The Montreal
Posted on Fri Aug 29th, 2014 @ 6:17am by Commander Jordan Gunning & Lieutenant Augustus Deakin & Commander Titus Livius Drusus PhD
Mission:
Vagrants, Vagabonds, and Thieves
Location: Internal Docking Port 25 [Starbase 332]
Timeline: MD10: 1600hrs.
The large airlock door rolled aside and Lieutenant Commander Titus Drusus stormed out with his jaw set and an irritated scowl on his face.
He had just completed his first mission in command of a starship and everything had gone seamlessly right up until the very last step. Having not long finished his command certification, Titus, a science officer, had been given the task of commanding the USS Montreal on a simple transfer cruise from Cestus to Starbase 332. They had left Cestus, no trouble. The warp between the two systems, piece of cake. Getting clearance to dock at the Montreal's new home, however, was problematic.
"I'm sorry, Montreal," the docking controller had said, genuine sympathy in her voice. "But we have no record of those orders."
Titus's Magna Roman blood started to boil as the back and forth between the ship and the starbase went on and on and it looked like they might end up being turned away. This was a disaster. Fortunately, he had been able to reason with the hapless docking controller's superior, who permitted docking pending confirmation from Fleet HQ. And even that was only after he transmitted their orders and threatened to bring the admiralty down on the ensign's head.
Now, faced with the prospect of failure at his very first test, he downloaded the transfer orders to a PADD and made for the airlock, leaving Yzhara in command.
Always a stickler for protocol, not even Titus's temper could stop him from pausing at the threshold and uttering those four words, "Permission to come aboard?"
Drusus found himself eye-to-eye with the incredibly perplexed Commander Jordan Gunning and equally confused Lieutenant Augustus Deakin who, fresh from their experiences on Bellatrix II, had returned to the station and immediately been flung into a refugee crisis.
Gunning had managed an hour of sleep in the two days since their return and had been left carrying the can for Station Security in addition to his own department and being Officer of the Watch while Commander Ratchford dealt directly with the N'Veci leader.
Long story short, Gunning was knackered and having an erroneous Diligent-class turn up on their doorstep wasn't helping.
"Permission granted, I guess." Gunning replied wearily as he took in the imposing form in front of him. "You'll have to excuse us, Commander. We just don't have any record of the Montreal being due here. Have you heard anything, Deakin?"
Gus looked the blue uniformed officer up and down and shook his head. "Afraid not," he said. He hadn't slept at all since returning to a Starbase in the middle of an operations nightmare. He shrugged and added, "But then why would I need to know something like that?"
"Regardless- where are my manners. Commander Jordan Gunning, strategic ops. This is Lieutenant Gus Deakin, he heads up our Operations department on the station."
Titus nodded to each in turn and replied, "Lieutenant Commander Titus Drusus." He handed the PADD over to Gunning and continued, "You'll find all of the required orders in here, Commander. The Montreal is being transferred as a garrison ship to Starbase 332 and her crew, myself included, are coming with her. There aren't many of us, but I'm sure we can help."
The operations officer leaned forward, nosily trying to see the PADD that Gunning held.
Gunning flicked through the PADD's contents, skim reading it and tilting it so that it was within Deakin's field of view. Everything seemed to check out. The Montreal seemed to have had a bit of a stop-start beginning to her service career, something which happened all too often with ships in Galactic South. Half the time it was decided that they were needed closer to the core.
The manifest contained the names of one Lieutenant Yzhara, a Doctor Brand and a security officer whose name wasn't listed and their transfer orders were signed by Vice Admiral Quinn. Drusus himself seemed to have been assigned as Acting Chief Science Officer, a position they'd been without since they lost Lieutenant Commander Prax.
"Looks like someone's finally remembered we're down here, Gus." Gunning said as jovially as he could muster under the circumstances. "Your Cee-Oh isn't listed on here."
"We don't have one," Titus said, shaking his head. "I was given command for the cruise here and was told she'd be billeted a commanding officer after joining the garrison at Three-Three-Two. I understand I'm to act as XO."
"Fair enough." Jordan said as he handed the PADD back to Drusus. "We'll take you up to Ops and give you the grand tour while we straighten things out with headquarters."
Commander Jordan Gunning
Chief of Strategic Operations
Lieutenant Augustus Deakin
Chief Operations Officer
Lieutenant Commander Titus Drusus [NPC: Deakin]
Acting Chief Science Officer / Executive Officer
Starbase 332 / USS Montreal
