These 5 tracks are matched to the 5 stories of the USS Truckee's mission "New CO, Who Dis?"
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3MLZNRbvU5LiPubqvxiIRR?si=tcr_RFb_QYKQV-BOBmiGiw
Track 1: Slims, by Neil Cowley Trio - This track, like the opening story of the USS Truckee's first mission, has a pretty melancholy mood. I think it reflects Captain Beardsly's mood here nicely. He is alone, in the Alaskan Wilderness, and about to embark on another journey of loneliness - command. The song does have some more hopeful refrains, and Captain Beardsly is indeed pleased with receiving his own ship, though he has no one to really share his success with.
Track 2: Don't You Know, by Jan Hammer Group - This is an upbeat, groovy little track. Captain Beardsly had his moment of reflection on Earth, but now that he's onboard his new ship, it's go time. Greeted by his old friend, his spirits are high. Beardsly wants to set a light tone with his new crew, setting the foundation for working together vice being the aloof leader. This lyrics of the track are simple, delivering a message of caring, which is what Beardsly wants his crew to see.
Track 3: Felicidade, by Vince Guaraldi Trio - This melody to this track is a fairly simple groove. It has an interesting, slightly mysterious feel to it. LT Rakes is doing what she loves, working on machinery, but it's tedious, because nothing new is happening; she has nothing interesting to do. This has lasted for days. The melody of this track ALMOST goes on long enough to become tedious. Imagine it for hours. Fortunately for the listener, and for LT Rakes, the melody/monotony is interrupted by some improvisation. The ship is suddenly breaking from schedule to take on a dynamic mission. When the USS Truckee reaches its destination safely, the track's melody returns. The story closes with a simple dialogue between captains, making plans but not yet executing.
Track 4: One Percent, by GoGo Penguin - This track starts off with a quiet, building tension. The USS Truckee has laid a trap, and the crew is nervously waiting to see if their enemy will take the bait. The track starts to build as the enemy appears and engages the USS Truckee. The track continues into a fast-paced, sort of desperate feel, as the USS Truckee enters combat unsteadily. Battle is tense, as the untested crew of the untested starship lays it on the line to stop the pirates. The track quiets down briefly, just as the battle ends. Before you can catch your breath, the tension returns as the "friendly" Cardassians return with their demands. Ending in a disjointed chaos, the track reflects the feelings of Captain Beardsly as his bridge crew who barely had time to process the battle was done before their allies came in and simply claimed their prize.
Track 5: Blackbird, by Jeff Beck, and Suspension, by Jeff Beck - I paired these two songs with the closing story of the mission. The first track rolls right into the next. In the opening of the story, Beardsly reflects on the mission he's writing a report for. While he effectively stopped the bad guy, he broke the rules of his actual mission. Like the blackbird mimicking the guitar, it was musical, but not quite the same lyrical riffs. Suspension is a thoughtful piece, lending itself to reflection. Beardsly considers his future, both as a captain, and as a mentor/partner to his new XO. He hopes for success, but will have to wait and see, despite their brief discussion. Suspension doesn't let up with its questioning mood, and fades out, leaving the listener waiting for the answer.
Bravo Fleet
