|
Post by UltimateTrekker on Dec 6, 2001 15:40:10 GMT -5
Captain Jefferys was enjoying his meal when the door chimed.
"The door's open!" he called out.
Commander Zack stepped in. "Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt your dinner, but you did want those readings as soon as we got them." He handed a PADD to the Captain.
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Commander. Put Thram the conn for now and take the night off. I'll be up to the bridge in a few minutes."
"Thank you, Sir," he said as he stepped out of the room.
Gavin was happy to get the reports. They were studying the formation of a gas cloud nebula that was actually mostly comprised of particles from an interstellar collision. It was interesting the see the universe recycle itself.
This assignment was mostly dull. He had dropped of Dayna, much to the disappointment of his security officer, but she had reached her destination. He also was pretty sure that she would meet up with the Archer again sometime, seeing as he already knew about the intelligence she was working on, there was no need to expand the circle.
This first mission was a slow one, easy going to get the crew calmed down from their last experience. It was working, almost too good. The crew was getting a bit restless, and the holodecks were totally booked.
The captain finished his meal as he read over the science reports.
Thram sat on the bridge in the captain's chair. They weren't moving so the Ensign Kenek was not there. It was also the off hours so Brandt had been replaced by Romanov.
Other than those two, the bridge was empty.
The turbolift door opened and Captain Jefferys stepped onto the bridge. "Hello Lt. Commander. Anything exciting happening?"
Thram laughed. "Lt. Commander? Good one EnsignGavin."
Jefferys looked at him funny. "What's that all about?"
Thram continued to laugh as if he was the only one in on the joke. "Nothing Ensign. Are you here to relieve the Lt. Commander of duty?" As he laughed he turned his head to Romanov who also laughed. That's when Jefferys noticed his collar.
"What are you doing to those extra pips mister?" Thram was wearing four pips, just like Gavin, signifying he was a Captain.
Thram stopped laughing. "You know, Gavin, this was kinda funny at first, but the joke is dead. I've got the same number of pips as all captains. So does Romanov."
Jefferys looked over to the man and saw he too had four pips. "What the Devil is going on here?"
Just then Tae Rhai entered the bridge. Today, however, she was wearing a full Starfleet uniform. "Hello, Captains," she said, perfectly natural.
"Why don't you ask Rhai what's going on, Gavin," Thram suggested. Gavin saw the four pips on her collar as well. The look on his face caused concern from the other "Captains" on the bridge.
"Gavin," said Rhai. "You don't look so good. Are you O.K." She tapped her comm badge. "Captain Tae to Captain Johanssen."
[Captain Johanssen here, how can I help you.]
"I don't think Captain Jefferys is feeling to well. I think he should come see you." Jefferys continued to be baffled beyond words. "I think I'll come with. Captain Tae out."
|
|
|
Post by Mentat_Tir on Dec 6, 2001 20:11:47 GMT -5
Stirok blew out the flame from his meditation lamp. After an eventful week, he was satisfied that he finally had the opportunity to rest. Despite the extra constitution his Vulcan heritage granted him, he had been pushing his physical and mental limits far too long.
He remembered his obligation to go to sickbay for his physical with Captain Johanssen. Although he disagreed with this particular regulation, Stirok was a creature of duty. He changed from his robes into his uniform and made his way to sickbay.
He arrived just in time to meet captains Jefferys and Tae outside sickbay. Stirok nodded to the two. “Captains,” he said.
“Not you too,” said Jefferys, noticing four pips on Stirok's uniform. Tae took him by the arm through the doors and helped him onto a bio-bed. Stirok followed.
“I do not understand,” said Stirok.
Jefferys raised his voice. “Have you all gone daft? You are Lt. Commander Stirok, chief of engineering.”
Johanssen walked over to Jefferys with a medical tricorder. “Now, now, captain. Let’s just have a look at you.”
“He’s been like this since we were on the bridge,” said Tae. She couldn’t help but giggle at the situation. “He keeps giving everyone demotions.”
“Stirok, you of all people,” said Jefferys. “Think, man. When did you become a captain?”
“I received a promotion to the field rank of captain from Admiral Harrison stardate 51912.4,” Stirok without hesitation.
“Now, captain, just try to relax,” said Johanssen. “It’s not going to do you any good to start getting upset.”
Jefferys ignored him. “Stirok, where’s the logic in having a crew full of captains?”
