The Same, But Different

Posted on Sun Sep 3rd, 2023 @ 2:28am by Captain Robert Burke & Lieutenant JG Austin Faust

1,215 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Deck 1 - Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: Previous to Launch

::ON::

Utopia Station One was filled with countless officers and enlisted personnel, many of which heading to their ships while others were departing their ships. In the mix was a young operations officer. He towered over most but not all of the crowd as he made his way towards one of the docking ports. The Okudagram over the airlock read "Hecate, NCC-1963." He squeezed his lanky frame through the crowd and made it into the umbilical cord. Before stepping onto the new Excelsior-class starship he stopped and adjusted his blonde pompadour. The last thing he wanted was to report to his new captain with his hair sticking up at an odd angle.

A chief petty officer stood at the airlock into the ship, along with a security guard. The young man smiled at them and presented his orders.

"Welcome aboard sir," the chief said, nodding at the young man's rank, "the Captain is expecting you."

"Thank you chief, I look forward to becoming acquainted with you and everyone else in operations in the coming days," the young man said before taking back his orders, which his father would colloquially call a "hall pass."

As the young officer made his way through the ship he couldn't shake an odd feeling. Part of him felt at home as the ship was nearly identical to the Excelsior in all things, but then part of him felt alien to him. Everything was out of place, but it wasn't...

The turbolift doors opened. He slid his orders under his arm before making his way to the Captain's Ready Room to report in. He tapped the chime button and waited.

'Enter,' Burke called from the sofa of the Ready Room. He was sprawled over it, jacket undone as he read through the various PADDs and flimsies provided to him on taking command of the vessel. Starfleet Command had suddenly yanked away his Executive Officer, so he was busy working through the shortlist they had provided him. He shifted into a sat position as he took off his glasses and rubbed his face.

The young man stepped inside. As the turbolift doors closed behind him he snapped to attention, "Lieutenant Junior Grade Austin Faust reporting aboard sir," he said. His expression emotionless and professional.

Unfolding from his sat position, Burke nodded at the much younger lieutenant, 'at east, Mister Faust.' He motioned to one of the free comfy chairs on the opposite side to the sofa. 'Make yourself comfortable. You're our new Chief of Operations, aren't you? Would you care for a drink?'

The young man eased up and smiled, "Thank you Captain," he said before accepting the chair. "Ah, maybe a cup of black coffee sir," he said, not wishing to press his luck for something more exotic, especially while on duty.

'Black coffee is a good choice,' Burke smiled as he grabbed the intercom and spoke through the order. 'I have a particular blend I enjoy. I hope you find it to your liking.' As he returned to the sofa he smiled and shrugged apologetically, 'unfortunately you'll find I interfered in some shipments over to make sure we had a supply of them.'

The young man smiled, "Not a problem sir, Captain's prerogative," he responded, "My Dad always tells me if you keep your Captain supplied with his niceties you won't have any problems."

'I don't think you'll hear me contradicting Admiral Faust, Lieutenant,' Burke grinned. 'I never had the pleasure of running in to him, but I've heard plenty of stories about him and your grandfather. Word is, even though you are young, you're making a great addition to the family legacy already. Not many graduates have gotten Excelsior as their first posting.'

The young man blushed and smiled, "Thank you sir," he responded, "Frankly I'm not sure how that posting came to be... Part of me always wondered if it was passive or active neopotism..." He couldn't believe he spoke his mind on this matter, but his new Captain's demeanor put him at ease. "But it was a top notch assignment and I am greatly appreciative to Captain Sulu," he added.

Burke placed his chin in his hand and smiled again, 'I'm sure you had the opportunity to learn a lot from Sulu. A wise man. I once had the pleasure of hearing him lecture at the Academy. Certainly a different character to Kirk.' He paused a moment, then leaned forward, 'I hope you don't feel slighted that you weren't assigned permanently to Excelsior, or the Enterprise for that matter. I understand that the Hecate doesn't have that cache, yet.'

"Heh I hear a new Midway is planned as well, that would be... Weird to me anyway," Austin responded, "And this is how the service is sir, if you want to move up, usually you have to move around... I'm just glad it's another Excelsior and the newest one at that."

'A new Midway?' the Captain echoed, intrigued. 'I'm sure your father would feel it odd too.' He nodded. 'I'm glad you feel that way Lieutenant - I feel myself that accepting new, different assignments and launching ourselves into unfamiliar territory is what pushes us forward as Starfleet personnel, and sentient beings at that. Held in one place, even a flagship, leads to entropy. You clearly have a bright future ahead of you, and I have no doubt that your work aboard Hecate will reflect that.'

"Starfleet enjoys recycling names," Austin commented with a chuckle. "Oh, before I forget, my Dad wanted me to give you this," he said, reaching into his inside breast pocket. "It's not much, but just a small gesture for our launch," he said , extending his hand. On his palm was a command assignment patch of the Midway as launched in 2268. The distinctive gold triangle meant to symbolize the original aircraft carrier's hull and patch. On top was a silver starburst symbolizing the Japanese rising sun and the Battle of Midway, the ultimate namesake of the ships.

'I ... well, I'm touched,' replied Burke as he took the patch and turned it over in his hands. He ran a finger along one of the stitched edges as he examined it. 'The Midway was named after an old Earth naval engagement wasn't it?' Burke looked at Faust and smiled, 'I'm afraid my history is a little hazy when it comes to pre-World War Three.'

"Indirectly," Austin responded, "It's named after the aircraft carrier which was named after the battle. There is an Ares class Midway in the lineage, but she was long decommissioned before the Midway launched in '68."

'Fascinating,' Burke looked at the younger officer, 'we'll have to talk some more over a drink one night. Once we're safely launched, of course. Thank you for reporting in, Mister Faust. Unless you have a further query, I'll allow you to carry on with your work - I'm sure you have more than your plate full at the moment.'

"Of course sir," Austin responded, "Thank you for indulging me." He gave a nod and took his leave of the Captain's quarters.

::OFF::

Captain Robert Burke
Commanding Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant (JG) AustingFaust
Chief Operations Officer
USS Hecate

 

RSS Feed