The boatswain’s whistle trilled down every hall and corridor.
[All hands, this is the XO speaking. All Senior Staff, Report to Transporter Room One in Ten Minutes. All Senior Staff, Transporter Room One, in Full Dress Uniform in Ten Minutes. Stern Out.]
————-
The announcement buzzed like wildfire across the ranks. It wasn’t often that the senior staff were called together outside general conference, and at this hour? Just before the start of the ship-wide mixer? Something major was going down.
Pi and V’era met up in the hallway just outside the Transporter room. Both stoic and proper, Pi held out his hand for V’era to go first, a testament to his southern heritage. As the doors swung open, Commander Stern and Doctor Roptojmey were already inside waiting, with a Petty Officer standing by the transport controls.
“Commander, reporting in as ordered,” Pi announced.
“Commander Pi, Lieutenant V’era! Excellent! Everyone should be along shortly.” Stern exclaimed.
“Might I inquire as to the meaning of the summons, Commander?” V’era asked respectfully.
“We will be going over that as soon as everyone else arrives.” The XO remarked, just as the doors to the Transporter Room opened again. This time, Clara entered in full dress uniform. The blue highlights in her hair were touched up to perfectly match the blue of her uniform shoulders. Roptojmey smiled as she entered and motioned for her to join him at his side, as part of the medical division.
Moments later, Lieutenant Kroller and Lieutenant Commander Brannigan were next to enter, to no surprise to all, together. The Bolian officer helped the Andorian straighten his uniform in the last minutes.
“Are we missing anyone?” Stern asked, looking at the collection of officers.
Zach’s head bobbed around, making a mental headcount, “Think were missing the new Security guy.”
Jessica shook her head, “That’s fine. Ok. Thank you all for reporting in promptly. I have been notified by command that our new Captain will be coming aboard in the next five minutes.”
The weight of her declaration hit like a torpedo. Roptojmey and Clara were in the back of the group and were able to hide their reactions, yet none were more devastated than Zach. “But…the party is literally in an hour!?” he weakly protested.
Stern held up her hand, “I know, and we knew there was a risk when scheduling this. All we can do now is wait for them to come aboard and see what their decision is on the matter. They asked that all senior staff be present and accounted for inspection upon their arrival, so that is what we will do.”
“Well, look on the bright side, Brannigan. We will have a resolution to your pool shortly.” Pi chimed in.
“A shame I was not able to accumulate enough data to make a prediction in time,” V’era added.
The doors to the Transporter room slid open again, and a disheveled Michael entered, completely missing his uniform jacket. “Sorry, I can’t find my Dress uniform for the life of me!” He hurriedly explained to Jessica as she looked towards him.
“Its fine, take the station there, Petty Officer, you are dismissed.” She ordered flatly.
“Ohhh, first impression, and he’s so going to be in so much hot water for that…” Zach whispered in a hushed tone to the collection of officers around him.
“Commander, I can run and grab my extra jacket for him real quick…” Kiff began to ask, but was silenced by a hand motion from Jessica.
“Thank you, Lieutenant, but there isn’t time for that.” She remarked.
Kiff turned to the Transporter Controls, where Michael had positioned himself and mouthed a quiet ‘Sorry’. Michael simply shook his head, mouthing back, ‘It’s ok.’
Pulling out a mini PADD, Jessica verified the time and looked to Michael at the controls. He gave a nod, which was reciprocated by her. She pulled out a small device from her pocket and placed it to her lips. The sound of the boatswain whistle ran out, “Officers to Attention!”
The collection of personnel in the Transporter room lined up in two rows of three on either side of the transporter pad. Commander Roptojmey, Lieutenant Sanders, and Lieutenant Commander Pi on one side, with Lieutenant Commander Brannigan, Lieutenant Kroller, and Lieutenant V’era on the other. Commander Stern stood between them, looking towards the transporter pad in anticipation of the arrival of their commanding officer. “Engage.” She ordered.
Michael initiated the transporter controls, and despite being at the form of attention, everyone’s peripheral vision was locked on the transport pad to catch a glimpse of who would materialize. A figure appeared, three meters tall and quite stocky, as the transport buffer slowly began to materialize a shape. Yet as the form took a more solid structure,
everyone in attendance could tell this was not a person beaming in at all, but a stack of three suitcases, one on top of the other. A red command jacket hung from the topmost case, with 4 pips pinned to the collar. As the transport completed, there was a hushed silence. The position of attention had been abandoned as most everyone turned to face the luggage, confused.
“Captain briefcase…some assembly required…” Zach mumbled under his breath, but loud enough that both Kiff and Clara snickered at the joke. Jessica remained still, calm, looking dead ahead at the luggage on the transporter pad. As most eyes turned to look to her for answers, another voice broke the silence.
