An Unexpected Journey
Posted on Tue May 24th, 2022 @ 12:06pm by Captain Samuel Woolheater
Mission:
Rejoinder
Location: USS Front Royal
Timeline: A day ago
Tags: Front Royal, Torpedo
2462 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure
[ON:]
OBSIDIAN COMMAND OF THE NINTH FLEET – DECK TWENTY-TWO MARDET HQ OFFICE ===
THAT EVENING
Samuel Woolheater sat in a chair alongside a desk that was at least fifty-years older than the Front Royal herself. On it, were piles of PaDD’s, several cold, half-drunk cups of coffee and a few animated pictures of a wife and two kids. The white mug with the SFMC emblem on belonged to the man sitting opposite of Sam in the better chair. He was a man of about fifty-years of age, tattoos on his forearms and still a piece of work. Sam sat reading a PaDD he was handed and had a shocked and annoyed look on his face.
Ten minutes ago, after pulling a five-hour security sweep with the other second LT, aka “Victoria the Välkyrie”, Sam was ready to just chillax. Instead, Major Yves sat him down and handed him a PaDD on which he now was reading. Fred Yves was a tough guy, but he was worn out. His best years were behind him. If at one time “piss and vinegar” fueled his fire, all that was left was the piss.
Sam sighed, looked incredulously at the PaDD and put a hand to his mouth. He read it again as if he misread it. Yves waited and sat forward on the desk, taking a drink of questionably old coffee. Sam said, “Sooo…basically….I’m fucked?!”
Yves shrugged, made an “I don’t know” face and said, “In so many words? Yes, you’re fucked.” Sam wanted to explode, and he set the PaDD down on the desk a little hard. He rubbed his eyes and his forehead, “Oh man…I don’t fuckin’ believe this! SHIT!” Yves looked back at him and shrugged again, “Hey. These things happen.” Sam, still with his eyes closed and his hands in a gesture as if he were holding and imaginary spear said, “But…Major…I don’t know…I just don’t see how my orders could have gotten so fucked up?”
Yves shrugged again. “That’s not helpful. Sir.” Sam said. “Look, what do you want me to do about it? We already left Titan, you were with 2nd Lt. Victoria and in case you didn’t notice, we’re a little busy around here.” Sam sat forward and put his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his short, blond hair. He sat back and exhaled. “Is there any good news?” he asked.
Yves cracked, “Yeah. We’ll be at the Ninth Fleet in three days. Then you can get a transport back and get to your ship then. Look, Woolheater, I’m sorry that your orders came through in error. But, you’ll just be late to your ship.”
Sam pushed down the desire to scream, “Uh-huh…or…OR…how about maybe you let me off at the next stop and I can catch a ship back from there?” Yves sat back, “Because there ain’t no other stops. The next stop is the Loki system and Starbase 201.” Sam said, “How about a shuttle then? I could borrow one? Leave it at Titan..or..or..or…Earth? You can pick it up next time your at Earth?”
Yves said, “You got a pilot’s license?” Sam said, “No. But, we’re not that far from Earth. The computer can get me there.” Yves said, “No. Captain will say no. You aren’t a pilot, and this isn’t a god damned taxi service!”
At that moment second lieutenant Victoria walked by and said, “THANK YOU!” and kept walking.
Sam looked annoyed. His eyes brows were like little “\ /” slashes and his five o’clock shadow was thick and scruffy after a whole day of bullshit. He looked back to Yves and said, “How about I get a pilot then? Borrow a pilot? Me getting to my next ship has got to be more important than this ship lending me a shuttle?” Yves shook his head, “No dice. Look, I’m sorry. These thigs happen.” Sam looked at the man and after a moment said, “Sooo….basically…I’m fucked?!” Yves looked back at him and said, “In so many words? Yes, you’re basically fucked.”
DECK SEVENTEEN
Woolheater went for a walk, ~ Un-fucking-be-lieve-a-ble! ~, he thought to himself as he steamed. He was headed for the holodeck. Good thing the SFMC medical team had credited his medical account with “therapeutically necessary” holodeck time. He had racked his brain trying to figure out some way to get the Front Royal to turn around. This was way beyond simply pulling the fire alarm and running.
