Reunions

Posted on Sun Oct 23rd, 2011 @ 11:11pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Provisional Lieutenant Commander Narayn Ballard & Captain Alan MonRoe [PNPC] & Lieutenant Commander Richard Blessed [PNPC]

Mission: Old Relics
Location: USS Endeavour
Timeline: MD01 1145hrs

"Captain MonRoe was one of the few command officers to remain exactly where he was during the War," Byrne was telling his XO as the pair walked down the corridors of the Endeavour towards the transporter room. "He entered the war on the Antarctic, came out of it on her, and never once left her for any adjutant roles or temporary assignments - not that he wasn't offered a seat at the Commodore's table, mind."

"Strange to see that," Ballard said with the memory of reading FNS wires of reassignments, "From what I understand the average Starfleet officer could expect to be reassigned at least twice during the war." Ballard had spent the war on a Vinarian freighter and therefore had littpe to no experience of a wartime Starfleet.

"I got reassigned myself at the start of it to the Hendrix, and I can guarantee there I saw a lot of people to pass through the airlock." The Captain forced himself to keep down a shudder at his casual turn of phrase, as he suddenly remembered one incident during a surprise attack where a trio of crewmen were literally blown out of the airlock after a Jem'Hadar fighter had scored a direct hit on the hatch. "Even after the war I got reassigned when she was destroyed. But no, I think Captain MonRoe is rightfully proud of sticking with the Antarctic - he once commented to me that it had survived much longer than even the Enterprise-D, which was under construction at Utopia Planetia at the same time as the ship's keel was laid."

The two officers were still chatting as they entered transporter room three, the most reliable on the ship, where the Antarctic's command staff would be beaming in two. At a pause in the conversation, Benjamin looked over at the transporter operator, who had been looking at them for a few seconds, clearly wishing to say something. "Captain MonRoe is ready to beam over now, Sir," he informed him.

"Very good, chief. Energise!"

The transporter's familiar hum resonated around the room as the lighting within the transporter pad and its encircling aparatus increased in intensity - Benjamin had never known it to have any practical reason to do so other than for the visual affect - and the blue streams of light began to coalesce above its surface.

"Permission to come aboard?" the middle-aged American at the forefront of the PADD said, smiling as he stepped down from the PADD towards the duo.

"Permission granted. Welcome aboard, Captain," Byrne responded, stepping forwards and reaching out to shake his old mentor's hand. "This is Commander Narayn Ballard, my executive officer," he continued, turning and reaching an arm behind him to indicate the man. "Commander; Captain Alan MonRoe."

"A pleasure, sir." Narayn said with deference, still not entirely used to being referred to as a Commander.

"And this is Lieutenant Commander Richard Blessed, my executive," MonRoe said, after the introductions on Benjamin's side were complete.

"It's a pleasure, sir," Blessed responded, stepping forward to eagerly shake Byrne's hand followed by Ballard's. "Captain MonRoe has told me a lot about you, captain."

"Oh?" Benjamin asked, intrigued. "All good, I hope?"

"Hardly," MonRoe scoffed, clearly enjoying the reunion. "I have to say, those captain's pips look good on your collar though. And this is one fine ship that you've got here."

"The finest in Galactic South, Captain." Ballard interjected, "The Endeavour has seen us through many a scrap."

"We'll see about that, Commander," MonRoe responded. "But perhaps for now a tour would suffice? I've heard a lot about these Sovereign ships, but I've never actually been on one."

"Of course," Benjamin said, turning and indicating the way out of the transporter room. "After you."

"Well, gentlemen. Given that this is your first time aboard a Sovereign class, is there anything I can interest you in seeing first?" Ballard said as he led the group down the corridor.

"I hear you have a pretty advanced warp core to power this thing," Blessed said, as he strolled alongside his counterpart first officer. "For the specs of a ship like this it must be capable of putting out a tremendous amount of power."

"Former engineer," MonRoe quipped to Byrne, as the two captains walked just behind their executives. "Always wanting to get a look at somebody else's toys."

"That can be arranged, gentlemen." Ballard said. "Let me just call ahead and make sure Lieutenant Commander Dekur has the place looking ship-shape and Bristol-fashion."

----------------
Captain Benjamin J. Byrne
Commanding Officer
USS Endeavour

&

Prov. Lt. Commander Narayn Ballard
First Officer
USS Endeavour

With:

Captain Alan MonRoe (PNPC)
Commanding Officer
USS Antarctic

&

Lt. Commander Richard Blessed (NPC)
First Officer
USS Antarctic