by Vedek Jariel Camen
80412.16
Awhile after The Calling and Unexpected Visitor
-=Deck 8, USS Serendipity=-
80412.16
Awhile after The Calling and Unexpected Visitor
-=Deck 8, USS Serendipity=-
[[I think that's a lovely idea, February.]]
"Really?" Bru smiled as the two friends continued to rock on the swing. "You wouldn't mind?"
[[Of course not. Where would you like to put it?]]
"In a tucked away corner, somewhere, hidden. Something you have to know where it is to find it." She was speaking of a small meditation garden that she wanted to set up, in honor of the memory of Wen Grace.
[[I know just the spot. We can draw up a little diagram later and decide just what plants we want to put in. Perhaps a small fountain?]]
She leaned her head on Jariel's shoulder. "You understand what I want better than I do. Thanks again." She sighed as she realized that time was passing, and she had to get going if she was going to make her first cross-training assignment before she was due to start teaching those Defensive Shuttle Piloting courses.
"Thanks again, Vedek. For everything." She stood up and gathered her umbrella. As she stepped down from the gazebo, her galoshes squished in a puddle.
She happily sang the first lines of Singin' in the Rain, grinning at Jariel. He laughed, and watched as she swung her umbrella in a circle at her side. He didn't know where the song was from, but he was so glad to see her smiling that it didn't matter.
TC Blane strode through the doors of the arboretum just as Grace was exiting. He shook his head slightly at her attire, and she just giggled and waved to him. "Got to run, see ya later TC!"
Blane continued on to find Jariel Camen in his customary position, face down on the ground making sure every leaf and blade of grass was perfectly cared for. As part of the Captain's cross-departmental training exercises, Camen had been asked to take part instructions in basic elements of engineering, medical, science, security and even command.
Blane was assigned to provide the lesson in Command. It was scheduled for later in the day, but he had asked Blane if they could move that up a few hours.
"Can I help you Vedek?" TC asked. Camen snipped a few dead leaves from the base of his plant, brushed them aside, and stood up.
[[Thank you for coming on such short notice. I had an idea.]]
"Go ahead."
[[I've been wanting to expand my horizons for some time now, to take on more tasks to assist the crew, and these training sessions are the perfect way to start. I've been reading about this Kobayashi Maru training and I thought it would be a great chance to do some leaning about Command.]]
"Oh." TC shifted uneasily. "That's really supposed to be the culmination of a Starfleet Officer's training, not the first step. I was thinking we do something more along the lines using the computer to draw up away team and duty roster assignments based upon a review of the skill sets of the crew. Its a good thing to know how to do to assist the senior staff in drawing up personnel assignments to save us some of the paperwork."
Camen's shoulders slumped. [[I'd be willing to do that too, but I really want to see what it would be like to be Zanh Liis for a day. I guess I want to immerse myself more in her world.]]
"The Kobayashi Maru isn't just a typical day in the life of a Starfleet Captain. It is a deeply personal and invasive psychological evaluation of a person's character and discipline. There is no greater test of one's poise than the actions one takes when their death is immanent and certain."
TC could sense the Vedek's disappointment but couldn't help but feel like this was an ill advised decision.
[[Zanh Liis has played out this scenario, for real. The many facets of the timeline have saved her, but she has performed her duty in times and places where her death was assured, at least from her point of view. I just want to peer at least once into the world, even if only on a holodeck.]]
Blane stood with his arms crossed and contemplated Camen's argument. The Kobayashi Maru was not some recreational program to be played with when one had free time. It was a serious training tool and needed to be treated as such. However, he could understand the Vedek's curiosity, not so much for the intricacies of Command, but to better understand his significant other.
"Holodeck two, ten minutes. Please dress appropriately."
Camen nodded, and left for his quarters. He removed his familiar black garb and asked the replicator for a Command red Starfleet issue uniform. He had none in his closet, he had never needed one. He dressed and affixed his single pip Liis had given him, as well as his combadge. He received a few curious looks as he made his way to the holodeck. No one had ever seen the Vedek look like this.
Blane was waiting for him, leaning against the wall when Camen arrived. He extended his hand which held a small device.
“Neural interface, tied to the holodeck. Whatever orders you think will be transferred to the appropriate character. You’ll have to give me orders the old fashioned way though. I’ll be at Ops.”
TC clipped the device to Camen’s neck. It stung a bit, but not enough to be a distraction.
“I’ve loaded one of my personal favorites.” TC motioned towards the doors, and Camen walked through onto the holographic representation of the Serendipity bridge. “Computer, make the Vedek a Captain please.” Three more pips appeared on Camen’s shirt. He ran his fingers over them and surveyed the bridge.
Holographic or not, he already felt the need to protect these people, his friends, his family. They were all at their stations, frozen in place until the program began. Salvek, Reece, Grace, Blakeslee, Cristiane, Dengar... The responsibility to them felt overwhelming. Already Camen could not help but be incredulous of what Zanh Liis must have to go through every day. To have to accomplish the mission of the ship and at the same time care for everyone who entrusted her with their lives.
“Don’t get too sentimental yet.” TC slapped his hand onto Camen’s shoulder. “I haven’t even started the program.” Blane moved to his station, and Camen took up the command chair.
“Ready?”