He waited for a few minutes outside the holodeck until the program and the occupants were done. Sam was getting a headache. The doors opened and two ladies walked out. It looked like they had been doing Yoga or Tai Chi. One of them said to the other, “Tomorrow, I will have to pilot a shuttle to Vulcan. We’re making a brief stop at the Youn/Whey nebula and I have to transfer some crew…”
“Excuse me? Uh…ladies? I’m sorry to bother you…did you say you’re a pilot?” Sam asked. Lori answered, “Hello Lieutenant, yes. I’m a shuttle pilot. Why do you ask?” she said so kindly. Sam explained the foul up and after he had finished said, “So you see…I need a ride back to Earth or I’m going to miss reporting into my ship on-time. Can you help me?”
Now, her friend had been silent the whole time. Now…now she spoke up, “Lieutenant? I’m a ship’s security officer and this is totally inappropriate to be asking. Besides, are you fucking crazy?” Lori came to the rescue, “Look, let’s just go to the flight control officer and find out. These things happen” she said. Sam ignored the statement…again…anything to get a ride back to Earth.
DECK TWENTY – HANGAR BAY OPERATIONS
“Are you fucking crazy?” the Flight Control Supervisor said. “This is not a car rental agency where you can just check out a ride home Marine” the man said as he crossed his arms. “I do not have time for this bullshit. If you want a ride so got-dang much, then we can go to the Chief of Operations and see what she has to say about this.” He uncrossed his arms and Lori said, “Well…we’re making progress?” As they walked the FCS kept rambling, “I am sorry about your orders getting screwed up, I know that isn’t you’re fault. But these things happen Lieutenant.”
Sam did a facepalm.
DECK SEVEN – STARSHIP OPERATIONS CHIEF
Sam explained himself a third time. Lori, the Flight Control Supervisor, a man named Louis looked at Chief Ahmanson. “Are you fucking crazy?”
~ Why is everyone saying that?! ~ Sam thought to himself but said nothing. Other than nod his head and roll his eyes.
“I’m not sending one of our pilots off course and all the way back to Earth just because the Starfleet Marine Corps got their orders screwed up. First of all, we don’t have the time or the resources to spare a shuttle for that length of time. And I don’t know when we’ll be back in the Sol sector. That may be months or years? What would I tell the Captain? Oh, Captain, I’m sorry we’re down one shuttle. A marine needed a ride to Earth.” Sam out his hands up to try and calm them all down, “Look? All I’m asking is that we explore all the available options. What if the shuttle needed repairs? What if the….I don’t know…the field coils were out of alignment? Couldn’t ir be reasonable that not only a shuttle would return for maintenance, or a replacement shuttle be given in exchange?” Sam asked politely as he could.
“Field coil out of alignment? Yuh huh. Not bloody likely. Not on this ship Lieutenant. I’d like to see the look on Chief Ransom’s face when he hears you calling his teams work…out of alignment. Come on. Let’s go. This I gotta see!” Chief Ahmanson led the way. Following her was Flight Control Louis and then Lori and her Security friend. Last was Sam with his hands in a cry to Heaven.
DECK FOURTEEN – MAIN ENGINEERING
Chief Ransom stood there, “You got to be fucking kidding me. Are you crazy?” Sam said nothing but looked at the floor. Then rubbed his head. “No way in hell that anyone on my team would misalign a field coil on a shuttle craft. That’s complete BS. Never. Gonna. Happen.” Sam was exasperated now. “ALLRIGHT!....all right…what else is there? I can’t get a shuttle. OK. Fine. How about a runabout? How about a fighter? I need a pilot and I need a ride…and that’s all I need. I don’t need no more cracks about if I’m crazy and I don’t need no more attitude. All I need to hear is how I can get off the ship and rendezvous with my ship.” Sam was professional, polite and as direct as one could be.
