Reporting for Duty

Posted on Fri Aug 2nd, 2013 @ 11:43am by Captain Jacob Lambert & Gabriel Grey

932 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Whispers in the Clouds
Location: Bridge & Ready Room, USS Unification
Timeline: Day 1 - 1730

Gabriel Grey stepped out of the turbolift doors and smiled as he found himself on the Bridge of the USS Unification. It had been a long time since the retired rear admiral had seen the hustle and bustle of a Starfleet crew preparing to get underway. In that moment, the elder statesman realized that he never knew just how much he had missed all of this. He took it to mean that he had made the right decision in coming back into service.

Gabriel admired the layout of his surroundings as he slowly made his way around to the CO's Ready Room. So this was what the bridge of a Diligent-class starship looked like. Small and utilitarian like the bridge on a Defiant-class, yet as sleek and chic as one on an Intrepid-class vessel. Gabriel had to admit that he liked the look and feel of it, and felt a twinge of both pride and envy for the lucky commanding officer who held her reins.

Gabriel watched as a female warrant officer with blue-accents on her uniform nodded as she power-walked past him. The old man couldn't help but wonder with a soft chuckle if she had been recruited right out of primary school, because she just looked so damned young! It was enough to make an old horse like himself feel as ancient as the hills. Had he ever been that young?

Gabriel reached the door that led into the CO's Ready Room and pressed his thumb to the biometric plate on its frame. The older gentleman took a second the smooth down the front of his white woolen turtleneck while he waited for permission to enter.

Jacob looked up at the sound of the door chime. "Come." he spoke allowed, his voice telling the computer to open the doors. He watched as the man in front of him walked in, with a kind of grace. "You must be Mr Grey, I presume?"

"Please, Commander," smiled the grey-haired gentleman, stepping forward to extend a hand to the Unification's commanding officer. "Call me Gabriel. Thank you for having me aboard. It is a tremendous pleasure to be here." Gabriel cast an appreciative glance around the ready room. "This is quite a fine ship you have here, Commander Lambert."

As he stood to shake the hand of the man in front of him, he studied him for a moment. "Thank you Mr Grey. I must say I was curious as to know why you wanted to be on this ship? As you know you are here in an advisory capacity, and is completely voluntary."

"Well, Commander," said Gabriel a wistful expression washing across his wizened features, "I woke up one morning not very long ago, and suddenly realized that I was living the wrong life. I was living like an old man." Gabriel's eyes twinkled with merry mischief at the self-deprecating remark. "I found myself looking in the mirror and saying, Who-the-hell's clothes are these? These look like an old man's clothes. These clothes can't be mine! . . . Who-the-hell's house am I living in? This looks like an old man's house. This house can't be mine!"

Gabriel chuckled as the emotion of reliving his recent life-changing decision came over him again. "Then, I saw a picture hanging on the wall . . . and in the picture, standing there, with a big ole grin on his face like he was the happiest man in the galaxy . . . some smiling old fart in a Starfleet rear admiral's uniform, hugging a bunch of young cadets who had just graduated from the Academy." Gabriel gave a grand smile, and his chest seemed to swell as he lifted his chin, and delivered the punchline. "Who-the-hell's picture is that? I said to myself. Now THAT, looks like an old man's picture." Gabriel gave an approving nod, then lifted a finger and wagged it in mock recognition. "That picture MUST be mine!."

The old ambassador sighed. "Put very simply, Commander, I feel like I've still got a few miles left in me. I know I'm just a civilian now. And I realize that this posting may not afford me the opportunity to be as useful either of us would probably like . . . but I can still be at least a little bit useful. And if that's okay with you, then it's okay with me."

"That's absolutely fine by me. Though I must point out, though you are a former admiral, that entitles you to no special treatment on this ship. You are still only an advisor. I trust this is acceptable?" replied Jacob.

"Perfectly acceptable," smiled Gabriel. "Special treatment's never much been my style, anyhow." Gabriel pause for a moment glad that he and Commander Lambert seemed to understand one another. "I know that you've probably had a rather busy day," said the old man, "so I won't take up any more of your time. All of this old man's questions can wait for another, more appropriate time, I suppose." Gabriel offer his hand again to Lambert. "Good meeting you, Commander Lambert."

Jacob sat up straighter, preparing to stand, as Gabriel offered his hand. He took hold and shook the mans hand. A surprising strong grip, considering the age of the man. "Good meeting you too. If you require anything, feel free to let me know." He sat down again before saying "Dismissed" telling the man he was free to go.

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