We earned this one

Posted on Tue Sep 27th, 2016 @ 9:45am by Captain Elijah Michaels & Commander Bertrand Cuprum

Mission: Do Not Follow
Location: Ready Room, USS Victory.

Elijah sat behind his desk in the Ready Room. Following the encounter with the Alien Species. It really did do a number on the Ship and now she was limping to the nearest Federation Starbase.

The Captain had a bottle of Saurian Brandy and two glasses prepared. He continued to scan through his Terminal whilst he waited for his guest to join him.

Cuprum had managed to get some sleep. He was still putting out fires, literally and figuratively all over the ship, but with departure of the Aliens and the re-connection of the Saucer section, people were beginning to fall back into a routine of sorts.

There was a sleep rotation, albeit small as everyone was pulling extra shifts in engineering or medical. He had his PADD with the latest facts and figures, and assumed it was the reason for his summons to the CO's room.

Passing through the Bridge he nodded in satisfaction at the work being done there. All the terminals were now functional again and it no longer smelled of smoke. It would take a while before all of the panels could be repaired and it returned to its clean lines, but that could wait.

He stepped tot he ready room door which opened to admit him. Stepping inside he let the doors slide closed as he took in the CO and the bottle of brandy next to two glasses.

"Are we expecting someone else, sir?" he asked. trying not to let his gaze linger on the bottle. Saurian, if he was any judge.

The Captain shook his head. "No, please have a seat Commander."

Bertrand hesitated for the briefest of moments as the last shred of his resistance fell away. He tucked his PADD under his arm and took a seat, watching as the Captain poured a generous measure into each glass.

"Are we toasting, commiserating, or celebrating?"

The Captain shrugged. "I think given the last couple of days we deserve something more than the synthale from Nelsons." He wasn't a big drinker truth be told but he thought a stiff drink might help.

"I found an interesting bit of information in the old Vulcan Database." Elijah said to him.

Bert sighed, "Over 300 years and we still haven't managed to fully integrate that thing. What's the scoop?"

He accepted the glass, and inclined it to the captain to acknowledge the men and women who they had lost in this last encounter.

"Our mysterious Bad guy?" He said turning the screen round. "They're called the Jennarri." He said to Bertrand. "A couple of centuries ago is the last known record of an encounter with the Vulcans, then nothing."

Bertrand let his eye run down the limited details the Vulcans had collected. Without thinking he took a swig from the glass. Details swam into focus.

"There is a lot missing form this report," he muttered. "Someone has gone over this and pulled out data and patched the hole with... well gibberish. The report about the Vulcan station being wiped out by a "genetic weapon" is nonsense. The station's Security logs talk about their sidearms being useless. Why would they even use weapons against a genetic device."

He took another swig, "More questions, fewer answers. Just as well you have some good investigation officers on your crew. When Michelle gets back, and I can get back down to Security I will start to do a full study on what we have."

Elijah looked towards Bertrand, he wasn't going to like this next part. "That is where we hit a bit of a snag; Michelle is being shipped to the nearest Federation Medical Facility." He shook his head. "Along with the rest of the wounded and injured."

Bertrand whistled between his teeth, "That's quite a blow. We'll be running on minimum crew until we can get replacements. Any word on who the new XO is going to be? I hope it is not some hot shot out to prove themselves to the world and the brass by leading every charge and shooting their mouth off."

"You." Elijah said blunt and to the point.

Bertrand chocked on the mouthfull of brandy, breathing some of the firey liquid through his nose. it took him about a minute to regain his composure.

"ME?!" he finally managed through watering eyes. "You are sticking me in as XO?"

"Yes I am." Elijah said to him.

He flopped back in the chair defeated, "Someone I arrested must really have it in for me." His eyes narrowed as he looked at Elijah's grin, "It is you , isn't it?"

"You're the best candidate." Elijah commented to him. ,"You have the experience, the ear of the Crew and I would trust you with my life."

Bertrand glowered, recovering his dry wit, "Then you are a very poor judge of character. Oh, all right. I can here the walls going up in your head. You've got your mind set and I am not going to win this fight. There may be members of the crew who are not thrilled, truth be told, but I never took a job to be liked."

He looked at what little was left in his glass, having spilled much of it. He gulped the morsel in a single swig and returned to his feet. I will need to see about getting someone up into Chief of Security and Chief of Tactical. We'll also need someone for 2XO. Personally, I'd recommend the Thux, if he can deport himself in diplomatic situations without threatening alien delegates."

The Captain nodded. "Agreed."

"Well, then. I better see about reassigning quarters," Bertrand said and then something struck him. He remembered the suspected intrusion from the previous night. "The sooner the better. I think I might have a good task for whoever steps up as head of Security."

"You will also be required to wear red." Elijah said with a chuckle. "You will be staying at Lieutenant Commander for the time being."

"Small mercies," Bertrand grumbled returning the empty glass to the table.

The two of them continued to share the bottle of Brandy as they planned their next course of action with the Victory.