eagle Commander Tomas Falt: Not goodbye, but rather au revoir

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((Bridge, Deck 1, USS Eagle))

 

48 hours ago Tomas had been sitting behind the desk of his office on Denali Station, planning the awards ceremony. It was a task he'd grappled with more than usual, as with the departure of Oddas he'd wanted to make sure he really gave the crew a chance to come together and celebrate their recent successes. It was a task he'd have grappled with even more if he'd known that 24 hours later their new CO would arrive with orders to take the Eagle, along with a chunk of the crew, away from Denali. Now, as he sat next to his new CO on the bridge, the realisation hit him that those awards might have been the last time that particular crew gathered together. It was a melancholy thought. 

 

The sound of Commodore Nicholotti's voice, still unfamiliar too him, pulled his attention back to the matter at hand. Leaving...

 

Nicholotti: Ensign Rian, prepare for departure. Ensign West, contact docking control and let's get final clearances. 

 

Rian: Response

West: Yes Sir, ::came the quick reply as she reached out to docking control to get clearance, after a few moments the reply came::  We are clear to disembark.

 

He cast a sideways glance towards Nicholotti, who look calm and composed sitting in her chair. Surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of the Eagle's bridge she looked out of place to Tomas, as if someone had gone into his home and replaced a worn but well-loved chair with something sleek and modern. Practical and functional sure, but not as comforting as what it had replaced.

 

He knew he'd get used to it. He'd have to get used to it. He also knew the best way to do that was to simply get on with getting on with it.

 

Nicholotti: Very well, set a course for Trianguli Australis, best speed.

 

Rian: Response

 

Tomas stared intently at the view screen as the ring began to slip slowly past below them. It had been a near constant in his life since he'd graduated the academy and joined the crew of the USS Juneau. A huge artificial construct with a seemingly infinite capacity for surprises, that had fascinated the scientist in him, fulfilled his need for exploration, and ultimately become home. 

 

As the Eagle turned more and more of the enormous curvature of ring 42 came into view, illuminated by the light of the Delran star.  It looked exactly as it had when Tomas had first seen it three years earlier, and the awe-inspiring sight still that gave him goosebumps. He was really going to miss that view.

 

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nicholotti look over at him. He forced himself to turn away from the viewscreen too look at her, and was rewarded with a slight smirk.

 

Nicholotti: What do you say we kick these tires and light these fires, eh?

 

Tomas returned the Commodore's smirk with a slightly quizzical one of his own.

 

Falt: If that's what you wish, sir. Although you'll need to give us a few minutes to replicate some tyres first...

 

Nicholotti chuckled slightly.

 

Nicholotti: In the absence of tires, let's just say engage. 

 

Tomas turned back just in time to see the ring blur and then disappear from view as the Eagle went to warp. He'd expected to feel a lump in his throat, but to his surprise his feelings of sadness had gone, replace by something else. Although he didn't know why he was suddenly filled with a firm conviction that this was not goodbye, but rather au revoir. He would see ring 42 again. 

 

A silence fell on the bridge as each officer present focused on their tasks whilst dealing with their own thoughts and emotions. Even Nicholotti appeared to be looking inward for a moment, although it didn't last long.

 

Nicholotti: Call the senior officers to the conference room. Let's see what we're about to get into.

 

Falt: Aye, sir. 

 

He straightened up in his chair and tapped the combadge on his chest. 

 

Falt: All senior officers to the conference room.

 

Message sent he leant over and accessed the console next to his chair. He had a few minutes before the staff began to arrive and he wanted to a couple of things ready.

 

((Time skip, Conference Room, Deck 1, USS Eagle))

 

The officers on the bridge were the first to arrive in the conference room, unsurprising given their proximity. As Tomas entered a blue-shirted orderly was just finishing setting out a small side table with the beverages Tomas had ordered a few moments earlier. He gave them a nod.

 

Falt: Thank you, crewman. ::turning to Nicholotti:: I took the liberty of arranging fresh coffee, as well as a selection of other beverages for those that oddly prefer something else. 

 

Nicholotti / Any: Response.   

 

He made his way over to the large pot of fresh coffee and poured himself a mug. He was in the process of setting the pot back down on the ceramic hotplate that would keep its contents hot when he heard the doors swish open behind him.

 

Falt: Welcome. Grab a drink and then take a seat.

 

Nicholotti / Any: Response.

 

Tomas picked up his coffee and carried it over to a nearby chair. He placed the mug down on the table in front of it, but did not take his seat yet. Instead he stood behind it, hands resting on the chair back in readiness. He wasn't usually one to stand on ceremony, but for this first briefing he was going to wait for the Commodore to take her seat first...   

 

TAG / TBC