Backup

Posted on Mon Jan 30th, 2012 @ 6:38pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Captain Alan MonRoe [PNPC] & Commander Jaeih Andorzai

Mission: Deep Space 19
Location: USS Antarctic
Timeline: MD05 2112hrs

As Benjamin materialised on the transporter pad of the Antarctic's transporter room three - he could tell, as it was the only one that Chief Weig ever operated when there was another starship captain or some alien dignitary beaming aboard - he took a look at his surroundings. It was good to be back on this old ship, especially after nearly a week of spending almost every waking hour of his day working to get Deep Space 19 operational.

"Permission to come aboard?" he asked his old friend with a smirk, as he stepped down from the pad to the decking.

"I see you've stumbled across something big and conspicuous at last, Ben," Alan MonRoe commented, as he shook his friend's hand.

"And I see you've found what appears to be a new first officer," Benjamin commented dryly, looking towards the man who was standing next to his friend.

Andorzai seemed startled. He had no idea why he was. He was the new face in the group and it was obvious that he was going to be addressed eventually. He gave a polite nod towards the just-materialised officer. "Commander Jaeih Andorzai, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Good to meet you too, Commander," Benjamin replied, nodding in return. He studied the man for a few minutes, feigning an expression of trying to remember the man's service details; in truth, he had memorised the important bits as soon as he'd heard of Starfleet's replacement order. "Your last posting was as Admiral Reinhart's chief of staff, wasn't it? I hope he's not sending you to keep an eye on me for him," he said with a small smile.

"Not at all, sir." Andorzai replied with a wry grin. "Admiral Reinhart already has eyes and ears everywhere. I think I might be a bit too obvious."

"Some would say that so would hiding a carrier in a debris field, but he tried it anyway," Benjamin quipped. He wasn't sure how sensitive the commander would be about his last mission on the Shiloh - Admiral Reinhart's last operational command - considering that it hadn't exactly gone to plan, but it would be an interesting measure of the man to see how he reacted.

Jaeih's expression didn't change; he was in the habit of being teased for the Admiral's decision- even if they didn't know all the facts. The Shiloh had in fact positioned itself outside long range sensor fields and the USS Savannah had remained inside the Salvage Yard. He would be damned if he was going to pick up his new CO's technical inaccuracies.

"A bold plan that didn't quite pay off, sir." He responded curtly. "I'll happily forward you my report if you think it may affect my judgement."

"Don't worry, Commander," Benjamin said, holding up his hand in front of him in mock defence. "I'm only teasing. I've already read the full, and unabridged report, and I know there's nothing more either of you could have done to alter that mission's outcome."

Benjamin looked over towards MonRoe again. "I understand that you've got a few other officers for me as well?"

The other captain nodded. "Science officers, engineering and operations officers for the most part. Any Starfleet officers and non-coms which were close enough and able to be reassigned for us to pick them up and bring them here." MonRoe shrugged. "There aren't a whole lot, at least not enough based on what our scans have shown of your station there, but Starfleet says there are more on the way. You're even receiving a few of my own crew as transfers."

"I have compiled a detailed transfer list along with information on the extra auxiliary craft which are being delivered both by the USS Antarctic here today and also by a couple of transports which, I'm reliably informed, are only a couple of days away from arriving." Andorzai said, handing a PADD across to the Captain.

Byrne took the PADD, and skimmed through the contents. "Well, at least we'll have a more more hands to muck in, though honestly we need a troop transport's load of personnel in order to be able to get this station operational and running." He tapped a control a couple of times to scroll through the pages. "I want you to take tonight and the morning to settle in Commander, but tomorrow I want you to beam over to DS19 and relieve Commander Ballard. He's running our operations over there are the minute, and he's due to head back with the Antarctic towards Starbase 332."

"In the mean time," MonRoe said, his tone chipper. "I believe it it my turn to offer you dinner, Ben. Why don't you ask that lovely wife of yours to beam over?"

Benjamin smiled, as he stepped around his new first officer, turning towards him as he did so. "Would you pass on the message, Commander? My wife and son will likely be in my quarters at this time of the day."

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Captain Benjamin J. Byrne
Commanding Officer

Commander Jaeih Andorzai
First Officer
USS Endeavour

&

Captain Alan MonRoe
Commanding Officer
USS Antarctic