From TTy99@aol.com Mon Jun 8 20:16:50 1998 Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 16:04:07 -0600 From: TTy99@aol.com To: INDIGO FLEET List Serve Subject: [INDIGO] USS PROMETHEUS/ USS CONSTELLATION: Captain to Captain ---OFFICIAL INDIGO FLEET TRANSMISSION--- Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 18:02:51 EDT From: Subject: [INDIGO] USS PROMETHEUS/ USS CONSTELLATION: Captain to Captain SD 100602.2300 GMT Scene: Bridge, USS CONSTELLATION FMD 7.0810 "*Who* did you say wanted to come aboard?" Acting Captain Mudoro Bochu wrinkled his brow in concentration, sure he had not heard correctly the first time, and determined to get it right when the transporter technician repeated it. [He says his name is..... Captain So-vak, sir,] the young man answered nervously, carefully drawing out the two syllables to make sure he pronounced it correctly. "There is no Captain Sovak in Indigo fleet," Bochu replied sharply, mentally reviewing the elite list he longed to join someday, and which he had virtually memorized while waiting for openings. [Well, that's what he says, sir,] came the confused voice from the other end. "What ship is he from?" demanded Bochu, his finger hovering over the call button that would doubtless send Kzar rushing down there to evict or arrest the interloper personally. One of the only things that made him hesitate was the realization that the Kzinti Security Chief would probably enjoy it too much. There was a second or two pause before his reply come back: [The PROMETHEUS, Commander.] That caused the Vulcan/Betazed hybrid to sit back suddenly, his hand absently dropping back to the arm of his chair as he belatedly recalled just where he had heard that name before. They had done it, he told himself bitterly. They had really done it. Instead of choosing from one of the highly qualified First Officers in the fleet ready, willing and eager to claim their own command (like me, he thought morosely), Admiral Brooks had inexplicably awarded one of the choicest posts in the fleet to, in Bochu's understanding, little more than a scientist. An AGAMEMNON-class battle cruiser, he thought sadly, and since the destruction of the AGAMEMNON itself, the only one left in Indigo. The same AGAMEMNON, he now remembered, which died with Captain Slick of the PROMETHEUS aboard, one of the most well-regarded CO's in the entire fleet. It was still hard to believe that had happened only a little more than twenty- four short hours ago, and now here was his undeserving replacement, knocking at their door.... [Sir?] The uneasy voice of the transporter tech interrupted Bochu's musings. Shaking his head, the CONSTELLATION's First Officer replied: "Welcome him aboard with my compliments, and send him up to the Ready Room." [Yes, sir.] Visits between starship Captains were rare, since they did not see each other often. And when they did occur, they were generally social in nature. Somehow Bochu didn't think this one was, though. Sovak was definitely a Vulcan name, and the XO doubted a Vulcan would visit unless it was both important and Starfleet-business related. Bochu was acting Captain, but Captain Paraskevopoulus' condition was much better, and any day now would reclaim his exalted position as commanding officer. Bochu was confident he could represent the CONSTELLATION under normal circumstances, but this might just be the exception. If it was important enough for Captain Sovak to circumvent normal channels with a personal visit when his own ship so obviously needed repairs, then it was certainly something their own once-and-future Captain should be aware of. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he reached up and tapped his commbadge. "Commander Bochu to Captain Paraskevopoulus." No reply. Bochu waited a good ten seconds, then tried again with the same results. Was the Captain still in the habit of sleeping late? he wondered. Only one way to find out. "Computer, locate Captain Paraskevopoulus." [Captain Paraskevopoulus is in his quarters.] Bochu sighed and tapped his commbadge again: "Bochu to Kzar." [Kzar here, Commander] came the prompt response. "The Captain is needed in his Ready Room, Lieutenant," Bochu informed the Security Chief, "but he is not responding to my hails. Please go to his quarters and escort him up here as soon as possible." [Yes, sir.] "Oh, and Kzar?" added the XO quickly, successfully fighting down the urge to smile as an unbidden vision of the huge Kzin suddenly appearing out of the darkness and leaning over Paraskevopoulus' bed leaped into his mind. "I think he's just asleep, so try not to startle him too much." [Understood, Commander.] Rising to his feet, Bochu unconsciously straightened his uniform a little and headed for the Ready Room to wait for their visitor and his Captain. ************************************************************ Scene: Captain's Ready Room FMD 7.0825 "As I'm sure you know, Commander, I have much to do and very little time to accomplish it," Sovak stated flatly, steepling his fingers and meeting Bochu's gaze across the Captain's desk. "Surely you can either deny or comply with my request in your capacity as First Officer." "Normally I would, sir," Bochu repeated for what seemed like the tenth time, careful to keep his voice level, "but for something like this, I would prefer that Captain Paraskevopoulus make the final decision. I have no doubt he will be here any moment, Captain, even if my Security Chief ends up carrying him in." "That would be a most undignified