Coming Home

Posted on Sunday 1 May 2016 @ 04:57 by Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D.

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Shuttlebay
605 words - 1.2 OF Standard Post Measure

John smiled as the doors to the captains yacht opened onto the Merlins shuttle deck. The nostalgic feels that had been building since his departure from Earth were now at their peak as he momentarily slipped back to when he had very first stepped onto the ship as a young junior Lieutenant. Then, however, there had been a lot less bustle, he thought with a chuckle as a loud crash echoed through the bay followed by very choice words that he had only heard come from ground pounders in that quantity. He looked around to see shuttles coming and departing as they loaded up with boxes and personnel, mostly engineers. It looked like they were doing the final clean up of the ship after it's year in spacedock. As the CO walked down the boarding ramp and started toward the door an enlisted officer with a red collar hurried over, "Commander Barstow!" the man called.

Barstow stopped just inside the doors and looked back, waiting for the officer to catch up, "yes, Petty Officer, what can I do for you?"

The man came to a stop and went to attention, trying to catch his breath, "sir, Yeoman Second Class Pete Burg,,, I was assigned to give you a tour of the ship and make sure you get settled in."

Barstow nodded and smiled, "at ease, Yeoman, you look like you're about to pass out," he said before motioning for Burg to follow him."

Burg relaxed and let out a sigh, "thank you, sir. I'm sorry I was late, I was making sure your personal items all made it to your quarters," he explained and fell into step with John, "it looked like everything was there, though, you and your wife can make sure once she and your daughter arrive."

Apollo raised an eyebrow as he stepped back to allow a team of officers and a hover cart through, "I'm not married, Burg."

Pete kicked himself silently as the two started moving again and stepped on the turbolift, "I'm sorry, sir, I just assumed because of the pictures you requested be put in your ready room..."

"It's alright, that is my ex-wife and my daughter in those pictures from before we split," John explained then called for the Bridge, "what's the ships status?"

Burg didn't press when Barstow changed the subject, deciding that was something left alone, "well, we're still waiting on most of the senior officers to arrive, including your XO....and on the subject of your XO, I am to have you call command, the Admiral seems upset about about the Lieutenants reassignment, something about you not having authority to countermand his assignment orders."

John nodded, he had expected that and thought there may be more to the call then that, "thank you, I'll take care of, though the ship is my priority right now," he replied with a smirk as the doors opened onto the Bridge.

The first thing that hit him was the new ship smell. The Bridge module had been replaced with one that was the same design as the Luna class'. So, the smells of new electronics, leather and fresh carpets all mingled into that smell that would be gone in another week or two. John moved to the spot in front of conn and ops and just took in the view quietly for a moment, taking it in before it was filled with officers. After a minute he looked over, "alright, Yeoman, I know there's paperwork, lets go kill light particles," he said with a grin and motioned to the ready room door at the aft of the Bridge.