Stirok paused and raised an eyebrow. Jefferys does have a point, he thought. Starfleet regulations state that only one… An intense pain behind his eyes interrupted his thought. Stirok immediately reached up and grabbed his head. Tae grabbed him just as he was about to fall to his knees.
“Stirok, are you okay?” asked Tae.
Stirok opened his eyes and looked around. The pain was gone. “I am fine, Rhai. As I was saying, Starfleet regulation 172, paragraph one states that a starship may have as many captains as deemed necessary by Starfleet Command.”
“Why you green-blooded, pointy eared…” Before Jefferys he felt something on his neck and heard the hiss of a hypo spray. A moment later, everything went dark…
|
|
|
Post by Ana Ng on Dec 6, 2001 21:05:40 GMT -5
Captain Brandt and Captain Kenek were playing chess in Ten Forward when Captain Stirok returned from his physical to have dinner.
"Captain!" Kenek called out to Stirok. "Pull up a chair, you can play the winner!"
Stirok took a seat and raised an eyebrow at Kenek. "May I remind you, Captain, that my Vulcan brain is more inclined toward accurately calculating probabilities. It is unlikely either of you would win."
Brandt smirked. "Yeah, we'll just see about that," he glanced at Kenek, "Your move, Alia."
As Kenek pondered her next action on the chess boards, Brandt looked over at Stirok. "Enjoying this nice bit of down time we're having, Captain?"
"I have devoted most of my time to meditation," Stirok replied. "And apparently, I'm not the only member of this crew who needs to take time off for relaxing introspection."
"What do you mean?" Kenek asked as she moved one of her chess pieces.
"Apparently Captain Jefferys is having some sort of - mental difficulty."
"Gavin?" Brandt asked, "What's wrong with him?"
"He was in sickbay while Captain Johansson was giving me my physical. He is claiming that he is the only captain of this ship."
Kenek snickered, "What?"
"He addressed me as 'Lt. Commander'," Stirok replied. "It is most perplexing."
"You're a Lt. Commander?" Kenek asked with a laugh, "And I suppose I am an Ensign!"
"I wonder what on earth gave him that idea?" Brandt wondered.
"Captain Johansson is examining him now," Stirok replied.
"Well, I hope he's ok," Kenek said, growing more serious. "Maybe I'll check in on him after this game."
"Well, get moving, Alia, because you just lost," Brandt said with a satisfied smile. "Checkmate."
Kenek sighed and stood. "Give him hell, Stirok," she said to the Vulcan as she walked away.
Kenek reached Sickbay a couple minutes later, and found Tae and Johansson standing over an unconscious Captain Jefferys on a biobed.
"Good evening, Captains," Kenek said as she approached. "How's Gavin?"
Johansson shook his head. "I wish I knew, Captain Kenek. I did a complete neurological scan. I can't find anything wrong. Yet he insists he's the only captain on this ship!"
"Was he lying?" Kenek asked the Betazoid.
Johansson shook his head. "He believed everything he said. And since I haven't detected a physiological reason for his dementia, I can only assume it's mental."
Kenek looked at Tae. "Do you know of anything that could cause this sort of breakdown?"
Tae shook her head. "There's no explanation I can think of. Unless he's being telepathically manipulated somehow, I can only assume he's undergone some kind of mental trauma we just don't know about."
Kenek frowned and looked at Captain Jefferys. "Hope you feel better soon, Gavin."
"Maybe we should talk to him," Tae suggested. "His behavior might give us some clue as to what's gone wrong."
"Good idea, Captain," Johansson nodded. "But to be on the safe side, I am going to put him under a restraining field.
Tae nodded. "That's a good idea, Captain."
Johansson activated the field and revived Jefferys with a hypospray. Jefferys' eyes popped open and he glared at the three captains as he tried to sit up.
"You're under a restraining field," Johansson informed Jefferys.
Jefferys glanced at Kenek and immediately his eyes fell to her rank pips. "I suppose you're a captain, too!" he said sarcastically.
"Uh, yeah, Captain," Kenek replied.
"How can YOU be a captain?!" Jefferys said incredulously, "You just graduated from the Academy two weeks ago!"
Kenek paused for a moment as she felt the same shooting pain that Stirok had felt pounded through her temples. Yes, this is my first..., the thought was interrupted by an accompanying pain in her abdomen, and she barely managed to steady herself by anchoring her arms on the biobed.
