An Unexpected Change

Posted on Sun May 29th, 2011 @ 9:51am by Captain Alexander Gunning & Lieutenant Commander Nilani Prax

Mission: In Defiance Of Orders
Location: Commanding Officer's Office [Ops - Deck 12]
Timeline: Before Thaden is reported missing.

[ON]

Gunning sat staring at the preposterously large viewscreen in the Ops compartment of the Starbase. In the centre, lay the real-time view of the station's docking areas. Exciting stuff- once he'd seen one merchant ship on an approach vector to the station, he'd seen them all.

On the left and right hand sides of the display lay complicated figures and sensor statistics which were only of any interest to the docking controllers but, he had noticed, some officers pretended to take a great interest in them when they should have been focussed on other things.

The communications hub to the rear of the Operations Centre was always a hive of activity as chattering voices diverted comm traffic both local and through sub-space. Gunning had never envied Communications Officers their jobs.

One of the gold-collared personnel piped up across the din of the room. "Captain Gunning, I have priority communications from Headquarters coming through."

Christ. He thought, knowing that he'd only just got rid of Admiral Reinhart. "I'll take it in my office." He called back over the noise.

"Mister Gunning," came the Spanish-American accent of the fleet commander over the subspace channel. "I trust everything is going well on SB332?"

Gunning almost jumped out of his skin at the sight of the Fleet's commanding officer on his screen. "Uhh... yes, sir. Everything's settling down nicely. Getting into the routine and all that." He considered his next question for a moment. "How are things at headquarters?"

Sanchez smiled. It wasn't often he got asked that, at least not by someone he didn't have regular contact with. Though that might change regarding Gunning, considering what his call was regarding. "Fairly well. The Gorn state visit delegation has just departed, but the security arrangements ensured it went by without a hitch." The Gorn and Cestus had a bit of a troubled history; aside from the destruction of the colony in the twenty third century, the Gorn had attacked Cestus III once again during the Dominion War, before the USS Enterprise-E was able to convince them to sign a treaty with the Federation for the war effort. It had helped that the Federation's strongest allies, the Klingons, were but a stone's throw away.

Idiot! Gunning thought to himself as the Admiral finished speaking. You don't turn round to the bloody Commanding Officer of the fleet and ask how things are going! "To what do we owe the pleasure, Admiral?" He asked, trying to save himself a level of embarrassment.

"I have news of a new appointment that will be of importance to Stabase 332, Captain, that I felt I should inform you of in person. Due to the increasing prominence of Starfleet's operations in this region, Command and I feel the need to appoint a commander for all ships within the Archanis Sector, especially with the Ritorans so close to our borders." He paused slightly, before continuing. "This is not a posting which a starship commander can hold, and unfortunately it is not a position suitable to an officer at the rank of Captain, either."

Gunning felt his heart sink a little at that statement. He had received his promotion to Captain not long ago and it had felt like he was on top of the world. Now, it seemed to be a hinderance to him continuing in his job. He swallowed his pride, "Am I to be reassigned, Admiral?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so," the Admiral said, his expression deadly serious. "Considering the options we have available, I've had no choice but to assign Commodore Alexander Gunning as the new commander of the Archanis Sector, and Starbase 332."

Gunning stared glassily at the screen. He didn't really have any words to articulate the wave of elation that had washed over him. He wasn't entirely bothered about the promotion, if he was honest but the relief of getting to keep his command was overwhelming.

"Thank you, Sir." Was the best response he could come up with.

Sanchez finally cracked a smile and chuckled. "Congratulation, Commodore. I want you to let my office know if you need anything from us to upgrade the station's status for its new role. I know for one you're likely going to need a personal attaché to assist you in your new duties."

"I would appreciate that, sir." He replied flatly. He'd never had someone who was at his beck and call. He wasn't sure that he'd like it much. "We might benefit from another garrison vessel if the Eleventh can spare one. The Jackal is a fine ship but she doesn't offer much in the way of scientific space. I'm currently assigning a survey mission to one of our smaller garrisons. We're having to set up Lieutenant Prax in the little cargo bay."

"Starfleet had distributed us an assignment of scientific survey vessels at my request, in order to expand our academic endeavours in this part of the Quadrant. I'm sure I can send one of them your way."

"That would be much appreciated, Admiral. Thank you."

[OFF]

Admiral Roman Sanchez
Pegasus Fleet Commanding Officer
[Played by Lieutenant Prax]

Commodore Alexander Gunning
Operational Commanding Officer - Archanis Sector
Commanding Officer - Starbase 332