To The Future
Posted on Sun Jun 1st, 2014 @ 5:35pm by Captain Jacob Lambert & Lieutenant Archibald Harrington V
635 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission:
Episode 3 - Winds of Change
Location: New Bajor
Timeline: Day 4 - 2000
Jacob sat in the rec area of the orbital facility located above New Bajor. Gamma Command was a Regulus type starbase, used to provide logistical support to Starfleet ships in the Gamma Quadrant. It, along with the planetary compound were collectively known as Deep Space 11. It was also used as a refueling and resupplying using goods manufactured on the station and in the Starfleet compound on New Bajor.
The rec area had a bar. This was the reason Jacob was sitting here right now. Alone.
Archie entered the bar. He stopped to survey the room. He had been ordered to give Commander Rodriguez space during their unexpected shore-leave on New Bajor, "What a beautiful sight to see. Care for some company?"
"Sure." Said Lambert, as he looked up to see who it was. He downed another drink. Fortunately this bar stocked real alcohol made from the planet below.
Archie sat down in the chair across from him, "You're sure downing those things pretty fast. Tasty?"
"They taste like crap. But its real alcohol, so it doesn't matter." He still couldn't put a name to the face of the man who had approached him. Maybe he had had too much to drink, he thought to himself.
"Well, we wouldn't want to be wasting alcohol no matter what its being served in."
Jacob looked up and smiled at the man next to him. "Now thats good thinking. Im Jacob. Jacob Lambert. Used to command the Unification."
"Lieutenant Archibald Harrington," Archie introduced himself.
"Pleased to meet you Lieutenant." He turned to the barkeep. "Another drink please, and one for Archibald over here." He used his hand to gesture to the man now seated to his left.
"Please call me Archie."
"Archie it is! What brings you to Gamma Command?"
"Apparently the Telestro is transferring crew compliment to the Cassiopeia."
"Ah, that makes sense. They have brought ships in from all over the quadrant and even a few from the other side of the wormhole. I expect a position on the ship myself. Probably XO, given I managed to lose my own ship."
"If you haven't had a run in with a JAG Officer, I am sure you won't be losing a command any time soon."
"Doesnt matter. I wont be court martialed over it, but there will still be an investigation, and I will likely be found clear of any negligence but given the XO spot. Just the way it goes." He took another swig of his drink, reaching the bottom of his glass.
"I am probably speaking out of line here but you need to harden up and fight for what you believe in. You got to make a stand for yourself."
"You are out of line, Lieutenant." He replied, with emphasis on the man's rank. "But I concede your point. I wasn't sitting around waiting for my ship to explode, I was trying to the last second to save it. I was prepared to give my life to make sure the crew were all saved. And that bastard took it away from me!" He was starting to remember his friend, the chief engineer, Lieutenant Jawhn Benson. He knew that Lambert would never leave his ship, and so stunned him to enable him to be beamed to the Cassiopeia. Jacob knew it was out of friendship, but couldn't help feeling betrayed at the same time.
"Then you know what you have to do, Captain." Harrington finished his drink.
"I think I do. I need to speak to Admiral Adislo. Maybe not right now, this is real alcohol you know. Have another drink with me." He called for the barkeep. "Same again for me, and a drink for my friend here."
Harrington smiled, "To your future, Captain."
Jacob raised his glass. "To the future."