Chris Harrington: You're A Good Listener. (Taybrim)

2 views

Skip to first unread message

Carter Greyson

unread,

May 24, 2016, 3:10:52 AM5/24/16

to Starbase 118 IC

OOC1: Missing Flashback Sequence in Up Denial River

OOC2: X-posted to Ops list by permission of the captain.

OOC3: In reply to the Ops post Cmdr Taybrim: Inquiry Requires Direction https://groups.google.com/d/msg/sb118-ops/TlwS9-VPT0o/A9_1mFyjIQAJ

((Harrington's Quarters, Cargo Ship Antares))

((Before Leaving DS6))

Taybrim: =/\= Mr. Harrington? This is Commander Sal Taybrim of StarBase 118. =/\= ::It was that gentle query of 'are you there?'

::Chris wasn't expecting a call so soon after his letter, though then again...given the circumstances he wasn't about to complain. He knew that Sal was like a brother to CD because of the connection mentioned in his nephew's records. Still, it would be polite to answer and fill in on at the very least. The time differential. He was asleep moments ago. Now he wasn't.::

Harrington: =/\= Go ahead, sir.

Taybrim: =/\= I trust I'm not interrupting anything...? =/\=

::Bleary-eyed and tired, Chris got up and put on a shirt before walking toward his desk and engaging the visual display.::

Harrington: =/\= Negative, Commander. No interruption at all. I take it you got my message.

Taybrim: =/\= Yes, I did receive your message. =/\= ::a darkened pause:: =/\= The Gorkon... =/\=

Harrington: =/\= Yes. Let me nutshell what I know of it. They went on a mission that was supposedly routine survey. They were investigating it, and somehow got pulled into the quantum fissure. Official story is that Starfleet declared them missing 239302.16. Since then, there have been two more FNS articles and expended resources that led to nothing. Our... ::He paused for a moment, and remembered he was now retired.:: ...Your evil overlords in the brass with the pips in the box have called off the search. They have yet to declare all hands lost to death. I, for one, refuse to believe this. I get the feeling from reading both your service record and CD's that you refuse to believe this either.

Taybrim: =/\= Starfleet reports indicate that no evidence can be found that confirms anything but all hands lost. =/\= ::He paused carefully:: =/\= At least no evidence that can be released. I admit that my position is not allowed the choicest in classified information. =/\= ::Pause.:: =/\= Though knowing Starfleet they loathe to admit losing ships. To come out and say the Gorkon is gone means it is likely true. =/\= ::he admitted darkly.::

::The words were just as painful now as when they were spoken back when he was forced into retirement. It was not a good day.::

((OOC1: Flashback -- Up Denial River))

Harrington: =/\= I...had a similar situation just after the Hobus supernova. I refused to give up on his mother either, and had to find something on her death. I wound up pulling every string I could through non-conventional channels. You spent time as a diplomat, so you understand my meaning. ::He paused and took a breath.:: I hope. As a result, I was court-martialed and offered retirement or spend eternity in undignified maintenance. =/\=

::He wasn't expecting Sal to believe him. Nor was he expecting the man to actually *listen* to him. It was usual, in Chris' experience, for people to think he was otherwise out of his mind when in fact he was probably one of the most stubborn men alive and quite sane and a vast assortment of connections to draw on to find information.::

Taybrim: =/\= I was unaware that you used to hold a command role, Mr. Harrington... =/\=

Harrington: =/\= No. I was a comm officer aboard the USS Zilog. Rank of Ensign. Now I run a quaint little coffee shop in Seattle when I'm not on a quest to fulfill my stubborn curiosity and refusal to believe a family member is dead.

Taybrim: =/\= I see. =/\= ::Sal paused thoughtfully.:: =/\= I always like to believe that those I care about have the ability to pull through and come back safely. Though in a case like this it takes more than mere foolish hope to believe that they are OK. Tell me, Mr. Harrington, do you have anything else to go on? =/\=

::The grizzled coffee slinger shook his head. The only thing he had to go on was a hunch, and he had to voice it.::

Harrington: =/\= Call it a hunch. These are last known coordinates in the Menthar corridor. =/\= ::He paused as a set of numbers displayed on Sal's screen.:: =/\= I've not seen many ships go missing without transmitting sensor log data of their quarry. There has to be something at those coordinates. =/\=

::Sal canted his head to one side, considering it. The puzzled expression on the man's face suggested he wasn't a fan of the idea.::

Taybrim: =/\= That's hardly conclusive... =/\= ::He protested lightly.::

Harrington: =/\= So you're going to dismiss me as a crazy old cooke and stop listening then? =/\= ::Chris leaned back in his seat, eyes narrowed at Sal with one of those 'Go on. Call me crackers. I dare you.' type looks.::

Taybrim: ::He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth:: =/\= I haven't stopped listening yet. =/\= ::he reminded the older man gently.::

::One of the things that Chythar noted in a letter to home was that Sal was a good listener.::

((Flashback -- The Raktajino Coffee Shop, 239209.24))

::Chris sat alone in his shop, during the lunch hour on a work day for most of his social circle. They were coming and going, mostly in to get a quick cup before heading back to their desk to do some more code monkeying. He didn't see it as a surprise, but the lull gave him time to catch up on some correspondence he'd been meaning to read. At least one of them was from his adopted nephew, Chythar.::

~*~

To: Chris Harrington, Raktajino Coffee Shop, Earth.

From: Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire, USS Gorkon NCC-82293

Stardate: 239212.19

Uncle Chris,

One of the things I'm still not used to in all my time at Starfleet is how the brass enjoys to move you around. I think it's some sick and twisted game they play: seeing how many counselors I can break in one year. If they only knew...one of the things I truly miss about the Excalibur though is Sal, a previous counselor of mine. He really listened, and was one of the finest I've ever worked with. He's like a brother to me.

Hope you're well.

Sincerely,

~*~

::He set down his padd and contemplated what to write in reply amidst another cup of joe.::

((End Flashback))

Harrington: =/\= He speaks highly of you as a good listener from the Excalibur. Now I see why.

::There seemed to be a long pause as Taybrim was remembering...something. Harrington couldn't tell. He was a comm officer, not a counselor.::

Taybrim: =/\= I cannot promise anything, but I can inquire. But inquiry requires direction. =/\=

::Ah, direction. Something that could assist them in their search.

Harrington: =/\= Sensor data from the Gorkon. Distress beacon. Black box. Captain's logs. Anything. All my resources are spent, and I can't call in any more favors.

Taybrim: =/\= Response

::That was indeed true. He couldn't expect the CO of Ops to do what he did, but he was grateful for the assistance however limited.::

Harrington: =/\= I understand, and look forward to hearing from you soon. Remember: don't give up hope. He's out there, and we'll find him together.

Taybrim: =/\= Response

Harrington: =/\= I promise to make sure he writes when we find him.

Taybrim: =/\= Response

::Sal was indeed good. There was still something else bothering the grizzled comm officer, though he thought he'd kept a lid on his emotion. Clearly not as well hidden as he thought.::

Harrington: =/\= You're right. I haven't given up on her either...anything you could find on her would be appreciated.

Taybrim: =/\= Response

TBC

---

Chris Harrington

Retired/On Leave

Deep Space 6

http://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php/Chris_Harrington

Ensign Carter Greyson

Engineer
Starbase 118 Ops
O239002CS0

http://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php/Carter_Greyson

Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire