From: V. Rahul Chandra (vrccan_at_gmail.com)
Date: Fri Mar 07 2008 - 06:28:23 PST
===========
“A Letter Home”
Continued from Taylor’s “112”
===========
Location: USS PATRIOT
Stardate: 2424 [2.8] 0307.0854
Scene: Bridge
<Note: This occurs before Taylor’s post>
“Captain,” reported tactical. “We are receiving a transmission from EARTH.”
Kenta put down the PADD that he was reading and looked up at the screen, an
intrigued expression on his face. “On screen,” he said.
The image of the starfield eventually was replaced by the image of a
bored-looking bureaucrat. {{I must speak with Captain Kenta,}} the man
said.
“You’re speaking with him now,” Kenta said, standing up with his hands
behind his back. “What can I do for you?”
The bureaucrat squinted at Kenta, before consulting something on his PADD.
He did this a couple more times at which point it became obvious to all on
the bridge that he was comparing a picture to the image of the man on his
terminal. Evidently satisfied that the man he was speaking to was indeed
Kenta, he put the PADD down and focused on the screen.
{{Your next mission has been cancelled indefinitely,}} the man informed
Kenta. {{You are to change course and head for EARTH immediately at which
point you will be dealing with an envoy from Starfleet Intelligence who will
brief you on your next assignment.}}
“And what might that assignment be?” Kenta asked.
The man consulted a PADD, before shaking his head. {{I don’t have that
information,}} he said. {{But I’m transmitting the orders to you now so
that you can verify that they are indeed genuine. In addition to the orders
I just gave you, some members of your crew will be debriefed by Starfleet
Intelligence upon arrival to EARTH. Those names are included with the
orders. Are there any questions?}}
“No there aren’t,” Kenta replied, after verifying with Sanba that the orders
had been received and verified genuine.
{{Very good. Starfleet Intelligence looks forward to meeting with you.
Command out.}}
============
Time Index: An Hour Later
Scene: Gorman Quarters
“Computer,” Jeff said, a frustrated note to the edge of his voice. “Delete
recorded passage.”
It was about the tenth time that he’d given such a request in the last hour.
Why he was having so much trouble thinking of something to say was beyond
him, but it wasn’t particularly out of the ordinary. He was fine with
ordinary conversation over subspace channels, but when it came to leaving
others messages, he didn’t do too well.
“Okay,” Jeff muttered to himself. “Let’s try this again. Computer, begin
recording.”
As he listened to the acknowledgement beep from the computer, Jeff grabbed
his hockey stick from the wall and started pacing back and forth, twirling
it in his hands as he went. He often claimed that he thought better with a
hockey stick in his hands, although whether or not that was actually true
was an open question.
“Heya Kitten,” he said, stopping and leaning against the wall as he mentally
composed what to say before saying it out loud. “The PATRIOT’s on its way
back to EARTH at the bidding of Starfleet Intelligence, although not even
the Captain has any clue as to what the next mission’s going to be. I guess
that’s just the way Starfleet Intelligence works.”
He paused for a moment, before continuing. “The last mission didn’t turn
out too well for the Federation as the listening post was destroyed in a
Dominion ambush with the PATRIOT just barely making it out in one piece.”
He then went on to briefly describe what had happened during the mission.
“But I’m okay,” he added hastily, not wanting to worry his wife. “As are
most of the crew on the PATRIOT. The CABOT’s crew wasn’t so lucky however,
as many of their officers died on the planet and the ship itself was
destroyed to prevent the changeling on it from sabotaging the PATRIOT’s
systems.”
He sighed. “I miss you and I miss the kids. When we finally managed to get
assigned to the same place, I was looking forward to finally getting to
spend a long time together. Even though I started out by working a
department I knew next to nothing about, I was glad that I was with you and
the kids. Glad that we’d both get to see them grow up. Well, I guess
that’s just not how things work in Starfleet.”
“How are the kids?” he asked. “With all the birthdays I’ve missed it’s a
wonder they don’t think I’m a stranger yet. Not to mention our own
anniversary.”
He smiled. “Although I’ve been thinking about that retirement home you want
to build. I have the designs for it and I uploaded them into the holodeck
during a spare moment. I’ve added a few things that I’d love to show you
when we get to see each other again.”
“But until then, I guess we’ve both got a job to do. The war’s gone
reasonably well for the Federation so far, at least in comparison to the
first one, but with the Dominion that could change immediately. I have no
idea what mission would require a briefing from Starfleet Intelligence to
the Captain of the Federation’s flagship, but I’d imagine that it would be
an important one.”
“I’ll send you another message when I get the chance, but until then always
remember that I love you.”
**That’s about as good as it’s going to get,** he thought to himself.
“Computer, end message and save for transmission to USS MCINNIS, desk of
Executive Officer.”
==========
Time Index: An hour later
Scene: Bridge
“We’ve arrived in EARTH and received acknowledgement to proceed to dock for
repairs,” Corwin reported from the helm.
“Excellent,” Ben answered. “Proceed to dock.”
As Corwin was carrying out those orders, Kenta tapped his comm. Badge. “All
hands, this is the Captain. In a few minutes we will have docked. At that
point, the crew will be on limited shore leave. You may transport down to
the planet, but make sure you always have some way of receiving a message of
recall as we will be heading out again in a few days.”
Closing the comm. Link, he turned to his Executive Officer. “Any plans for
the shore leave?” he asked.
Jeff shrugged. “Not really,” he answered. “My wife and kids are on another
ship and my parents aren’t at home right now. I’ll probably just stay on
the ship.”
Kenta nodded. “That makes two of us,” he said. “I don’t know what
Starfleet Intelligence has planned for us, but I get the feeling it will
require my complete attention. Being off the ship when the envoy beams on
would not be a good idea.”
Jeff smiled sympathetically, but said nothing as Corwin reported that the
docking procedure had been completed.
“Good work Lieutenant,” Kenta said, tapping his comm. Badge. “All hands,
limited shore leave has begun.”
===========
NRPG: Just dropping a few hints about the next mission, which will likely
start on March 12th give or take a couple of days.
Until then, you all have shore leave on EARTH, so enjoy it!
Joy -> Hope the letter met with your approval
===========
Rahul Chandra <vrccan_at_gmail.com>
Playing…
Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey Gorman, MD
Executive Officer
USS PATRIOT
&
Major Daniel Clarkson, MD
Marine Executive Officer
USS PATRIOT
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