The calvarly cometh?
Posted on 21 Apr 2020 @ 1:24am by Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant Commander True Keading
Edited on on 21 Apr 2020 @ 1:32am
Mission:
Mission 4 - Race against the machine
Location: Observation room
Timeline: MD2 15:00
1894 words - 3.8 OF Standard Post Measure
ON:
Jon had another headache. Seeing a planet killer actually devour a planet was something he hoped he didn't have to witness again. And there had been nothing they could do at this point but watch.
His staff were working on every idea they could and he knew the Merlin was on route in response to his "call to arms" but he wasn't expecting what happened next. At least not so quickly.
"Captain Reynolds," one of the staff monitoring comms. on the bridge piped through to his ready room, "The USS Europa just arrived in the vicinity and are matching warp speed with us.
"Connect me to them crewman," Jon said. A brief few minutes later a mans face appeared. He knew he was Trues brother straight off. There was a touch of the familiar around his eyes. "Captain Keading. Thank you for coming to aid us."
"My Pleasure Captain." He kept his voice fairly cheerful eventhough he was mad at Starfleet for sending Andromeda after the Planet Killer when all he got to do was pick up where they left off on a boring survey. They didn't trust him enough yet, that was clear. "Hello Truly."
It didn't matter how old she was, the sound of the word still made her emotions flare with anger and he knew it. "Vernon. I've asked you not to call me that," but she had a smile on her face and she kept her voice even.
Just smiling slightly he turned his attention back to Jon. "Permission to come aboard for a few minutes Captain? I'd really love to get to see my baby sister again."
"Granted of course," Jon said. "You must have plenty to catch up on. Have your ship beam you to our observation room. We will meet you there."
"Excellent. I will see you in a few minutes." He cut the channel and headed straight for the transporter room.
True sighed and smiled at Jon. "He hasn't changed much. And don't call me that," she held up a single finger toward him in warning.
"There's a story there isn't there?" Jon asked as he indicated the door and let her go first. As they walked through to the observation lounge he added nervously, "Does he …. erm have you told him about us?"
"IT's actually my first name . . . . was my first name. I changed it as soon as I was old enough. Everyone's always called me True, except Vern when he wants to make me mad. And yes, I thought word might get around to him eventually if I didn't. I mean people talk."
"Yeah everybody talks," Jon muttered. He wasn't sure if he was walking into an ambush now. The older brother. This might be rocky. He didn't have much time to worry about it though as the second they walked into the room, the man beamed in. He had wasted no time.
"Vern grinned and began to move the moment the transporter stopped humming. "Hey you," He said as he scooped True up and spun her around.
"Ugh, you oaf, put me down. Have you no sense of decorum?"
Vern seemed to think about it for a moment after putting her back on her feet. "Nope." He then turned to Jon and his expression immediately hardened but he did hold out his hand to the other man. "Vernon Keading. I hear you're dating my baby sister?"
Jon wasn’t going to be intimidated on his own ship he decided even though some of the protectiveness was to be expected, so he firmly shook the mans hand. “Direct, I like that in a person. Jonathan Reynolds. I’m in love with your sister. She is an amazing woman.”
"Yeah, I have this way with people, True even says so. And that's good, because I know she's amazing, always has been." They dropped hands. "Watch out though, she's so incredibly stubborn. When she was five she got mad at me, stormed out of the house and spent an entire day hiding in the woods before we found her. She refused to believe that she couldn't take care of herself."
Jon nodded. He sidestepped stubborn, wondering if he was trying to get him to comment on something negative. "Well she perfectly capable now and they do say belief in yourself as a child is a very good mindset to bring with you into adulthood."
"Maybe we could talk about me like I'm actually in the room." True suggested. "Anyway, I'm very happy here, I'm happy with Jon and my life on Andromeda . . . . . so. Not really much to talk about there." Why was this so awkward? She and Vern had never exactly been super close but they had always been usually civil to each other in public. Something was wrong. There was a tension that shouldn't be there.
Something had happened with this man Jon could tell. It felt like he was mourning.
Sorry, Jon mouthed at True before turning back to this man. “Tea Captain? And then we can talk about the current situation?” He suggested not really knowing him well enough to Pry. He’d ask True later.
