Not According To Plan

Posted on Sat May 4th, 2019 @ 4:04am by

1,496 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: What Stalks The Night
Location: Starfleet Command. Earth.

Will had spent the better part of two days talking to anyone, everyone he thought could help to get Vash out of Starfleet medical. He'd visited her daily but things were still understandably low emotionally to which he couldn't blame her. He was at least hoping the crew were enjoying the reprieve from duties while they awaited orders, it was the waiting that was the hardest part for William and one he was currently struggling with.

He wanted to do more for Vash but as everyone had been telling him, it was a time thing. There was no rushing it, it was not something that could be fixed by science or technology, only time and right now it seemed that William had that in spades. As he stood at his temporary quarters at the window watching the rain race down its surface, thunder clapping he could only wonder just when he'd get back to what he knew best.

Command of a starship.

Taking another sip of his now long cold Coffee he could only stand, watching, waiting. He was just about to fetch himself a refill, something hotter, better and more palatable to drink when his computer console chirped to life breaking the silence that was only amplified by the sound of the rain against the window. Only when he focused on something else did the silence within the room almost become deafening.

When he walked to the console having fetched himself a fresh Coffee, dis-guarding the other on the corner of a table he went to see what it was that disturbed him so. It was a message, from Starfleet Command requesting his presence. With a sigh, the drop of his shoulders he resigned himself to the fact that not only would he have to attend but also maybe his probing about Vash had a consequence. Or maybe they would give him some good news. Looking at where he had to go and the floor he pulled on his tunic and departed.

***Starfleet Command, 6th Floor, East Wing, Office 217. ***

William stood outside the office which the name plate read Commodore Carmel Bridges. Assistant Director of Fleet Logistics. He pressed the chime announcing his arrival.

When the doors opened behind a desk he saw a striking woman of blonde hair, slim of figure surrounded by all kinds of framed pictures from family, to qualifications, memorable moments and more, more than time would permit him to look at as he stepped in. "Captain William Hood, reporting." He spoke taking only a few steps in before coming to a stop.

"Captain." Carmel greeted with a smile. "Thank you for coming please, take a seat. I'm sorry to have called you through the rain." It was evident that Will had walked the very short distance between buildings were there was no over head cover to protect against the weather.

"It's no trouble." Will spoke as he took one of the offered chairs, he was also keen to get down to business and find out why he'd be summoned. "May I ask what's going on, I was not expecting to hear anything for at least another few days." Figuring that his questions about Vash would have nothing to do with Carmel and her positional duties.

"It's about the Dreadnought." Carmel activated a very large wall mounted display, on it showed the engineering schematics of the ship, the internal structure as well as other details related to what was being shown. Straight away it was obvious that something wasn't right by the flashing red sections of the space frame image that looked like when they arrived back at Earth.

"As you can see, when you brought her back to the system she was in worse for wear, nacelle missing, massive internal damage, structure was compromised. Well, you know yourself so I won't go on." Carmel pressed a few buttons and the views changed. "As you can see most of the damage was repaired, new nacelle, repaired strut..." Carmel continued briefly but didn't touch on the flashing red section.

It was obvious now that something was wrong, still with the ship. "I see." Will did see, it was hard not to see that his should would not be space ready for a while yet.

"When we got her into dock after decontamination we got to work with repairs, during which we discovered that some physical components had been compromised. It seemed what ever it was was weakening the structural strength. We detected this weakening along the main structure bracings, the spine of the ship if you will."

Will knew enough about ships that if the spine of the ship was damaged, in any way, that was a problem short and long term. "Can it be repaired?" Will asked, already losing hope that he'd see the ship again any time soon.

"Unfortunately, not easily or any time soon. I have been asked to begin decommissioning procedures on her." Carmel spoke as she took a seat behind her desk. "I understand this can come as a bit of blow, a shock to any starship Captain."

Will had to resist the obvious reaction, but hopeful of a positive outcome. "In the mean time, what will be my duties?" He asked, wondering what they would have a grounded starship Captain doing while he waited. "Will I get another ship?"

"You are." Carmel pressed a button and on the same large display showed another ship, one that was massive in size, far larger than the Dreadnought. Having seen the blow she dealt the Captain she wanted now to raise him up with the 'sales pitch' routine. "That, is the Valkyrie class Command Carrier. Only one of her kind. Crew compliment of over 6,000. 2,400m long, 1,200m wide and over 600m tall. She is the largest vessel constructed to date with 172 decks."

Will stood up and walked to the monitor to get a closer look at what he was being shown.

"Type XIII phasers, covered in point defence weaponry and a shield system to rival some starbases. Her operational capability is matched only by her size, she can effect some repairs to other vessels out in the field at least enough to patch them up to make transit to dock safer. Over 200 support craft including fighters and..." Carmel saved the more interesting part for last. "She has docked at the stern two Defiant class escorts."

Will stood there reading the information before him. This ship was colossal in size, a behemoth in comparison to other ships in service.

"She has the ability to act as a forward command vessel where something more permanent like an outpost or starbase is impractical or not an option at a given time." Carmel spoke as she came to stand at the end of her desk perched against it watching him. "I know its a wholly different step from the Ascension class, but in light of the outcome of the Ascension class Dreadnought its been deemed you are to assume command, along with your original crew."

Will knew that his entire crew could stop on board this new vessel with next to no issues what so ever. He also detected that the Commodore was not aware of the past, or more importantly, his past otherwise she probably wouldn't be so happy to hand over this mammoth ship. He turned to see the Commodore with a Padd in her hand outstretched towards him. Walking to her he took it and read.

From: The office of The Chief of Starfleet Operations.

To: Captain William Hood

By order, you are hereby relieved the command of the U.S.S. Dreadnought effective immediately. You are requested and required to assume command of the U.S.S. Valkyrie as Captain also effective immediately.

All crew from the aforementioned U.S.S. Dreadnought are to be reassigned to the U.S.S. Valkyrie. New orders are pending, expect receipt within 24 hours of this notice.

Regards

Will didn't read the name, he was mixed with emotions. He'd lost a ship he'd come to like, call home and missed only to have it taken away and replaced by something else. he understood as Captain and Starfleet he'd go where told, do as ordered, but this left him conflicted.

"Congratulation Captain."

A moments silence, a pause, as if processing what had just happened. It could be seen on his face that he was still coming to terms with the change. "Thank you." The two eventually shook hands once Will had come to his senses a little more much to the amusement of Carmel.


*** 1 Hour Later ***

Will now found himself reading the Padd handed to him by the Commodore, over and over, as if searching for something he missed, something that would help him come to terms with what happened...but nothing.

"Computer, relay message to all active assigned U.S.S. Dreadnought listed crew members. To report to U.S.S. Valkyrie for reassignment."

A chirp confirmed the order, then silence.

RSS Feed