News of a Friend

Posted on Sun May 22nd, 2016 @ 10:00pm by Captain Tim Williams

Episode: Lost Property
Location: USS Highlander - Captain's Quarters

As Tim walked into his quarters, dimly lit to match the hour, he undid the collar of his uniform and dropped himself down on the couch beneath the viewports that ran the length of the room, relaxing as much as he could after the day. It had been an unusual one for sure, as he was certain many would be after the things they'd been learning on the De Salle. It was an intriguing mystery, trying to find out what had happened to that ship, but it was also a bit of a morbid one, what with the remains of its crew sitting in glass jars down in sickbay. He still couldn't quite work out his feelings about the matter; the mixture of excitement at being able to work on such an old ship (even if he should leave it to his engineers) and the sadness at the losses that ship had suffered hundreds of years ago was a strange one to try and reconcile, but he was content for the moment to just relax into the night. He'd spent a few hours after dinner in the mess hall chatting to some of the crew, and they'd been coming up with some pretty wild theories about how the ship had ended up this far from Earth. He was pretty sure it was about to devolve into the realm of mystical creatures whisking it off down a rainbow by the time he had left them, but it was good to talk with the crew nonetheless.

Just as he was losing himself in his thoughts again, the computer chimed at him, that he had a flagged Starfleet personnel order to review. He'd found it hard over the years to keep up with the reassignments and promotions of his growing friends and contacts in Starfleet, and so had resolved a couple of years ago to set up a subroutine that would flag any orders that came through from personnel or fleet command that mentioned any of the names in his 'watch list', and notify him of those it had found on a monthly basis. Pulling himself up somewhat reluctantly from the overly-comfortable couch, he made his way over to his desk and the computer terminal placed there. "Show me the order," he told the computer, as he sat in the chair behind it.

He read through the order quickly, reading out a few choice phrases aloud. "Captain Joshua Anders, of the USS Wayward... many years of service... retiring from service in Starfleet. Well Captain, it's about time. How long have you had that ship now? At least thirteen years." he kept reading, after his self-imposed interruption. "Taking command .... his first officer Commander, now Captain Sath. You sly Vulcan, you didn't tell me about this?" Sath had been one of Tim's closest friends since the Academy, and they had both been posted as ensigns together in the engineering department on the Merryweather. Sath had always been happy with a slower career path - he'd once argued that since he lived for a lot longer than humans, it was "logical" that he be able to spend more time developing his skills and working towards a captain-ship - but Tim had started to worry in recent years whether one would ever come. Sath had replaced him as first officer on the Wayward back in '84, when Tim had been given the Highlander. Most first officers who were still in that position after a decade never made the move up to the centre chair.

"Computer, when was this order issued?"

"Stardate 68753.42."

"Nearly three weeks and you didn't tell me you'd had a promotion? Shame on you. Computer, is the Wayward within real-time communications range?"

"Affirmative."

"Hail her and ask to be put through to Captain Sath."

The personnel order on his screen was replaced with the Starfleet insignia as he waited for the channel to be opened and for whoever was manning the communications station on the Wayward to pick up the transmission and route it through. It was soon replaced by the face of his old friend, sat now in the chair of the ship's ready room that he had become so used to seeing Captain Anders in. "Captain Williams," the Vulcan said by way of dispassionate greeting.

"Captain Sath," Tim returned, emphasising the rank. "What gives? You get promoted to captain and don't tell me for three weeks?"

"I felt my promotion would not alter your own circumstances any, and as I knew that you have your notification subroutine set up, you would be notified of my promotion in due time," Sath responded.

"It doesn't matter about whether the computer would eventually tell me or not, Sath. You've joined the captain's club at last! That's big news! I told you when I got my fourth pip, didn't I?"

"We were both serving aboard the Wayward at the time. As your promotion entailed one of my own, I was aware of it regardless."

"Yeah, that's not the point," Tim said, waving his hand dismissively. "You're supposed to tell me these things, so I can congratulate you. Besides, I figured Anders was too stubborn to ever retire; I was starting to worry he'd keep you at his right hand forever."

"Captain Anders is only human. Humans reach an age where they are unable or unwilling to continue working in such a capacity. My own lifespan is far longer; it was logical that he would retire and I be asked to assume his place."

"Logic in everything still, I see?" Tim asked, sighing with mock exasperation.

"As always," Sath responded.

"It's good to see you again, old friend. How is command treating you? Have you managed to select your first officer yet? Anyone from aboard the ship I might still know?"

"I presume you mean to ask how I am finding command, rather than the more literal interpretation of how Starfleet Command has been interacting with me since I became Captain? I find it suits me quite well. Captain Anders did well to prepare me for it as I served as his first officer. I believe I am the only member of the crew who is still assigned to the Wayward from your own time here, but I felt it natural to promote our second officer, Commander De'surah to first officer. It was not a difficult choice."

Tim had long since started glossing over Sath's tendency to elaborate on how questions were posed to him before answering them, unless he was in a particular mood to try and trip the Vulcan up over it. "Where are you assigned at the minute? Out doing anything interesting?"

"We are currently based out of Starbase 11, patrolling near the Tholian border. There is nothing of note to report." Sath paused for a moment, as though realising that this was supposed to be a two-way conversation. "What assignment does the Highlander currently pursue?"

"Routine border patrol near Klingon space, down by the Lembatta Nebula. But we have come across something interesting; we stumbled across a shipwreck the other day; the De Salle, one of the old NX-class starships from the pre-Federation era. No real idea how she got out this far yet, but it's looking like something strange happened to her during the Earth-Romulan War that sent her out this way. I've got people over there trying to patch her up and get her spaceworthy enough again to bring her to Cestus."

"Fascinating. What had become of the crew?"

"All lost, I'm afraid. The inertial dampeners failed at the same time the ship was sent out this way. The crew were thrown against the bulkheads."

"At least their end was quick and painless, then. I would be interested in hearing how your investigation into the circumstances develop."

"Ah, something that has piqued your interest! Somebody crack open the champagne, what a rare occasion!" Tim jested.

"Indeed," Sath responded, deadpan. "However I am on duty. And I have a meeting in a moment with my first officer to go over personnel reassignment orders."

"Ah, the joys of command," Tim said, knowingly. "I'll leave you to that then, Sath. Don't be a stranger; I should have to be the one to be contacting you all of the time."

"I shall endeavour to make contact with you more frequently, Captain Williams. Captain Sath out."

Tim shook his head as the communication channel closed. "Vulcans," he said. "Such a strange people."