A Study of Dragons

Posted on Fri Aug 14th, 2026 @ 8:41am by Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Commander Callie Raven-Grayson & Lieutenant Kate Kono & Lieutenant James Phoenix & Chief Petty Officer Aaron Geiger

1,294 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Here There Be Dragons
Location: Transporter Room 1

Deanna was with Jon and Callie in the turbolift as they made their way down to the transporter room. Deanna remained in an excited state at the prospect of seeing up close the creatures the sensors had detected. Making something considered to be mythological into a reality was becoming a bit commonplace, but it still excited her all the same.

Kuzma had hurriedly made her way to the transporter room once she had been contacted. The thought of seeing an actual dragon was wild, as if stories she heard as a child were being brought to life. She was trying to keep herself grounded, keep her scientific objectivity, but at this point, her enthusiasm was getting the better of her.

Lieutenant Kate Kono strode into the transporter room, her phaser rifle slung over one shoulder and a Starfleet-issue fire extinguisher bumping against her hip. She was mid-argument with a science ensign, a sun-weathered bloke in his late thirties with straw-blond hair and a manic, gap-toothed grin. His bright blue eyes were wide with excitement as he practically vibrated beside her, his broad Australian accent filling the chamber.

“I don’t know! I really don’t!” Kate insisted, trying to sidestep him.

“Crikey, mate... You’re the intelligence officer! You’re s’posed to know these things! That’s why I came to ya first, straight up the chain!” He thrust a PaDD under her nose. “Just look at this beauty! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I’m tellin’ ya!”

Kate glanced toward the transporter room door, hoping to see Shran or Jon, but the doorway stayed empty. She turned back to the ensign and took hold of his arms, trying to keep her expression steady even as something uneasy moved through her chest.

"I don't have ya answers," Kate said carefully. "But people with a whole lot more pips on their shoulders will be here soon and you can ask them directly. Maybe they'll allow you on the team, I really don't know. I don't have the awesomesauce to make those kinds of decisions. The ExO should be here soon. He would be the one to ask." She watched him scroll frantically through the PaDD and managed a thin smile, though her eyes kept drifting back to the door.

"They say they've got spiked tails, ay!" the ensign said, his voice climbing. "Nothin else in this whole bloody galaxy has a spiked tail. I need to see it up close with me own eyes! Push it to the limit! And I know, boy do I know, Lieutenant. Danger, danger, danger..."

Kate looked desperately both ways down the hallway as he continued to talk.

Just then the doors swooshed open and Jon, Callie and Deanna came through. Jon nodded as Deanna talked excitedly about the prospect of seeing dragons. He saw Kate with some science officer who was highly animated and steered the group away not wanting any part of that conversation.

“I’m actually looking forward to this!” Callie grinned. “I love all things dinosaur. Though caution will be the name of the game.”

Phoenix entered the transporter room trailed by five other security officers. "Baldwin and Stevens, you're with me. Potter, Granger, and Weasley, you're on the other team" he said as he watched them take their positions.

James turned to his colleagues who are already assembled. "I hope none of you are bards" he quipped with a very niche reference; niche for the time at least. Not many people played TTRPGS anymore with holodeck technology having been around for a long time. They were one of the big things he missed from his time.

Deanna looked at all the personnel. "We are going to look like a feast if these creatures turn out to be carnivores. Not sure we need quite so many security personnel. I think Potter, Granger, and Weasley will be enough, along with James. Your call of course" she said to Jon.

Kuzma rushed in and looked around. She rushed over to Kate and the ensign she was arguing with, "Dammit Steve, you are supposed to be in the zoology lab. Just because Inara is gone doesn't mean you get to run amok."

"No worries. I'm telling you, I am exactly the right person for this job" the wild Aussie replied.

Deanna looked over at the trio and then looked to Jon. "Excuse me." She walked over, "Kuzma, on the transporter pad. Kate, leave that extinguisher with the transporter chief. Steve, your zeal is overwhelming your judgement again. Not sure we can bring you. We don't need to look like a moveable feast."

"Commander, you got to take me with you. I have to see these beauties myself. I promise not to overstep. You'll hardly know I'm there" Steve replied.

Deanna's joyful exuberance had quickly soured. "You get in the way, and it won't be these dragons you'll have to worry about."

"Brilliant Commander. I'll be on my best" Steve replied.

Aaron strode into the transporter room, feeling anxious going anywhere without his usual backpack full of tools, still he insisted on his tool belt for absolute necessities. As he made his way to report to the Commander he stopped briefly in front of Kate and James, smirking at the two full pips adorning them both.

"Well look at that, I'd heard scuttlebutt but hadn't run in to either of you yet. Congratulations." Aaron said offering a hand to shake both of their hands in turn. "Well deserved."

"James." Jon called to the security lieutenant, "I don't think we need quite as many security personnel. The away team is armed. Keep Potter and Stevens here on standby. If we need them, they can be down in an instant."

Steve made his way to the transporter platform next to Kuzma, "See ensign, you get to spend more time with me."

Kuzma gave a half smile before turning away in a bit of a huff.

"Let's get going" Deanna noted as she stepped up on the platform.

"Aye Commander" James reported and gave his men a nod to stay behind. He grimaced internally at his actions. He didn't think about Jon and Deanna's logic; it was textbook. Deep down he figured he had made the decision to have as many security officers as he had chosen because of past missions; this was subconscious. He shook off the feeling. He was still in the early years of his career. These mistakes were bound to happen; he just hated making them.

Phoenix turned to Aaron and accepted his hand. "Thank you Chief" he responded with a simple smile before stepping onto the pad.

The second Steve got the green light; Kate’s eyes shot to Jon and Deanna like a pair of homing beacons broadcasting pure distress. She mentally screamed at Deanna, cramming every ounce of her frustration into the thought.

Unchoose him! He is so weird! For real! Kate’s whole body practically twisted toward Deanna as she stomped one small boot onto the transporter pad and chucked the fire extinguisher aside. Her face was basically a neon sign flashing ABORT MISSION, which even a rock could’ve read, especially as Ensign Winner bounded up beside her with the energetic cluelessness of a golden retriever.

Callie was picking up on everything giving Kate a look before looking towards Deanna. Everyone deserved a chance under the right circumstances.

Deanna offered a wry grin to Callie, indicating she was perfectly aware of Kate's meltdown. It was as if most people forgot she was Betazoid and picked up on everything, often to comedic effect.

With everyone that was coming now on the transporter pad, Deanna ordered for it to be energized, and they all dematerialized in the standard blue hue.


TBC

 

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