</\> USS Chimera NCC 96899-C – Chief Tactical Officer's Quarters </\>
After a lengthy walk through the bowels of the Chimera and after
getting more than a little lost in some of the labyrinthine corridors,
Commander Levison reached his new quarters. They were spacious, yes,
comfortable, yes, but lacking completely in any home touches. For the
moment at least. That could wait however, for he had more pressing
concerns. Throwing the duffel bag he had carried around with him for
the past three days from his last posting into a corner, he headed for
the desk that curved in an L-shape in one corner and sat in the
leather chair behind it. His fingers worked the console built into the
top of it with practiced ease and accessed the communications
subroutines.
"Computer, get me a secure channel to the Commanding Officer of the
USS Agamemnon, Eden Fleet Yards patrol," Mike ordered quietly, the
computer responding with its usual happily compliant tone. A few
moments passed as the request was processed through subspace relays
before the Federation symbol that covered the screen before the
Commander was replaced by the face of an old friend.
"Mike! What a pleasure to see you!" came the jovial response from
Lieutenant Commander Kilbain aboard the Agamemnon, "How are you
doing?"
"Very well thanks Greg, how about yourself?" Levison smiled in
response. His friend looked well, his grey hair and beard close-cut
and immaculate as always and it was obvious that command, even of a
patrol vessel, suited him.
"Not too bad, not too bad. I heard you were back in circulation
again. Where is it? Who are you getting to boss around this time?"
Gregory responded with a glint of mischief in his eye and sly grin.
"'Boss around' he says! Boss around! Hmmpf. If you weren't one of my
best friends, I'd have you thrown in the stockade!" Levison returned
without any seriousness and a chuckle, "I'm aboard the Chimera,
heading up the Tactical Department. Literally just got here."
"And you're hailing me the second you got here, because...?" Kilbain
asked, obviously already seeing straight through to Mike's request.
"Well, this is how it is, Commander... I need an exemplary officer,
whom I can trust to come and ride shotgun and watch my back. Someone
needs to help me kick this bunch into shape and you're the man for the
job. So, how 'bout it?" Levison answered, putting forward his request
plainly and simply.
"Mike... you know I would love to, I really would, but I have
responsibilities here. I can't really abandon my ship so easily,"
Kilbain said sadly, his face full of sympathy for the crestfallen look
on his friend's face, "I can give you a list of potential candidates
who would be just as good if you like?"
"No, no, that's okay. I can muddle through," Mike said, a weak smile
forming on his lips, "Not to worry, Greg, I'll be alright."
Kilbain nodded slowly for a moment, an awkward silence passing
between them before he laughed raucously. "I had you going there!"
"Lieutenant Commander Kilbain, you sir, are a git," Levison muttered
grumpily, knowing he had been had completely.
"Yes Mike, yes I am. Of course I'll come across to Chimera. Do you
know just how boring sitting on the bridge of a ship all day long
flying in circles around a Fleet Yard is? Yes, I get to admire some
pretty impressive starships as they're built, but it very quickly
becomes very dull," his friend responded with further laughter.
"Indeed," Mike nodded, "You'd better pack your gear then and get your
ass over here. Report to me at seventeen hundred hours tomorrow or
I'll be leavin' without ye."
"Aye aye Capt... Commander," Kilbain corrected himself, noticing the
absence of his friend's fourth pip and looking pointedly through the
other end of the commline at his collar.
"Long story," Levison sighed, "Gist of it is though, that I took a
demotion in order to take this posting."
"I'd kind of figured that out, Mike. Why?" Gregory responded with a
raised eyebrow.
"Because it's important," Mike shrugged simply, "because being in the
centre chair was getting to be a little too much. I know I did it for
three years, even before that when I was on Trilista Colony as Ex-Oh,
but it was time for me to take a step back. I always felt like I was
doing more protecting people as a Cee-Tac anyway."
"And you were a damn good Captain as well, Mike. You saved a lot of
people over the years, lots of crises you pulled everyone out of. I
don't understand why now you're doing this," Kilbain replied with
puzzlement, but then shrugged, sighed and added, "Well, as long as
you're happy... I'll be heading over there as soon as I've told the
pointy-earred bastard that runs Eden these days that I've been given a
better job proposition."
"That bad, huh?" Levison smirked.
"You have no idea, Mike, no idea," the clearly suffering Kilbain
groaned, "See you soon."
"Aye, that I will, that I will. Pleasant journey, Chimera out," Mike
grinned then closed the channel after his friend's nod and smile. 'One
job down, several to go,' Levison thought to himself, leaving the
console to start unpacking.
</\> End of Log </\>
Commander Mike Levison
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Chimera NCC 96899-C
Lieutenant Commander Gregory Kilbain
Assistant Tactical Officer
USS Chimera NCC – C
(NPC apb Mike)