A Proposal

Posted on Tue Mar 19th, 2024 @ 8:32am by Captain Paul Griffon & Commander Lucy Sharpe

1,961 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Rescue Interruptus
Location: Sub-space Comm/ Malzin V
Timeline: 30 Days Ago

The Havana had just completed a mission that had gotten them into a bit of a skirmish with on of the Klingon ships that was part of the Blade of T'Kuvma. Lucy was going to engineering to speak with the Chief Engineer when her comm badge chimed.

"Commander Sharpe, you have an incoming communication from a Captain Griffon", the voice on the other end said.

"Understood," Lucy replied heaving a sigh - this day didn't seem to have an end it seemed and now Griffon wanted to add his weight in.

Her expression must have shown as Chief Engineer Claire Wilkinson was quick to offer some relief: "Feel free to use my office ma'am."

The XO nodded with a fleeting smile of appreciation: "Route it to Chief Wilkinson's office please."

"Aye, Commander."

Despite the skirmish Claire's office remained perfectly intact, even the dilactate looking vases the engineer collected remained in pristine condition. She must have gone to some lengths to protect her collection Lucy mused before crossing to work station and opening the channel with the elder Captain.

"Captain, this is a surprise. How can I assist?"

"Lucy", Griffon replied with a smile. "How have you been? You are looking great. What's it been, five years?

"Thank you sir, you're well I hope?" She replied a little off kilter at his opening line. "Has it been that long?"

"I believe so", the older gentleman answered. "It was right before you got aboard the Havana."

"Time certainly flies," Lucy nodded realizing the time frame was about right.

"So, I won't keep you long", Paul replied. "The higher-ups and I were talking about a project and I suggested we might want to bring you into the loop. A little bird has told me that the next mission they are going to throw at you is helping the Malzins repair some atmospheric conditioning units. It should take you all about a week to get here. I know of a little dive in the capital city that makes the best carmaty. Let's catch up, drinks are on me."

"Insightful as ever I see," Sharpe smirked. Griffon certainly didn't act this age - he always had a finger on the pulse and his head on a swivel. "Nice to know I've made a lasting impression. Send me details and I'll see you there."

"Sorry, this is tell don't show information", Griffon said. "60.3, -45.278,13000, 1800,12"

The code although a touch odd, was simple enough once you knew the key. The first two numbers were latitude and longitude, the third number was always garbage, the fourth was the time to be there, and the fifth was the correct answer to his challenge question, which usually was spontaneous based on the environment. It was indeed a odd code frame work, but oddly.

"Remember, half the planet hates Starfleet, so dress casually, Griffon out."

The screen went dark and then turned to the Federation logo.


Malzin IV, 1 week later, 1800

To say the atmospheric units on Malzin had been in need of repair would be an understatement. The Malzins had been given basic repair training, but they had not been very disciplined about the process. On top of that, being part of the Federation did not sit well with many Malzins, so there had definitely been vandals playing with the equipment.

Early morning, it had been 90 degrees F, by noon it had dropped to 50, at 1600 it was back to 70 and seven thunderstorms had generated, and now as Lucy walked along the streets of the capital, it was snowing, a lot. The lighting in this area wasn't the best, but Lucy knew she was close and could hear a loud noise, that might possibly pass for music, coming out of an establishment ahead that fit the description of a little dive.

With a glance over her shoulder ensuring a local hadn't taken any interest in the lone human trudging through the snow, Lucy pushed the door open into the dreary building and folded back her hood. The noise, heat, and smell immediately assaulted her senses as she stepped inside. Dive was certainly a good term to describe the run-down property as she strode deeper inside looking for the familiar face.

As Lucy looked about the dive for the Captain, two Malzins stepped up to Lucy. One was tall and broad, standing about 6'4" and looked like he could be an entire parrisses squares team. Sweat glistened off his pinkish skin and it seemed like he had used it to slick his hair back too. The other was shorter, only 5'9", slender, and had a bald head, which glistened in sweat too. His baldness made the rest of his face seem tightened up.

The bald one said, elbowing the guy next to him, "The hum-ans are crawling out of the woodwork today Bantz."

The larger one smiled and looked at Lucy, "Hey sugar, why don't you come along with us and we can see how good pink looks on you."

Though the two towered over her, especially the heavy-set male, Lucy wasn't fazed as they approached her. "Maybe another time boys," she smirked pleasantly turning them down and stepped aside.

The large one stepped up to Lucy and the other stepped a bit towards the door, seemingly to block it.

"Now, now, we can't have a stranger to our planet be left all alone", the large guy said, reaching out towards her. "It would be rude of us."

"Very rude", the smaller man said with a snicker.

The rest of the bar didn't seem to be reacting. Perhaps this sort of thing was common here.

