A quiet return

Posted on Mon Jul 7th, 2014 @ 10:17pm by Commodore Andrew Clifford & Lieutenant Zhao Quan

340 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: Mission 86 - Discovery
Location: USS Princeton
Timeline: Concurrent with visit from Federation Councillors

Lt Quan stood alone on the bridge, it was quiet now the rest of the engineering crew had gone off shift. He looked at centre seat, even on the empty bridge it still emitted an aura, it was special.

He turned the chair towards him then sat down in it. He felt his back stiffen as he sat up in the chair, as if the chair demanded the respect of any who sat in it. For a moment he was lost in reverie, but suddenly a sound intruded on his consciousness. He stood up quickly and turned towards to turboshaft. He froze then snapped to attention. Andrew Clifford stood there smiling, "At ease, Lt."

Quan relaxed a little then spluttered "I'm sorry, Sir. I was ju-ju-ust".

"Trying it out for size", Andrew interrupted the Lt. to save the embarrassed officer.

Quan nodded dumbly but said nothing further.

Andrew walked onto the bridge and walked up to the chair, placed his hand on the back of the chair. "It's a funny thing, this chair. It demands respect, but gives nothing back only heartache." He looked at the Lt, "But we still crave to sit in it". He shook his head as if to clear it of some distant thought, "You best go now, I happen to know that you are off duty too, and will be back here tomorrow."

Quan nodded, "Yes Sir, thank you, Sir." and with that left the bridge almost at the double.

Andrew looked again at the chair and sat down. He too felt his back involuntarily straighten. He had already been to see the commanding officer of the station but had been told that he was busy and would see the captain in the morning. Andrew looked at the chronometer on the console in front of him. It was time to follow his own orders and head off to his cabin.

He got up and with one final touch of the chair he walked off the bridge.

OFF
Captain Andrew Clifford - Returning from off station

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