Preparing the board

Posted on Sat Jan 14th, 2023 @ 6:17am by Lieutenant Commander P’rel M.D

Mission: Wrath of the People
Location: Starfleet Academy, Commandants Office.
Timeline: During Athena's journey home.
672 words - 1.3 OF Standard Post Measure

"Madam Commandant" the Commander said, with a respectful nod to the Vice Admiral, who smiled warmly at him and welcomed the middle aged man into the large, well lit office with a friendly hand gesture.

"William..." she began in her soft, comforting voice; "I hope the commencement ceremony is not burdening you too greatly in your final weeks with us?".

It was likely a genuine question, Commander William Cowan judged; the Commandant was one of the rare people he had worked with who seemed to have a legitimate interest in the welfare of those around her; it was hard to believe this was once one of Starfleet's most famed combat commanders. Having worked as her primary aide for the past year, it was personally sad - though entirely necessary - that she would be dead this time next week. "Not at all Serena" he replied with an equally warm smile, dropping the formalities such was their relationship once the office door had closed to the receptionist outside. "Though we do have some last minute wrinkles to iron out..." he handed her a PADD with his latest summary reports. It was at last coming together, the pieces on the chess board were being moved into place.

"Oh dear..." she replied, looking to him for confirmation. Her old eyes carrying just a tinge of remorse for the news on the device in her hand.

"Yes I'm afraid so..." Cowan responded, sitting down in one of the chairs across the desk form her. "Captain Thurg'n Sklin...far too young...and food poisoning at that..." she shook his head with insincere pity at the death of the keynote speaker. Truthfully he never cared much for Tellarite; a pompous and demeaning ass of a man if ever there was one - even for one of his species. Fortunately he hadn't had to fulfil the task himself, and with the compartmental nature of the operation he hadn't even been truly aware of how nor when Captain Sklin would be rendered unavailable to deliver the keynote; albeit a sudden and tragic death had crossed his mind.

"A real shame. Please - arrange for some flowers to be sent on my personal behalf..." the Commandant responded. "I suppose we shall have to consider a replacement; any suggestions?" she asked, pouring herself a steaming drink from a teapot.

"Several, however one in particular comes to mind..." began Cowan, preparing to move the most vital piece on the board of all of them. "I think it's important we stick with our theme; that being frontier exploration and deep space operations...of course amongst others this suggests the ninth fleet..." taking the PADD back, he moved through the menus until he recalled the biography he was looking for. "The Starship Athena has just completed a classified - though by all accounts somewhat heroic - mission in the Titania system, and they are en route to Earth Spacedock for essential maintenance." He handed the PADD back over to the Commandant, who appeared to skim the biography and nodded as she did so.

"Captain Jacob Kane...." she read aloud. "Decorated and competent, certainly; but a role model for our new cadets...are you certain William...?".

"Certain, yes" he responded; keen to cement Kane's place at the podium but mindful that Serena may suspect something if he was too earnest. "He's a real person...if you catch my drift...rough around the edges, battle worn, he's been out there and seen it; I'm certain that above all else what Captain Kane will convey to the cadets is experience...real experience".

He watched as Serena mulled it over; "Fine...but on your head be it. Honestly this job will be the death of me, I won't make it to retirement!" she joked, provoking a laugh from William as well who used the heart chuckle to mask the painful stabbing guilt in his gut.

"You never know..." he said, smiling. That was it. Mission accomplished. Jacob Kane was going to be right where they needed him to be.