1800

Posted on Tue Jan 19th, 2021 @ 12:12pm by Captain RS Harrison
Edited on on Fri Feb 5th, 2021 @ 2:22pm

Mission: Welcome Aboard
Location: USS Republic
Timeline: Current

Commander Harrison entered Captain James quarters for their 18:00 dinner.

Captain James looked up with a blank but somehow concerned expression on his face.

“Monshine,” Harrison asked.

James nodded. “Incredible.”

“Incompetent,” Harrison Countered.

James shook his head in disbelief Harrison knew he was in agreement.

“I’d like to ask Captain Uhura if she could offer a replacement. We’ll be passing close by and that might give me an excuse to say hello.”

“I think her Comm Officer is Caitian. M’Ress.”

“She is,” the Captain answered before starting dinner with a Toast. “To Captain Harrison. May your First Officer be as good as mine.”

Harrison choked on his witty comeback. He couldn’t say it. The Captain was getting too sentimental. Maybe he was going to retire after Harrison left the ship?

Captain James quizzed Harrison a bit as they ate.

“I wish I’d gotten your orders sooner so you could have had more time to visit the ship.”

“There’s never enough time.”

James smiled back at him as he took another bite.

“Engineering is nervous. But excited that you are coming. I guess it is odd that you have time to visit everyone on the way out. When I left the Theid, I only had twenty minutes.”

They both laughed. That was a bit of a funny story and Harrison was familiar with it.”

“I’m looking forward to paying attention. I may want to implement some of Duncan’s procedures on the Montana.”

“We may want to implement some of yours,” James countered. “I would like to see her. Small as she is,” he joked.

“We’ll have a few minutes at the Rendezvous.”

“I may have to drop you off and run. Your first duty will be a promotion and swearing in. You’re not a Captain yet. They wouldn’t let us do it here.”

“The Republic has a Captain,” Harrison insisted.

“And a fine Exec,” James countered.

“Mmmm,” Harrison grunted. This was a fine menu the Captain selected. He needed a copy. He may like to have this again as his first meal on the Montana.

Eventually, around 22:00, dinner had come to an end.

Captain James stood again and raised his glass to toast his First Officer for the last time. “To absent friends.”

Harrison clicked his glass, “Almost” he grinned.

A terrific crash caused the ship to lurch violently.

Captain James flew into Commander Harrison with incredible force, gashing Harrison’s skull with his teeth upon impact as they were thrown into the wall.

Nearly everything in the Captain’s quarters was airborne.

Red Alert klaxons and lighting exploded.

Blood ran into Harrison’s left eye as he pushed the Captain’s limp body away.

“Oh no,” Harrison thought. “Captain!” Harrison screamed. “Sickbay!”

Static came back over the speakers. Indiscernible chaos filled the comms. Harrison checked the Captain. His skull was split open, exposing his brain.

Harrison’s heart pounded in his throat. It became hard to breathe. The ship had obviously been struck. He had to act. There was no emergency med kit that he could see. The communication system was damaged or overloaded or both.

His wrist communicator seemed to call him like a Siren to Odysseus. Harrison called Dr Martinson directly. Nothing.

He had to take the Captain to sickbay himself. But he had to stop the bleeding!

Harrison grab the cloth napkins and then a pillowcase instead. He tried to bind the wound but his skull was split. How much time did he have?

Harrison remembered a Landing Party he was on and the Medic said not to apply pressure if the skull is split!

Harrison bolted out of the Captain’s quarters and found a shipmate. “Lt. Benjamin!” He motioned for Benjamin to follow him into the Captain’s quarters and saw Lt. Tamberlain coming this way but much further down the hall. “Alert Sickbay! The Captain is critical. We’re bringing him! Get them ready for brain surgery! GO TO SICKBAY!” Harrison had to make sure that even in a potential state of shock, Lt Tamberlain would get to sickbay. They needed the time!

As Harrison leaned down to Captain James’ shoulders, Benjamin was leaning in for the legs. “We have to carry him to sickbay ourselves,” Harrison tried to remain calm.

“What happened, sir?” Benjamin asked.

“We’ve been hit. Sickbay first,” Harrison indicated as they rose with the Captain between them, Harrison supported the Captain’s head on his forearm.

Then Dr. Martinson called back. Harrison adjusted to swap with Benjamin. “Doctor, the Captain’s skull is split. We’re in his quarters, coming to you now! Send medics to intercept if you can.”

“Captain’s quarters, take kit five!” Harrison heard Martinson order someone nearby.

“Don’t apply pressure. Keep his head up and just get here fast.”

Benjamin began wailing in tears.

“Captain?” Martinson asked over the Comm.

“No!” Harrison was still shouting because of the noise.

Benjamin was going to lose it.

“My God” Benjamin managed. He continued to mumble and stopped moving.

“Sickbay, Mr! Now!” Harrison could not move the Captain alone. Blood was pouring everywhere. There might not be any left when they got to sickbay. “My God” was right, Harrison thought.

Medics were in the turbolift as they entered. They took over.

“Sickbay,” Harrison ordered to the turbolift.

Lieutenant Moore scanned the Captain as he spoke. Lt Herbert supported Captain James’ head. “They need you on the Bridge sir. Catastrophic damage.”

“From what,” Harrison asked.

“Unknown. Total chaos. No idea.” Moore shouted his last words and moved frantically. The turbolift opened seconds later and they moved out. Harrison and Benjamin followed them into Sickbay where Dr. Martinson greeted them in horror.

“Get to the bridge, sir. You’re in the way.”

Harrison was shocked for a split second then turned to grab Benjamin and get out of the way.