Post by Vice Admiral Brian Donaldson on Jun 29, 2013 13:40:20 GMT -5
3 Months ago...
As the U.S.S. Endeavour pulled into McKinley Station, Rear Admiral Brian S. Donaldson stood facing one of the enormous windows behind his desk. Taking in the magnificent view of Earth; the sun was just rising over Japan; the Admiral couldn't help but wonder at the natural beauty of it all.
The Endeavour was scheduled for a brief three month systems overhaul and the replacement of the aft docking collar with a secondary shuttlebay, the home of the Aquarius-Class U.S.S. James Cook for the better part of the last two years. The little, yet powerful destroyer had served with distinction and helped the Endeavour crew pull victory out of certain defeat on a multitude of occasions. It had been decided that the time had come for the ship to operate independently... to cut the cord and let the little ship make a name of her own.
Taking full advantage of this opportunity, Donaldson had granted his crew leave for the duration of the Endeavour's stay, but the Admiral himself had been called to report to Starfleet Headquarters. He wasn't looking forward to it, at his core he always considered himself a field officer... preferring the action involved in field work over the tedium of a desk job here on Earth, always in the back of his mind he feared they would try to force him into a desk whenever he was there.
It had been years since he had last been to San Francisco, just stepping near the Presidio ripped open the gapping hole left in his heart the day his wife and unborn child had been taken from him. 7 years prior, his still pregnant wife had been killed by a terrorist bombing of Starfleet Academy. 161 people lost their lives that day. It was the catalyst that allowed him to accept the offer to command the 22nd Mobile that Soon followed. Seven long years had past, and it still felt like yesterday...
His thoughts were interrupted by the beeping of the ship's intercom. "Commander T'pang to Admiral Donaldson."
Taking a deep breath and letting it out with a heavy hearted sigh, he responded. "Donaldson here. Go ahead, Commander."
"As you requested, I am reporting that the Endeavour has successfully docked with McKinley Station. Station Control is requesting clearance to begin loading personnel and equipment."
"Very good, Commander. Inform them they can begin their work as soon as all ship personnel have disembarked."
"Understood, Admiral." After a brief pause, his Vulcan Executive Officer continued "There is one more thing, Sir. We just received a communication from Fleet Admiral Quinn's office. He has requested you report to him as soon as your able."
"Interesting. I wasn't scheduled to meet with him till next week. Very well, acknowledge the request and inform his aide I'll be in San Fransisco in two hours."
"Right away, Admiral." She said in her typical cool and confident voice. He had grown to not only appreciate her icy matter of fact attitude, but relied on it as a source of strength when he needed it most.
Finally taking his eyes off the planetary vista on display outside, he sat down at his desk and tapped a button. A few seconds later, his aide dutifully entered the room and handed him a padd with last minute requests from the crew before he left the ship.
Nodding once, he took the pad and began reading, thinking that he couldn't wait till these three months were over.
To be continued...
As the U.S.S. Endeavour pulled into McKinley Station, Rear Admiral Brian S. Donaldson stood facing one of the enormous windows behind his desk. Taking in the magnificent view of Earth; the sun was just rising over Japan; the Admiral couldn't help but wonder at the natural beauty of it all.
The Endeavour was scheduled for a brief three month systems overhaul and the replacement of the aft docking collar with a secondary shuttlebay, the home of the Aquarius-Class U.S.S. James Cook for the better part of the last two years. The little, yet powerful destroyer had served with distinction and helped the Endeavour crew pull victory out of certain defeat on a multitude of occasions. It had been decided that the time had come for the ship to operate independently... to cut the cord and let the little ship make a name of her own.
Taking full advantage of this opportunity, Donaldson had granted his crew leave for the duration of the Endeavour's stay, but the Admiral himself had been called to report to Starfleet Headquarters. He wasn't looking forward to it, at his core he always considered himself a field officer... preferring the action involved in field work over the tedium of a desk job here on Earth, always in the back of his mind he feared they would try to force him into a desk whenever he was there.
It had been years since he had last been to San Francisco, just stepping near the Presidio ripped open the gapping hole left in his heart the day his wife and unborn child had been taken from him. 7 years prior, his still pregnant wife had been killed by a terrorist bombing of Starfleet Academy. 161 people lost their lives that day. It was the catalyst that allowed him to accept the offer to command the 22nd Mobile that Soon followed. Seven long years had past, and it still felt like yesterday...
His thoughts were interrupted by the beeping of the ship's intercom. "Commander T'pang to Admiral Donaldson."
Taking a deep breath and letting it out with a heavy hearted sigh, he responded. "Donaldson here. Go ahead, Commander."
"As you requested, I am reporting that the Endeavour has successfully docked with McKinley Station. Station Control is requesting clearance to begin loading personnel and equipment."
"Very good, Commander. Inform them they can begin their work as soon as all ship personnel have disembarked."
"Understood, Admiral." After a brief pause, his Vulcan Executive Officer continued "There is one more thing, Sir. We just received a communication from Fleet Admiral Quinn's office. He has requested you report to him as soon as your able."
"Interesting. I wasn't scheduled to meet with him till next week. Very well, acknowledge the request and inform his aide I'll be in San Fransisco in two hours."
"Right away, Admiral." She said in her typical cool and confident voice. He had grown to not only appreciate her icy matter of fact attitude, but relied on it as a source of strength when he needed it most.
Finally taking his eyes off the planetary vista on display outside, he sat down at his desk and tapped a button. A few seconds later, his aide dutifully entered the room and handed him a padd with last minute requests from the crew before he left the ship.
Nodding once, he took the pad and began reading, thinking that he couldn't wait till these three months were over.
To be continued...