Lucy held her ground as the two pressed her clearing hoping to intimidate her. As quick as a cat, her hand shot out to grip the approaching arms and held them at bay. Then, with a deft twist and quick footwork the Commander had successfully twisted his bulky arm behind his frame causing him to swoon awkwardly and grimace at her pressure bending his arm into an unnatural position.

"As you can tell, I'm a big girl. I can handle myself. Understood?"

The large man didn't respond except with a growl and grunt as he tries to kick back at Lucy with no luck.

"This is very rude!", the shorter man says. "I'll teach you some manners!"

Out of the corner of her eye, Lucy saw the flash of a knife in the man's hand. At this point, the crowd started to pay attention to the events at the doorway.

With the second man approaching, Lucy maneuvered the bulky form of Bantz directly into the path and kicked at his crumpled knees causing the heavy man to staggered forward into this companion.

The large man cried out in pain as there was an audible crack that came from Bantz's knee. They both tumbled to the floor.

As Lucy looked about to see if anyone else was trying to join the party, she saw a familiar man standing at the bar.

Griffon tossed a few slips of latinum to the two men laying on the floor moaning in pain. He then held up two full glasses, beckoning her to follow him. He then started walking further into the classy establishment.

Surprised the Captain had upheld his promise getting the drinks, Lucy followed him mutely, the other bystanders gave her a wide berth but fortunately no one else decided to intervene.

Getting to a table in the back, he set the drinks down.

"Good to know you still have it in you", he said. "So, how many years has it been since we've seen each other."

Lucy could see he had his hand on a phaser, obviously waiting for the answer to his challenge.

Folding herself into the vacant seat neatly Lucy took up the her glass and stole a glance at the Captain's hand wondering how long she could string out the answer without getting burned. "In the flesh?" she asked casually. "Twelve years I believe."

He smirked, sitting down.

"You know, one of these days, your timing is going to be off", Griffon said laughing. "How have you been? Some weather."

"And I'm sure I'll pay for it," Lucy smirked before taking a sip from the glass. Her face crinkled at the taste of the drink he'd ordered it was strong and nearly caused her cough instantly. "Ugh, the weather is... well shocking. Considering the damage to the conditioning units I'm surprised they can function at all. Grimly the technicians believe this wasn't caused by equipment failure or fatigue, they believe foul by namely sabotage."

Griffon sighed and shook his head.

"Typical Federation colony planets", he said. "Get given something and then they try to blow it up."

She shrugged slumping back in her seat: "The head of security is compiling a list of suspects as we speak. Considering we're on the fringes out here anyone could be suspect if they have something to gain."

"I suppose it could be pirates or scavengers", he replied.

He took a sip of his drink.


"So, I won't bore you too much with small talk", Griffon said. "The reason I wanted to speak is to let you know that I am being re-called. That either means I am going to get the axe, literally, or I am being given a new assignment. I don't think they would pull me all the way back to the neutral zone just to kill me. A whole lot of easier ways to do it if you ask me. One way or the other, the Athena is going to need a new captain. I want it to be you. I gave command some gobbledy-gook about wanting to retire to find my inner-self sort of targ shit. I recommended you to them."

"Wow, that's unexpected." Lucy smiled highly surprised at the potential proposition coming her way. "You think they'll buy it?" she asked leaning forward. "What about your XO, how would s/he handle the change?"

"Oh, let's say my XO saw just how non-family friendly it could be out here and decided to resign", he said with a smirk. "As far as getting people to buy the promotion, the higher-ups have quite a few connections in the upper echelons of command. Should I tell them you don't want the promotion?"

"Have you seen the the Havana?" she asked with a low hiss. "It's barely a step up from this place, of course I'm interested, where do I sign?"

Griffon smiled and said, "The wheels are in motion. I've got to set somethings up for my departure. Most of the details will be in my will and my medical records for dealing with me being in a potential vegetative state. You will know when to access them. I essentially need to disappear, not just walk off into the sunset. This will mean no autopsies and monks from the unknown spiritual centre of Avartis will ..."

He chuckled when he said that, "...Will show up and take my body away for sacred last rites. I am such a spiritual man after all."

Sharpe nodded giving him her full attention: "Anything else you need from me?" she asked, "And when?"

He shook his head to her initial question and then said, "Starbase 312, 30 days."

He then tapped his temple a couple of times, "Check out the crew roster and remember that special training. One aboard who is wild, but powerful. See you in 30 days."

He then got up, left a tip, and started to walk away.

She let him go without challenge. He'd given her food for thought, one thing for sure those 30 days couldn't come soon enough.


A Joint Post By
---
Captain Paul Griffon
Commanding Officer

Commander Lucy Sharpe
First Officer

 

RSS Feed