Order Out of Chaos

Posted on Thu Nov 17th, 2011 @ 6:56pm by Admiral Ricky Wegener

Mission: In Our Time of Need
Location: Wegener's Office / Main Operations

It had been a long day and Ricky was alone in his office enjoying a glass of bourbon and a cigar. It had become a bit more stressful since his appointment as the new Fourth Fleet Executive Officer, and he knew just exactly how Lucius now felt having been propelled into the Task Force 38 CO's spot so unceremoniously and rapidly. But Lucius was a spectacular leader and he could easily handle what was coming to him, although it probably didn't help having him posted on Rick's base where the Fleet's XO could easily look over his shoulder. He at least hoped that Lucius would still remain comfortable around him.

The doors to his office opened and in walked the only person that was allowed to enter unannounced.

"Hope," he said. "What's up?"

"Sir," she said, huffing and flopping down into a chair across from him, "this is ridiculous."

He was intrigued. "What's ridiculous?"

"This move. Your promotion. My increased workload!" She crossed her arms and her head fell back onto the top of the chair. "Ugh! This is, like, quadruple what I was doing before." She blew out hard, her lips making a raspberry.

Rick chuckled. "You're not the only one who's been inundated with work, Hope. But I'll bet you're getting caught up and beginning to get the hang of it." He stood and walked to the bar and poured her a glass. She wasn't normally the type to drink, but he knew it wouldn't take much to talk her into this one. "Here," he said, handing her the glass. "This will help...some."

She looked at it, then to him and began to refuse, but changed her mind. "Thanks, sir," she said and stood, walking back to the bar. She added ice which made Rick shudder.

"Oh, now, that is just nasty," he said. "You're ruining that, you know..."

She smiled as she sat, raised the glass in a toast and pulled the glass to her lips. As she did, the entire station rocked, spilling the glass and its contents all over her and onto the floor.

"Holy--"

"Shit!" Ricky said as he picked himself up off of the floor. He, however, had managed to save his drink and cigar. "Come on."

The two walked out of his office and down the corridor to Main Operations. Whatever had happened didn't seem to have affected this deck.

"Report," he said as he walked through the main doors, Hope on his heels. He seemed to look unreal, waltzing into Main Ops, during an obvious emergency, holding a glass of brandy and smoking a cigar.

"There's been an explosion in Hangar 51 and it looks like two ships were caught in the blast," Master Warrant Officer King said. "Fires have been put out, several casualties, and..." she swallowed hard, "...fourteen dead so far. And that's only on the base. We haven't heard from the Dublin or the Conquest, both in the area of the blast when it occurred."

"All stations are working to secure the hangar, help the wounded and get help to those ships, right?" Ricky asked.

"Lieutenant Holbridge has locked down the hangar so that security can get to work and has dispatched medical and engineering crews via shuttle to the damaged ships."

"Good work," Rick announced. "You're all performing admirably. Keep it up and let's get to the bottom of this. I want updates every thirty minutes."

He sat at the command console and had Hope sit next to him. "I swear it's almost like these people don't even need me," he said, puffing on the cigar.

"They need you," she said back to him. "They're all good at what they do, but you're the linchpin that holds it all together. Besides, they like knowing you're around."

He winked at her. "Yeah. Someone has to take the blame if this all turns to shit," he said, taking another big puff from the cigar and waggling his eyebrows.

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VADM Ricky Wegener
CO, Starbase 900

&

LT Hope Beckman (NPC)
Admiral's Aide