Posted by Ensign Juliet Anders (Security Officer /RTF) in MPT-LS: Year of Hell - CIC Bridge - Setting out (all welcome)

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in MPT-LS: Year of Hell - CIC Bridge - Setting out (all welcome)

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in MPT-LS: Year of Hell - CIC Bridge - Setting out (all welcome)
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Captain Zachariah Cobb sat, tense and alert, in the CIC’s central seat, wearing the oppressive mantle of one far older and decrepit than even his own advanced years. It appeared, to any who gazed upon him, that events on the starbase had taken a considerable toll, the mission, and the heated conversations with the Admiral, draining him almost to the last drop.

Around him the room lay silent, the odd bleep and chirp as terminals capitulated under wiser, more sentient hands the only occasional break. And every now and then, a whisper, as the captain murmured quietly a repeating sentence to himself.
“And I have done a hellish thing.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

“What might that be, Mr. Cobb?” The reedy voice appeared as if out of nowhere; the Chief Engineer could be remarkably light on his feet when he chose to be.

Frankly speaking, it was somewhat unusual for the eccentric Chief Engineer to find himself on the bridge. Sure, on many ships the CE was never far from their beloved engines.... But in this case, as in many, the Leviathan was… different. The engines were indeed, vitally important. But her cargo… well, engines didn’t typically drive whole crews to madness, or worse fates. At least, not when they were in proper order. Durheim was rarely found far from the cargo bay; long since converted to a mobile prison specializing in containing those things that couldn’t be explained. But in preparation for this rather unique (and possibly one-way) voyage, the containment bay had been nearly emptied. The Starbase hadn’t exactly been pleased.... But Admiral Roebuck’s word carried weight, and no official complaints had been registered. As such, the CE had found himself with an unusual amount of free time, and had wandered onto the bridge in time to catch the Captains’ dire muttering.

-WO Durheim, CE

If Cobb recognised the presence of his favourite engineering chief, then he gave no indication of the fact. Instead his eyes remained downcast, his posture hunched and drawn and almost without respite, that damned, repetitive murmuring.

At the helm, MacReady caught Durheim’s attention and waved the man over.
“He’s been whispering that same sentence since we left the starbase,” he moaned. “It’s downright creepy, is what it is!”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Durheim gave the Captain a curious glance; before joining MacReady at the helm. “Hmmm; we left the starbase some time ago; you’re saying he has been repeating that phrase since then? Is there a particular reason you have not called for either Mr. Knox or Mrs. Synthi-er?” While the tone wasn’t accusatory; the words could easily be interpreted as such; Cobb’s rather unusual state was.... poor for morale, to say the least.

Jonathan was silent for a moment, contemplating the oddness of the captain. Nodding to himself, he returned to the captains’ side, an odd look on his face as he deliberately touched his thumb and forefinger together on his right hand. “Mr. Cobb; if you do not respond, I will deliver a strong electrical shock to you…”

After a moment of silence, the smell of ozone began to spread across the bridge, and a sharp electrical crackle emitted from the Chief Engineers’ mechanical hand as it neared Cobb’s shoulder....

-WO Durheim; CE and practicing electro-therapist

“That is a course of action I do not recommend” Came a deep voice from behind the Chief Engineer. It belonged to what would be for most Humans a short man but he still stood a little taller. He was facing towards the viewscreen hands behind his back. His features were expressionless, his red beard incongruous with his short kept dark brown hair. He didn’t look at the man or the Captain his grey eyes seemed focused on the view of Space. His stance was relaxed but he seemed so still. It was as if he had always been standing in the one point.

CIO

Quinn walked in, her hands holding a tray of mixed crossiants, buttery, chocolate filled, jell filled and few cream like ones. She had a thermos of coffee at her hip and she moved with quiet and purposeful steps towards Cobb, “Captain gets first dibs then the rest of you may take what you like from the tray.” she said lightly to the others, around her. Her eyes searched Zachariah’s face with concern.

Quinn Kindle, Yeoman, RTF, Cobb’s Angel

The CIC was Rhaauls seconds home, he spent just as much time here as he did his shared quarters with Casela and Gen, on this occasion he was arriving from the late following behind the sweet smell of pastries. “Looks like I’m not too late,” He said looking between Cobb and their Chief Engineer with a curious grin, “Everything ok or should I invite Gen onto the bridge?” He chuckled.

• Commander Ryder Raauhl, XO

Jewels had pulled security duty on the bridge that day and arrived as a warning was given by the CIO to a man who’s hand had alighted on the shoulder of the Captain. She paused, a slight inhale of breath and brightening of eyes the only tell that she was ready to jump in if that warning was ignored. Whatever she had walked into, it made her neck hairs wake up. No one else seemed overly alert so she knew she had to wait a breath and heartbeat to see what was going on. But the tone of the CIO was not a joking one, in her opinion so she side stepped, eyes on the trio, towards the security console she was to occupy the next several hours.