arrival, Commander," noted the Vulcan Captain of the PROMETHEUS, fixing Bochu with the inscrutable gaze his species was so famous for. "I understand Captain Paraskevopoulus has been temporarily relieved of duty, therefore I do not see the logic in consulting him anyway." "It's his ship, sir," insisted Bochu. "Surely you would ask your own subordinates to do the same if our positions were reversed." "I would hope that they could make their own decisions if I am ever relieved, Commander," answered the Vulcan Captain dryly. "Yes, sir, but these are rather.... unusual circumstances," argued Bochu stubbornly. "According to our doctor, the Captain will be resuming command within a few days at most, and...." "This is, I'm sure, important to you," interrupted Sovak as he leaned forward slightly, "but hardly relevant to the purpose of my visit.. If he does not arrive within the next four minutes and thirty eight seconds, I will ask that you have him contact me as soon as possible. By coming here personally, I believed I could expedite what would normally be a tedious and time-consuming bureaucratic process, but it seems I may have been mistaken." "If you say so, sir," responded Bochu, getting a little tired of being lectured by this.... this.... scientist. "May I ask, sir," he continued respectfully as a thought struck him, "what your field of specialty is? I understand you were the Chief Science officer before being promoted." "That is correct, Commander," Sovak said in that same flat voice he seemed to use for everything. "I am an archaeologist by training, and have received a doctorate from the Vulcan Science Academy in that subject." "An..... archaeologist," repeated Bochu slowly, wondering if he could believe his own ears. "I also hold a doctorate in computer programming, as well as a master's degree in quantum physics. Is there any other part of my background that you wish to know about that might satisfy your curiosity?" Fortunately, Bochu was spared a response when the door hissed open and the massive form of Kzar blocked the light temporarily. In front of him and almost lost from view beside the Kzin's huge bulk was an obviously sleepy and quite cranky Captain Paraskevopoulus. He shot an irritated glance over his shoulder at Kzar as he strode in, jerking his chin toward the door indicate that he no longer needed a looming shadow. As the Security Chief assumed a stance of parade rest just inside the room, both Sovak and Bochu rose to their feet, the XO moving out from behind the desk and allowing Paraskevopoulus to sink gratefully into the warm chair. "Now," demanded Paraskevopoulus grumpily, not in the best of moods, "what is this all about that requires rousting me from bed and almost suffering a heart attack in the process?" Bochu looked reproachfully over at Kzar, who shrugged and rumbled: "I tried to be gentle, sir, but he is a sound sleeper." Glancing over at Bochu, Demis said: "Do you have any idea what it's like to be awakened by a Kzin literally climbing into bed with you and starting to sling you over his shoulder?" "I imagine it is most unpleasant, Captain," Interrupted Sovak abruptly before either Bochu or Kzar could respond, drawing every eye in the room to him. "However, I have very little time, and do not intend to waste what I have listening to a litany of complaints or what humanoids refer to as, I believe, humorous banter." The three officers from the CONSTELLATION just stared at the Vulcan, amazed at the sheer effrontery of such a statement. "I am unaccustomed to human social graces, Captain Paraskevopoulus," Sovak said calmly into the resulting silence, locking eyes with the CO of the CONSTELLATION, "and I have a ship to repair, as you are no doubt aware. So I would very much appreciate an immediate answer to my request." "In the first place, just who the hell are you?" growled Paraskevopoulus. "And in the second, what the hell are you talking about?" "I am Captain Sovak of the PROMETHEUS, sir," responded Sovak immediately. "And I have come here to request that as many shuttlecraft as you can spare be transferred to my ship as soon as possible. Along with their pilots." "You want..... *what*?" exclaimed a stunned Paraskevopoulus. "Shuttlecraft, sir," repeated Sovak impatiently, standing rigidly with both hands clasped behind his back as he explained. "I assume you have read the action reports that we filed concerning the loss of the AGAMEMNON. In the process, all our shuttlecraft were destroyed. Starbase OMEGA can only give us six, which leaves us far below our standard complement of twenty-two, not counting shuttlepods and dropships. Since the CONSTELLATION has, as yet, lost none of its own, I am requesting that you transfer as many as you can spare to assist us." "*All* of them atr gone?" demanded an incredulous Bochu. "Within the space of approximately three seconds," Sovak informed them matter- of- factly, as if he were discussing the weather and not the loss of over twenty Strafleet officers, "along with all of the AGAMEMNON's." "How?" demanded a shocked Paraskevopoulus in a hoarse whisper. "We believed they could be used to intercept some of the Dalriadan missiles headed our way. They did, but were not effective as we had anticipated. Additionally, the Dalriadans detonated a proximity fuse which caused a chain reaction among their missiles, destroying all of the shuttles involved." A low growl came from Kzar, and both Bochu and Paraskevopoulus tried to swallow in suddenly dry mouths. "Sir," Bochu said urgently, turning to