"Ugh," Kenek said, but the pain quickly subsided. She straightened herself up.
"Are you feeling well?" Johansson asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Kenek said, nodding as she looked back at Jefferys. "What are you talking about, Gavin? This is my third lifetime in Starfleet, why would I have been at the Academy two weeks ago?" She chuckled, "I've been a captain for over thirty years!"
Jefferys looked at her as if she was completely losing her mind.
Tae placed a hand on Jefferys' shoulder. "Try to relax, Gavin," she said softly.
|
|
|
Post by Tricorder on Dec 6, 2001 22:13:51 GMT -5
"Yes Gavin, relax. Besides, I think even a rest would do you some good." He looked in the direction of Captain Tae and Kenek and whispered. "Who gave him bridge access anyways? I'm sure Captain Zack would take necessary precautions. I mean, we wouldn't want a senile officer on board, now would we?"
Kenek responded, "Well, Captain Johansson, you're right. Perhaps he should stay here until we figure what's wrong with him."
"Yes, I was going to suggest that, Captain Kenek", responded Johansson, "I'll analyze him while he's here and let you know of the results." He hit his combadge, but nothing happened. "What?" He tried again with the same result. "These communicators aren't working. Any idea why? Oh, and please tell Captain Zack that Captain Jefferys is staying here until we figure out what's happened to him for me, will you?"
"Will do, Captain Johansson", responded Captain Tae. They entered the turbolift and headed towards the bridge.
|
|
|
Post by UltimateTrekker on Dec 7, 2001 10:30:06 GMT -5
Captain Jefferys woke in sickbay.
Dr. Johanssen was busy doing something but came right over when he heard his patient.
"Captain, how are you feeling."
"You're the Betazoid, you tell me," Jefferys replied.
"I don't need to be telepathic to see that you're still groggy. We gave you a mild sedative, you've been out for about an hour.
"Who's in command, then?"
"Now don't start that again, Captain. You needs some R&R, maybe you should request some leave time."
"And, which Captain will order me? Hmm," Gavin though he had him.
"As Chief Medical Officer I can ORDER you to take leave."
Gavin realized that on a ship full of Captains, the only one who COULD pull rank was the doctor. "So, you're saying that of all the people on this ship, YOU are in control?"
The doctor contemplated for a bit. "Yes, I suppose you are correct. But that's hardly the question of the day. The question is what happened to you?"
Gavin thought about it for a while. If he claimed that they were all mistaken, he'd get sedated again. "Better not think too much, the Betazoid will hear," he thought.
Luckily the doctor had trained himself NOT to constantly probe people. It wasn't a very friendly practice.
"I think I may have been tired, or dreaming. Ever wake up from a dream and still not have that connection to reality?" He hoped the bluff would work.
"I can understand that," Captain Johanssen said, "but I still think you need a bit of rest." He tried not to let on that he felt that Jeffery's age may be a factor.
"I'll make you a deal... Captain. I'll leave my duties to another, but I'd like to walk around and get some air. Maybe take a nap." He started to head out of sickbay.
"Captain! Maybe you should talk to Captain Tai as well.
Gavin, for the first time during his conversation with the doctor sincerely said, "I think I WILL look into that, Doctor."
|
|
|
Post by Rhai on Dec 7, 2001 11:13:16 GMT -5
Captain Jefferies left sick bay- but reassured the Dr. that he would check back in with him within an hours time. No sooner did he leave sickbay did his thoughts return to trying to figure out what was wrong with him.. or maybe it was what was wrong with everyone else? It seemed very unclear to him if he truly was the only Captain (which is how he remembered it being) or if there really had been a ship full of Captains all along. He tapped his combadge "Councelor Tae"
[yes Captain Jefferies?] She said as she had just reached the bridge to talk to Captain Zack.
"I think I need to talk to you, would you meet me in my quarters shortly?"
[yes, Captain.. that would be a great idea. I will be there shortly] It was then that Captain Zack turned around to Rhai.
"I hear we are having some problems with Captain Jefferies. I assume you are going to talk to him." Zack said with concern thick in his voice.
"Yes, I am on my way to meet him now in his quarters to talk. He needs to be relieved of all duties Captain until we can figure out what has happend with him."
"His quarters eh? Should I have a security team escort you Captain?" He cracked a smile as she started to laugh.
"That will not be nessary Zack, but if I need help you will be the first one I contact."
