Reporting for duty

Posted on Sat Dec 30th, 2017 @ 1:40am by Captain Remas McDonald

2,118 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: S0:1: What Is Past, Is Prologue
Location: Bridge
Timeline: MD 01 - 1500 hours

Alexander had cleared through security and received his room assignment. As required his first order of business was to report in to the CO. The computer confirmed that Commander McDonald was on the bridge which is where Alex headed. Stepping off the turbo lift he looked around and did not see the CO. He conferred with the Chief of Security who informed him that the CO was in the ready room. Alex crossed over to the ready room entrance, aware that all eyes were likely on him. He tried not to be conscious of this fact, as it was only natural, but it made him a bit uncomfortable. He reached the ready room door, pulled on his uniform top out of habit, and tapped the chime.

"Mister Shepard?"

The voice came from behind, and a bearded man with a broad smile exited the opposite turbolift from the one Alexander had used. If the lilting voice was not title enough, the pips on his collar of a full lieutenant commander spoke volumes.

"Seem's we missed each other. Thought I'd best head you off at the transporter pad, alas you appear to be a man of direct action," he held up a hand, and with the other palmed the door controls. "An ability I find suitable in an officer. Come in."

Alex turned around to face his new CO who had apparently had left the bridge just after he had boarded the ship, hence the miscommunication on his current location. Alex smiled and nodded his greeting and followed the CO into the ready room.

The ready room was what you might expect of a ship designed for exploration. One wall was dominated by a multi-function display, currently featuring the rotating Long Jump long of a shooting star connecting a stylised Milky Way to a tight cloud of stars. A high desk curled beside it, with the usually holographic displays and office amenities. But the real eye-catcher in the room was an aged paper scroll a meter across hung from the wall.

On it, in faded ink, were artistic renderings of what first looked like birds: narrow beaked heads, with long slender limbs. Each creature was dressed in an odd accordion style jumpsuit, with a collection of twig-like bundles dotted around them in oddly geometric patterns.

"I had to promise someone at the Smithsonian something truly special from Messier 4 for that," Remas said, nodding to the wall hanging. "Ever hear of the Xindi? The Avian branch of that species was wiped out before first contact could be made, but they left behind art and literature. This is a part of their history, a recording of the first pioneer's in space. I wonder if we will remember so distantly our own canvas space suits and tree house space stations?"

Remas shrugged.

"Can I get you something before we start into this? Tea, coffee? Something a tad stonger?" he offered.

Alex was a bit surprised that the CO was offering to get him something. That seemed a little backwards to him, but he wasn't going to be rude. "A cup of coffee, black, would be appreciated Sir." As the CO got a couple of drinks from the replicator Alex grabbed the PADD containing his transfer orders. When McDonald returned he offered Alex a seat, but before sitting Alex handed him the PADD. "Here are my transfer orders Sir. As I'm sure you know I've been assigned to serve as your CEO." Alex took a seat while McDonald took the PADD. An odd look crossed the CO's face - not for long - it was just a moment, but Alex had grown accustomed to paying close attention to body language and facial expressions. It was one of the ways that he had used to help him interact with people a bit more easily.

"Yes, I did see those automated transfer orders cross my desk. And you were Luetenant Daton's replacement on the crew should something happen. Unfortunately, there is a...change of plans," Remas said carefully, tapping the side of his coffee cup. "That position has already been filled by the Long Jump Project's chief engineer, Lieutenant Zhuri. I want to be clear now that decision was made by myself, and has nothing to do with any act of favouritism or discrimination against yourself."

He tapped the black finish of his desk, and the large monitor underneath came to life with stored data files.

"Your service on the Normandy is dotted with the sort of commendations I expect from an officer who would volunteer to fly into the vastly nothingness with nought but his wits and a stout ship at his back. And whilst I can find you a spot in the Operation's team or in Engineering...I would perhaps place another at your feet," Remas tapped another command into the desk, and a hologram arose from it. A stylised tree encircled in a band of stars, though this partiuclar tree was dark as abony and bristling with thorns.

"Have you ever heard of the Briarwood Colony Corporation?"

Alex was trying his very best to not let his frustration show. He had accepted this transfer and assumed the risks that came with hurtling through unknown space for who knew how long a big part of his decision had been the fact that he'd be the chief engineer and running his own department. Now the CO was saying that his position had been given to someone else. So either SFC had completely screwed up or the CO had chosen to override their decision and promote someone that was already on board. Either way he couldn't help but feel like he was getting screwed in the process. He had basically been passed over for a promotion that was supposed to be his already. Trying to buy some time before responding to the CO he took a drink of his coffee, then took a deep breath. It was clear that what he thought he had arrived on the Traveller for wasn't going to happen so he may as well listen to what McDonald had to in mind. He knew he'd have to make some quick decisions because the Traveller was set to depart shortly.

