Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2009 20:02:14 GMT -8
Christof stood in the transporter room of the USS Pioneer. The ex-crew of the Peregrin, Captain Merrin, Commander Scott, and Nurse Senneh Orim had already been made comfortable and were involved in briefings as to their next stations and missions. He had not had a chance to exchange words with Captain Merrin. Something was up. Something big, and Gwen had been spirited away behind closed doors quickly. He hoped that someday he would get to meet the spirited woman. Tales had been told about her skills. Christof wondered what people were saying about him.
He glanced over at the transport chief, who seemed rather reluctant to finish programming the sequence. "Bob," Christof said, "you can't hold me forever."
The man nodded, looking nervous, "yes Sir... just a few more seconds, Sir."
Bob's eyes flitted to the door and Christof raised an eyebrow. "I've already said my goodbyes, Bob..."
Bob swallowed, "yes, Sir."
"...and?"
Again, a look to the door.
"Bob..."
The doors opened and as many crew members as could fit in the room filed in, all in dress uniform.
"This isn't necessary--"
His ex-XO held up his hand and Christof kept silent.
"Attention on deck," the XO said and the entire room snapped into formation. An Ensign stepped forward, holding a box.
"Too many memories," the Chief Science officer said.
"Too many tears," the Chief Medical officer added.
"Too many laughs," from the Security Chief.
"Too many for you to remember on your own," the Ensign added, raising the box up to Christof. The Captain smiled down at the Ensign as he took it from the helmsman's shaking hands. Opening the box, he saw it contained a voice recorder.
"So we've remembered them for you," the Ensign said, stepping back into the crowd.
Christof looked around at those he had grown to love over the years. Men and women he would gladly give his life to protect, who would now be under the command of a stranger. He thought of the crew of the Peregrin, wondering if they would ever feel for him as his old crew were showing now.
Words failed him and he swallowed hard, his eyes betraying the emotion. He had already made a speech at his party, yet here, in this small room, he knew they wanted to hear from him one more time. Putting the package under one arm, he let his eyes travel over each person before he spoke.
"When I was promoted to Captain," he said, his voice low and deep from emotion, "I had no idea the depth of experiences that would unfold before me. You all made it happen. I was just an instrument in your skills. You are the Pioneer. Though I will no longer be here, the heart of the ship remains in all of you. I expect you to exhibit the same professionalism and pride to the new Captain as you have given to me." He gave a large smile, "trust me, I will be watching each and every one of you as you grow in your careers." He narrowed his eyes in a look many of them had seen before... a look that said he meant business, "and that's not just an idle threat." The room erupted in laughter.
"Now... unless you are going to have a Ferengi jump out of a cake again..." More laughter and knowing looks. "...I really need to go."
The laughter stopped and the room became silent. Christof looked over at the transporter chief, who nodded at him.
"Energize," he said, his heart heavy.
Almost instantaneously, he materialized on board the Peregrin. His eyes were cloudy for a moment and he wiped them with the back of his hand, not surprised at the wetness he found there.
His gaze fell on the man in a red uniform with Lt. Commander rank before him.
Tag Stetson
He glanced over at the transport chief, who seemed rather reluctant to finish programming the sequence. "Bob," Christof said, "you can't hold me forever."
The man nodded, looking nervous, "yes Sir... just a few more seconds, Sir."
Bob's eyes flitted to the door and Christof raised an eyebrow. "I've already said my goodbyes, Bob..."
Bob swallowed, "yes, Sir."
"...and?"
Again, a look to the door.
"Bob..."
The doors opened and as many crew members as could fit in the room filed in, all in dress uniform.
"This isn't necessary--"
His ex-XO held up his hand and Christof kept silent.
"Attention on deck," the XO said and the entire room snapped into formation. An Ensign stepped forward, holding a box.
"Too many memories," the Chief Science officer said.
"Too many tears," the Chief Medical officer added.
"Too many laughs," from the Security Chief.
"Too many for you to remember on your own," the Ensign added, raising the box up to Christof. The Captain smiled down at the Ensign as he took it from the helmsman's shaking hands. Opening the box, he saw it contained a voice recorder.
"So we've remembered them for you," the Ensign said, stepping back into the crowd.
Christof looked around at those he had grown to love over the years. Men and women he would gladly give his life to protect, who would now be under the command of a stranger. He thought of the crew of the Peregrin, wondering if they would ever feel for him as his old crew were showing now.
Words failed him and he swallowed hard, his eyes betraying the emotion. He had already made a speech at his party, yet here, in this small room, he knew they wanted to hear from him one more time. Putting the package under one arm, he let his eyes travel over each person before he spoke.
"When I was promoted to Captain," he said, his voice low and deep from emotion, "I had no idea the depth of experiences that would unfold before me. You all made it happen. I was just an instrument in your skills. You are the Pioneer. Though I will no longer be here, the heart of the ship remains in all of you. I expect you to exhibit the same professionalism and pride to the new Captain as you have given to me." He gave a large smile, "trust me, I will be watching each and every one of you as you grow in your careers." He narrowed his eyes in a look many of them had seen before... a look that said he meant business, "and that's not just an idle threat." The room erupted in laughter.
"Now... unless you are going to have a Ferengi jump out of a cake again..." More laughter and knowing looks. "...I really need to go."
The laughter stopped and the room became silent. Christof looked over at the transporter chief, who nodded at him.
"Energize," he said, his heart heavy.
Almost instantaneously, he materialized on board the Peregrin. His eyes were cloudy for a moment and he wiped them with the back of his hand, not surprised at the wetness he found there.
His gaze fell on the man in a red uniform with Lt. Commander rank before him.
Tag Stetson