"Very well Captain." He said as he tried to find something to do, as he knew she would be leaving the bridge soon.
"Zack, I would like it very much if you would please call me Rhai." She giggled and left the bridge, very aware of the pair of eyes following her as she did so.
She taped the panel outside of Gavin's room.
"Rhai?" He said, his voice uneasy.
"Yes, it is me." She said as his door opened into his quarters. He was seated at the table, so she took the seat across from him. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling just fine, the problem seems that..to be honest I feel like I am not right."
"Yes Captain, I believe you have been experiencing some dimensia of some sort. Why is it that you think we all are not Captains, sir?"
"Rhai, just yesterday we started on this trip.. I was the only Captain on board," he paused to study the look on her confused face,"hear me out councelor- I was reading a report in my quarters and finished it- I went to the bridge and thats when all bloody heck broke lose."
"Do you have anything to back up this belief? That we all were not Captains yesterday?"
"I think I might. Bloody Tuesday, why didnt I think of this before?" He said as he went to his terminal and started madly tapping away.
"Captain?" Rhai said as she backed up and hit her combadge "Rhai to Zack"
[Zack here Capt..Rhai]
"Would you assist me in Gavin's quarters? He believes he has proof that he is the only Captain"
|
|
|
Post by Peter_Pevensie on Dec 7, 2001 11:28:19 GMT -5
Captain Brandt walked out onto the bridge, or rather swaggered out onto the bridge, his baton tucked under his arm. As he passed Zack, who on his way to Jeffreys' quarters, the Cardassian nodded and said, "Captain." Brandt, for his part, merely nodded and made a grunting sound to ackknowledge Zack. He was feeling his oats today, and though he expected everything to go smoothly – it always did, on Brandt’s ship – he was almost hoping someone would step up to challenge his authority.
As the oldest Captain aboard the Archer, he naturally held seniority over all of the other officers. As well he should – he’d been commanding starships since long before many of them had ridden their first hover-bike.
He paused to ponder that thought. Just how long had he been in Starfleet? He harkened back to his graduation from the Academy in…
Brandt grunted as a blinding pain exploded just behind his eyes. He squinted hard and brought his hands up to massage his temples for a moment, dropping his emblem of office to the deck.
“Are you alright, Captain Brandt?” came the voice of Captain Allison Andrews, manning the Engineering station. Though she sounded genuinely concerned, the momentary agony had left Brandt all the more eager to exercise his authority on one of his inferiors. And she did look awfully young to be a captain, Brandt thought for a moment, but the ache behind his eyes distracted him.
“Yes, d**n it, I’m fine, Captain Andrews…tend to your duties, please,” snapped Brandt, stooping to pick up his baton. He looked around the bridge to see the others staring back at him. “And that goes for the rest of you, too!” he barked, rapping the baton on the back of the captain’s chair.
Fortunately for him, Captain Thram had risen from the chair to face him when he’d snapped at Andrews. Standing on the platform behind the command chair, Brandt was able to stand eye-to-eye with the tall Andorian who stood on the level below. Brandt tucked his baton back under his arm, stared levelly at Thram, and said, in a voice cold enough to freeze warp plasma, “You are relieved, sir.”
“I beg your pardon?” said Thram. His antennae twitched slightly and his knuckles cracked as he balled his huge hands into fists.
“I said, you…are…relieved.” Brandt punctuated each word by tapping the Andorian in the chest with his baton. “As the senior officer here by virtue of my date of rank, I have come to take command of the ship and crew. Now would you please…(tap)...step…(tap)...aside (tap)!”
On the last tap, Thram grabbed the baton with his left hand and threw it forcefully across the bridge. It narrowly missed the head of Captain Kenek at the helm and sailed into the main viewscreen, where it shattered three image elements. The broken components popped and sizzled with raw energy, adding to the tension on the bridge. With his other hand, he reached out and took Brandt by the front of his uniform tunic, lifting him two inches off the ground. The older man gasped, but managed to keep his composure.
Leaning in close to Brandt, Thram spoke in a voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll see you in my ready room right now, Mister Brandt.”
“Indeed,” said Will, waiting for the Andorian to lower him to the floor.
“Ahem…” Captain Andrews spoke up. “Gentlemen, I believe you mean MY ready room. I don’t mind if you use it to settle your little tiff, but don’t you think you ought to ask the captain’s permission first?”