"I can't say that I have heard of that corporation Sir" was all that he could get out of his mouth without running the risk of saying way more than he should to a commanding officer.

"New startup, pitched in with the Long Jump Project during a little funding crisis we had. Turns out exploration of the unknown gets trumped when the Cardassian's and the Breen get a little sloppy with the ink on their maps. We went from a fleet of ships and mobile starbases to a single ship, and for a time I thought I'd have to pilot a Runabout..." he realised he was rambling, a bit of the storyteller to his voice. "Either way, we have a colony ship accompanying us, the SS Acheron. Civilian roughnecks and frontiersmen the lot of them reminds me of the folks I grew up with. But where they're going there's no support network, no backup plan. I need someone to act as a go-between, to make sure their needs and the needs of the mission do not lie in conflict."

He gestured to Alexander.

"You studied the Traveller's specs, know what sort of output our own fabrication facilities can achieve compared to the shortfall of a colony that might take months or years to get to the point of self-sufficiency. You'd be staying on the ship, but here you would be their voice and eyes: off ship surveys, liaising with engineering on fabrication priorities, ensuring the medical staff are up to date in any colony issues..." Remas trailed off, leaning on his desk with a smile. "Mr Shepard, I cannot help but think you might be holding back on something. I impress upon you this key fact: there is no going back. Right now the Accelerator is on line and powering up, you're transport from the USS I Knew I Forgot To Tell You Something was the last matter stream we recieved. Right now sending you back is an impossibility bordering on a death sentence. So speak your mind."

Remas sipped his drink.

"If it makes you happier you can think of it as an order, make it right and proper."

Alex was listening intently as McDonald explained more about this Corporation and his possible role as "liason". This was definitely not what he had signed up for. He had briefly considered asking to be released from his assignment to the Traveller all together, but the CO had just made it clear that certainly wasn't an option. So in a word he was stuck.

"Honestly Sir I'm a bit annoyed at the whole situation, but trying to wrap my head around it all. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand your decision, but a big part of my taking this assignment was the opportunity to run my own department. I wasn't exactly expecting to hear that that wasn't going to be happening. So right now I'm just trying to process everything" he responded. He thought more about this liason position. There was definitely a need for a go between, that was clear. He was actually surprised that position hadn't already been thought of and filled. And although it wasn't what he had signed up for, it would definitely be a new challenge which was always right up his alley.

"If I were to serve as the liason how do you envision that working? Would I be directly involved in the decision making process? Who would I be reporting to?" Before making a decision he needed a bit more clarification on exactly what this role would look like.

“To me, and the Briarwood’s themselves. Anthony Tibilix Briarwood and his wife Samantha Briarwood, fromally of New Tuscany. They founded the BCC with the view to expanding the civlisaed sphere of the Federation out beyond the borders of our galaxy. Gathered ten thousand colonists to come with them,” Remas muttered. “You would act as a go between and lead problem solver. You would work with all departments in this regard, and any problems you would bring to my attention to solve. As long as solving them did not put the Traveller at risk or endanger its overall mission.”

Remas tapped a finger on his desk, and the BCC logo vanished.

“We are in uncharted waters here. A colony like this hasn’t been founded since Earth sent out the first wave of Warp 1 colony barges in the late 21st century. There’s no rescue mission, no abort procedure. But what I’m more worried about is the Briarwoods and their crew over looking what the Federation stands for to survive,” Remas said. “Do you know what happened to the indigenous people of the North American continent of Earth when the Europeans finally crossed the ocean?”

The thought of reporting to two civilians didn't appeal to him in the least bit. Civi's just didn't understand how things worked out here. Hell, none of them really understood how things worked where they were going, but at least the ship and crew would have their training and structure to fall back on. Ten thousand civilians???? It was chaos just waiting to explode. No wonder the Commander wanted someone from the ship to help oversee all of this. Though this wasn't what he had signed on for it was, surprisingly, starting to appeal to him.

"Mass slaughter and land theft? Yes, I'm pretty well versed in that and can certainly see your concern there. Hopefully we will be able to find a suitable location for the colony that will make even the possibility of something like that happening a mute point." Alex's mind was moving a mile a minute and before he even knew exactly what he was doing he found himself saying "Sir I would be honored to accept the position."

"Thats excellent, as my next option was a junior officer role or captains yoeman. And that fella will fight you for the honour," Remas smiled, holding a hand out across the desk. "Welcome to the Traveller Mr Shepard."

Alex stood up and shook the Commander's hand. "Thank you Sir" and with that he turned to leave the office. Talk about a meeting that didn't go at all according to plan. But it is what it is and he was going to have to make the best of the situation. His first stop was going to be to his quarters to do some further research on this Corporation, and then set up a meeting with the Briarwood's.

 

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