Posted July 4, 2022, 2:14 p.m. by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) (Sharon Miller)
<snip>
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Theodore Knox (Chief Medical Officer) in Starbase 237 Promenade deck - Leviathan medics summoned to meet Captain Cobb
Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Ashir th’Qiaqir (Medical Officer) in Starbase 237 Promenade deck - Leviathan medics summoned to meet Captain Cobb
Laural forced herself to steady her breathing as she finally managed to get her grav chair to cross the Promenade. She hated being late and was working hard to keep the crimson from her cheeks as she approached while also trying not to disturb ongoing conversation.
It had been some time since she had had to make her way across a busy station and she had forgotten how oblivious some people could be in general to any semblance of a normal flow of traffic. Witley was not above raising her voice if she needed to, but what she really needed was a horn.
Noticing a pause, or what she hoped was a pause in conversation, she offered, “My apologies, sir, for arriving late. It will not happen again.” Long ago, Laural had learned not to use her grav chair as an excuse for anything. It was as much a part of her self-respect as it was a way to show respect for others.
~Doctor Laural Witley, Counselor
OOC Lori: I know Laural isn’t a medic per se, but I figured this group made the most sense for her for a meet and greet.
Ashir took a sip of his whiskey while not leaving the Captain from his sight. This could get interesting…At least, he didn’t lie on the quality !, he thought, taking another sip.Lieutenant Ashir th’Qiaqir
OOC: Lori, I had made a separate thread for the Counselor, although I then didnt notice that it had dropped off the board. My bad! But I don’t want you to think I’d left you out! I’m more than happy for Laural to join this thread instead though, if you prefer. Or if you’d rather have a thread to yourself then the original one is here: https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf1/leviathan/posts/176957/
And Adrien, I’m really enjoying your Andorian’s musings on the Captain! Nice work!
IC: The grav-chair was unexpected, although Cobb strived to quarantine his surprise. “Apology accepted, Lieutenant. I am grateful to you all for attending this meeting at such short notice. Starbase loading is one of the most fraught and frenetic periods for the Leviathan, so I know you all have a multitude of other places to be. But it is important to me that we all meet and gain the measure of our fellow crew. We’ll have a good few months in the confines of our vessel with naught but each other for company.”
Returning to the refreshment table, Zachariah refilled his own glass before placing both the whiskey and the salt closer to th’Qiaqir, silent permission for the other to help himself.
“Can I offer you a drink, Counselor?” he enquired of the newest member of their crowd.But Ashir was not yet free from the Captain’s proverbial hook. “So, Lieutenant th’Qiaqir, tell me, what was it that brought you to the Leviathan? Is your medical interest with the anomalies? Or rather with the rest of the crew?”
- Captain Zachariah Cobb
(OOC : Thanks ! It’s not that evident to do)Ashir replied immediately: “The anomalies and their studies were my first reason. As for the crew, I had little information, except that the Captain’s chair was empty. But you must know better than me about that…”
He didn’t like to talk in an indirect way, but it was the best way to gather information. He made a quick look to see if Zach understood where he was going before saying : “I must say that I’m curious about your past. Perhaps you could… enlighten us about it ?”
Gosh, I sound like a Vulcan, thought Ashir with irritation.Lieutenant Ashir th’Qiaqir
Theo had stood as a measure of respect and welcome when Laural had arrived. He nodded his head to her and resumed his seat when she had been acknowledged. He sipped his tea silently watching the group.
Interesting meeting so far. Theodore thought as he rolled the tea around his mouth. Indeed Theo agreed as he swallowed and surveyed they cup.
Dr Knox
“You want to know about my past, eh?” Cobb’s stumble at the unexpected request was smothered by hearty chuckle. “Well now, there’s a tale to be told and no mistake. But such misery requires an imposing supply of alcohol to burn those bitter words to ash.”
He trailed off, gaze caught once more by the Crow’s Nest. Such things he had learned in the inky blackness of night. Campfire stories. To unburden? To inform? Or merely nonsense to aid staying awake?
“Captain Cobb and I served together in the Dominion War,” the Admiral provided cover as the old man’s focus was lost. “It was the Second Battle of Chin’toka. I was a rookie back then. Ensign. Engineer. Captain Cobb was…” Strong hand passed across his stubbled chin, as if each follicle held a memory that could be extracted by touch. “…I believe you had just made Lieutenant Commander. Am I right, Zachariah?”
A nodding grunt as Cobb poured whiskey with unsteady hands. The war. A near quarter-century had passed since that godsforsaken day. Their suffering had earned its right to be forgotten. But not today, it seemed, as Roebuck went on…
“We were hit dead on by the Breen. And without warning lost every atom of power. Sitting ducks in a pond full of sharks. But Captain Cobb here, on that day he showed as much bravery as any man I’ve ever seen. I would not be here to tell of it without him.”
“And it’s been downhill ever since, eh?” Zachariah’s laughter devoid of all humour, eyes locked with the Admiral’s in silent challenge. “Another word about the war and I’ll tell them all that I know.”
Acquiescent nod as Roebuck retreated to strawberry consolation.
“After…that day,” Cobb took up the story for his own, “I returned to my first love of engineering and spent the next decade getting lost in various jefferies tubes. Then the Admiral here called and brought me into the ARU and…well, I’ve been paying in blood for our friendship ever since.”
This time the laughter was genuine, from both men. Brief glimmer of companionship past. Before everything had changed.
“Does that in any way answer your question, Lieutenant th’Qiaqir?”
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