From: Lord Ihcalam (swiften_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Tue Apr 22 2008 - 22:14:25 PDT
"120"
Location: USS Apparition NCC-20401
Scene: CO Ready Room
Stardate: 2.80422
=======================================
"Congratulations Captain Lawrence" The head of Intel told him. Jax had been
wondering why the Acting head of Intel had been giving him a complex tour of
one of Starfleet's newest ships. The Apparition was one of 4 Phantom class
Stealth Frigates that were being commissioned today. All were assigned for
Intelligence Operations.
"You know you are only doing this because you were annoyed with my last
mission."
"Well you did expose the fact that we have assets in the Dominion, and endanger
2000 lives to rescue 2."
"Those two are high priority assets though."
"I agree, that’s why you're not being brought before an board of inquiry.
Instead we are 'rewarding' you for a job well done by giving you command of
this ship"
"Its just a ploy to keep me out of the way"
"Yes. That’s a lot to do with it. But in all honesty we couldn’t find anyone as
uniquely qualified as you. You have Starship experience, between the Century
and the late Prophecy, you were the primo choice for the center seat. There are
others in similair situations taking the other ships."
"IOk I will accept. On one condition. If I hate command, I go back into the
field."
"We will discuss that if it happens. Your first mission is a shakedown cruise.
Run her through her paces. You are free and clear for 8 weeks."
"And the crew?"
"You get to choose your exec of course. Qualified people are already on file
for you to go through."
"Very well."
"Oh and one more thing, There will be families on this ship most of the time. I
understand you have a child."
"Yes, but he is in school most of the time, though it would be easier to have
him with me while not having to sacrifice all of my leave time to be with him
during his off times. Speaking of which, his term ends in a couple weeks. It
will be enough time to fill out my roster."
"Very well commander, good luck" The Starfleet Commodore left the ready room
and Jaxsper alone in it.
"Bloody Hell" He muttered looking around. While part of him didn’t like the
idea, another was excited beyond belief. He sat behind the desk, and called up
the available personnel to fill the Exec slot.
====
Salem Institute – Salem Massachusetts
====
Jax took in the spring day around him and smiled. He loved spring and the
newness he felt every year when it occurred. Fresh grass and budding trees
permeated the area with smells that couldn’t be replicated even by the most
advanced computers. He sat on a bench along a walkway leading up to the
school's dormitory, waiting for the rush of school children to emerge rushing
headlong into warmth of the spring afternoon..
The institute didn’t follow traditional schooling schedual, Instead it allowed
parents to designate when children would have vacation time, up to 12 weeks per
calendar year. Most parents spread it out for their kids, one week a month off.
Jax however kept Ihcalam in classes following more traditional school terms,
with breaks at thanksgiving since they were living in the states, a winter
break the end of December and over new years, a long weekend in march, and
week long break for Easter. Normally Ihcalam would complete his school year in
mid may, but Jax had missed several of this years breaks due to the war, and
instead the 8 year old Ihcalam had ended his school year at May first.
As expected the children, all aged from 6-12 came rushing out. It was exactly
1600 hours, and the school was nothing if not punctual. Older students would be
released an hour later. "Hello father" the young voice said to him as he walked
up across the lawn.
"Hello child." Jax replied, grinning at the kid.
"What do we get to do? Are we going to see uncle Chris?"
"Not this holiday Iccy. We're going someplace new, but first we have to go see
grandpa."
The little boy grinned "That is an agreeable plan" He stated.
"Ok, enough with the formal proper education. Lets go before we miss Lunch."
"Lunch was 4 hours ago"
"Yes but in Austrailia, its mid day tomorrow"
"Oh yeah. Stupid time changes if you ask me."
"They could go by stardates which is a mathematical computation of the
galaxie's rotation where one galactic day is divided into 10 incriments. But
that would but lunch at 2am in some areas of the planet."
"Shut up now."
"Yes son."
====
Lawrence Bungalo
Wadeye Australia
====
The two walked into the small home just as three others were sitting down to
mid day meal. One of the three looked just like Jax, but 15 years ago. One of
the others looked just like Jax but with light brown hair, and 25 years older.