The Captain had been more than kind to her and a threat to him was something she wasn’t going to endure. As it seemed, neither was it what the CIO would accept.

The snack ladened woman arrived just a step behind her and passed the RTF officer without so much as a glance. Offering the Captain the first choice of tidbits made her relax slightly. Sure the man in question over over the CO wasn’t that much of a threat if no one else was bothering with him. But she waited for the CO’s response before she would lower her tension and relax. Sometimes, being new on a ship wasn’t a good thing. Sure, senses weren’t dulled by ‘it’s been this way all the time’, but it also meant she wasn’t sure who was jesting, who was serious, and what situations needed backup. It was unnerving but something she was used to.

Her glance went to the CIO as she waited their reactions.

Ens Juliet Anders
“Jewels”
RTF
((not posturing, just not sure what is happening and trained to be alert… that’s all lol))

So Casela was not supposed to be on duty…extended light and reduced duty. She was supposed to be ‘resting.’ But their was no way to miss the tension building and she stepped out to the CIC from the opposite turbolift from Raauhl. “Gen? She didn’t blow up another console did she?” She asked with a curious glance and a smile towards Raauhl. She walked past Quinn and plucked a chocolate croissant off the tray, grinned at Durheim and glanced at the new CIO whom she hadn’t met yet. She glanced at Jewels and shook her head ‘Everything is fine.’ She sat in her chair, next to Cobb, with a flourish. She looked at the Cpt curiously. She laid a hand in his arm and leaned over, whispering where only Cobb could hear. “Zachariah, snap out of it. Durheim is ready to taze you, the CIO is going to take him out, Quinn will try to get tazed for you, no telling what Juliet will do, and I will have to hurt them all, and then Raauhl will toss us all in the brig. But worse than that, if you don’t, I found your stash in the Jeffries tube access outside the secondary engineering entrance, and I will eat all Quinn’s pastries and not share with you.” She squeezed his arm slightly, “Let’s go talk” and then she sat up and popped a bite of the chocolate croissant in her mouth. She glanced at Raauhl with a slightly concerned expression.
Synthi-er CNS

Adam turned to the new arrivals, his movements slow, methodical and fluid, and faced the counselor his eyebrow twitched only slightly but on his expressionless face it might as well have been a look of shock “I have no intentions nor interest in taking anyone out” His only emotional output was calm. “I simply do not recommend shock therapy on your Commanding Officer” This he addressed to the Engineering Chief

The sudden activity on the bridge seemed to stir the captain somewhat from his reverie. Slowly his head raised, eyes fixed not on his gathered crew but through them. Rising to his feet with the grace of an unstrung puppet, he moved first to Durheim, eyes briefly flickering to the dwindling spark between the man’s fingers, before shuffling quickly on. To Quinn. And now he stopped and his hand lurched out as if to take a pastry, but pulled away at the last. And again came that thin and insubstantial voice.
“And she is far liker Death than he, Her flesh makes the still air cold.”

And now on past Raauhl and Magnusson and Anders, each one earning an expeditious glance as he passed them by, movements unceasing until he reached the large, star-spotted viewscreen, upon where he stopped, clasped hands behind his back and stared, his tunic and ponytail growing damp from the now steady trickle of salty tears.

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Juliet had heard Cass’ words, but she was still locked on the Captain. Till he said all was well, she wasn’t likely to believe it. As the Captain rose and walked past her, she whispered softly in entreaty, “Captain....?”

When he paused at the viewscreen, seemingly mesmerized by the scene, she glanced down long enough to tap the command, then back up as she hit the affirmative button.

The viewscreen went black.

She might get in trouble, but it was better to be yelled at then help fascilitate whatever had thralled the Captain. Not one to usually pry, a soft tendril went towards his mind. She’d take being yelled at for this intrusion as well. Captain… Cobb… what troubles you? To him, it would be a soft whisper, like a concerned friend. She didn’t step towards him. There were too many between them to warrant it. But she did keep the connection open to his public mind in case he gave any random thought as to what was troubling him.

Jewels
RTF
((At this point, only CO, Cass, CoS and RTF Cmdr know of her telepathic ability… just fyi))

Adam’s eyes narrowed slightly at the quote “Her skin is as white as leprosy,” He said quietly to himself but loud enough for the others to hear “Does the Captain often quote eighteenth-century poetry?” He asked the group curiously, he didn’t know many people who had actually read Coleridge let alone could quote any of his works. Well, to be precise he’d only ever met a literature professor on Earth and a Vulcan Diplomat who had read that particular Poem.

CIO