Bigger and Better Things

Posted on Friday March 19th, 2021 @ 12:34am by Captain Tobias Bishop III & Lieutenant Commander Curzon Bennett

Mission: Jeepers Creepers 2: Creepers In Flight
Location: Various
Timeline: Current

::ON::

Shaking the hand of his Commanding Officer one last time, Ithahr broke into a sad smile. 'It's been my pleasure Orlando to serve with you these last few years. Words can't quite express it, you know?' He added his free hand to the shake, clasping his comrade's hands in his, 'you know if there's anything you or the Frederick needs whilst you're out here, you can just let me know? I'll make sure the station can help.'

His bearded Captain nodded in return, a grim smile playing across his features. Both had been through much these past five years, and he had grown greyer in the passage of the years and the numerous close shaves his Sovereign-class vessel had endured. 'It's about time they moved you on to bigger and better things - a starbase, Ith, it's a step up!'

Ithahr shrugged, 'I was just lucky we were passing by as they had need of me. It won't be the same, Sir, I don't mind admitting it.'

Orlando clapped him on the back, 'you'll get used to it. The Frederick will be coming back Dee-Ehs-Three's way sooner than you'll realise. It'll be a happy reunion. You'll be able to tell us how you've settled in and carved yourself a niche out on the frontier, and Mister Daniels will be able to tell you all about reorganising the duty shifts to his liking. Now, go on son. The starbase is waiting.'

A green light of affirmation blinked on the transpoter console. Deep Space Three's transporter control was ready to receive him. Stepping on to the transporter pad, Ithahr pulled a traditional Andorian salute out of respect for the comrades he was leaving. The transporter beam dissolved the scene of of his quiet comrades and threw him in to the bustling centre of Deep Space Three's arrival hall. A small gathering awaited him.

The Andorian stepped off the transporter pad, antennae twitching as he went. Ithahr handed his PADD to the Security Officer in front of him who scrutinised it. 'Lieutenant Commander Ithahr th'Shrannok reporting for duty.' The Security Officer nodded his confirmation to the Commander behind him. Ithahr wasn't lying it seemed.

Bishop's commbadge chirped and he tapped it to open the line. "Bishop here." he answered.

"Sir, there's a Lieutenant Commander th'Shrannok that has just transported aboard. They say they are reporting for duty." the security officer informed the Commanding Officer.

"I will be there shortly." Bishop answered, and changed the direction he was walking in the corridor to intersect with the nearest turbolift.

A few moments later he entered the transporter room. "Commander." he said as a greeting, giving a slight nod of his head. "Starfleet certainly wasted no time. One can only presume you happened to be near by when the orders came through?"

Ithahr inclined his head in turn, "Commander Bishop. Yes the Frederick is on a cruise skirting up past the Expanse and close to Romulan space for reconnoitering purposes. Keeping an eye on the Joneses you might say. We had a ready replacement for myself in the team. It was an easy call for Command." He extended a hand. "A pleasure to come aboard."

The Station Commander shook the offered hand then released it. "I was pleasantly surprised when Command let me know they had already approved me selection." Tobias said with a smile. "You come very highly recommended, if you do not mind me saying so, Commander." then after a pause, he added, "Would you like a tour of the station?"

"I don't mind you saying, and I would indeed enjoy a tour," Ithahr spoke with head bowed in order to better hear Bishop. His antennae were twitching, "I confess it's my first time aboard this particular type of starbase."

The tour took up the better part of the next two hours. They visited each major department, and a few of the smaller ones, all the while working their way higher and higher up the central column of the massive structure. By design, the tour ended with their arrival on the main operations deck.

Indicating the entrance to his ready room, Bishop asked "Care to join my for a cup of tea?"

'I would be honoured, Commander,' Ithahr smiled. He had enjoyed the tour, particularly the Security and Intelligence departments that were so familiar to him from his career. 'I have no particular dietary needs, therefore fell free to select the tea.'

Bishop ordered two cups of Earl Grey from the replicator and brought them back to the desk. He placed one in front of the Commander, then returned to his chair and took a seat.

"So.." he began upon retaking his seat, "..How did you handle the sudden news that you had been chosen for a promotion?"

'Surprise was the first reaction. In truth I was comfortable aboard ship. We've been together for several years, particularly the senior crew.' Ithahr considered a moment, 'to be perfectly candid I wasn't ready for the suddenness of things. Nor was I aware my commanding officer had recommended me for promotion. It's ... agitating.'

