Arrival

Posted on Wednesday 29 June 2016 @ 21:57 by Lieutenant Commander David Tan

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Shuttle Tangiers & USS Merlin
Timeline: Current
1014 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

He was thinking back to his journey from the Galapagos as he waited to meet his new Commanding Officer .....

One week earlier ::

David was sat in the Captain's ready Room aboard the USS Galapagos ... Captain Fran Komin, his Commanding Officer for the last two years was sat opposite:

"I think it is an opportunity you can't turn down David." she was saying between sips of her tea. David sat in silence, wondering vaguely if this was a result of his disobeying orders, or a genuine attempt on the Captain's part to see him advance through the ranks as she knew he should, if the right chance came around, "At this stage, there is honestly nowhere for you to go if you remain aboard the Galapagos. You reached Department head faster than anyone I'm aware of, but short of the Exec' or myself leaving, your where your going to be for the duration." she said, getting up and taking his untouched cup back to the replicator along with her own.

"You want me to leave." he said, not sure if it was a comment or question.

"It's not a case of me wanting you to leave, at least not for the reasons I think 'you' might be airing towards, so to put your mind at rest, it has nothing to do with what happened. That topic is done and closed, you'll be going over to the USS Merlin with a clean sheet, and I cannot for the life of me believe you won't progress there. I don't know her Commanding Officer personally, but from what I can read in the records he's a fair, and more than competent Commander. The Merlin is bigger, there will be more responsibility, more prospects."

"I'm not sure to be totally honest. When I looked at the opening I wanted to give it a try, but then I looked at what I have here ...."

"David ... New start, new faces, new challenges. If you stay, and I will be honest here, I'm going to hate to loose you, but I think it will eventually become, tedious, if that's the right description." she said, returning to the table, two glasses of cognac in her hands. She handed one to David and placed hers on the desk, he followed suit, "honestly, if you had been any other Officer under my command, I would have simply had the Exec inform you that you were leaving, maybe in hind-sight I should have gone that route, but, I wanted the chance to go through it with you in person."

"Now that the offer is there, I actually feel a little, apprehension, last minute nerves maybe."

"What does Lana and the Children think about the transfer ?"

"Well ...." he began, recalling the conversation, especially the part where he was reminded that he was trying to get a ground-based assignment to be with his Family, and her muted reaction to the possible new ship assignment, "she knows I have a career in Star Fleet, and she's got hers, she's a teacher in San Francisco, same school as the girls actually. Truth be told, she was disappointed, he didn't show it obviously, but it was there, if only for a second, but she's happy for me to be out here. Apparently, once I'm an Admiral, I'll be home more, 'or else' she said." he finished, both laughed at the comment regarding his future rank, not that he expected to get anywhere near. As they spoke more, he knew he had made up his mind. was it him finally making that decision, or was it her gentle 'coaxing' and encouragement, either way, it was made up, and somehow Captain Komin knew almost before he did himself, she picked up her glass, eyebrows raised as she waited for him to do likewise:

"You're going to be missed, Admiral." she said a wry grin forming. David allowed her to clink the glasses together in the traditional toast, then drank the warm amber liquid .......

~~~~~~~~~~

The long range shuttle Tangiers arrowed through space at warp six. He and two other Officers had been aboard for two days now, and the confined area, and limited company, was making him eager to be off the thing ...

"Can you tell me just where we're going now ?" he asked, for the umpteenth time, but again the Pilot simply said his destination was 'classified' until he had reported aboard the USS Merlin. he could go forward and simply look for himself obviously, but then he might fall foul of the massive Security Officer opposite, who apparently was also transferring to the Merlin. David wondered if he knew he was glaring at his boss once aboard their new assignment, and decided he probably did, "ETA ?" he asked, seeing the Pilot glance at the second man in the cockpit.

"Eight hours Lieutenant. Why not try to get some sleep ?"

"I'm fine." David said, picking up the PADD and scrolling through the Excalibur Class Merlin schematics, again. he was immersed in the information when he heard the Pilot:

"Picking up a vessel on long-range sensors." the man said, tapping at his console. David looked up from his reading:

"Problems ?"

"No Sir, we're seeing a vessel on scanners, it has changed course and will pass close by us." the Pilot informed him, "It's the USS Merlin Lieutenant, they are coming around us."

he looked out through the plexi-glass cockpit windows and watched at the USS Merlin made a long lazy turn:

=^= USS Merlin to Shuttle Tangiers .. Drop to impulse and hold course .. We will match you prior to docking =^=

The Pilot did as instructed and the massive Merlin drew up alongside, then slipped last the shuttle matching speed seemingly meters from them. The Pilot increased speed minutely and passed through the force-field before touching down and shutting off all drive systems. They had to wait for the Hanger-bay door to lower and the 'bay to pressurise, then the rear door opened.

"If you will accompany me, the Executive Officer will speak with you individually shortly. He picked up his bag and followed the Ensign ..........