Why me?
Posted on Fri Feb 26th, 2021 @ 11:48am by Captain Steven Bond & Rear Admiral Declan Ford
Edited on on Fri Feb 26th, 2021 @ 11:49am
Mission:
S1, E0: We need each other.
Location: Starbase One, Transporter Room
Timeline: MD001 0900 hrs
1070 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure
Steven walked off the transporter padd, The USS Montana had dropped him off. After having a small goodbye party, and a few tears. Steven was waiting his meeting with the Admiral to start. Steven had no idea, what assignment he had been selected for. He assumed something like the Malchowski Class Starship was in his near future. He had ruled out science vessels and medical ships. Mainly because his profession was in security.
Declan was almost finished staffing all of the ships in his Task Force. He decided to take a gamble on the second to last ship. The ship was a new Constitution and the person he decided would command her was a new Captain. One who Declan had a meeting with in a matter of minutes. He tapped the computer on his desk and told his Yeoman to show the man in. Declan smiled as the other man strode into the office. "Morning Captain Bond"
Steven wasted little time heading up to the Admiral's office. After checking in with the duty officer, a low ranking ensign escorted him to the Admiral's office.
As Steven walked in, he heard the Admiral say good morning to him. Steven walked over to the desk, and snapped to the position of attention. "Captain Steven Bond, reporting as ordered sir."
"Have a seat Captain..." Declan began as he pointed to the seat in front of his desk. "...Captain how long have you been serving with the rank of Captain?" Ford decided that he would toy with Bond before revealing the good news.
"Less than a week, Starfleet promoted me before reassigning me to my own command sir." Steven called out. He was curious, when he would get his new command. He assumed a small vessel, he kept thinking he was getting a Malchowski class starship. He had no idea, what the Admiral was planning.
Declan nodded, of course this was something that Declan had already known. He tried to gauge the man who would be Captain by chatting with him. "As you are aware the war with the Klingons has cost us more than just ships it has cost up a great many men and women. Not the least of which were Captains. The aftermath of that war has left the Federation and by extension Starfleet in quandary. On the one hand we want to continue our directive to explore strange new worlds. However, on the other hand we must lend a hand in the reconstruction. The Captains we need now are people who can do both."
Steven looked a little surprised. "I'm confused sir, are you wanting me to command a drydock station? or a Starship Sir?" He asked, wondering what category Declan had for him.
Declan thought that Bond had been played with enough. "I am giving you a starship, and not just any starship..." He tapped a few buttons on the console and a few images came up for Bond to look at. "...The USS Lexington NCC-(fill in here) Constitution Class and fresh from the shipyards. It even still has the new ship smell. That is if you feel you are up to the task." Declan said with a smirk.
Steven had a surprised look on his face. Almost in horror. Shock would be a good word for it too. He was not sure what to say. "Thank you sir." Steven finally said, but that seemed like a poor way of expressing his grattitude. He quickly stumbled for words to say.
"I'll make you proud sir, am I completing her shakedown cruise sir?" Steven asked, after giving up on trying to find something to say. He decided it was best to discover what his perimeters were with this ship. He wondered if he was going to be a shakedown cruise type of Captain. Trying out all the new ships of the line.
"A little of both actually. Your orders are to board the crew that we have for you. You will then take the ship out on a short shakedown cruise while the rest of your crew arrives. Once they arrive you will take the ship on its first five year mission. I am not going to mince words here. This is a lot of ship for a new Captain but we think you are up to the task." Declan spoke as he leaned forward and tented his hands. The image of the ship displayed on the table for Bond to see.
Steven was a little taken by the news. Surely he was not the first pick, he would adventure a guess say not on the top 20 list. So he wondered why him?
He wondered if it had to do with the fact, that there was not a lot of experienced Captain's in the fleet, after the klingon war? He was not sure what the motive was, but did it really matter. The admiral gave him the command.
Steven smiled, as he reached out to shake his hand. "Thank you sir, I am deeply humbled." He said, with a warm hearted smile on his face.
"Don't be humbled, be proud, be effective, but most of all be curious. We need explorers out there. Get us back to our roots." Declan knew that despite the modesty Bond was the right man to be one who led the fleet forward.
"Yes sir, I am more than happy to take the Lexington on her first five year voyage." Steven said, with a big grin on his face. "And thank you for this opportunity. I can not wait to begin this undertaking."
Declan smiled he loved the idea that Captain's got so wide eyed when they received their first commands. "I will allot you a week to get your crew boarded. During that week we will be in touch and you will be fully briefed on what your mission parameters are. I think you have a lot of work ahead of you."
"Will be ready to go on the within the week sir." Steven said, wondering how the hell they were going to accomplish that. He had no idea how they were going to get everything needed for five years in one week plus the crew, he was up for a good challenge though. Somehow some way he would make it work. he continue to think inside his head how he'd make this work as a scene starts to fade away.
