The Captain's New Clothes

Posted on Tue Feb 28th, 2012 @ 5:55am by Captain Alexander Gunning

Mission: The Mystery Men of Mira
Location: Captain Gunning's Quarters - Deck 26
Timeline: One Month On From "The Battle Of Thane"

[ON]

Gunning stood staring at his reflection. He craned his neck this way and that but he couldn't get comfortable. The rigidity of the tunic's neck seemed to restrict his movement in pretty much every way. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen a change of uniform in Starfleet and he couldn't comprehend why they had chosen them to pilot the uniforms. He pinched the front of the jacket and pulled it outward. There was no doubt about it, the collar size didn't match the rest of the duty jacket.

"Computer," he said removing the jacket and placing it inside the receptacle, "rematerialise Command Jacket. Same measurements but with a slightly wider collar. Two centimetres ought to do it."

The black jacket disappeared in a haze of blue as a small counter appeared on the display. It would apparently take the computer two minutes to reassemble the jacket. Lieutenant O'Connell must be running one of his diagnostics. The Captain thought as he stepped back to the mirror.

The undershirt of the uniform was a deep wine red although seemed to be at least a couple of shades lighter than the previous design. The whole thing had a much more utilitarian, militaristic feel to it, with its rank pips on the chest and newly refined combadge. It looked sleek and modern- much more befitting a team on the cutting edge of Starfleet.

It wasn't perfect though, he observed as he looked down at his feet. The trousers were cut with a red trim and parted in a V at the tip of the boot. He shook his head. It would take some getting used to.

He examined his face closely in the mirror. The last month had taken its toll on him. He had lost weight and was starting to look drawn and tired. His stubble seemed less the deliberate statement of a Starfleet Commander at the pioneering edge of space and more like a desperate old man trying to cling to active duty. Come on now, Alex, he berated himself, you're only forty. A bit of grey never hurt anyone.

The computer chirruped its completion of his jacket and he lifted it out of the replicator. It was reinforced in all the right places, unlike the previous uniform that looked to hang off the shoulders. This was made to make an impression. Swinging the jacket around his shoulders and fastening it up the front, he realised that it was not just a new uniform he would have to get used to, it was a whole new set of colours.

How was he supposed to remember that the pilots would now be wearing blue and the Diplomatic Corps purple? It was made worse by the fact that Tactical & Security officers would now be wearing red. He wasn't elitist, he had just spent so long understanding things one way, only to be a little suspicious of the change.

He placed his rank pips carefully on the jacket, which felt significantly more comfortable around the neck, and glanced at himself in the mirror. Only one thing missing. He placed the sleek communicator badge onto the jacket at the appointed level and stood back. He stuck his arms out to his side as he regarded himself in the mirror.

I can work with this, he thought as he tapped his combadge. He had an appointment to keep. "Commanders Prax and Von, please meet me in the Main Hangar Observation Lounge."

[OFF]

Captain Alex Gunning
Commanding Officer
Starbase 332