Glad you're enjoying the children of the late Ensign John Sevork! Thanks!! rbsKind of like this story.
-Will
YES - Close to the Edge: Star Beagle Adventures episodes 12 - 19
- Thread starter Robert Bruce Scott
- Start date
The Star Beagle Adventures
Episode 15: Close to the Edge Part IV - Seasons of Man
Scene 6: His Outstretched Arm
Then according to the man who showed his outstretched arm to space…
15.6
His Outstretched Arm
His Outstretched Arm
John, Jr. was pointing, his long, spindly arm outstretched toward the aft and slightly starboard. He had been traveling off the U.S.S. Mako’s port stern, riding his own warp field at warp 3.5.
“What is he pointing at?” asked Lieutenant Commander Zizira Gross. The bolian was temporarily serving as first officer for the U.S.S. Mako. While Commander Jason Bates, whom she had officially relieved so that he could tend to the re-education and certification training for Commander Rhonda Carter and Captain Ronald Howard, XIV, seemed at first to be simply happy to take a vacation from his role as Commodore Yui Song’s first officer, in actuality he was watching her very closely. And, no doubt, reporting his observations to the commodore.
Lieutenant Commander Senek, recently reassigned as the Mako’s 2nd officer and science officer was also on the bridge, currently standing at the communications station. He looked mildly annoyed. “By your leave, Lieutenant Commander Gross?”
“By all means, Mr. Senek,” Gross replied.
“Hailing frequency open, communication established,” Senek reported.
Gross looked back at the vulcan 2nd officer in surprise, then turned her attention to the screen, which was now dominated by the large and oddly misshapen head of John, Jr., purple mohawk and all. The formula felt odd to her in this circumstance, but it made more sense than anything else she could think o to say. “John Jr., this is the U.S.S. Mako, Zizira Gross commanding.”
“Go ahead, Mako,” John Jr. responded, his rich west Texas accent filling the bridge with the sound of a region of a planet the strange alien had never been within a thousand lightyears of.
It took a moment for Gross to process that John Jr. had somehow learned both the response formula, the accent, and the language itself from the father he had never met. “John Jr., what are you pointing at?”
“The anointed. They have turned around and are now in pursuit of us,” John Jr. drawled.
“The U.S.S. Beagle has a probe in the area and is sharing telemetry now,” Lt. Cmdr. Senek reported. “I can confirm John Jr.’s observation.”
“How did you know?” Gross asked
“I can hear their song in my mind. Or, to be more precise, I can hear their song through my legs,” the mushroom-riding space shrimp replied.
It was about 20 minutes later that the conference was held in the U.S.S. Mako’s conference center, which was significantly larger than the more familiar setting of the U.S.S. Beagle’s conference room, if nowhere near as lavish. The large conference table was simple and largely made of high quality plastic, as opposed to the antique hardwood table in the Beagle’s conference room.
The chairs, on the other hand, while nowhere near as ornate, were far more comfortable. Instead of the vulcan-made chairs on the Beagle (which were designed exclusively for vulcans), the bolian-made chairs in Mako’s conference center were light, tough, easily anchored to the floor and designed to be easily adjusted to provide a comfortable, well-designed seat for more than 200 different species. Which was why these chairs had become standard-issue for Star Fleet vessels and installations. Which was, in turn, why the bolians had expanded their manufacturing to include a new factory in Bugrino on Kolguyev Island in the far north of Russia.
“Assuming we continue to travel at warp 3.5, and that they can maintain warp 7.2, the closest of the holy landers should catch up to us in just under 19 days.” Lieutenant Commander Senek was providing the analysis. Which was exceptionally distracting to the Mako’s female crew members.
“There is no way we can protect the godchildren at this rate,” Commodore Yui Song groused. “And we just received confirmation that the holy landers have destroyed our beacon at the in-door to the Jar Galaxy.”
“We have been in emergency response mode since Escort returned from the Jar Galaxy. We have really been in need of a better plan,” opined Captain Skip Howard. “So I asked my new science officer to come up with one… Lieutenant Commander Clark?”
Greg Clark took a deep breath. “We cannot tow Rhonda’s godchildren. But we could create a scow for them and tow that. But we need material to build one from. And there is nothing close. Theoretically, with just a small reduction in mass, the Beagle, with the Puppy onboard, could tow Escort at warp 7.5, which would allow Beagle to reach the Al Salemais star system in just under 26 days.”
“Even with enhanced structural integrity from the repurposed artificial gravity generators, Escort would fall apart under that kind of stress,” Commander Rhonda Carter objected.
“Yes,” Skip Howard agreed. "Trying to keep Escort in one piece seriously limits our speed…”
“So let’s stop trying,” Greg Clark concluded. “We need something to build a sled out of for John’s children and the nacelles are about to fall off Escort. So let’s take the nacelles off, repurpose them to serve as a sled. Beagle can then tow the remainder of Escort to Al Salemais, taking 26 days. Given the much smaller mass, once the godchildren are firmly embedded in the nacelles and taking their physiology into account, the Mako, with both the Arizona and the Bluebird docked in its shuttlebay, could tow them at warp 8.6, which would have Mako arriving at Al Salemais in just over 17 days.”
“Assuming the holy landers are determined to interact with us, and that they can maintain warp 7.2, they would not arrive at Al Salemais for at least 47 days,” Skip Howard observed.
“There is no way that Escort could be made space worthy in,” Lieutenant Ki Kresid, Escort’s director of engineering paused for a math break. “Um, 21 days. Much less battle ready.”
“So instead of trying to put Escort back together, we continue to take her apart,” said Greg Clark. “And use the pieces, along with native materials, to construct fortress Escort.”
“With General Krank riding with Mako, he could survey the system to identify the best defensive position for both John’s children and for fortress Escort,” Skip Howard continued.
During this discussion, Rhonda Carter turned bright pink. “I will not have my ship taken apart and turned into a…”
“It’s my ship, Commander Carter,” Captain Howard interrupted quietly.
Carter turned toward him in almost a blind fury, but something about the look in his eyes got through to her. She took a deep breath, then: “I apologize, Captain. It’s just…”
“I understand, Commander,” Howard said. “Believe me, I would feel very much the same way in your place. I don’t like the idea of disassembling a starship and turning it into, not even a space station but a defensive installation. I am under orders to make Escort fly again, but after reviewing all of the damage, I think once we do, we should rename it the U.S.S. Grandfather’s Axe.”
Carter was far from the only person confused by Howard.
“Your riddles aren’t always party favorites, Captain Howard,” Yui Song warned. “Please explain yourself.”
In response, Captain Skip Howard hefted an imaginary axe. “This is my grandfather’s axe. It has two pieces, the blade and the handle. After grandpa passed, dad replaced the handle. And I just replaced the blade.”
Commander Dutch Holland spoke up, his unique luchadore uniform causing Commodore Yui to reflect again on what a strange menagerie Captain Howard maintained on his ship. “To put it in plain English,” Holland started, the phrase sounding a little strange in his thick Mexican accent. “By the time we get finished rebuilding Escort, pretty much every part of that ship will have been recycled and rebuilt using the industrial replicators. Until the only part left will be those replicators. And those replicators were not original on that ship. There will be nothing left of the original Escort. Only the idea of Escort will remain. It will essentially be a new ship.”
“Can we actually accomplish that out here?” Carter asked.
“Not really,” Commodore Yui replied. “But I may have some very interesting and good news on that front. In a few days. I won’t announce it until I have confirmation.”
15.6
I have always liked grandfather's axe. You know he's had that axe since the Civil War. Grandfather, himself, has had all his parts replaced, twice. Even his brain is new, but he still thinks of himself as a lumberjack.
-Will
-Will
Fortress Escort. Love it.
In UK pop culture speak, grandfather's axe is referred to as Trigger's broom.
In UK pop culture speak, grandfather's axe is referred to as Trigger's broom.
The Star Beagle Adventures
Episode 15: Close to the Edge Part IV - Seasons of Man
Scene 7: All the Human Race
He turned around and pointed, revealing all the human race…
15.7
All the Human Race
All the Human Race
Commodore Yui Song concluded the meeting with: “Enact step one immediately. Captain Howard, get those nacelles off the Escort and build your sled. Commander Carter, you’re very probably the best person to explain the plan to your godchildren, obtain their input and let everyone know about any potential issues. The rest of you are excused. General, Captain, Commander Carter, please remain.”
It took a few minutes for about 20 other people, most of them civilian experts who were resident on the U.S.S. Beagle, to exit the U.S.S. Mako’s conference center. As large as the conference table was, it was rather lost in the middle of a very large room that took up a large part of deck 3.
“Rhonda, I know you feel an obligation toward your godchildren. And according to Pel, that might very well be by their mother’s design.” Commodore Yui settled back down at the table and gestured to Carter, Howard and Krank to resume their seats. “But once we get them to the Al Salemais system, do you not feel that your obligation will have been fulfilled? Ronald’s plan seems to really involve hunkering the task force into that system for the long term.” She gestured toward all three of them. “Convince me that this is the best option.”
