Extra!! Extra!! The press arrival

Posted on Mon Sep 21st, 2015 @ 11:51pm by Duff McAllister

Mission: By Dawn's Early Light
Location: SB332

Duff looks out of the windows of the freighter and watches the stars go by. Rubbing his left leg absentmindedly his thoughts float back over the last year.

Sitting on the podium while Admiral Churchill speaks he sees a sudden movement out of the corner of his eye. Moving quickly he steps between the dark clad figure and the Admiral just as a grenade clanks on the heavy metal deck plating.

Taking a deep breath Duff can almost smell the burnt flesh, he flexes his left leg. Almost a year spent in recovery and rehab fixed the vast majority of the physical damage, but it did not repair the mental flashbacks or the mental scars. He tried to return to the Admiral's staff. but found he struggled sometimes remaining focused on the duties that were required of him. Choosing to leave on his own terms Duff retired from Starfleet.

Duff returned to the Gulf Coast for awhile and worked in his father's shop but he missed being in space. Deciding to use his skills that were honed in Starfleet Duff called a friend of his and was able to secure a job as a reporter. It wasn't his original goal in life, but if you are going to do something do it well, his father always said.

Duff had been covering the weekly press conferences for about a month since starting his new job. An old fleet buddy "Ensign Smith" contacted him about some things that were occurring at SB332. The rumor was that Sojourners had made some sort of attack at the Starbase. At their weekly press conference the Admiralty declined any comments related to the starbase itself. Starfleet remained as tight lipped as ever. Knowing this was his chance at catching a break and getting his name as a reporter established he spoke to the Editor Peter Jameson. After explaining his tip and what little he knew Peter agreed there was definitely more to the story.

Excitedly Duff had caught a ride on a freighter that was taking building supplies to SB332. Normally he would have waited for a proper civilian transport ship but he thought if there was construction then there must have been some sort of damage that was being covered up.

The hiss of pressure locks woke Duff from his reverie as the ship docked to the Starbase. Excitedly Duff stood up and walked to the exit of the ship. He was about to embark on his second career, and was looking forward to the unique challenges that it would bring.

Slowly he walked through the airlock with a slight limp with his sea bag on his back. He had learned to travel lightly years ago, and he had no idea how long he would be staying at the Starbase anyway.

Standing in the cargo unloading area he took a deep breath, "Home sweet home" he mumbled to himself, as he traveled to the turbo lift that would take him to the main deck.