Captains' Table - Part I

Posted on Monday February 28th, 2022 @ 1:25am by Lieutenant Commander Curzon Bennett & Lieutenant Steven Edgeware

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: USS Oberon - Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD04 1330

::ON::

Starfleet did silver service well, Bennett thought as he walked the length of the Observation Lounge. The Operations crewmen involved in the swift preparation of today's working lunch had surpassed themselves. The Captain watched as a crewman lined up the dessert cutlery expertly with the edge of the table, and placed them just so, so that all the utensils were arranged neatly in a row, the plates in between them all bright white and glistening gold.

It wasn't a diplomatic reception, of course, but Bennett had thought it worth getting to know the captains of the transports they were escorting. Although they had been en-route a full almost, now had been the first opportunity to gather them all together. A working lunch seemed apt.

The first freighter Captain to enter was Captain Tran Sh'Veqan. Tran was a tall lanky Andorian, who wore a blue flight suit. His boots were shined and his flight suit had been pressed. He spoke English in a thick Andorian accent. The name of his ship was the Huron.

"Ah, Captain Bennett it is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your most gracious invitation to dinner. I took the liberty of bringing a bottle of Andorian ale with me, it's the '66, a very good year." Tran said.

'Captain Tran, a pleasure,' Bennett extended his hand to shake the Andorian's. 'Ale at this hour, Captain? That's delightfully against regulations,' he grinned in pleasure as he inspected the bottle in the Andorian's other hand. 'I'm surprised anyone can get a case of the Sixty-Six these days - a fine vintage as I recall.'

Tran shook his hand. "Yes, well you never know whom you're going to make a trade with and for what?" Tran said pleasantly.

Bennett laughed in response, 'that sounds almost Ferengi, Captain, should I be brushing up on my Rules of Acquisitions?'

"Only if we are going to be dealing with the Ferengi. Believe it or not they have a code of honor, and once you understand it, they are not hard to understand." Tran replied.

Captain Java walked with a slight limp. A leftover from his younger days growing up on the Orion homeworld. Maybe that was why his advancement through the ranks had been slow? Unfortunately, modern medicine had been unable to fix it. So his career had mostly been serving on freighters and transport ships. Like the USS Tilbury. Yes, she was an old Miranda-class with a top speed of warp 5. Yes, she did suffer the odd breakdown. But she was his to command and he was worried for her.

Something felt off about this new mission. Maybe he would find the answers at this dinner he had been invited to?

Looking around as he entered, he saw an Andorian speaking to a human male, who he recognized as Captain Bennett. Extending his hand he moved towards them.

“Greetings Sir’s", Java said giving a slight nod.

"Captain Java it has been a long time at least 5 years. How have you been?" Tran asked.

Java took a closer look.

“Yes. Deneva. If my memory is correct. Apart from the old leg, not to bad. My, I did not recognize you Tran. I see you still have both your antenna.” Java said, “ Have you stopped playing poker or has your losing streak finally ended?”

'Captain Java, a pleasure to make your acquaintance,' Bennett said smoothly, extending his hand once he spotted a gap in the conversation between Tran and the Orion. 'I hope the Tilbury is doing well?'

“She has her problems. But thankfully I have a good engineer,” Java said

Captain Rath Ch'kaohrer stepped on to the transporter and beamed over to the Oberon. Rath materialized looking a Security offer who was looking him over.

"Welcome Captain Ch'kaohrer I am Lieutenant Ahkhsu Trensu Chief of Security. This way, Sir," motioned Trensu. Rath was a tall man, almost seven feet tall, but built like most Andorians he was up in age in his seventies - he had been in Starfleet,t but that was over twenty years ago. His ship was the USS Sun Runner an old Miranda-class.

Rath found it interesting that all the ships were the old Miranda-class he thought the supply manifest was shady and the sealed room on his ship. but all of this confirmed it. In most of his years on the Sun Runner, Rath had never seen Captains invited on to the escort ship before. Most of the time they treat the supply ships with mild neglect. Why a science vessel as an escort? Roth asked himself. Everything thing was off for this mission.

The doors slid open to the Observation Lounge. Rath walked through the doors. stopping and stepping to the side Rath gaged the people in the room. Rath knew of Tran but had never officially met him. The Orion he had never met, but Rath heard the name Java. Captain Bennett was talking to them. Rath grunted then walked over to the others, he stood back some but in sight of Captain Bennett. Rath did not know him either But Rath knew he had to play nice. Rath waited his turn then introduced himself, "Captain Bennett, I am Captain Rath Ch'kaohrer of the USS Sun Runner." Rath said politely.

'Captain Ch'kaohrer! Our little gathering is now complete with your arrival,' Bennett smiled, 'you're a Starfleet veteran if I recall correctly? Let's see, you must have been retiring when I was just getting started as an Executive Officer, I think? About twenty years or so ago?' He motioned to the Andorian to accompany him to the table where lunch would be served.

Rath smiled some fallowing the others to the table and taking a seat. "Thank you, Captain Bennett, Yes that sounds about right. I got tired of sitting around and taking command of the Sun Runner some years ago. Doing milk runs is not too bad." said Rath then his expression changed. "but this is not a milk run is it? Captain Bennett," Captain Ch'kaohrer said with a respectful tone jraight to business.

[To Be Continued ...]

::OFF::

Lieutenant Commander Curzon Bennett
Commanding Officer
USS Oberon

Lieutenant Sakaan
Mission Adviser
USS Oberon
[PNPC Lt. Cmdr. Curzon Bennett]

Cot. Raz Java
Transport Captain
USS Dover
[PNPC Lt.Dr Steven Edgware]

Captain Rath Ch'kaohrer
Commanding Officer
USS Sun Runner
[PNPC Lieutenant Ahkhsu Trensu]

Captain Tran Sh'veqan
Commanding Officer
USS Huron
[PNPC Ensign Joanne Grant]