Captain Taybrim - Ships that Come in the Night (Tags: Whittaker / FAO: ALL)

[Jamie LeBlanc]

((CO's office - StarBase 118))
(Time index: several days after return, 0200)

::Sal Taybrim could not sleep.

Maybe it was the raft of death notices he had processed that day. Maybe it was the trip through sickbay seeing how many were still recovering even after days of treatment. A bit of survivors guilt, a bit of feeling bad at the loss of the Albion and a bit of loneliness had driven him from the placid sanctuary of his quarters and into walking the halls.

He had left himself aimlessly wander, ending up back at the place he frequented so often. He shook his head, staring at the warm, personable walls of his office wondering what drove him to come here of all places if he wanted to forget about work when he saw the communication panel flashing.

With curiosity he opened up the waiting message and his eyes went wide.::

Taybrim: What, already... no... you're kidding... ::he spoke to the thin air.::

::The message was obviously intended for him to read when he woke up in the morning, written noting that the new ship - arriving at 0400, would have 'already arrived.' In two hours.

The report on the destruction of the Albion was freshly filed a few days prior. This was an incredibly fast turn around. Sal's head was spinning, wondering what prompted such a quick return. The pessimistic part of him wondered what horrible mission Starfleet had planned for them now, that required such a fast turn around.

And then he saw the name of the ship. His jaw dropped and his dark eyes lit up.

Now it made sense. It made perfect sense. Starfleet sent a ship that was already ready for launch. A ship that had served Starbase 118 for six years before being sent to the stars on a new mission. Only to return home.

Now there was no way Sal could sleep. He would be meeting his new ship - an old friend returned home at last, and wild horses couldn't tear him away.::

~*~

((Docking Bay - StarBase 118))
(Time index: 0430 hours)

::He had stood in the observation lounge, watching the Nebula class ship slide into the Starbase, looking oh so much at home. The last time he had seen her she was in the base to be decommissioned and sent back to Earth for repairs, refits and upgrades. Now she was back, looking as pristine as ever. Just as Sal remembered her the day he first set eyes on the ship as a smarmy Lieutenant in a science uniform. She was beautiful.::

Partins: ::The docking engineer spoke in a thick Lunar accent:: Didn't expect you up so early, sir...

Taybrim: Never underestimate the intuition of a Starfleet Captain when a ship is concerned. ::He winked::

Partins: ::The engineer smiled gently:: I suppose. She was a surprise, we were only informed of the arrival tonight. ::she paused, gesturing him towards the docking entrance:: I suppose you want to be one of the first aboard?

Taybrim: I wouldn't pass it up for the world.

Partins: Come on in, Sir. She's all yours... so far all checks are good, we'll just be working to make sure everything is up to par.

Taybrim: Sounds good. ::He nodded, moving forward with the engineer to the docking shuttle.:: Sounds good. ::he repeated::

::And it did sound good.::

~*~

((Bridge - USS Columbia))
(Time index - 0700)

::She was exactly the way Sal remembered her. The USS Columbia, NCC 85279. He felt like he was stepped into the past and yet the future. The longtime support vessel of StarBase 118 had returned home, and a ship that had cared for a great deal of the officers who came to StarBase 118 was now a ship to call their own.

If the ship meant a great deal to Sal, he could think of someone else who it meant perhaps even more to. With a dawning smile, Sal decided to take a chance. He tapped the Ops panel, accessing transporter controls and getting a good lock on his target before opening up the commline for a courtesy call.::

Taybrim: =/\= Taybrim to Whittaker... Good morning Theo!=/\= ::His voice was chipper. Almost suspiciously chipper.::

Whittaker: =/\= ?

Taybrim: =/\= Sorry to disturb you... =/\= ::He really wasn't:: =/\= I have a very important question.=/\=

Whittaker: =/\= ?

Taybrim: =/\= Are you dressed? =/\=

Whittaker: =/\= ?

Taybrim: ::grinning:: =/\= Good. I'm initiating transport. =/\=

::He didn't give Theo time to respond. As long as the man had pants on, this was well worth the surprise.

The gentle haze of the transporter beam place one Lt Commander Theo Whittaker directly onto the bridge of the Columbia, in front of a grinning Sal Taybrim.::

Whittaker: ?

Taybrim: ::Dark eyes sparkling, with a handwave to the confusion and possible ill feelings:: Take a look around... Starfleet sent us our new ship early... does she look familiar?

Whittaker: ?

~*~
tags/tbc
~*~

Captain Sal Taybrim
Commanding Officer
StarBase 118 / USS Columbia

"Why do we fly? Because we have dreamt of it for so long that we must"

~Julian Beck
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