“You’re talking to the wrong recently demoted captain, sir,” Rhonda Carter replied. “I hate every part of this plan.” She raised her hands in a frustrated gesture. “Okay, taking the nacelles off and using them as sleds is brilliant. It’s the only way to keep both John’s children and Escort’s technology out of the hands of the holy landers. But bedding down in that system… And we would be bedding hard. Once Escort is sufficiently dismantled to make for any workable defensive installation, we are stuck until help arrives. And we don’t know when that will be.”
Carter looked at Captain Skip Howard. “By all means, speak your mind, Rhonda,” Howard said.
“It’s always better to maintain mobility. An aggressive stance gives you the option to run away. But if Escort is in pieces, we can’t run away. The last thing we want is for the holy landers to get their hands on Federation technology. They have been aboard Escort. They know its value.”
“She has a point, Ronald,” Yui observed.
“I would like to hear General Krank’s assessment,” said Howard.
Yui Song gestured toward the elderly klingon general.
“Tactically, Commander Carter is correct,” Krank opined. “She is a fighter after my own heart. The klingon way is to take an aggressive stance and to attack first when conflict appears imminent. Captain Howard appears to be thinking more strategically. I believe he is hoping that a strong enough strategic position, coupled with the holy landers’ evident respect for the capabilities of the, as Rhonda named the species, lepreshrooms, could be sufficient to convince these holy landers to attempt to negotiate. A very Federation strategy.”
“And the flaw in that strategy?” Yui asked.
“We do not know enough about the holy landers or the depth of their enmity with the lepreshrooms,” Krank continued. “While the holy landers are a formidable force, we have never seen them engaged in serious hostilities. With the exception of the odd battle we observed in the, um, as Rhonda named it, the Valentine system.”
General Krank paused to clear his throat and take a drink of something dark and strong smelling. “We saw them fire warning shots from their ships at pursuing lepreshrooms, but the only pitched battle we observed did not involve any guns, knives or hand-to-hand combat.”
Rhonda Carter nodded. “They were singing at… some big dark thing in the sky.”
“We could not tell whether it was in earnest, or if it was some sort of ritual,” Krank opined.
“I reviewed the reports in detail,” said Skip Howard. “And also interviewed our resident experts on all things holy lander, the various personalities of the purple known variously as Shadow, Sheeux Vosq Nala, and Ben Urri Urri. Their ships are bristling with weapons, but no one in her culture has ever observed them using any weapons. Only singing.”
“You think they specialize in ritual combat?” Yui song asked. “What does that mean?”
“They have an immensely complex and ritualistic culture, and they greatly value demonstrations of strength,” Captain Howard observed. “And they have demonstrated a preference for non-violent forms of combat. I have a team of cultural experts going over every detail and continuing to interview Shadow and combing through the vast catalogue of the writings of Ben Urri Urri…”
Commodore Yui was barely holding her impatience in check. “Sum this up for us, Ronald.”
Captain Ronald Howard, XIV smiled. “A show of strength and a ritual welcome, combined with protection against their singing and we might be able to do better than avoid battle. We might be able to negotiate, if not an alliance, possibly a peace treaty?”
“And that is the Federation way of doing things,” General Krank concluded.
15.7
Hard to tell if Krank meant that as a compliment or an insult. 
The answer is, of course, yes.Hard to tell if Krank meant that as a compliment or an insult.
Thanks!! rbs
The Star Beagle Adventures
Episode 15: Close to the Edge Part IV - Seasons of Man
Scene 8: Smiled Whisper
I shook my head and smiled a whisper, knowing all about the place…
15.8
Smiled Whisper
Smiled Whisper
John Jr. was the oldest (by a few seconds), and the largest (both in mass and height) of Ensign John Sevork’s children by Stephanie, the space shrimp, and Rocky, the rock-encrusted, spacefaring mushroom. His siblings looked to him for leadership.
Once the nacelles had been removed from the U.S.S. Escort, John Jr. arranged his siblings, spacing them out along the two nacelles to distribute and balance their mass - 5 of them on one nacelle, 6 on the other.
Each of the siblings was embedded in its own rock-thorn, with as few as one or as many as 6 legs projecting through the rocky table-top, down into a portion of the mushroom that had been Rocky, whose living tissue had been divided to provide housing and nutrients for each of the siblings.
They had been traveling under their own power at warp 3.5, but could not move much faster than that. And it was doubtful they could have travelled even at that speed all the way to the Al Salemais system.
The bottom tip of each rock-encrusted mushroom was the transition point between its expression in relative spacetime and subspace. Exactly how a mushroom was capable of producing a warp field was still a mystery, even though all of the scientists of the task force had been carefully studying every reading that they could take of these odd creatures.
It did not work on the same principle as warp engine to nacelles. Instead, the mushroom appeared to exist in relative space and subspace simultaneously. The warp field was generated by the subspace expression of these creatures that Rhonda Carter had dubbed lepreshrooms (by eliding the words “leprechaun” and “mushroom.”)