DECK ONE – MAIN BRIDGE – READY ROOM
The Captain, thoroughly annoyed said, “Are you fucking kidding me?!” Sam put his head in his hands. “Look Lieutenant, I am sorry about the mix up with your orders. SFMC has corrected the error and I have your new transfer orders. But, I am sorry. This ship is not turning around because of a clerical error. Nor am I going to give permission for one of my shuttle pilots to be your personal transport service. It’s simply out of the question.” The man sat down at the desk and Sam looked at the ceiling. “Now, being that you are not a member of this crew, I have afforded you some slack. But, you are under the command of your MarDet, Major Yves and even though I’d rather not have to call him up here; you leave me little choice.”
=A= Major Yves? Will you please report to my ready room? I have one of your officers here with me. =A=
=A= Yes Captain. I’m on my way. =A=
FIVE MINUTES LATER
As soon as Yves laid eyes on him, he gave him a look. And the Captain explained everything that had happened.
Sam thought to himself, ~ If he asks me if I’m crazy..one…more…time…~
“What about a photon torpedo case?” Lori asked.
Her question took them all by surprise.
“I mean, modified of course. To support Human life. You are a Human aren’t you Lieutenant?” Sam nodded, “Yeah.”
Lori continued, “Ahem…well…its possible to modify a photon torpedo casing. Mark V should be big enough for him. It can travel at high speeds. We can launch it at warp from the aft torpedo launcher and…the ride might be a little bumpy. And…tight? But…we won’t have to stop, the torpedo case can be replicated from our own stock, I don’t have to divert a shuttlecraft, the ship doesn’t have to turn around and the Lieutenant…I mean Sam…doesn’t have to miss his appointment. I think?”
Everyone was speechless and looking at her. Sam’s mouth was open, and his eyes moved from person to person seeing their faces. The captain asked, “Is that possible?”
THE DOCTOR ARRIVES
“Are you FUCKING crazy?!” the doctor asked the captain and then looked at Sam. “We put bombs in those things, not human beings! You’re talking about stuffing a man into a coffin and shooting him out of a torpedo tube!”
Lori added, “At warp too. We have to do it at warp so….”
Doctor Michaels continued, “What is so god damned urgent that this man can’t wait until we put into Starbase 201? Dammit Bob, I’m a doctor; not a package delivery service!”
Captain Bob Collins said, “It won’t be a comfortable ride that’s for sure. And we’ll have to inform the Elysium of your intent. So, somebody can pick you up when you reach the Sol system. There is evidence that this can work.”
Lori said, “Oh yes captain. I read about it. I know it can work!” Lori looked at Sam, “We’ll get you to your ship on time Lieutenant. Front Royal always leads the way!”
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING - DECK TWENTY-THREE – AFT TORPEDO LAUNCHER
Major Yves gave Sam his backpack and his duffle. They just fit under his feet at the fore of the torpedo. Yves looked at him and all he said was, “Hooah marine!” Sam replied with a fist bump, “Hooah!”
The doctor said to Sam, “It’ll be at least 14 hours back to the Sol system where someone can pick you up. There’s 16 hours of oxygen and life support. Here. I’m giving you a sedative to help you relax. Maybe even sleep. It’s slow your heart rate and your breathing. This damn thing was made for explosives…not idiots!”
The hypo was applied to Woolheater’s exposed neck. Then a breathing apparatus was offered to him, and he put the mask on and took a few breaths. He gave a thumbs up. Lori came by and said, “You’ll be fine. I’ve always wanted to try this. Write me and let me know how it goes?”
Sam nodded, “Deal. Thanks.”
Captain Collins stopped by to say, “I’ve sent a message to the Elysium. Let them know that they have a…care package on the way.”
“Thank you, captain,” Sam nodded and then readjusted the face mask. The lid to the torpedo was affixed and sealed. The Mark V torpedo was loaded onto the torpedo loading system and was loaded into the firing chamber. When fired, the torpedo would have the same velocity as the ship, except in reverse. That momentum, minus a warp bubble would carry Sam back to the Sol system. Where, hopefully, someone could pick him up.
The aft torpedo fired and Sam was on his way.
[OFF:]
1st Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”
Division VI, MARDET 62nd Company "Spartans", 2nd Platoon CO
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=
