Hesitations

Posted on Mon Feb 25th, 2013 @ 6:14pm by Ensign Anthony La Baron
Edited on on Mon Feb 25th, 2013 @ 6:14pm

400 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: Mission 82 - The Aggressor
Location: USS Claudius, En Route to Starbase 400
Timeline: An hour after Songs of Stone

ON.

Anthony sat at the Spartan-style coffee table in the observation lounge aboard the USS Claudius. As the old Miranda class cruiser chugged through the stars he watched the distorted stars pass by. Occasionally, Anthony would stop daydreaming to read over his PADD which contained all the information on his first Post-Academy assignment. In plain, utilitarian language it read:

NAME: Anthony La Baron
SERIAL NUMBER: GN 11518
RANK: Ensign
ASSIGNMENT: Chief Science Officer
Posting: Starbase 400

The fact that Starfleet Command had abruptly changed his assignment as the station’s Stellar Cartographer to its Chief Science Officer filled him with anxiety and excitement. It was rare for an officer fresh from the Academy to be assigned to such a high office, especially at such a high profile posting.

Although Anthony was aboard a ship en route to Starbase 400, he had yet to sign his name on the PADD officially confirming that he accepted his assignment. It was too early he figured. Too soon. He wanted to see the station first hand before making it official. At the moment it was all too abstract to seem reality, but as soon as the Claudius dropped from warp in front of the behemoth of a station, it would all come into perspective.

With impeccable timing, Anthony felt the ship’s inertia shift. The Claudius had dropped out of warp. He stood in the window frame on the observation lounge, his face nearly pressed into the glass. From where he stood Anthony could see Starbase 400 as it slowly rotated around Kaleb IV. The station was aloof with activity as a handful of ships would enter or exit the giant maw of Starbase 400’s docking ring.

A detached voice came over the Ship's intercom, “We will be docking at Starbase 400 in 15 minutes. Repeat, we will be docking at Starbase 400 in 15 minutes.”

15 Minutes. Anthony thought to himself. Just enough time to grab my things…if I take the assignment that is.

For a moment Anthony stood there, eyeing the PADD on the coffee table. If he signed it, he would be granted responsibilities he couldn’t begin to fathom. For a moment he dwelled on the past in space, his childhood aboard the Atlanta, his father, his mother. For a moment he hesitated but then succumbed to his craving for adventure. With the quick movement of a stylus, he officially became the station’s Chief Science Officer.

OFF.

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