Boarding (Part II)

Posted on Mon Feb 28th, 2022 @ 6:40am by Commodore Peter Murphy & Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver & Archibald 'Archie' Dorrian & Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani & Cadet Junior Grade Shafin Todenhöfer

1,301 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Cadet Cruise
Location: Bridge

[PREVIOUSLY]

Daniel stood there for a moment, hesitant to speak, before finally saying in a slightly firm tone. "If you ask the Commodore, I am sure he will give you permission. Tell him its Cadet Weaver."

The officer looked at the three firmly. "Stay right here." He then walked off.

[CONTINUED]


Guilty by association. Story of my life thought Shafin. "Ask the Commodore?" Shafin looked at Daniel. "What are you, their grandchild?"

Daniel looked over slightly to Shafin, than to Meghan, before looking forward again. "Son, actually." He said as he noticed Commodore Murphy walk out of the Ready Room, accompanied by a much older man. "Him? I have no idea."

Shafin leaned in to Meghan's ear and whispered softly, but still loud enough for Daniel to hear purposefully. "I was hoping that faintly pungent scent was just spicy aftershave. Little did I know it was the savory scent of nepotism."

Meghan glanced at Daniel then back. "No. As I said, I've seen him around. He's not the type. Besides, he doesn't even use his father's name. If it's nepotism, it's not on his part. I, for one, think he deserves to be here." She didn't care if Daniel heard her, but she tried not to look too awkward about it.

"I'll trust you" he replied though he was keeping his judgement until he saw more.

Nodded once, but stayed at attention.

As the Commodore approached the Cadets, the old man followed slowly.

"Cadets?" The Commodore said firmly. "Your presence, on the bridge, is not required."

"Sir." Daniel said, standing at attention, as he looked ahead. "My friends, these two Cadets, spoke to me about wanting to see the bridges of the Cavalier. I thought, instead of sneaking them up and getting caught by Security, it would be best to simply ask."

Commodore Murphy looked around at the others on the bridge, finally to the older gentlemen behind him, before looking back at the three. "What are your names, Cadets?"

"Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani, sir," the girl replied. Like Daniel she was standing at attention and looking straight ahead.

Lanky bodied Shafin did come to attention albeit a little slower and not as put together as Meghan and Daniel. It just took him slightly more time. "Shafin Todenhöfer, Junior, Sir."

Commodore Murphy seemed to glance at Shafin for a moment before looking back to Daniel. He didn't seem to smile, or appear angry, only contemplating what to think before a voice came from behind him.

"What are you waiting for, Murphy? The next Dominion War?" The old man shouted slightly as he approached the three Cadets. He looked at the Commodore before placing his own hands behind his back. "This is a Cadet Cruise, ain't it? They're here to learn. Let 'em Learn." He seemed to chuckle slightly.

Commodore Murphy seemed to smirk, which took Daniel off guard a bit, just before the Commodore put his hand on the old man's shoulder. "Cadets? Allow me to introduce you to Former Chief Petty Officer Archibald Dorrian. Oldest Officer to ever serve on the Cavalier. This is your first time on the ship. This is his last."

"Archie." Archibald added quickly. "Most of the officers who served on this old girl called me Archie."

"Hi, Artie," Meghan said, smiling warmly at the old man. "I'm Meghan, and I'm pleased to meet you."

Shafin was practical with his approach. "I am not an officer yet. Therefore, I will address you as Chief. I do not believe in the existence of former Chief Petty Officer." Shafin gave a polite nod. "Chief Archie is the best you'll get out of me."

"Hate to break the news for you, Stringbean, but they exist. Unfortunately, for you, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny do not." Archie replied quickly, chuckling a bit, before looking over to Murphy. "Really hit the bar with this one, didn't they, Murphy." The old man patted Shafin on the shoulder and walked off towards the center of the bridge.

Commodore Murphy walked over to the three Cadets and chuckled slightly. "Cadet... In his heart, he is still an officer. Unfortunately, he was forced into retirement, due to protocols and policy. However, the time that he did serve, he achieved a variety of accolades and merits. One of which is the Medal of Honor." Murphy paused for a moment, looking over to Archie whose focus was on the main view screen. "He saved the lives of many officers on that day by keeping this ship together, and protecting his fellow officers, during a hostile boarding party. Archie doesn't like to talk about it, because he couldn't save them all." He turned his attention back to the Cadets, looking at his son briefly, before focusing on Shafin. "Doesn't matter if you're an officer or a cadet. The ones he likes, and respects, he lets get away with calling him that."

Meghan glanced over at the old man, wondering what he thought of those protocols, then back to the Commodore.

Shafin silently repented for coming along up to the Bridge.

"Are you kids going to be standing there all day or are you going to come down here?" Archie shouted from his position as he looked at the view from the main screen. "You three came to see the bridge and all you've done is stand there and listen to old stories."

Meghan hurried down to where the old man stood. "Sorry. I mean, yeah." She smiled. "It's a bit overwhelming at first. We'll get used to it.

"I've heard, many of Engineers, claim that the heart of the ship is Engineering." Archie said, looking towards the main view screen. "And others claim the brains is right here. On the bridge." He let out a quick chuckle, before smiling. "But if you asked this old officer, right here, he would tell you the heart is not in one single place. Its everywhere. It's every officer that taps a console, turns a spanner, and operates with a single purpose." He finally turned to face the Cadets, looking at each of the three, before gesturing to each officer on the bridge. "Each crewman is a cog in the machine that makes up a part of her soul." Archie seemed to quickly stop, changing his tone to a firm one, before adding. "And, before you give me some malarkey about a ship not being alive, you come back to me when you've thought you've finished your shift and suddenly an alarm goes off, demanding your attention at a system on the other side of the ship. She knows when you need the attention and when she needs to cut you a break. A good engineer knows his or her ship in and out. But a great engineer, a great crew, can hear her even in the middle of a heated battle."

"Are you saying, Archie, we'll be able to hear her?" Daniel asked, his hands behind his back, a slight smirk on his face.

"Why not? She hears all of you. Not much else to do when you don't sleep, is there?" Archie looked at him sternly, before pulling back with a smile. "Of course... what do I know? I'm just an old man who served on this ship before you three were old enough to crawl, spitting up on your Starfleet Academy bibs and soiling your official Starfleet Academy diapers."

(To be continued...)

Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani
Science
USS Cavalier

Cadet Junior Grade Shafin Todenhöfer
Counseling
USS Cavalier

Archibald 'Archie' Dorrian
Cavalier Maintenance Expert
USS Cavalier

Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver
Command
USS Cavalier

Commodore Peter Murphy
Commanding Officer
USS Cavalier

 

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