A Hiding To Nothing
Posted on Fri Apr 24th, 2015 @ 6:23pm by Captain Aidan Rackham & Chief Petty Officer Edward Vane
Mission:
The Night Cries
Location: Starfleet Administration Centre, Fraser Road, Pike City
Timeline: 2278.46: 2150hrs.
Rackham sat at the head of the table and meekly sipped at a cup of coffee. He wasn't one of these officers who functioned on minimal sleep and- as a rule- tried to get at least eight hours every night. It wasn't always possible in his line of work but it had its merits.
He was now operating on four hours in the last thirty six hours and he was beginning to become bleary eyed. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching his every move. It was probably nothing more than paranoia; in fact it was one of the listed side-effects of the medication he had taken for a number of years now.
He had almost grown to appreciate the nagging sense that he was being followed. It was like having some unseen friend to enjoy a drink with.
He looked down the table to where his friend Edward Vane sat silently awaiting the arrival of the rest of the Farragut's senior staff. "I hope they've got more to show than we do." Rackham said despondently as he swished the coffee around in the mug.
Vane tilted his head. It was true that they had come up empty handed, but Vane hadn't finished reviewing the information. Even now, as he sat there, his eyes were rolling over the scans of data. Every name of every employee, with detailed histories. It fell outside of his usual work, but it kept him busy, and he told himself that it helped. "We'll find something," he mumbled, his tone reassuring.
The message from Starfleet sat embossed on the data pad in front of Rackham. They were sending someone to take over the investigation and she was due to arrive in two and a half days. At least the mission was to continue- that was some small consolation- even if it meant that he was being thrown in at the deep end.
Vane looked up when Rackham said nothing. He saw him staring intently at the padd. He knew what was eating at the Commander. "Talk to me," he said, speaking freely in the quiet, brief moment they had before the others arrived.
"Do you think I'm ready for this?" He asked quietly. "I'm not fit to lace Elsa's boots and here I am having to wear the bloody things."
"Elsa was a bitch," Vane said, his tone flat and frank. "But she was a good Captain. No one can fill her boots," he said. "But you don't have to, Aid. You just have to fill your own."
There were occasions on the Pilgrim where Gunning and Rackham had spent evenings downing shots of Saurian Brandy and speculating about how old Edward Vane was. Sometimes he would say things, just these odd little words of wisdom that seemed to have come from the very beginnings of time, and with him being a Cheron, it was entirely possible.
He was placated. Hell, he was completely reassured. "Did you never think about becoming a psychiatrist?"
Vane smiled. "Sometimes being a bosun is like being a psychiatrist." He shrugged, adding, "maybe I was, though. Who knows?" The comment was meant to be humorous, but there was a twinge of sadness mingled there. "Just remember, you learned from the best."
"I wish I'd had more time to learn." Aidan replied wistfully through a wry smile at Vane's joke. "You're right though- if I do half as good a job as Elsa did, I'll be doing okay. You know, I haven't even thought about the Farragut yet. I just hope she's ready to go. I might assign you and DiMarco to get up there and ensure she's ready for launch."
Vane nodded. "That's probably a good idea," he said. Part of being a Boatswain involved ensuring the hull's integrity. That, and being a voice and advocate for the enlisted. "Given that Captain Gunning was to take command though, I've little doubt the Farragut is in good standing. She wouldn't accept anything less." He paused for a moment. "Neither will you."
Rackham heard a knock at the door, presumably the first of the crew arriving back with their findings. He took a deep breath and bunched the information which he had spread out on the table into a neat pile. "Come in."
Captain Aidan Rackham
Commanding Officer
Chief Petty Officer Edward Vane
Boatswain
USS Farragut
