The Telestro

Posted on Tue Apr 1st, 2014 @ 3:14pm by Rear Admiral Vadosia Adislo & Lieutenant Archibald Harrington V
Edited on on Wed Apr 9th, 2014 @ 6:52am

1,056 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 3 - Winds of Change
Location: New Bajor
Timeline: Day 1 - 0900

[ Gamma Quadrant: Space, New Bajor ]

The Defiant-class USS Telestro enters the edge of the star system dropping out of warp speed in a flash of light. It joins general traffic pattern to enter standard orbit.

[ USS Telestro: Bridge ]

"Captain, you're receiving a communique from Rear Admiral Adislo," an officer reported.

The Telestro's Commanding Officer was Commander Steffano Rodriguez. He sat hunched over with his chin in the palm of his hand looking at the main viewer of New Bajor approaching. Commander Rodriguez stepped from his chair, "Put it through to my quarters."

"Aye sir."

Rodriguez looked to Lieutenant Harrington than to Lieutenant Commander Garrison, "You have the bridge, Commander Garrison."

The Lieutenant Commander took the Commander's place on the bridge, "Begin stationary orbit procedures, Lieutenant Harrington."

[ USS Telestro: Captain's Quarters ]

Rodriguez sat down in his cramped "home office". He open up the frequency from Rear Admiral Adislo, "Hello Rear Admiral."

"Welcome to New Bajor Captain. First time in the Gamma Quadrant?" the Bolian Flag Officer had a smile across his face. He always seemed to have that smile. At least at first. Adislo was one of the few Bolians with a known history of having a really short fuse.

Rodriguez cocked a smile and replied with a human cliche, "It's my first time past the gate." Rodriguez folded his hands and placed them on his lap, "Just wanted to resupply before we continue on our way."

"Change of plan then Captain. The USS Telestro..." The Bolian began to type on the computer built into the desk." Had been reassigned to our purview. I have just transmitted your new orders. I will also require some of your officers for reassignment."

"Oh?" Commander Rodriguez became irritated. He didn't want to depart with any personnel, "With all due respect, Rear Admiral. We are already running this ship with an almost minimal crew. Are you not able to allocate elsewhere?"

"You are getting replacements. I don't know if you are aware, and frankly don't care if you are not, but the USS Galavant, was lost with all hands, the USS Unification was destroyed with about 20% of their crew lost and the USS Cassiopeia was damaged with a little under half the crew lost. The Cassiopeia is a Nebula class ship and I'm already transferring around 500 officers from various ships and outposts within 50 light years on both sides of the wormhole. So yes, I am able to allocate elsewhere and I am already doing so."

"Oh," Commander Rodriguez placed his face into the palm of his hand. He came across as a complete asshole to the Rear Admiral. "My apologies, Rear Admiral. I didn't mean to come across cross with you. In fact, I can recommend one of my crewman for a posting aboard the Cassiopeia." Rodriguez knew Lieutenant Harrington was an accomplished navigator and pilot. He was recently passed over as Second Officer. Rodriguez had ultimately chosen Doctor Gorbadoc.

The Rear Admiral started tapping furiously into a PADD he picked up. "That is appreciated Captain, though I will be taking more than one officer. I require 5 officers, 15 crew and 10 enlisted personnel. Recommendations have already been sent to you. Your crew will be replaced within 2 standard weeks, a transport from the Alpha quadrant is bringing replacement personnel. Given that you will be under staffed temporarily your ship will remain in orbit of New Bajor until such time." He looked down to, then up from his PADD, his face now smiling again. "Any questions Captain?"

"Understood," Rodriguez reluctantly nodded his head. "None Rear Admiral."

The smile on his blue face reappeared. "Excellent. Now am I to understand correctly that you and Commander Lambert are old friends from somewhere or other?" The Rear Admiral knew exactly the relationship between the Captain and the Commander, but after learning an old Earth based card game, its never a good idea to show the card you have. "When the Cassiopeia arrives, there will obviously be a lot of repairs to be done. And with the recommissioning..." He paused, knowing that he had dropped the hint he needed. He quickly carried on, leaving the Captain little time to respond. "The Commander will likely be promoted and there will be a memorial service for all those lost. He will be free for a few days. Take the opportunity to get reacquainted, let him enjoy some downtime."

"We were peers at the Academy," Rodriguez nodded.

"Would you consider him a friend? Because after the crap hes just been through he needs a friend." The Rear Admiral clearly knew more about Captain Lambert than he was going to tell Rodriguez.

"We were on good terms at the Academy. We stayed in contact for a few years before we moved on with out careers. I'll make sure I take his mind off the work, I have a bottle of Texas Whiskey somewhere."

"Good, hes going to need it. His Chief Engineer shot him, and beamed him off the ship which they were planning to self destruct. Simply put, he was prepared to die, and did not." The Bolian glared at the officer in front of him. "This is for your ears only Lieutenant."

Rodriguez raised an eyebrow, 'A mutiny aboard a Federation starship?' He gulped. He nodded his head, "Of course Admiral. Any further instructions?"

"Just make sure that Jacob is ok. He hasn't been to a counsellor, but its on the cards. We have just been too busy trying to find replacements for all the officers who died and all the others who wanted to transfer. He was willing to die to save a lot of lives. Not dieing seems to have had a strange side effect on him. Hes been quite down."

'Sacrificial lamb syndrome,' thought Rodriguez. He wasn't a trained psychiatrist nor a qualified counselor. "It will be my personal assignment to ensure that Jacob is all right."

"You're dam right it will be. And I am holding you responsible if he isn't fit for duty. Well, not technically, as I cant do that, but I will have you servicing a garbage freighter." He smiled, ever so slightly. Just enough to make the Lieutenant think twice about whether or not he was serious.

"Of course," Rodriguez replied.

"Very well! Do you have any questions Lieutenant?"

"None."

"Excellent. Dismissed." Replied the Admiral.

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