The two men turned toward Andrews and were about to speak, but before they could, Captain Kenek rose from her seat, put her hands on her hips, and said to Andrews, “Excuse me?!”
Sensing Kenek’s challenge, Andrews stepped toward her. Her eyes narrowed as she spoke in a low voice to the young Trill. “I said, it’s only polite to ask the captain’s permission before using her ready room.”
Kenek tossed her short hair back and eyed Andrews. “Maybe, but it’s not very polite to claim ownership over something that’s not yours, is it, Captain Andrews?” she said, pointing toward the ready room door and tapping her foot. Brandt and Thram looked on, enthralled.
“Why you pretentious little hussy,” spat Andrews. Her hand flew, as if of its own volition, and slapped Kenek on the cheek. Recovering quickly, Kenek was about to reach for a handful of her opponent’s long hair when the turbolift doors hissed open to reveal a Captain Stirok. He stepped to the threshold of the ‘lift, then stopped and looked out at the others as if he was waiting for something.
After a long moment of silence, he said flatly, “Don't Starfleet protocols require someone to announce that the captain is on the bridge?”
|
|
|
Post by Mentat_Tir on Dec 7, 2001 11:50:31 GMT -5
The sight at seeing so many captains on the bridge confused him. As he began to ponder the situation logically, the pain returned to his head.
"You'll have to excuse me," said Stirok. "I am not feeling well. If you need me, I'll be in my quarters." He considered returning to sickbay, but decided he would rather resolve the issue on his own. He returned to his quarters to rest.
After, relighting his meditation candle, Stirok entered a Vulcan meditative trance. He receded into the deep caverns of his subconscious mind.
Stirok heard a swish and he turned. It was the door to the Spacedock’s mess hall. He slowly entered to find officers of all ranks milling and talking in groups. Above, the yet unnamed Sovereign-class starship loomed.
Gavin called Stirok and the rest of the crew up to the stage. Stirok sat among his new crewmates within the misty dream world. He watched Admiral Harrison take the podium. "Thank you all for coming to the unveiling of our next Starship and her crew,” said Harrison. “Let's just start at the end of the table.”
"There's the Chief Science officer, Lieutenant William Brandt; Chief of Security, Lieutenant Commander Thram; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. James Johansson; Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Commander Stirok…”
Stirok felt the blinding ache in his head once more. He pressed the palms of his hands against his temples.
When the pain diminished, he opened his eyes again. He was no longer in the mess hall, but now sat alone in a dark room. He could not see the walls, as if room extended infinitely in all directions.
Abruptly, he felt a presence. Stirok looked around, but could see no one. “Who are you?” he said, his voice echoing.
“What do you want?” he said louder.
The pain suddenly returned, more intense than ever before. “Get out of my mind!” he screamed.
**********************
Stirok awoke drenched in perspiration. He was breathing as if he had just ran a marathon.
“See the light that is my breath,” he muttered to himself. His Vulcan emotional control slowly returned. He tented his hands and began contemplating the meaning of his vision.
|
|
|
Post by Tricorder on Dec 7, 2001 15:09:51 GMT -5
Johansson stood in his Sickbay and contemplated the situation.
"Maybe Captain Jefferys is right", he thought. He was keeping time, as to how long Jefferys was in his quarters talking to Captain Tae, and was hoping that he'd come to Sickbay again in an hour. He'd have to rely on trust. Time was ticking slowly. He was the only one not wearing his combadge, quite simply because it didn't work, and he noticed that he was the only one not having pains like Captain Stirok first started having.
He went to the computer terminal in his office to type up a message. It said: Signs point to communicators. He knew someone sooner or later would see the message, and since everyone was Captain, it was intended for anyone, the first person on the bridge to walk into the ready room and see the message. He wondered how everything was going on the bridge. He would only find out through this.
|
|
|
Post by Dohlman on Dec 7, 2001 15:26:21 GMT -5
Inside the interrogation room on Alpha Centauri, Dayna stood before her attacker. He was tied to a chair and sported various cuts, lashes, and broken bones. It had been difficult to extract any information out of him over the past 2 days. All she got was that his name was Lt. En’Kiov, was disguised to look human, and had been paid by an unknown person to kill her. Dayna snorted. They had sent a lieutenant to kill her? She was insulted.
She sipped at her cloyingly sweet coffee and gazed at the figure slumped over before her. She hadn’t slept in 2 days and was dead tired. She exited the room and was surprised to see Mark standing there, watching through the 2-way mirror.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. He turned to face her with his gray-blue eyes slicing through her gaze.