He sighed. 'But looking at it from another angle, this is an opportunity to prove myself. My contributions have been noted, and I look forward to working with a new set of officers, and in the not-too distant future I hope to call you all comrades.'

"Agitating.." Bishop mused. "Not a frequently used word, however, it does seem appropriate." he agreed. "I am sure that others will share the sentiment, with how suddenly things changed here as well. The former XO was stationed here as part of an investigation into the death of a family member, and it seems that her investigation led her off the station again just as suddenly." Bishop said, then paused to take a sip of his drink. "My hope is that you can settle in quickly, without too many cases of 'that not how we used to do things' to have to deal with."

Arching an eyebrow Ithahr smiled. 'That's not really my style, Commander. The chain of command exists for a reason, and a squeaky wheel can throw an entire system out of joint. I aim to make a positive contribution here.' Shifting in his seat as he picked up his tea he asked, 'I hope that your previous Executive will find success in her mission.'

"As do I, Commander." Bishop agreed. Then shifted the tone of the conversation.

"So tell me a bit about yourself?"

A look of confusion crossed Ithahr's face for a moment, before settling. Of course, it was doubtful the Commander had had the chance to read his file, such was the speed of the transfer.

'Not much to say I'm afraid. As with many Andorian officer my family have served in Starfleet for a few generations now, about as far back as the Federation's formation, if you believe my father.' His lips quirked into a smile, 'but I think that's probably an embellishment on my family's part.'

'I was raised in a traditional household, and it was never really a question of whether I would serve in Starfleet or not. It was decided from a young age. So I signed up at my age of majority, entered the Academy and specialised in Security and Counterintelligence.' His voice tightened, 'I served during the War, and saw plenty I wouldn't like to see again. Eventually, I transferred to Command as moving up any further in Security or Intelligence would mean a desk job, and I have no interest in that.'

'I was with my last ship, the Frederick, for five years as Executive Officer while we attended to a variety of tasks at the edge of Federation space in the Alpha Quadrant. It would have been our first assignment in the Beta Quadrant had it gone ahead as planned for me.'

Ithahr shrugged, 'and that's me, unless you have some specific questions?'

"No specific questions." Bishop answered. "I has been my tradition to start the shift with a meeting at 0800, here in my office. I would like to continue that if you are amenable."

'Completely acceptable. Senior officers, or the two of us only?' Ithahr had no problem with either option. It had been tradition to have a full staff meeting most mornings on the Frederick, but that was unusual.

"In the past, it had been just the Exec and myself, but I like the idea of including the senior officers as well. I will leave it up to you to circulate the new orders and coordinate schedules."

'Very well, Commander.' He paused a moment as he took a sip of his tea, 'how have you found the amenities aboard the station so far? I noticed we passed quite the promenade on our tour.'

"I have found things to be nice, so far, but there is a lot of room for improvement as well."

'Quite. I'm sure that as the station becomes more established, traders will naturally gravitate towards it, particularly if Starfleet designates DS3 the headquarters for our exploration of the Shackleton Expanse.' Ithahr's antennae twitched, 'but that said, I would hope there's a way of working with the civilian administration of the station to actively encourage it. The more life there is on the station, the happier people will be.'

"I agree. I would love to see the station become a hub for commerce and exploration in the region." Bishop answered.

'It would be a major boon to the Federation's presence in the area - if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to take some responsibility for working alongside our civilian administrators in order to start encouraging more trade to flow through DS3,' Ithahr said smoothly, he thought it would be a good way to get out and about and meet people. 'Though, if the pirate activity in the area continues to increase, that will be a difficult objective to achieve.'

"I think that sounds like an excellent idea." Bishop responded, "..and as far as the piracy goes, I have a few ideas about that as well." He stopped to take a sip from his mug and then continued, "Perhaps we should start having the fighters fly regular patrol routes. If we are out there 'showing the flag' it might have a deterrent effect."

Ithahr nodded, 'I couldn't agree more- it should at least push out our safety perimeter by a few systems, allow DS3 a little breathing space while we push on. Should free up the Pathfinder for a few exploratory jaunts into the Shackleton Expanse as well.'

"Make it so, Number One." Bishop said, with a crisp nod of his head.

Smiling a thin-lipped smile, Ithahr acknowledged the dismissal. 'I'll not keep you any longer, Commander, I'm sure you have much to do. It has been a pleasure, however, tonmake your acquaintance.'