War Makes Everyone Equals

Posted on Thu Nov 23rd, 2023 @ 10:35pm by Captain Tristan Faust & Master Chief Petty Officer Thev Th'ariah

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Mission 5: The Price of Paradise
Location: Aft Crew Lounge
Timeline: M5 MD01 (2268.07.13) 2100

It was late evening and the ship was deserted. With the ship docked at Starbase 10 most of the ship's crew was enjoying their liberty aboard the station. Times like these Captain Faust enjoyed the quiet. He was sitting at his usual booth in the aft crew lounge, reclined into the plush lounge chair. He had spent most of the afternoon in meeting with Commodore Anderson getting a grasp of the situation. Having the Commodore aboard for this mission was going to be a blast from the past.

The martini glass was sitting on the glass table, half.empty and staring at him. Several reports were sitting on its table top, including a duplicate of the Ticonderoga's logs and official reports. Some light reading.

The doors to the aft crew lounge slid open. With a gruff look like a man on a mission, Master Chief Petty Officer Thev Th’ariah entered the lounge. He spotted the Captain, sitting in a booth, taking note of the reports around him.

“Good Evening, Captain”

His voice was equally as gruff as he was. The Andorian looked far older than his Mid-40’s age would suggest. The Eye Patch didn’t help much, a souvenir from Axanar and a Klingon Bat’leth.

"Good evening Chief," the Captain responded, making note of his expression, "Do you need something from me?"

"Actually I was looking for the Bar."

Thev says bluntly, spying the drink on the table.

"Hoping since most everyone was off the ship, I could drink without having to look over my shoulder. Have to maintain that command presence for the enlisted men."

The Caption nodded, "I know the feeling," he responded, "Have a seat chief, we have stewards on Constitutions."

Thev nods, appreciative, taking a seat across from the Captain. He relaxed some, letting out some of the tension that he'd been holding.

"Have to get use to that. My service before Midway were on Ares Classes, and Larson Destroyers, no real luxuries on those kind of ships. This feels like a luxury liner than a Class One Heavy Cruiser."

Thev commented.

"What about you, Captain?"

The Captain chuckled, "It's funny you mention that," he said, "I've spent most of my career on the Ticonderoga... The Ti was an Ares class... They mothballed her last year and I was her last exec. Then they gave me the Midway."

"Ares were a breed of thier own. Tough ships, solid. Heard they could outmanuveur even the D6's."

"First part of my Career was spent in the War, shipped out in '49 in the Ground Forces"

"I was in high school or the academy for most of the war, although my senior year they sat us down leveled with us and assigned us all to ships. Spent '55 and '56 on an Anton... The Pluto," Tristan explained.

"Spent the war in the Axanar Campaigns, fighting the Klingons in near hand to hand combat and constant seige. The Sector was under the command of Garth..."

He pauses for a moment

"Haven't thought of him for a minute there. Garth was a good man, good officer, broke the backs of the Klingons during the war."

The Captain nodded, "I was at the last Battle of Axanar," he said, "It's too bad what happened to him "

Thev nods in agreement.

"Last I heard, he was a patient at Elba II, but that was a couple years back now"

The Captain nodded, "There was an... Incident aboard the Enterprise several months ago," he said, "Let's leave it at that." He sighed, "It feels like a lifetime ago, but it hasn't been that long in the grand scheme of things..."

Thev nods.

“Agreed.”

He picks up his drink, sipping it in silence for a while.

"This next mission will be exactly that... A blast from the past," the Captain explained, "Commodore Anderson himself is coming aboard to finish something we started a long time ago."

“The Commodore? How much trouble are we expecting on this mission?”

Thev asked curiously, staring with his one good eye.

"Well we are tying up some loose ends, leftover from both one of the Ticonderoga's missions which happens to be a loose end from the Midway," Tristan responded and then sighed, wondering how to explain the situation, "See, 10 years ago the Ticonderoga was on an exploration mission near the Klingon frontier when we discovered a sleeper ship. Upon investigation we discovered one life support cannisters still functioning, inside was a man... No recollection of who he was or how he got there."

"Like that Khan fella that Jim Kirk pulled out from that DY-100 Class last year?"

Thev asked, taking another sip of his drink.

"Similar, although as far as we could tell he was from the future," Tristan responded, "Anyway, I was the one who opened the pod and Caption Anderson assigned me to help him adjust to... Well his new life, which I did. It was tough at first but he became a close friend and thanks to the Commodore he entered the academy..."

Thev set his drink down.

“So this is personal then? Ex-Boyfriend?”

He asked with a serious tone, not one of joking but one of genuine curiosity.

"Ah, no, not like that," the Captain responded, "We kept in touch over the years obviously and when thr Ticonderoga set in for her decommission, I was given command over the Midway. Ironically he was the project manager at the yard. I convinced him to stay aboard as Chief Engineer and... Well he went completely mad. Half psychotropic drugs, the other half brain washing by the Romulans. He sabotaged the ship."

“So it’s that engineer I heard about through the rumor mill. We taking him out to Tantalus then, I take it? Goin have to requisition some heavier ordinance then, break out the armor.”

Thev said again taking a sip of his drink.

"Not exactly," Tristan responded, "The Commodore and I have something else in mind. We aren't going to just give up on him, which a commitment would do."

"Whatever it is, I got your six. Probably why they assigned this grizzled old War Horse to ya."

Thev lifts his glass in respect and knocked back the drink before pouring another.

"We certainly are good at getting into trouble, that much is for sure," the Captain responded before downing the rest of his Martini.

"Sounds like this tour will be most interesting indeed. Miss getting into the shit. My last assignment was teaching at the Academy. No action, just kids trying to hold a phaser without vaporizing themselves."

"We always end up getting into it neck deep," Tristan responded, "I for one could use a breather from time to time."

"True. It can't all be action all the time. Don't know how Enterprise handles all that action they seem to be getting into on a weekly basis."

Thev comments as he takes another sip of his drink.

"We manage just as much action as the Enterprise," Tristan retorted, "We never even finished our shakedown cruise."

"Seat of the pants since launch then. I think I'll like my time here then. Even an Old Wardog like me still enjoys that rush of action."

The Captain nodded, "That always is the case, for better or worse," he said. He looked down at his antique wristwatch, "Well, it's getting late and I should probably turn in... It's great to have you aboard Chief. I hope it'll be enough action for you." He gave a smirk.

Thev raises his glass

"Looking forward to it, Captain. I should probably be turning in myself, need to be on the Bridge at Zero-Five Hundred"

The Captain gave a nod, "Enjoy the rest of your evening Chief," he said before standing up and taking his leave of the Chief of the Boat.

 

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