“Oh, that’s where I left my jacket…” came the voice behind the Transporter Controls. The realization hit everyone at once, as Michael, the ‘New Potential Security Chief’ walked casually away from the controls, and up onto the Transport Pad. He took the jacket hanging off the suitcase and slipped it on, leaving the jacket open as he turned to face the congregation.
The ship-wide announcement system pinged on all frequencies, as Commander Stern’s voice echoed through every crevice of the Dragon.
[Attention all hands. Attention all hands. It is my privilege to announce that the USS Dragon NCC-89882, is now under the command of Captain Michael Belanor Angelus.]
At the conclusion of the announcement, the face of Captain Angelus began to appear on display screens across the ship, putting to rest the wild rumors that had alluded to the arrival of their captain, as well as putting a proper face to the name. Some crewmen looked at this with ease and wonder, seeing a young and vibrant captain. Some looked at his face with recognition, seeing that very man casually roaming the ship the day before. And some, such as Lieutenant Commander Darren in engineering, looked at the face on the screen, and buried his own face in his hands in deep regret.
But locally, Michael took in the reactions of his Senior Staff. This was the first time he had come across Lt. V’era, so her blank expression was understandable. Pi gave Michael a telling nod, while Kiff and Zach looked shellshocked by the news.
“I want to apologize for the ruse. I wanted to get a chance to get a feel for the ship before formally taking command, and I can say I am thoroughly pleased with what I have seen in my 24 hours as a security officer aboard the ship. And though I may have met with most of you under false pretenses, nothing I had said to you in that time was a lie or deception.” Michael proclaimed. “I look forward to working with you all…but in the meantime.”
Stepping down from the Transporter pad, Michael stood before Zachary, looking up at the Andorian who was a good 6 inches taller than him. Despite the height difference, Brannigan looked to be almost sweating in anticipation as the captain stared him down. “Commander Brannigan…” Michael declared.
“Yes, sir?” Zach answered hesitantly.
“I believe you’re throwing a party for me soon, huh?” Michael asked, with a slight smirk.
Zach’s eyes lit up in excitement, almost breaking his formal standing before the captain, before snapping back to attention, “Sir, yes sir!” he declared joyfully.
“Well, get to it. The ship is on leave until tomorrow morning at 0700. I want final checks on all stations at that time, as we disembark at 0900. Dismissed!”
Zachary broke ranks first, and nearly bearhugged Michael in his excitement, before letting go and shaking the Captain’s hand eagerly, and running out of the Transporter Room to finalize the party. Kiff was next to take Michael’s hand, shaking it warmly, feeling good about his instinct to try to help his fellow officer in need.
Pi was next, still holding the telling grin on his face, “So, we still on for breakfast?”
“I’ll ask them to add Biscuits and Gravy to the Morning Mess Menu,” the captain remarked with a smile.
As everyone filed out one by one, Lt. V’era remained. “I take it by your lack of shock that you were in on this ruse?” She asked a question geared towards Clara. “Yes, but I was sworn to secrecy.” She confessed, looking back at Michael with a smile.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant.” Michael formally introduced himself, holding out his hand. V’era took his handshake, locking eyes with him, “And a Betazoid. You hid among the sheep, secretly rooting out the true nature of the crew before revealing yourself. A textbook Romulan approach, Captain.” She concluded, before departing the transporter room.
“Was…that a compliment?” Michael asked, unsure.
“From her? I’m fairly certain it was the highest of flattery, sir.” Clara affirmed.
“Permission to let loose, captain?” Jessica interrupted, still standing at attention.
“Might as well get it while we can, Commander. Permission Granted!” Michael confirmed.
Jessica reached up and pulled a pin from her hair that was holding it up in a tight bun, and let her hair flow down past her shoulders, as she effortlessly, with one hand, undid the clasps of her uniform jacket.
Clara came up from behind, taking Michael by the arm, “And you’re not escaping this one, the party is for you, ya know. Doctors’ Orders.”
Michael looked to Clara to protest, but Jessica approached, taking his other arm in hand as the two started to guide him out of the Transporter room. Michael quickly turned to Roptojmey for aid.
“Don’t look at me, she’s your therapist.” The Klingon declared, holding his hands up in submission as he watched the pair take the captain out.
Standing alone in the Transporter room, Roptojmey smiled, the vibrancy of youth around him touching the heart of his soul, as with the laughter of the officers in the corridor, he too could hear his own daughters laugher fill the air.
“I’m going to need SOOO many Hangover Hypos…” he finally said to himself, as he shook his head, and left the room.
[To be continued]