Camen nodded in reply.
“Computer, begin program.”
The bridge came to life. Each member of the crew attended to their station, except Reece who was standing at the railing behind the command chair.
“One of these days I’m going to beat you at Chess, Blane.” Reece lamented. “I’ve almost got you.”
Camen glared at Blane, who just shrugged.
“Creative license, sorry.”
Dane spoke up from the Communications station. “Captain, incoming distress call on all frequencies.”
*Let’s hear it.*
Dane shook his head slowly. “Its too garbled, I can’t make any of it out.”
*Can you locate the source?* Camen asked.
Dane worked the controls for a few moments. “Yes sir. I have them.”
*Transfer coordinates to the helm. Lieutenant Grace, Warp 9.*
“Aye sir, Warp 9.”
[[How long till we intercept?]] Camen asked Blane.
“About three minutes. You may want to prepare the ship.”
Camen wasn’t sure what he meant. Blane simply waited for orders. Salvek bailed him out.
“Captain.” The Vulcan spoke. “Regulations call for yellow alert when approaching an unknown ship.”
*Yellow alert then. Salvek please contact sickbay and inform them to prepare for casualties.*
“Aye Captain.”
“Getting a scan now Captain. Oh boy...” Reece said.
*On screen.*
Reece routed his long range scan through the viewscreen. It didn’t take a tactical expert to recognize a Borg cube when one was one.
“Sensors indicate heavy damage to the cube. Their power drive is minimal. They are adrift.” Blakeslee said.
“They are no doubt regenerating. I recommend we withdraw.” Salvek said.
*Recommendation noted, but we have the chance here to possibly liberate some drones from the collective. It does not appear they pose a threat at the moment.*
“Dropping to impulse.” Grace announced. The Serendipity glided up along side the cube.
*Shields up. Salvek, prepare an away team.*
“Captain.” Reece said cautiously. “Energy readings are fluctuation, it looks like their subspace field is coming back on line!”
“Red alert!” Salvek ordered.
“They’re firing!” Blakeslee shouted, just before the panel in front of him sparked. Blakeslee fell back onto the deck, but managed to drag himself back to his station.
*Return fire! All weapons!*
“Target sir?” Blakeslee asked.
*What do you mean? The Borg!* Camen said.
“What part of the ship should I target?”
*Uh, use your best judgment?* Camen asked, rather than ordering.
“Captain our shields are down to 50%” Blane warned.
Blakeslee fired, targeting the weapons on the Borg ship. The battle continued, and with the damage to the cube, the Sera actually seemed to be gaining the upper hand. Camen wondered if he was doing something wrong, because it seemed like he should be losing.
“Captain, I’m reading ships decloaking!” Reece signaled from his station. “Four Klingon attack cruisers.”
*Allies! Excellent! Signal them that we require their assistance.*
“Aye sir.” Dane said. “The lead Klingon vessel is hailing.”
*On screen!*
The Klingon Commander appeared on the viewscreen with a sinister smile.
“Greetings Federation vessel. I bring news from the Chancellor. The alliance between our people is dissolved. We have a new more powerful ally now.”
*I beg your pardon?* Camen asked, but the Klingon had already ended the transmission.
Before he could issue another order, the Serendipity was rocked. Camen was thrown from his chair to the deck.
“Captain, the Klingons have opened fire on us!”
*Get us out of here Grace!*
February tried to input the coordinates, but before she could finish the ship was rocked again.
“Warp drive is gone. We’re dead in the water.” February lamented.
“Shields are gone!” Blakeslee shouted.
Camen tried to absorb the myriad of information. It seemed like everyone was shouting in his direction and he couldn’t produce instructions for anyone before the next person had another catastrophe to announce. He honestly wondered how Zanh Liis kept her cool in situations like this.
“Orders sir?” Blane asked.
Before Camen could speak, the hum of transporters filled the bridge. Several Klingons and Borg filled the bridge. Camen found himself staring the butt end of a Klingon bat’leth in the eye and before he knew it, the Klingon had him pinned to the ground. He held Camen by the throat and motioned for one of the drones to approach. The Borg knelt on the deck, and extend its assimilation tubules towards Camen’s neck.
Camen closed his eyes, and the sound around him suddenly ceased. When he opened them, he saw just the empty grid of the holodeck, and TC Blane holding out his hand to help him up.
Camen got to his feet, and straightened out his uniform. He then raised his hands to sign to Blane.
[[A Klingon and Borg alliance? Come on, that’s just stupid.]]
“You have to be prepared for anything when you command a Starship.” TC said. “Did you learn anything from this?”
[[That I’m not ready to command a starship?]]
“How did you feel when you knew it was over?”
Camen thought about it for a moment, about what he was thinking just before the program ended.
[[I wasn’t afraid to die, I suppose I was just. . .disappointed.]]
“Disappointed in what?” Blane asked.
[[Myself. I felt like I let everyone down. If I had done my job better, my friends would not have been made to suffer.]]
TC placed his hand on Camen’s shoulder. “My friend, I believe you know more about command than you think. That crisis of conscience has tormented every Captain for as long as there have been ships.”
*************************************
Vedek Jariel Camen
Ship's Chaplain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Vedek Jariel Camen
Ship's Chaplain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012