Musings Of A New Era Begun
Posted on Wed Dec 7th, 2016 @ 11:50am by Captain Li Hawke & Major David Lorenz & Matt Collins
Mission:
Further Challenges
Location: Lorenz's Quarters
LORENZ'S PRIVATE QUARTERS
David sat in his living room in silence. He was alone for the first time in a long time. Jim and most of his friends, including his burly XO, were gone. The only one left from Team One was Matt, and he had a big surprise waiting for him from Command: he had been selected as the station's chief engineer. He was happy for his friend, yet sad to know that NGSC had folded it's tent; indeed, some new PMC had taken up residence in the Holbridge Annex, unofficially named for Jim and his many contributions to Starbase 900 and the Fleet's infrastructure over the years. The Holbridge Drydocks were long gone and Jim had left his palatial mansion on Archadia Prime to him to do with as he saw fit. He had yet to visit the huge house, preferring to wait until JD could go with him.
JD Holbridge, Jim's oldest son and a crack pilot in the Fighter Corps, had apparently adjusted well to the disappearance of his father. The Starfleet investigator had turned up nothing conclusive in his inquiry and was composing his report, having mercilessly badgered the young man for hours in an interrogation room until Ray Benson and himself had intervened, calling the investigator off before JD got violent. The younger man had indeed inherited his father's temper, but unlike his dad he didn't know how to control it yet.
Dave sighed and took a sip of his O'Bannon's, The bottle he was using was one of six Jim left behind as a present for his friend. Many nights had passed with Jim, David, Quentin and the rest of Team One getting drunk with this booze as the only drink in the room. As Jim always said, "It takes a real sailor man to know how to get blasted, and with this stuff I could probably sit with an admiral and not wanna punch him in the face!" Jim hated flag officers after Admiral Nial MacLaren had mercilessly cashiered him as an up-and-coming fighter jock.
The doorchime jolted Dave back to reality. "Come in!" he called.
"Hey, Dave!" Matt Collins said as he walked into the room. The young engineer was dressed in casual clothing, not in NGSC or Starfleet, and had spent the last few weeks as an independent contractor with Starfleet, providing engineering expertise to the Fleet's engineering crew.
"Welcome, young man!" Dave called out. "You're just in time to have a drink. Will you join me in a toast to our station's new chief engineer?"
Matt nodded his head, grinning at his friend's antics. "I haven't been formally accepted yet, Dave. The brass are still nitpicking at my classified bona fides..."
"Shut that noise down right this second, lieutenant!" Dave cut off his younger friend. "I have spoken with my chief Doyle and he has assured me that there is a pending confirmation of your selection for that particular post." Dave handed a glass of whiskey to Matt. "So, congratulations, asshole!"
Both men gunned down the liquor, then flung the glasses into Dave's fireplace. It was only a hologram, but it served the purpose. "So what's going to be your first project?"
Matt furrowed his brows. "Some of the station's outer defensive relays are not transmitting their full data load. I think the transceiver arrays need boosting, so I figured what with the admiral and captain playing patty-fingers with Threat Forces it might be time to give the station's defenses a once over."
Lorenz nodded his approval. "Last few times we have come in, the automated guidance beacons couldn't get a fix on us. Also..."
Matt held up his hands. "Put it in writing, jarhead and I'll send a repair crew!" Both men had a good, hearty laugh. Many times Matt had snapped at a young operator wanting some work done with that phrase.
"It's getting pretty tense on the station, Dave. People are scared."
"Yeah, and it's gonna get worse before it gets better. I have Marines in duty combat gear present on the Promenade and in all the secured areas. Commander Zeferino doesn't seem to mind the added protection and my guys are respectful. Even JD is being kept busy flying Black Eagle flights." "Black Eagle" was the codename for the EWGS (Early Warning Gunabout System) forward air controller gunabout developed as combat air control. JD was proving his bravery and mettle time and again by taking on the dangerous missions his dad once flew with zealous glee.
"How is the kid?"
"He's doing well. Won't admit he misses his dad, but that's typical Marine bravado for you."
Matt nodded. "Well, I'm expecting to be named chief sometime tomorrow, then I'm sure Captain Li will want to talk with me before I get working, so I'm off to bed."
"Later, shipmate!" Dave saluted his friend with his glass. When Matt was gone he turned back to the viewport. Amanda, I wish you were here with me. I miss you so much. The nights aren't the same without you next to me. I wanted to marry you, but I knew you wouldn't because of your past. Be at peace, Imzadi. Dave said his silent prayer to her in his head; she truly was his imzadi in that she was the first woman to touch his soul since the death of Stephanie all those years ago...."
=/\=MCC To Major Lorenz=/\=
"Go ahead,"
=/\=We have a situation, sir....=/\=
"Captain Feinman, you're my executive officer, and as such I expect you to make command decisions without me holding your fucking hand! Do I make myself clear, or would you like to be demoted back to squad leader?"
=/\=Understood, major.=/\= was the brief reply.
Dave cut the channel and reached for the bottle, wishing he had more booze.
Major David Lorenz
Getting shit-faced
&
Lt Matt Collins
Future Chief Engineer and Part-time Drunk
