From jrbowman@kih.net Mon Jun 8 20:06:30 1998 Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 09:48:13 -0600 From: Gershon To: INDIGO FLEET List Serve Subject: USS CONSTELLATION: Full 360, Part II ---OFFICIAL INDIGO FLEET TRANSMISSION--- Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 12:04:32 -0400 (EDT) From: Gershon Subject: USS CONSTELLATION: Full 360, Part II ********** Starfleet: Indigo Fleet Command Priority: AAA It is my sad duty to inform all vessels of Indigo Fleet command that Captain Rick Slick of the USS PROMETHEUS has perished alongside the crew of the USS AGAMEMNON in defending the Federation against the Dalriadan Empire. The AGAMEMNON has been destroyed. The Federation expects every being serving in Indigo Fleet to do his duty, and to keep the heroism of Captain Slick in mind. Our prayers and wishes go to his family. The heroism of the crew of the USS AGAMEMNON, showing exemplary valor and courage in the face of a determined enemy, will go down in history. With the name of the AGAMEMNON on our lips, we shall deliver the blow that will defeat our enemies. Admiral Brooks ********** The four of them read the message. "How long ago was this?", asked the Captain. "And where were they?" "Indigo Fleet Testing Range," answered Bertoli. "There must have been more to those tests than anyone figured." Bertoli was at a loss. Was the AGAMEMNON testing Wild Weasel, or was the weapons testing a coverup for an attack against the Dalriadans? "It couldn't have been much more than a hour ago, given the subspace delays," replied Bochu. "I wanted to tell the senior officers before the news was released through FedNet, or some other 'reliable' source." Demis said something in Greek that was probably unprintable. His 'collar' pinged, at the rate of one every ten seconds. "The rest of the senior officers do not need me here to remind them of my medical problems. However, I intend to return when I am healthy. Until that time that the Chief Medical Officer agrees, I have full faith in you Commander Bochu, and expect that you will issue the orders and assume all responsibility and *authority* that would be normally issued in my name. Understood?" "Affirmative, Captain," answered Bochu. *That settles that.* "Captain Paraskevopoulus?" It was Bertoli. "Yes, Commander?" "Seeing as how the acting commanding officer was formerly the executive officer ....perhaps it wouldn't be too forward of me to informally request to assume the duties of Exec, and assist Commander Bochu?" "Well...I will be back in three days or so. Furthermore, Commander...Bertoli? ....your qualifications as combat advisor are excellent, and your record aboard the VALERIY POLYAKOV speaks for itself. However, that decision is not up to me. It's up to Commander Bochu." "A recommendation from you, Captain, would mean a lot." "Well...I could never bring that type of undue influence on Commander Bochu. I respect him to much. It's his decision. If you'll excuse me...." "Actually, Captain," Bochu asked, "I do need to talk to you. In *private." Bertoli got the hint. "Commander...Captain...." With that, he left, slightly more quickly than usual. The door was now closed. "Well, Commander Bochu...who is this extra person? Is Starfleet going to hold our hands when we go out to battle?" Laughing, Bochu remarked, "Your absence has brought some interesting changes. During wartime, things can change overnight. Commander Bertoli is our new Combat Advisor from OMEGA." "OMEGA must be quite confident," answered Demis, "that we will see battle." The eyes of the two men met, each agreeing with the Captain's assumption. "Captain...before this turns into a greeting card moment, I just want to say I'm glad to see you back. I intend to have you up on the bridge, and the good Doctor will scream to the heavens, but the crew needs to see you in command. It will mean a lot to them." Demis simply nodded. "When you're ready, Number One." "Sir...there is a problem with morale that you need to know about." "I know," the Captain answered, "Bradford told me about it." "He did?" "Yes. The crew isn't quite ready to accept -- " "It's not that," answered Bochu. "It's Kzar. You remember the famous 'chipmunk' order?" "I do remember something about a chipmunk," muttered Demis. "Well, it seems you've thrown our resident Kzinti into self-doubt, or the next closest thing. The Kzinti always keep their word, it seems, and he's taking your order restricting him from killing as a general prohibition." "I meant no such thing -- " " -- that's not how Kzar is taking it. I don't know if you can use the word, 'down', to describe a Kzin...but he is definitely down." "Well...since I have no duties aside that of figurehead until the Doctor releases me...I think it's time I've had a talk with Kzar. And this time... I'm going to be better prepared. Any other matters, Commander?" "No sir," answered Bochu. "But I like seeing you in your duty uniform instead of that god-awful ugly jumpsuit." "Together, we'll burn this damn collar," Demis answered, referring to the neural collar. "And...I think I need to bring something to the Counselor. Something in my desk. Something...uh...illegal." "The bottle?" "You've been in my desk, haven't you?" Bochu smiled. "Can't have the Yeoman do everything." "Well, then. I'll talk to the Counselor...and maybe, we can split it. Or at least...we can buy him a new bottle. It might be the last bottle we enjoy for some time." ******************************** Respectfully submitted, James Bowman CAPT Demis Paraskevopoulus jrbowman@london2.skn.net AND JBowman489@aol.com ******************************** FMD 6.1145 Bertoli provides medical advice James FMD 6.1200 The Captain's daughter finds out the score James FMD 6.1245 Bradford hypothesizes a cure James FMD 6.1915 **Bertoli never knocks James **A parrot, in full glory James **A Hallmark-card moment James ******************************** All: Okay, back again. With this post, the Captain should be beginning to heal up, and perhaps by FMD 9 or so be back to full strength. There was a part of this post with Demis and Kzar; Tim and Mark have graciously offered to work on it...and you know how much I hate work. :P We have a new engineer who hasn't reported yet. His name is Chris Arnold, and if you keep an auxilary list, his address is WOWChrisA@aol.com. Undoubtedly, you have received his biography a number of times so we are now only a SCI short of a full ship. Other Indigo Fleet Members: A nod and a wave: I tried to provide a little background from context. If you've not ever read CONSTELLATION, hope it made some sense.... Mike: Thanks for the approval. Bertoli will still be around, though... as a matter of fact, Jeff's new orders make Bertoli's presence quite interesting. Margaret: Would love to hear from you. Tom: Note that I have secured the bottle back, after long last! Maybe in my next post, me and Mike will come down and help drain it! Tim: Thank you for your extensive comments...all taken to heart. Mark: At least the Captain has learned his lesson, if not Bertoli. Tell Tim not to cause too much damage. David: Well, things are working well, but soon, you might be writing some stories you don't like, with the war coming on and all.... ************************************************************************* For our bothersome junk-mail friends who cull e-mail addresses from posts: uce@ftc.gov jquello@fcc.gov sness@fcc.gov "As with everything else in life, I prefer to frolic to my own little kazoo." -- Masako Goto ***This message sent by an official member of Indigo Fleet*** Are you also posting your message to the newsgroup?!!! ---END TRANSMISSION---