Paraskevopoulus, "didn't Ensign Sindel..... I mean Ensign Ares, propose something similar?" "I would not advise it," Sovak stated firmly as Paraskevopoulus was still trying to formulate an answer. "It is my belief they will be expecting such a maneuver next time, and our losses will be even greater. I can suggest modifications to your photon torpedoes that would be much more effective and far less costly in terms of trained personnel lost. I myself have no intention of repeating such a disastrous experiment, and am asking for shuttles only to use on normal ship's business." "If indeed," he added thoughtfully after a moment, "we have the chance to ever conduct *normal* business again." Coming as it did from an officer who probably had more practical experience in tactical situations against the Dalriadans than anyone in Starfleet, the last statement was particularly sobering. ^ÑNow that I have explained myself sufficiently, I hope," inquired Sovak, "may I request that you give me a reply?" Demis and Mudoro exchanged glances. The XO gave the Captain a "do you have any suggestions?" kind of look. Demis nodded and turned to Sovak. "Captain Sovak, I'm sure the needs of the PROMETHEUS are quite pressing. Naturally, you can understand that we cannot turn over *all* of our shuttles to the CONSTELLATION." "Unnecessary and undesirable," answered Sovak. "You require at least a minimum number of shuttles, as do we." "I would suggest to Commander Bochu that we turn over four shuttles and pilots over to the PROMETHEUS," Paraskevopoulus said, leaning back in his chair thoughtfully. "I would like to discuss the matter with Ensign Ares first, of course." Bochu nodded in agreement. Four shuttles was a friendly gesture, it didn't deplete greatly the CONSTELLATION's shuttle complement, and perhaps, in the future, they could expect some favor in return from the PROMETHEUS. Of course, he doubted this pompous Vulcan even understood the concept of reciprocity. He also thought that *if* Sovak understood it, he would try to "logic" his way out of it somehow. "We would like to make it clear that this is done as a friendly gesture to the PROMETHEUS, and hope that someday, the PROMETHEUS can reciprocate," the acting Captain announced solemnly, thinking that especially in wartime, it wasn't a bad idea to write a 'favors' list. "That is most generous, Captain, Commander," replied Sovak politely, to his listeners' surprise. . "And I will certainly reciprocate in the future should circumstances be reversed." Well, Paraskevopoulus told himself ruefully after being virtually certain Sovak would somehow try to get out of having to repay them at all, it seems that I have more to learn about Vulcans after all.... "Though it is illogical to express gratitude when we are all serving Starfleet," the Vulcan CO continued, "these are far from normal circumstances. For all of us. Therefore please feel free to call on me or my staff for assistance should you require it in the future. However, I have already spent far too much time here, and I must get back to my ship," Sovak concluded abruptly as he rose to his feet. Kzar moved out of the Vulcan's way, giving the visiting Captain a hard and appraising look as he did so. Sovak ignored him, even after the Kzin fell in behind the visiting Captain to perform the age-old ritual of escorting him off the ship. The two senior officers of the CONSTELLATION watched him leave, followed by the Security Chief, then turned to face one another. "How in the world did this Mr. Sovak *ever* get to be captain?" Bochu commented, shaking his head, and then added with a small smile:. "And do you think we can send him Commander Bertoli as one of the shuttle pilots?" "Hmph. I don't think Admiral Brooks would agree with you. That was quite bold, wasn't it? A request for materiel from another ship would be an embarrassment to any captain." "Except," corrected Bochu, "a Vulcan captain." "Uh...right. Do you think that Sovak knows something we don't?" Bochu had no ready response for that one, leaving both of them to ponder the answer. Perhaps plans with the shuttles to be used in combat with the Dalriada would have to be changed, after all.... ********************************************** [NRPG] Many thanks to James for writing the last portion of this, then trustingly surrendering it to my edits, and to Mike for his permission to (ab)use Bochu in this manner. Since we're all on the same list-serv now, and both the PROMETHEUS and the CONSTELLATION are docked at OMEGA pretty much at the same time, it sounded "logical" to combine two of the ships I serve on in this manner. I don't know about the rest of you out there, but I'm having a heck of a lot of fun with this. FMD 7.0810 Sovak comes aboard the CONSTELLATION Tim FMD 7.0825 A Captain to Captain chat Tim (I think this should go on *both* timelines, one and all.... ) Dennis: Actually, your question about shuttles gave me the idea for this. Thanks. Prepare to receive four more shuttles and pilots from the CONSTELLATION. Do you see the danger now of getting too far ahead? However, you can always backpost their arrival... (see note below to the NAV on the CONSTELLATION). Mark: Assuming Ares doesn't pitch a fit, of course....... *Don't* make me come back there to get them! Respectfully submitted, Tim Tyson Captain Sovak, USS PROMETHEUS Lt jg Kzar, USS CONSTELLATION tty99@aol.com ***This message sent by an official member of Indigo Fleet*** Are you also posting your message to the newsgroup?!!! ---END TRANSMISSION---