"Coffee for me, but yes absolutely. I assume you mean the giant ball of death out there? I was only ordered to meet you here with the crewmember and to continue your original goal but if they think I'm going to be sidelined while all this is going on, they're crazy. "
“Well,” Jon said walking to the replicator.“We are currently in pursuit of a rogue planet killer on route to Baku and need to find a way to stop it. We have the USS Merlin coming to join us too. I’m getting my engineering, security and science staff coordinating with there’s for ideas. It would be great to also get your people in on that brainstorming and have your tactical and command experience in this endeavour.
“Sorry do you take it black or white?” He asked about the coffee.
"White please, just some cream." Vern sat in the nearest chair, letting True take the spot next to Jon. See . . . he looked at his sister, he could be nice. "Beautiful ship you have here."
“Thank you,” Jon said handing the man his requested drink and True some tea. He returned for a second mug for himself before settling back in his seat. “It’s still early days in our mission. I haven’t even got fish for my ready room yet,” he commented.
“How long have you been in command of the Europa?” He asked.
Vern snorted. "I have a chinchilla in mine. Two years," he added sipping the coffee he was handed. "Doesn't really seem that long to be honest."
"Two years, four months, one week and three days," True said suddenly as the two of them glanced at her. "I looked it up. I was proud of him for being so ambitious."
“You must have seen some stuff,” Jon commented. “You're really going to cataloging that planet I think, oh be warned there’s some Orion down there no inhibitors.”
"Noted. Thanks." He turned his head a bit sideways watching Jon carefully. "Tell me about yourself. True doesn't say much in her letters, just lets me know she's alright and the basics of what's going on. I think she just doesn't want me to worry."
Jon winced inwardly. This felt like a test. Like True said people talk and he bet Vern already knew plenty about him. If it were Hannah he would have looked the bloke up. Best to be honest from the offset.
“I’m divorced. Two children. Both teenagers. I’ve primary custody of my son Eddie. He’s onboard, you should meet him if you get a chance. I’ve only just found out about my daughters existence and am attempting to forge a relationship there.
I’m also a son of the 11th house of Betazed which means we have old money, a ridiculously old spoon in the family and lands but also I unfortunately get sucked into some archaic traditions and politics there from time to time. I like to box, camp, rock climb. I made XO at 31 although I set myself a personal target of 30 and I managed Captain at 35. I’m slightly happier at that. Oh and I have an identical twin brother, also in Starfleet. He’s a counselor.”
"Interesting. Why?" Vern asked and then decided to clarify himself. "Why did you want to make Captain so young?"
True wasn't exactly sure where to jump in on this conversation, not that Vern was paying any attention to her. Hadn't he come here to see her or was that just a ruse to get to talk to Jon so he could be all big brotherly and pretend to protect her. "Look, I'm sure we'd like more time go get to know one another and maybe after this crisis that will be possible. Shouldn't we be talking about the planet killer?"
Vern gave a single heavy nod. True was right of course. "Have we got a plan? if Starfleet thinks I'm just going to sit by while Andromeda handles this alone . . . "
“We don’t stand a chance in hell handling that thing alone. And,” Jon repeated his earlier words as Trues brother seemed very wound up at the idea of not being allowed into the fray, “your tactical and command experience is very much welcomed Captan,” Jon tried to reassure the man.
“Karakalakss my engineer has a few ideas. One involves phasers, one involves photons, and another involves slingshotting an asteroid at high speeds at it. But it’s going to need to be a coordinated effort. And as I’m no engineer, my backgrounds security,” he told him, “I’ll let her talk everyone through it once the Merlin arrives.”
"I'll have my people call your people, maybe they can figure something out together," It amused Vern to say this, he'd always wanted to use that line. "In the meantime I'd love to read any information you have on it."
True swallowed wrong and began to cough into the crook of her arm.
"I think that was the plan with the brainstorming idea and I'll share with you the brief my engineer gave me," Jon nodded politely. "Are you okay True?" he asked at her coughing.
"Yeah, sorry, just swallowed wrong." Her face was red but at least she seemed to be breathing okay now. She was glad at least that the two of them seemed to be getting along fairly well in the face of a crisis. It was later after things calmed down that they might get to talking.
"Thank you, I appreciate it." Vern said smiling at True.
"Well I won't take up any further of your time at present and I'm sure you would like a little one on one time with your sister. And you brought me a doctor over I believe," Jon added. "I really ought to meet and brief them."
"I did and understood. Thank you Captain." Vern said, watching the man leave as he turned to True with eyebrows raised and a head full of questions.
●● Lieutenant True Keading
Chief Counselor
USS Andromeda
●●●● Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Captain
USS Andromeda
