Nicole watched as her shuttle was loaded with items requisitioned by the base on New Canada. "Secure the hatch." The loadmaster said. He approached Nicole with his PADD, and said, "All loaded and secured. Here is the manifest for the load, if you'll just code acceptance, you can be on your way. " He watched while Nicole coded her acceptance of the load. He smiled and took the PADD. I'll transmit this to groundside. Have a nice trip." Nicole entered the shuttle and waited for the all clear from the dock master.
Several minutes past while Nicole ran through her preflight checklist. "Shuttle alpha-six you are cleared for departure."
"Thank you control." She could see the bay doors open and she powered up and gently eased her ship out and on the pre-approved course for New Canada. It was a two-hour flight. When she landed, dawn was just coming up on the horizon. There was no really marked out landing field but she spotted the flare indicating where they wanted her. She touched down ten meters from the flare. She started shutting down systems in the cockpit; simultaneously she keyed the cargo bay door to open. She exited her ride and stood in the cool night air with her jacket pulled around her. "Good morning, Shonegar." She said.
Shonegar was a Frengi who managed the supplies for the base. "Ms. Shea, hope the flight was uneventful?"
Nicole smiled, and said, "very." She nodded to the crew that was showing up with loaders and a sled to transport the items to the warehouse. As a second vehicle loaded with supplies pulled up and waited. "Is the mess hall open yet?" she asked the old frengi.
"No, but it should be open in about ten minutes. You could be the first inline if you start walking that way now. We'll be busy here for about another three to four hours."
"Cool." She shoved her hands in her pockets and started walking in the direction of the mess hall. She watched as two of the hammerhead fighters practiced touch and goes and other atmospheric maneuvers. She continued and reached the doors to the hall where meals were served cafeteria style to the base. The smells that drifted through the cracks made her mouth water.
As she worked her way through the line a trooper wearing fatigues joined her, his name tag said Coran. She pondered where to sit and eat that would be out of the way of the general population. She chose a table in the far corner from the door and service line. Half way through her meal the building shook for several seconds and then all was quiet. Soon she spotted two pilots enter and head for the service line.
They entered the dining hall and headed for the food line. They'd been practicing night flights for 8hrs straight. A field had been set up with various targets for practice. Which they'd flown against for part of the watch and the other part practiced landings and take off's. They took a table not far from Shea.
Shea had seen both of the pilots on SB901 several time since arriving, but had little to do with either of them. She'd heard they were fun to party with. She watched both pilots talk shop and eat. Shea had since finished her breakfast and but decided she needed another mug of tea.
Nicole returned to her seat at the table and resumed reading the material on her PADD. Her watch beeped an hour later and she stood picked up the tray for disposal and walked out the door with both women staring at her back. The sun was up and the day was warming up nicely. She took off her jacket and walked to the hanger and her ship. Outside the crew was still in the process of loading her return cargo. She took a seat in the sun and watched while the crew worked.
She saw the man who was in line behind her at breakfast break from a group of military guys and walk toward her. "Ma'am, this your ship?" He asked squatting down next to her.
She looked him up and down. "Yes, this is my ship. What of it?"
"Are you headed straight back to SB901?"
"Yes." Nicole said looking into the sun.
"We have a special delivery for Colonel Tarik, are you willing to add it to your cargo and hand carry it to him?"
"Why not ask the hammerhead pilots?" Shea
"I'd prefer it go through you. But if need be, I can make a deal with them." He smiled and waited for her to make up her mind.
She thought about it and decided, "Okay. Where is it?"
"I'll be right back." He stood and jogged off toward the hanger and returned a minute later with a sack with shoulder straps. "Just take this to the Colonel."
"Deal." He moved out to rejoin his group.
Shonegar waved to her and she stood slinging the pack over one shoulder. Damn, the sack was heavy. He showed her the manifest and she accepted receipt of it and boarded for the return trip to SB901.
She settled the shuttle in the bay and waited for the chief to receipt the load so she could find the Colonel and give him the bag. The chief handed her the PADD and she signed off on the manifest and followed the signs to the Marine Level. She entered through the large double doors and stopped at the reception desk. "I have a delivery for Colonel Tarik from New Canada." She said to the young man at the desk.
"The Colonel, is out of his office. If you'll just take a seat and wait, Ms.?"
"Nicole Shea." She said and moved off to sit in the chairs. An hour later a Romulan appeared with bushy eyebrows and a frown.
"Colonel." The desk officer hailed, "Ms. Shea is here with a delivery." He then pointed to the chairs along one wall. Colonel Tarik approached and reached out his hand. Nicole rose and took it. "Colonel, the guys in New Canada asked me to deliver this." She handed him the rut sack.
"Thank you, Ms. Shea." He was surprised by the weight of the pack. He watched her walk out of Marine Country for the main lifts. He turned and entered his office and opened the pack and saw two fifth's of ultra clear liquid. He eased the cap off of one jug, sniffed then poured a generous amount into his hand and tasted... "whew." He recapped the jug and placed it back in the sack and then placed it under the desk until the end of his shift when he could take it to Soma and give it to Troy.