No one had come up with a name for whatever John Sevork’s children were. Their mother had been referred to as a “space shrimp.” Their father was a hybrid of vulcan and human. And they also carried DNA from the lepreshroom in which they had been born. Warrant Officer Seprek Harrison had referred to them as “vulcan-human-mushroom-shrimp babies.” They were most commonly referred to now as "Rhonda's godchildren" or simply "the godchildren."
In appearance they were so radically different from one another that they hardly seemed to admit of being characterized as a species. Some of them looked disturbingly humanoid. Others had ribbon-like bodies, or appeared to be rock formations.
No two were alike, and yet their presence sitting atop their individual land-thorns with only a bubble of atmosphere between them and the cold of interstellar space marked their similarity. A bubble of atmosphere generated and projected by the mushroom living inside the thorn-shaped rock that each of John Sevork’s children were riding atop.
Commodore Yui Song, Captain Skip Howard, Commanders Rhonda Carter and Jason Bates, and Lieutenant Commanders Gregg Clark and Zizira Gross were watching from the U.S.S. Mako’s caudal lounge, the rear-most room in the Mako’s secondary engineering hull. The caudal lounge’s windows were the rearward surface of the ship, further back than even the aft end of the nacelles.
Pel and Shadow were also present, watching as each of the strange, mushroom riding orphans intersected the point of their individual land-thorns with one of the U.S.S. Escort’s liberated nacelles. As the point of each thorn intersected the surface of a nacelle, the rock and mushroom partly phased into subspace, allowing them to become first mingled with, then firmly anchored into the nacelle.
This was a difficult process for Rhonda Carter to watch, so Commodore Yui felt rum would be in order. She had initially planned to use baijiu, until some research found that the powerful Chinese drink would be poison for the bolian, ferengi and probably the purple as well. Most uninitiated humans would also consider the drink probably poisonous given how close its pungent aroma was to that of pure rocket fuel.
Rhonda Carter was, understandably, nearly in tears given the tremendous damage the nacelles were taking. This damage alone guaranteed that the rebuild of Escort would be a process of several months as the nacelles would have to be largely rebuilt from scratch.
“Here, get this down you,” Skip Howard said, handing a glass of rum to Carter.
Carter knocked back the rum with a single swallow and handed the glass back to him.
Captain Howard and Commodore Yui exchanged glances. Yui shook her head. “Keep them coming, Captain.”
In response, Pel handed one of the bottles of rum to Captain Howard. He looked at the glass, then looked at the bottle. Howard raised his eyebrows, set the glass aside, uncorked the bottle and handed it to Rhonda Carter, who drank from it without hesitation.
“Considering we are about to divide the task force, I was thinking about sending Commander Bates with you, along with Commander Carter,” Yui said.
“With respect, I think we have overriding priorities, Commodore,” Howard opined. “I would recommend Commander Carter work with General Krank to identify the best defensive installation. Krank is as qualified as any military adviser, but fortresses are not his forte and Rhonda has a talent for identifying vulnerabilities. You’re going to need her to keep shooting down every Krank plan until you can identify the best defensive option.”
Yui Song sighed heavily. “I suppose there will be plenty of time to complete your joint re-education once we’re bedded down in the Al Salemais system.”
“Either that or no time,” Howard replied. “I also want to swap out Lieutenant Commander Clark for Lieutenant Commander Gross.”
Commodore Yui’s reaction to this suggestion was strong enough to elicit additional response from Gregg Clark, who had been hovering at the edge of this conversation.
“We talked this move over and Captain Howard is right,” Clark said. “He needs Gross to help his science teams develop a defense against the song of the holy lander. And I have been working with Lieutenant Ki Kresid on ways to weaponize as many of Escort’s normal operational systems as possible, since they won’t be required to support normal ship functions. General Krank and Commander Carter need that information for their planning.”
“Why not send Lieutenant Kresid?” Yui Song asked.
“She will be busy holding Escort together until it gets to Al Salemais and at the same time, preparing it to be dismantled and repurposed once the Beagle gets it there,” Clark replied.
“Meanwhile, Zizira Gross was the only member of Escort’s crew who could actually hear the words of the holy lander whose song had that crew enthralled,” Howard added. “She has agreed to allow the more talented among the vulcans on my ship to engage in extended mind melds with her and pick her memory clean. It appears those ultra low-frequency songs have lyrics and while we can’t hear them, the universal translator can. And, apparently, at its default setting, the UT was translating those lyrics and reproducing the translation at the same, sub-sonic frequency. Which, apparently only a bolian could hear…”
15.8
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