“Something I don’t want to do,” he replied.
“Oh?” asked Dayna.
“They know you’re here,” he said. “The situation is too hot. I’m taking you off this assignment.”
Dayna wheeled around and opened her eyes in shock, her jaw slack. “I’m one of the best agents you have, and the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance, and you relieve me?”
Mark folded his arms and looked down. He knew she would react in such a fashion. Then he met her glare. “Sweetheart, we have other agents. You need a rest. It’s been 2 days and with each session, it’s becoming more obvious that we’re dealing with more than we know right now. We don’t know who’s involved or what they know about our cell. So I’m ordering you back on board the Archer.”
Dayna could feel the anger rising within her. “Fine,” she said. She threw her coffee cup in the trash chute and stormed off. She marched over to the viewscreen and glared at the lieutenant on duty. “Hail the USS Archer,” she order.
“Hailing,” he replied.
Thram appeared on the viewscreen. “Captain Thram,” he replied. The image of a confused Dayna filled the screen on board the Archer.
“Oh, it’s you,” Thram growled. “What do you want?”
“Where’s Captain Jeffreys?” she asked.
“He’s been relieved of duty.”
“What on earth for?” asked Dayna.
“He believe he’s the captain of this ship.”
“He IS the captain of the ship. Now put him on!” she yelled.
“Look, missy, I don’t take orders from lieutenants. You’d better watch your tone in addressing a Starfleet Captain.”
“Whaddya mean captain! You’re a lieutenant commander!”
“Have you gone insane, too?”
Dayna turned her head and gave the on-duty lieutenant an incredulous look. He merely shrugged his shoulders. Okaaaay, thought Dayna. I’ll play along. “Well, captain, sir, I have been ordered aboard the ship. Permission to come aboard?”
Thram snorted. “Very well. We need to finish up the inventory,” he spat.
Dayna narrowed her eyes in anger. “Thank you, sir,” she said in a controlled voice between clenched teeth. Then the viewscreen went blank.
|
|
|
Post by AlexanderTheGreat on Dec 7, 2001 20:38:02 GMT -5
Captain Zack sat in the Command Chair, overseeing the efficient running of the Bridge and ensuring all officers were performing their duties to the best of their abilities. Sure they were all Captains like himself, but he was the only one with the appropriate skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience to captain the Archer. If they thought they were superior to him, than they were only fooling themselves. Zack knew that he was finally where he wanted to be all of his life. During his time at the Academy his fellow cadets had mocked him and told him he would amount to nothing because he was part Cardassian. Now he was the Captain of a flagship – The Archer, the ship commemorating the first ever captain. Just like Archer was the first ever captain, Zack was the first ever a captain with a partly Cardassian background. He had definitely shown the cadets who thought he would get nowhere when he was at the Academy.
Zack remembered something about wanting to leave the Archer, but he couldn’t exactly recall why. If he tried to remember, his head began to throb and he felt a sharp pain behind his eyes. Why would he want to leave the Archer, the ship, which he was presently captaining. He was in charge. Everything was running smoothly and efficiently. But if he had wanted to leave, why did he change his mind? It was so hard to remember, and Zack didn’t even know if there was anything to remember. Maybe Counsellor Tae Rhai had something to do with him still being on the Archer. She was an attractive and intelligent Bajoran woman. He had longed to befriend a Bajoran and to learn more about a part of himself as well. When she spoke Zack’s heart began to pound out of his chest. He didn’t understand why, however. He was a composed man, he had to be after what he had seen and done, who didn’t even flinch when he witnessed the harshest of atrocities. He had said it a thousand times to junior officers. The Bridge is not a place for officers who are preoccupied with other thoughts – all of their concentration has to be focused on their duties. So why did his feet turn to Terran jelly and his heart begin to palpitate at a faster rate when Rhai spoke to him with her melodic and mesmerising feminine voice.
Zack knew that he would have to suppress these romantic feelings, if that’s what they were, towards Counsellor Rhai. He had years of experience in Vulcan methods of emotional control. He would have to resort to them in order to suppress whatever he felt towards Rhai. The Bridge was not a place for romantic encounters. He was the Captain of the Archer. It wouldn’t be appropriate for him to engage in a relationship with a fellow senior officer, and a fellow Captain as well. There wasn’t exactly a precise Starfleet rule about such matters, but Zack knew that he was in a position of responsibility and authority. He had to set an example to the junior officers. Maybe if things were different…..
