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SIM Introduction - Starbase One - A Ship, A Ship... You Know The Rest

Posted Aug. 15, 2020, 11:49 a.m. by Gamemaster Alias Smith N. Jones, Esq. (GMT) (James Sinclair)

The man sitting behind the desk looked at the man standing in front of the desk and said softly but firmly “For the last time Dr. Drillek, sit down.” The standing man finally did as directed and then sighed heavily before speaking. “I’m sorry, Pat. I just… you now how important this project is to me… personal investment not withstanding.” Drillek was a slender man, but he was tall and fit. He normally carried himself with enthusiasm and excitement for the work he did; but here in the Admiral’s office on the Starbase above earth, he looked tired and worn… and more than a bit worried.

Admiral Hallsley looked at him and sighed. He was the opposite build of Drillek: average height, but built like an Old Earth longshoreman… or maybe a circus strongman. The look was accentuated by the handlebar mustache touched with gray in the black whiskers. “I know Sean… but it’s only been two weeks. The station is more than capable of sustaining itself that long… longer even. You know that, you built the thing. And right now, we just don’t have anyone we can send to look. I sent your request to Command. The lack of comms coming from the station isn’t outside of the normal parameters in place for them. And before you say it, yes I know they have been communicating more frequently since the station came on-line, and the brown dwarf has interfered with comms in the past; so as far as Command is concerned there are still a few weeks unti -“

My son is on that station, Pat!!” Drillek barked at the Admiral, leaping to his feet and cutting the Admiral off from reciting Command’s response again. “And you and I both know that this is off!” Drillek paced back and forth a few times before finally collapsed back into the chair. “Pat, I’m asking you… begging you… Please. Send someone out there to check. Hell, give me a ship and I’ll go myself. But please… just do something.” The man’s eyes were red and the concern was as plain as the rejection of the request Hallsley sent the day prior.

“Sean… if I could I would. But there just isn’t anyone available to - ” Drillek lept to his feet again and pointed out the window and fixed Hallsley with a look of anger and desperation. “There! Right there, Admiral! There’s a ship right there and it’s been sitting there for the past week and a half!” Hallsley’s gaze followed the pointing finger to the ship docked at the station. He sighed heavily and read off the hull ID numbers out loud to himself. “1837 -D…” He tapped a few commands into his desk interface and mumbled “USS Dresden…” and pulled up the ship’s record. “Well, she isn’t slated for anything right now. But she was just resupplied… and in record time, too.” he said with a note of appreciation. He looked at Drillek and sighed.

“Ok, Sean… Admiral Tulo’t owes me a favor. The Dresden is hers to direct. I’ll pull some strings and see what I can do.” A look of relief washed over the Engineer and he held out a hand to the Admiral. “Pat… thank you. I’ll go pack. If there is something wrong, I’ll be the best one to fix it.” Hallsley nodded and said “Ok, Sean. I’ll make the arraignments and then contact the Captain of the Dresden. When it’s all set, I’ll call you and we will go over together and brief them.” Drillek nodded silently and turned and left the office. The Admiral watched him leave and when the doors shut, pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut for a few moments before taking a deep breath and tapping his desk to activate the comms. A few seconds later he smiled broadly and said “Admiral Tulo’t. Good to see you. Look, I won’t waste your time beating around the bush here.” and he leaned in closer to the screen.

“So. About the Dresden…”

GMT Smith N. Jones, Esq.


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