OOC>> Sorry for the delay, but my move is complete and I again have
internet access. :)
=Ten Forward=
=USS Malta=
Trent sat alone, sitting off to the side looking out at the stars streaking
by. He had a glass in one hand and a bottle in the other. He was reflecting
on the fact that one of the ships that saved the lives of himself and many
of his crew of the Lancelot was now shipping him to his new assignment.
It was right then when Admiral Jefferson walked over to where he was
sitting.
"Mind if I join you, Captain?" Jefferson asked.
"Go right ahead," Trent replied.
A somber looking Jefferson took a seat, not minding Trent's total disregard
of a superior officer, an admiral at that.
"I just went over the latest causality reports," Jefferson said. "After the
Dominion War, I was hoping we'd never have to go through anything like
that again."
"I've seen those reports," Trent said, taking a drink from his glass.
Leland watched Trent and looked at the glass and bottle.
"Mind if I have a drink of whatever your having?" Leland asked. "I could
probably use it now."
"Sure, but it's just water," Trent stated, still looking out at at the stars.
"Yeah, and I'm still a young, wet behind the ears cadet," Jefferson grinned
as he grabbed the bottle and and took a drink before spitting it out. "What
the hell ..."
"I told you it was just water," Trent said, then added. "Cadet."
"When do you just drink water?"
"I'm trying to quit drinking alcohol beverages..." Trent explained. "... with
the children and everything. Besides, I'm not as young as I use to be."
Trent finally looked at the admiral.
"But you are making that extremely difficult, sending me out to UNITY,
making me task force XO as the spur of the moment."
"You could have resigned from starfleet," Jefferson said.
"I had resigned from starfleet. You brought me back, remember?"
Jefferson nodded as Trent looked away again, his gaze again focused at the
stars.
"Besides, you would have come up with some lame excuse to keep me in this
damn uniform," Trent continued.
"Maybe ..." Jefferson said.
Trent shook his head and took another drink of water.
"I take it Commodore Guzman isn't too pleased to have me being forced upon
him as his new XO," Trent said.
"No, not really."
Trent nodded, "I don't blame him."
"He's a good officer. He'll get over it."
Trent nodded again, but remained silent.
"Have you contacted your brother, yet?" Leland asked.
"No."
"He doesn't know your coming?"
"No."
"When do you plan on talking to him?"
"When I get there. Eventually. When I have time."
Leland shook his head, "Your brother I understand. Your father I understood.
You? I don't think I'll ever figure you out?"
Just then, Trent stood.
"Captain?"
"Sir, if you'll excuse me. I have a couple of bottles of vodka in my quarters."
"But I thought you quit drinking."
"Like I said, you make it difficult."
Leland nodded as Trent walked out of Ten-Forward leaving the admiral sitting
alone.
Captain Trent Rodgers
XO, 1st TF, SSF Command
XO, SB 234: UNITY
and
Rear Admiral Leland Jefferson (npc by Rick)
Deputy Commanding Officer
Joint Defense Command
Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don't worry about storage limits. Check it out.