Just as Zack began to return to his duties and was clearing his mind of all personal thoughts, his combadge sprang to life. He was wondering why he wanted to help out Captain Kenek and to teach her about the realities of life, and how harsh people can be, when she was a captain herself…(quite confusing), when his combadge chimed.
"Rhai to Zack"
[Zack here Capt..Rhai]
"Would you assist me in Gavin's quarters? He believes he has proof that he is the only Captain"
Zack couldn’t believe it. It was her. Captain Rhai. It was almost as if she knew he was thinking about her. He cleared his mind of all unimportant matters, and concentrated on the task at hand – he had a ship to look after.
“Captain, are you certain we should take him seriously. When he was sane he was an unorthodox and roguish officer, who cut corners wherever he could. I don’t see why he would be any different now that he is losing his sanity, but nonetheless, I do trust your word captain. I will be there immediately.”
Zack rose from the Command Chair and made his way to Jefferys Quarters. As he left the Bridge he passed captain Brandt, who merely grunted to acknowledge Zack’s presence. What a disrespectful man, Zack thought, he has no respect for authority. Sure he may be older, but I am more qualified.
Zack then made his way to Jefferys quarters and entered the room. Time to hear some more insane rambling from Jefferys. I am the ONLY Captain of this ship. I don’t see how he can prove otherwise…….
|
|
|
Post by Peter_Pevensie on Dec 8, 2001 11:55:58 GMT -5
Captain Brandt came to in the brig. Realizing where he was, he immediately stood up and straightened his rumpled uniform, and ran his hands through his closely cropped hair to ensure that it looked appropriately professional. He then began looking around the cell for his baton. Not finding it, he looked out through the force field toward the guard on duty.
The guard, a very young looking captain whose name he hadn’t bothered to learn yet, was sitting behind the control console, turning Brandt’s emblem of command over in his hands and examining it appreciatively. Brandt coughed loudly to get his attention. The guard stood, and Brandt realized that he was not only a very young looking captain, but a very tall and somewhat burly looking one as well. The elder captain refused to be intimidated. Mustn’t show lack of resolve in front of one’s inferiors, thought Captain Brandt to himself. Bad for discipline.
“Captain…excuse me, what was your name again?” Brandt said from behind the force field. He smiled inwardly. Showing that he didn’t even know the subordinate captain’s name would certainly display the right amount of condescension, he thought. Put that young whippersnapper in his place.
The young whippersnapper, for his part, looked up at Brandt for a moment with a look of arrogant disgust on his face, then turned around so that he was facing away from the elder captain’s cell. Brandt could hardly believe the man’s gall. He felt the blood rush to his face, and was just about to burst into an outraged polemic on the state of discipline among the younger captains on the Archer when the door to the corridor swished open and Captain Kenek stepped in. She nodded to Captain Impertinent at the control console as she walked toward Brandt’s cell. She stood with her hands on her hips facing Brandt across the 15 gigawatt forcefield, but spoke to the guard.
“Captain, if you please, I need to speak to the prisoner privately.”
In a response fitting his side-of-beef appearance, the guard grunted and walked insolently toward the door. Kenek stood silently in front of Brandt, tapping her foot. Brandt, optimistic for a reprieve, smiled hopefully and spoke in his most fatherly tone.
“Alia, my dear! So good to see you…I was beginning to wonder if this little misunderstanding would ever get sorted out…”
Captain Kenek’s eyes narrowed as she interrupted Brandt’s banter. “Mister Brandt, do you know why you’re here?”
|
|
|
Post by Peter_Pevensie on Dec 8, 2001 11:56:56 GMT -5
Brandt stopped suddenly. Normally he would have blustered his way past this brazen little sub-captain, but he was at somewhat of a disadvantage. He didn’t even have his emblem of command with which to symbolically dismiss her petty question. The most dignified response he could muster was, “Well, no, not really…”
“You’re here because you are an arrogant old b astard who thinks he’s the first among equals.”
Brandt waffled. “Well, I do have the earliest date of rank…”
“Would you drop the whole date of rank business, Brandt? It’s getting on people’s nerves!”
Brandt, for once, didn’t know what to say. His ego deflated like a punctured balloon.
