Tales of the USS Bluefin - 4: "Through a Glass, Darkly"

[Maxillius]

In the scene on the bridge of the Bozeman, I pictured Captain Bush as the guy that played Frasier's brother on Frasier, then laughed my arse off! I don't know if you've ever seen that show, but picturing the dynamic Kelsey Grammer had with David Hyde Pierce (I think that's him??) on Frasier for that scene really worked in my head.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Maxillius said:
In the scene on the bridge of the Bozeman, I pictured Captain Bush as the guy that played Frasier's brother on Frasier, then laughed my arse off! I don't know if you've ever seen that show, but picturing the dynamic Kelsey Grammer had with David Hyde Pierce (I think that's him??) on Frasier for that scene really worked in my head.

Now you've really messed with my head! Yes, I remember the show VERY well.

 

[hellsgate]

I always pictured Captain Bush of the Saber-Class U.S.S. Bozeman-A NCC 1941-A (a.k.a. the U.S.S. Roderick NCC-75032,) (from "Ship Of The Line" by Diane Carey,)[/i] as the actor who played the butler from "The Nanny" (Daniel Davis) who also played the villain Dr. Moriarty in the TNG Sherlock Holmes holodeck-adventure-gone-awry stories ("Elementary, Dear Data" & "Ship In a Bottle").

Sources:
[*] http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/USS_Bozeman
[*] Decipher's downloadable game "Perdition's Flames".
[*] Diane Carey's "Ship Of The Line".

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

USS Bluefin
Sector 10167

Retired Master Chief Devon Horne shook hands with Senior Chief Brin and Captain Akinola as he prepared to beam over to the Cielo Vista. "God, it was good to see you two again. Sorry I wimped out on you like I did."

Akinola smiled at the older man. "Hell, master chief, I'm impressed you held together as well as you did, considering you've forgotten how to duck!"

Horne gave a mishievous smile. "Seems I remember a certain smart-assed CPO I had to drag to a shuttle craft during our first go-round with the Cardies, 'cause he had his rear-end stuck around a corner and got himself shot!"

Chief Brin cocked a quizical eyebrow at his CO. Akinola looked embarrased. "Oh - yeah. I forgot about that," the captain said sheepishly.

Horne laughed. "They say the mind's the second thing to go."

"And what's the first?" asked Chief Brin.

"I can't remember," said Horne, letting out a cackle.

Akinola shook his head. "That joke's older than all of us put together." He looked at Solly. "Better beam him over before the Espinozas change their mind and leave without him."

Horne's expression became more serious. "Captain, Solly, thank you for everything! Maybe we'll see each other again."

"Count on it!" said Akinola, then to Solly, "Energize."

Their old comrade quickly faded from sight as he re-joined the Espinoza family on the freighter. Solly looked at his captain, a barely concealed smile on his face. "Did you really get shot in the ass, sir?"

"Not a word, Solly, not one damn word to anyone. Understood?"

"My lips are sealed, captain."

Akinola looked doubtful. "They better be, or I'll bust you to crewman recruit and have you scrub the 'cycler tanks with your fingernails!"

* * *

T'Ser sat in her cabin, staring at her computer screen, contemplating. "Computer," she queried, "List any unauthorized communications either from or to the ship in the past two weeks."

"There are no records of any unauthorized communications during the specified time period," said the computer.

She puffed out a breath of air in frustration.Well, you didn't expect finding this mole to be be easy,she thought. Aloud, she said, "Okay, computer, let's try this . . ."

* * *

Captain Akinola walked from the turbo-lift onto the bridge and reclaimed the command seat from Commander Strauss, who moved to the tactical station. "Alright, people, we have a new assignment. We're headed to occupied Cardassian territory to assist in patrol and SAR duty. I need not remind you how volatile the situation is in that sector, so stay on your toes. Lt. Bralus, plot a course for sector 21509. Lt. Sarnek, set our speed at Warp factor 8." Akinola paused a moment to take in the familiar stars and he wondered how long it would be before he saw them again. "Engage."

The Border Cutter adjusted its course to take it toward Cardassian space, then disappeared as it jumped to warp.

Strauss walked over to Akinola. "Captain, I was curious. Have you ever faced the Maquis in battle?"

Akinola's expression became somewhat sad. "A few times before the war, XO."

Strauss struggled to formulate her next question. "Was it . . . hard, sir? To fight people you know, I mean."

Akinola regarded his young executive officer with a fatherly gaze. "It's hard, Inga, damn hard," he turned his attention back to the viewscreen, "but no one ever said this job was easy."

* * *

That evening in the hangar deck, 40 officers and enlisted personnel gathered to watch the 22nd century remake of Gone With the Wind, remastered in HoloVision. Inga and Nigel sat together, sharing popcorn and colas while Chief Deryx and Creman Tamiya inserted their own dialogue over the muted sound. The crew had seen the movie so many times that they knew the actual dialogue by heart. Deryx and Tamiya were much more entertaining with their bawdy version. Inga found it so hysterical that she started giggling uncontrollably and began to snort cola through her nose. Bane patted her back until she regained control. By this time, the crew was getting more entertainment value from their laughing XO than from the Holo-movie.

The mole walked carefully over and around his crewmates, balancing two colas and two popcorns. He finally made his way by Ensign Vashtee and plopped beside her in a chair. "Thanks!" she said with a brilliant smile. She snuggled against him as he settled in.

"You're welcome," said the mole with a grin of his own. I am one lucky bastard to serve on this ship! he thought as he tossed back some popcorn.

END of Chapter 4

* * *

 

[DavidFalkayn]

MST'ing Gone with the Wind--one shudders to think about what Deryx and Tamiya did with the classic, "Frankly my dear..." scene

Darling Inga...she's definitely earning her spot on the crew.

And T'Ser's on the case.

And finally the mole...who doesn't even know he's a mole.

The Bluefin's stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire. AS if the Maquis and the Cardassians aren't bad enough, the Gibraltar and the Sutherland are there too... Poor Akinola...poor, poor Akinola...

 

[Gibraltar]

A great capper to a wonderful story. You have a remarkable talent for exploring what would otherwise be the mundane day-to-day existence on a Border Cutter, and yet make it endlessly fascinating. I credit that to your remarkable character interactions. I’m looking forward to more from the crew of the Bluefin.

 

[CeJay]

Another great Bluefin chapter. I actually only just now realized that your just writing chapters and your greater schemes are unfolding in a much more complex overall story. It certainly keeps the tension up especially with that mysterious mole who don't even know he is one (classic!).

I loved the scenes on the freighter and almost felt you could have done more with it. It was all over so quickly, which speaks of the professionalims of Bluefin's crew of course.

I was also a bit slow on Bateson. I didn't realize who he was until he was featured in David's story. Suddenly he makes a lot more sense to me. You've done such a great job on all your characters though. I thorogly enjoy the blooming relationship btw Strauss and Bane. And Akinola still rocks.

Great stuff all around. :thumbsup:

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

Thanks, all, for the kind words. It's been a blast writing this so far. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

CeJay, I strongly considered drawing out the boarding party's raid on the freighter with a shipboard battle (break out the cutlasses and the pikes!) and maybe having a key character wounded. In the end, I decided to portray this as fairly routine. Boarding vessels is something Bluefin's crew does on a constant basis, so I figured that I'd make it a cake walk - this time.

I promise, though, I am working on a ship's boarding that will get REAL ugly!

 

[hellsgate]

I'd love to see a bit of pool-hall bare knuckle scrapping and taunting quips. Maybe a Picard-type manuever such as generating a "safeties off" holosuite / recreation deck ambush.