come.

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