“But,” said Kenek in a somewhat softer voice, “I do respect you…as an equal…and I think it’s a waste to keep you locked up in here.” Brandt looked up from her shoes, hope once again finding its way into his eyes. She leaned conspiratorially toward him, mindful of the forcefield. “Besides,” she whispered, “I’m going to need your help.”
“Really?” replied Brandt in a whisper. “What for?”
Kenek gave up the conspiracy act and began pacing in front of the cell, her hands behind her back. “As the helmswoman, I should be acknowledged by all as the one who is truly in control of this ship. Furthermore, I have three lifetimes of experience to guide me. That’s two more than you, Captain Brandt. But, for some reason that is beyond my enlightened comprehension, every captain on this ship seems bound and determined to challenge my authority.” She stopped in front of Brandt again. “I don’t plan to stand for it any longer.”
Kenek smiled at Brandt. “I’m planning a little insurrection…a demonstration, you might say, of my right to command. I’d like your help to carry it off. If we’re successful, no one will dare challenge our authority again.” Her smile took on something of a sinister quality, one that Brandt found strangely alluring. “Will you join me, Captain Brandt?”
A smile slowly rose on Brandt’s face. “’Great minds think alike,’ they say. Let’s show these whelps who their true superiors are.”
Kenek didn’t budge. “Then I have your word that you won’t try to displace me? You’ll accept our co-command as equals?”
“Of course, of course, Alia. I have always considered you at least my equal.” Brandt crossed his fingers behind his back and tried to look his most sincere. Apparently it worked; Captain Kenek crossed the floor and deactivated the force field, then walked swiftly toward the door.
Brandt hurried to follow her, stopping only to pick up his baton from where the guard had left it atop the console. “So where are we going?” he called to Kenek as she turned the corner into the corridor.
“Environmental control,” she said, not even stopping to turn around.
|
|
|
Post by Ana Ng on Dec 8, 2001 14:16:43 GMT -5
Captain Zack had just arrived in Captain Jefferys quarters to see this "evidence" when Kenek's voice took over the comm system.
"Captains!" she said arrogantly, "I, Captain Kenek, am in command of this ship!" There was a brief pause. "As is Captain Brandt."
Jeffferys, for the umpteenth time that day, wondered if maybe perhaps he was just dreaming all this.
"What the hell is she thinking?" Zack asked angrily.
"If anyone has a problem with my authority, I'm sure it won't last long!" Kenek spoke thunderously.
Captains Tae, Jefferys and Zack all looked at each other angrily for a moment, until all three began coughing vigorously.
"We have disabled life support to all decks," Brandt announced as he glanced at Kenek, also wearing an EVA suit. "You have 10 minutes of breathable air left. We can restore life support, of course, but you must-"
The comm link suddenly went down.
Jefferys clutched onto his chair. "Computer! Restore the blasted life support!"
[Unable to comply]
Kenek and Brandt looked at each other curiously as they realized their comm link had been disrupted. Suddenly the doors behind them swished open and Captain Thram and Captain Golko stood behind them, holding phasers and also wearing EVA suits.
"Well played, Captains," Thram said with a smirk, "But we have anticipated you." He stunned both Kenek and Brandt with his phaser, and approached the environmental control station, restoring the comm link as he reinstated life support.
"Attention crew," Thram said, "I, Captain Thram, the true captain of this ship, have restored life support."
|
|
|
Post by Mentat_Tir on Dec 8, 2001 17:11:21 GMT -5
Stirok completed several hours of deep meditation. Within his mind, he wrestled with the hostile unseen presence. The struggled nearly exhausted the powers of his Vulcan discipline, but he eventually found a way to close his mind to any telepathic influence.
With the mysterious presence gone, Stirok once again was able to think clearly. He realized that whoever or whatever was controlling the minds of his shipmates, must be stopped. But he also knew that simply confronting them was illogical. Jefferys had done just that and now was held captive. Complicating matters further, there appeared to be a mutiny on the Archer.
Stirok made his was to Captain Jefferys’ quarters. When the turbolift opened, “Captain” Thram stood looking proud of himself.
“Stirok,” he said. “It’s good you’ve decided to wake up and do a little work for a change.”
Stirok decided to play along. “I apologize, Captain, I did not mean to neglect my duties.”
“People like you need strong leadership from someone like me,” said Thram.
“Of course,” said Stirok right before the turbolift doors closed…
|
|