Ghosts

Posted on Monday 11 July 2016 @ 09:38 by Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D.

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Captains Quarters
Timeline: Current
1415 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

John stepped out of the shower with a sigh and reached for a nearby towel. Apollo wiped his face and moved over to the mirror as he dried his hair. The hot watcher had fogged the glass up so he wiped it off and proceeded to run through his bed time rituals. The Commander finished and set the toothbrush down before looking in the mirror, his eyes catching the deep, dark scar on his shoulder. Barstow touched it with his fingertips as he had a million times before over the years, flashes of like and voices suddenly flooding his mind. He turned away from the mirror and sat back against the sink, the metal cool against his skin, and covered his face with both hands for a moment and waited for the flashes and feelings with them to pass. Once they did he took a breath and steadied himself before standing, "it was a long time ago, look forward not backward," John reminded himself.

He flopped onto the bed and pulled the covers to his waist before putting his arm on his forehead and closing his eyes. It wasn't long before he was asleep. As he slipped deeper and deeper to sleep he was transported back....


=/\= 5 Years Ago =/\=


Lieutenant j.g. John Barstow stood in the briefing room on the USS Merlin behind his CAG, Lieutenant Commander Bryon Montague, with his flight jacket open and looked around the table. The ships department heads were gathered and moving from a nearby window Captain Frank Patterson moved to take a seat. As the man spoke his voice was distorted for a moment until, "...We believe that there is a Romulan rebel faction underneath the surface of the icy asteroid, using it as a base  of operations, and the orbiting asteroid is an early warning system to prevent unwanted visitors and prying eyes. We also believe that the Romulans are planning more attacks, and soon."

Pausing for a moment, Patterson continued. "I have just been in contact with the Romulan Ambassador on board the USS Freedom, and the Merlin has received permission and the necessary authorization codes to cross the Neutral Zone border and take out the rebel faction once and for all. This mission is of the utmost importance. If we are successful, the talks between the Romulan government and the Federation will have every chance of success, and we will receive the glory and honor of having a part in that." Looking steely eyed at his officers, he continued, "If we fail, both the Romulan government and the Tal'Shiar will disavow any knowledge of our activities, and our actions will be considered an act of war. We cannot fail, ladies and gentlemen. The future of the galaxy is in our hands."

Then the scene changed and suddenly Apollo was in his Broadsword with then Ensign Jane Anders sitting next to him. He blinked and looked around, "what the hell," he muttered, his voice sounding like he was talking from inside a tin can.

Voices coming through his helmet pulled his attention and in front of him Romulan fighters appeared. He remembered this. Apollo took a breath and pushed the throttle to full impulse as he cued the comm, “Scorpion and Wolfpack, re-designate Scorpion Squadron and use assigned bird numbers,” he ordered, “flights will be three and be Alpha, Bravo and Gamma.  Each flight will have four birds: alpha one through  four, bravo five through eight and gamma six through twelve, flight leads are Scorpion one. Scorpion five and Scorpion eight.  Flight leads, tune to three two one,” he added then took another breath.

As the fighters broke formation Apollo lead his flight on strafing runs against the defense platforms. Then the memory hit him and he looked to Merlin which had fired torpedoes. The volley came in fast, and Scoops tried to get a warning out but it was to late.  The shock wave from the asteroid sent the strafing broadswords into uncontrollable spins as debris bounced off the hulls.  Inside Apollo's sword, panels exploded all around he and Scoops, filling the air with acrid smoke.  He fought to get control, blowing out more systems then growled as he cued the comm, "thanks for the heads up, Merlin, send out SAR teams, you just took out five of my birds," he growled, looking at the distress beacons on his sensors and cut the comm, "cannon fodder," he growled to himself.

As the platform exploded more fighters came in from the planet. The battle was taking it's toll and in his bed John began to groan and claw at his sheets as sweat beaded on his face. Back in the dream he could hear Bryon, "Pod, where’s his pod?" Bryon yelled as they circled around looking for the crew's escape pod. 

Similar comm messages kept coming in. John knew what was next and he tried to call out but his voice in the dream wouldn't work, but in his cabin it echoed and sounded like someone being killed. In a matter of seconds that destroyed fighter had not only damaged the starboard engine of an enemy vessel while it was cloaked, but reviled the presence on a Romulan Warbird.

"If you have torpedoes use them on this pass," Just then Bryon noticed a few more fighters coming up from the surface, "We got bogies at Nine O’clock.  Mobius two, you’re with me.  Everyone else stay on the Warbird.  Apollo you topgun for this," Bryon ordered as he and Dave banked off to engage the fighters.

Apollo grumbled as he changed course again to engage the war bird.  He'd been ordered to defend, then instead of defend attack the war bird while Hades took on the fighters.  He shook his head, "Scoops, relay to the surviving Swords, turn and attack and keep an open comm with Merlin bridge, I don't care if you have to force your way in, I want to hear every word said there."

With that, he turned on the war bird, once again dodging green burst as Merlin continued it's volley.  None of the Swords had torpedoes left, so Apollo had sent out a flight pattern to draw fire off Merlin.  The Swords stayed close and did strafing runs whenever fire seemed to start concentrating on the ship.  Messages were coming in from the Swords, they couldn't keep it up much long, but Apollo just kept going as his systems blew out around him, he and the birds didn't have the option of retreat.

Then the scene fast forwarded and all around him debris from all but 5 fighters filled the area, then, "Apollo, Wing Commander is confirmed down.  You are now flight lead.  What are your orders?" Hades asked in a melancholy tone.  The “air” was so thick you couldn’t even cut it with a phaser.

Sweat ran down Apollo's forehead an arms, both his and Scoops' heavy breathing filling the cockpit comm.  In front on him, the Broadswords were surrounding the disabled warbird.  It glistened in spots still, almost defiantly through the blackened panels where it'd been beat on by phasers and torpedoes.  Only four of the twelve swords were flying with only one of the valks.   Luckily, fatalities among the downed birds were only a handful or less.  He shook his head at that thought, "lead to Merlin, awaiting orders and update on SAR teams."


=/\= Present =/\=

The CO's eyes shot open and he tried to move but couldn't. He couldn't speak, only stare at the ceiling through the darkness. He could feel the sheets under him soaked through and closed his eyes for a second, focusing on his breathing. Suddenly the paralysis wore off and he rolled out of his bed, getting to his feet, "LIGHTS!" he called and looked around the empty room, his breath coming so fast it was catching his chest. As his heart threatened to jump out of his chest John sat on the end of his bed, "computer, time," he asked as he leaned forward, putting his face in his hands and elbows on his knees.

"The time is zero three hundred."

Barstow didn't reply, instead just sitting quiet. After a few minutes he looked up at the speaker in the ceiling, "Barstow to Doctor Miller, I know it's late, but, do you have a moment......"

OFF:


Commander John "Apollo" Barstow
Commanding Officer

Contains log excerpts from logs dating July 2009-September 2009 with Captain Frank Patterson and Lieutenant Commander Bryon Montague