The Curse of the Unforeseeable

Posted on 03 Oct 2012 @ 4:17pm by Lieutenant Scott Parker

896 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: Starbase 241 - Deck 2, Starfleet Personnel Offices
Timeline: MD01 - 0742 hrs

[ON:]

"Yeah, Sheena, today! I've got ops crawling up my rear end over this!"

Parker winced at the raised voice. The waiting area had been so quiet that the sudden expulsion of sound drove a shock up his spine. A haggard looking human wandered out of the far office door, carrying a PaDD in one hand and a mug of something in the other. His hair was askew and his uniform jacket unzipped. As he passed he glanced at his visitor and stopped. Parker could make out the two gold pips; he was dealing with a Lieutenant, somebody who hopefully spoke his language when it came to getting things done.

"You're my eight o clock, right?" He asked, gesturing hard enough in Scott's direction that a small volume of liquid splashed out of the container and onto the deck.

Standing up, Scott could only nod meekly. "I think so. I'm Lieutenant Parker. You guys had me scheduled for some last minute transit thing? Quayside stopped me this morning, they told me to come to you."

"Yeah, that sounds about right, look - follow me, huh?" The administrator, if that's who he really was, led him through to the forward office, which really spoke volumes about it's occupier. There were papers as well as PaDDs and unmarked metal boxes lining one wall. The desk was layered with a plethora of unusual items, most of them empty mugs and offline tablets and PaDDs. Thankfully, the visitor's chair was empty. Scott dropped his kitbag to the floor and eased into it, eyeing his colleague up carefully.

"I'm Jack Concorde, by the way," said the officer, extending a hand, which Scott shook tentatively, allowing the man to sit. "I work assignments for line officers traveling through the base. Uh, what did you say your name was again?"

"Scott Parker; I'm transferring through from eleventh fleet to the ninth. USS Galileo?"

"Parker, Parker..." Concorde began to rummage through the various tablets on his desk before settling on his personal computer. He leaned forward, his face inches from the screen. "Yeah, uh...Parker, Galileo. Yeah there's been a change of plan. Where were you headed?"

Rubbing at his stubbled chin, Scott narrowed his gaze with some confusion. "Earth? Well, Starbase One. I was just about to board the Marie Curie."

"Yeah, that's not gonna' happen," said the administrator, taking a sip from his mug. He looked over the brim at Scott with tired eyes, almost challenging him to argue. "We'll need to secure you transport to Vega Colony. Galileo will meet you there. It'll probably be a few days."

Scott, looking rather dejected, could only sigh. "Jack, I left starbase eighty two, like, three weeks ago. I've been living out of temp quarters and charter bunks since then. You're telling me I have to wait even longer to get to a planetary system that's only a day's travel from here?"

"What do you want me to say, Lieutenant? Things change. It happens."

"What changed?" Asked Scott, leaning forward sharply. "Did something happen while she was on assignment?"

"Can't say," Concorde shrugged and once again sipped at his coffee.

Parker flopped back into his seat and emitted a loud and rather frustrated sigh. A momentary silence fell between the pair. Scott wondered just how often Jack Concorde was called upon to deliver such bad news. He seemed as tired and as irritated as his colleague. Gazing around the office, a wave of emotional exhaustion washed over him. He needed this assignment, he needed the opportunity to prove himself. For too long now he had pushed files in a sector that didn't need him.

He was so lost in thought that he hadn't heard Concorde speaking. "...several starships that pass through this region. We can fix ya' up. At the end of the day, you're still gonna' get there. We'll just need to re-arrange your transport and - "

Scott cut him off; "there's a trade route on this base, right? Freighters and haulage?"

Concorde look confused. "Yeah, 'course there is. The docking levels below C section take in civilian freghters all the time. But come on, Parker, get real here. Starfleet isn't going to pay a chartered fee for one officer to travel out of a military starbase."

Once again, Parker had stopped paying attention. He lifted himself out of his chair and retrieved the kitbag that had been lying at his feet, making his way towards the door. "I'll pay for it myself,"

"Yeah!? Well what am I supposed to say to admin when they come lookin' for ya?" called out Concorde from his desk.

"Tell them I left already!"

One way or another he was going to get himself to Vega, regardless of the Galileo's situation. No more waiting, no more twiddling thumbs and signing documents. He wanted a home on a starship more than anything and this was going to be his golden opportunity. He just hoped they were ready for him at Vega colony. Otherwise his sturdy temperament was going to snap. Passing a short and squat woman in the corridor, whom he presumed was the ill-fated 'Sheena', he jerked a thumb back to the door.

"He's going to need you in there."

[OFF]

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Lieutenant Scott Parker
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

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