"Back To Base-ics"
(Previous post: Tiffany's 'A Few Questions...')
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Bridge
As the executive officer of the HATHOR looked at the
view screen it displayed the rear section of the USS
ANUBIS which was about 15 minutes ahead of the
DEFIANT-X class ship. Most of the bridge crew was a
buzz about the human that was transported off the
Cardassian freighter but the XO/CEO's mind was
elsewhere... the success of the mission.
The ANUBIS and HATHOR's crew didn't have to set foot on
SURIAL III... which David was thankful for. But the
reason they were there... Enaii... was the ILO safe?
Was she up and about after weeks of disembodiment. How
was Sabrina's spirits? Or Talia's for that matter? The
XO/CEO shook his head as a hand touched his shoulder.
"A penny for your thoughts number one?" Serenna said
as the massive engineer looked in her direction.
"They stopped making pennies a long time ago Captain"
David replied, "but 2 bars of gold pressed latinum
might get you an answer."
"Bribing a Starfleet officer... and *the* commanding
officer I might add could get you time in the brig."
"Well... we all know that me and Starfleet brigs are
the best of friends" David replied as Serenna patted
his shoulder.
"David... I'm sor..."
"No you're not," the HATHOR XO replied, "as through as
you are Captain it would be out of character for you
to not be true to who you are. But to answer your
question, I just have a lot on my mind."
"Such as?" Serenna asked.
"The mission. The Imperians. The damage they did to
the HATHOR. The ass chewing I'm going to get from Jack
when we get back," and David sighed, "you know... there
hasn't been a mission since we joined Koniki's
operation that we've taken a ship out and not had it
damaged in some way. They're going to drum me out of
the engineering corps for sure."
"Well... I'm certain they wouldn't do that. But in case
they do," and she tugged at his collar, "red *does*
look good on you Lieutenant."
"I'll remember that when I'm looking for a new job
Commander," David replied dryly.
Serenna nodded to the small ready room port side of
the bridge and David followed. Once inside, Serenna
looked her Academy classmate and friend in his eyes.
"Out with it David. Something's really bothering you."
David's shoulders sagged slightly. "Its the mission.
You know... we haven't heard a word on Enaii's
condition. Were they successful in retrieving her?
What's her status? How..."
Serenna raised her hands and inwardly she smiled. This
surely wasn't the David Dawson of old. She knew David
to be a compassionate man, but only when it served him
or whomever he was seeing at the time. She remembered
the open way he displayed affection when he and
Captain Rikar was dating and it turned her stomach at
times. But this time it was genuine.
"In due time David, we'll find out. Right now, why
don't you get some..."
David's eyes flared and narrowed. "No disrespect but
I'll do when you do Captain."
"It wasn't a suggestion Lieutenant."
"I know. Neither was mine." David replied.
"Blatant defiance of a commanding officer. This
doesn't look good for you Lieutenant."
"I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't make sure
that my CO didn't get her proper rest. So if she
refuses to leave the bridge, I as the executive
officer will make sure she doesn't fall asleep in her
command chair."
"Still stubborn til the end," Serenna said with a smirk.
"Well... that's another thing we have in common don't we." David replied as he waved his hand toward the door. As they re entered the bridge Serenna made a bee line for the door leading off the command deck of the HATHOR.
"We have a long journey home ahead of us. You have the bridge number one." Serenna said with a slight grin to her XO.
"Aye sir," David replied as he picked a PADD up off the
engineering console and sat in the command chair. As
he entered into the ship's log to him being in
command, his mind drifted back to Enaii. Of all that
had happened to him in the past... the outbursts, the
reprimands, his court martial and apparent death and
resurrection he had a lot to be thankful for. He had
paid the price, but Enaii's was much higher. How would
she cope? How would her family cope? How would the
rest of the crew cope now that the ILO is back with
them? And more importantly, how would she react to him
now? There was always a rift between the ILO and the
XO/CEO. He knew for a fact that Enaii's eyes were
everywhere when it came to the ANUBIS, thanks to the
IGC. She would have had to known about his reaction
after the MERCURY's crew was brought back and the
ramifications of his actions that followed. The FCO's
voice brought the HATHOR exec out of his reverie.
"We'll be entering Federation space soon. ETA to..."
"Let's just enjoy the ride Ensign. We're in no hurry
or a big rush." David said looking at the
Vulcan/Terran hybrid.
"Aye sir." Ensign Stormwind replied as he swiveled his
chair to face the viewscreen.
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as
Lieutenant David Dawson
and
Executive Officer/Chief Engineer
"A Starfleet officer... that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2006 post #131
Stardate: 60342.1330
Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
USS HATHOR NCC 74211
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