The last occupant had no resemblance to anyone, as he was the newcomer to the
family. Oshara had met Jaxsper before, and had been shocked to learn that
Jaxsper was LJ's older self. It had been confusing at first, but he'd realized
that LJ was a lot different than Jax. And he wasn’t referring to the
interesting pattern of speech.
Jax walked up to the table and took a seat, as did the young man with him.
"Oshara this is Iccy" he said, helping himself to some chips
"My name is Ihcalam." The boy corrected "But I think being dead made him stupid
and he cant pronounce it" Jax glared at the 8 year old to let him know he was
nearing the line between being funny in a joking manner and being mouthy,
deserving of punishment. "Apologies, Father." He stated adopting an admonished
and formal expression.
"You died!?" Oshara asked astonished "But you live!"
"I was declared dead for a year. I wasn’t really." Jax sighed "though I had
wished I was" he muttered. Only Finn heard it, and grabbed his son's hand and
squeezed. Even almost 10 years later, Jax had difficulties with that time he'd
been missing.
"Oh, ok." The thirteen year old went back to eating.
"Anyway, I've been reassigned to a ship. Hopefully I'll be able to come home
more often, and spend more time with everyone"
"Does that mean I have to leave my school?" Ihcalam asked.
"No Iccy, you will stay there until you no longer want to. It’s a good
institution and you’ve caught up well. But it does mean we will be spending
your break on ship. That’s why there wont be a chance to visit uncle Chris this
break."
"Oh. Ok I get it."
Jax looked at LJ and then his father. "Have you told him yet?"
"No, I wanted to make sure she was going to fully recover. No sense in
destroying him for a third time."
"She will be fine. It will take time, but she will recover."
"Then I would think now's the time." Finn replied. He really didn’t want to
tell him, and he selfishly wished the woman hadn’t been rescued at all, but
would never voice those thoughts. He just wanted to keep LJ permanently. Having
him here this past month was like having his own kid back again. Even though
his ex wife had taken his sons away from him some 15 years ago. With LJ if kind
of felt like it never happened. Especially when JT would come for a weekend as
was becoming frequent.
"LJ, we recovered Daisy. She was being held in a camp run by the Dominion. We
recovered her about 3 weeks ago. She's still recovering but we wanted to make
sure she was going to live before we said anything."
LJ frowned deeply at him. He wasn’t happy they didn’t tell him, but then
thought about it and understood why. "Take me home tonight?"
"If you want to go, I will take you." Jax replied. He noticed Oshara looked
kind of sad at that prospect "Don’t worry Oshara, you'll see him again. And you
will be starting school soon, so you will make more friends"
LJ grinned at him. "A lonely mother gazing out of the window, Staring at a son
that she just can't touch, If at any time he's in a jam she'll be by his side"
Oshara looked to Jax for a translation. He'd been getting used to LJ's speech
pattern, but sometimes the more out there lyrics thwarted him
"He's trying to tell you that she's been there for him, and he wasn’t to return
it." LJ nodded emphatically
"I know. But I will miss you." He replied. LJ hugged him in return
Jax finished his meal, and looked at his chronometer. "Damn, was supposed to be
back a half hour ago. LJ, we will be leaving at 8 tomorrow morning, local time.
I will return so get your stuff together. Iccy, time to go say goodbye to
grandpa"
"Goodbye Grandfather" he dutifully responded while hugging the older man.
The two exited the house and stood in the Autumn air of the yard. "Lawrence to
Apparition, 2 to transport up." The almost black haze of the transporter effect
enveloped both of them and left an empty yard when it completed.
"Come boys, let's get LJ packed." Finn said, hauling both teens to their room.
====
USS Apparition - CO Cabin
TI: 0730
====
"You two will be sharing a room. I hope you don’t mind but this is a Starship,
and space is limited." Jax told the two boys as he walked into his quarters.
"Through there is your room LJ." The teen nodded and headed in to stow his bag.
When he returned, Jax filled him in on the order of events to take place "In 30
minutes, we will depart space dock, Since this ship is brand new we will have
to run through a few trials close to home for a couple of days. Following that
should the ship perform like it should, we will head towards Bajor gradually
increasing speed while fine tuning the engines as we go. We will dock with
Starbase 9 overnight while final crew rotations are completed, and then go
through the wormhole. We should arrive at GS2 within a week to 10 days ok?"
The teen nodded again.
"Good, I just wanted you to know what we will be doing. You both are free to
explore the ship but do NOT go into any classified areas. Perhaps I will show
you the bridge, engineering and other areas at some point during the trip, but
stay out of the crew's way. And if I give an order to evacuate the ship, you
both are to immediately without hesitation go down the corridor to the nearest
junction, there's an escape pod there. Get in and strap in. Understood?"
LJ nodded while Ihcalam responded "Yes father"
====
USS Apparition – Main Bridge
TI: 0805
====
"Clear all moorings" Jax ordered taking a seat in his chair.
"Moorings cleared Captain."
"Open a channel to the Dock master"
"Channel open."
"Apparition to Dock Control, request permission to depart"
[[Apparition this is Control, Permission granted, standby for portside gate]]
"One quarter Impulse, hold station"
"Holding station. Space Doors opening."
"Ahead one quarter speed. Take us out."
The ship slipped out of its berthing and headed towards the outer hatch of the
Starbase. The ship rushed out into the void and angled away from the base into
the outer reaches of the solar system.
"Plot a course for the test range, full impulse."
"Full impulse, aye"
The test range was located beyond the Kuniper belt and would be used to test
that ships maneuverability and tactical systems at full power.
====
3 Days Later
====
"Tests complete Captain, all systems operational."
"Set course for Starbase 9, Warp factor one, then run her up through to
maximum."
"Coarse plotted."
"Engage"
====
USS Devery
====
The ship had emerged from the wormhole and engaged at maximum warp towards
gateway. The Field Colonel was holed up in his cabin going over efficiency
reports and complaints against the Marines he was to assume command of.
====
GS2 – Docking Area
====
Major Towers was waiting for the ship to finish docking. He wasn’t pleased with
the turn of events, but there was little he could do about it. He'd been
demoted even though he was doing what he thought was best, not only that they
had pulled a fossil out of retirement to humiliate him further.
[[USS Devery now Arriving docking port 12]] Gateway's computer announced.
Towers waited as the gangway opened up and several people walked out of the
port. He didn’t see anyone that would be old enough to be the new CO, but an
officer in the Old style uniform did appear and walk towards him.
"Major Towers?" he asked
Towers looked the guy over and noted that he didn’t appear to be more than 40
or so years old. "Yes, can I help you Marine?"
"I'm Colonel Williams. Would you mind showing me the way to my quarters?"
"There is no way you are Field Colonel Williams, he's ancient and you are
barely older than I am." Towers pulled a phaser and aimed it at the man.
"telum volo!" Hunter replied softly, aiming a thin almost translucent crystal
at the Major. The phaser ripped from his hands and sailed over to Hunter. "I
see now why they demoted you. You think in black and white far too much to be a
capable commander. Tell me major, how old does a Vulcan who is roughly 100
years old look?"
"Middle aged" the angry marine replied.
"Well, Pnarrans have a similar life expectancy. So next time you doubt
someone's word, ask for ID or proof of claim before drawing a weapon on them.
Otherwise next time we might be scraping the goo that used to be you off the
deck plating. Now, forget about showing me my quarters. I want a full staff
meeting within one hour. Dismissed!" Hunter turned and stalked off, slightly
miffed about his greeting to his new command.
====
Songs:
====
Eddie Money – Take me home tonight"
TLC – Waterfalls
====
Cdr Jaxsper Lawrence
Commanding Officer
USS Apparition NCC-20401
====
LJ Lawrence
Civilian
Gateway Station GS2
====
FCol HD Williams
Commanding Officer
13th Regiment 1st Batallion
SFMC
====
====
Col Bret Maverick
USS Patriot NCC-5781-A
====
V Adm Adam Heyting
Public Relations Office
====
V Adm Nathan Hathaway
Chief of Starfleet Engineering
====
Maj Hunter Williams
2/5th Regiment Commander USS Vincennes
Task Force 44, Group Shadow
====
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