"Fangs, Stingers and Stellar Cartography"

[Craven 0]

"Deck Eleven"

 

As the turbo-lift hummed to life, Jack Craven leaned against the bulkhead and closed his eyes for the first time since the battle with the Al-Ucard fleet. It had been two hours since The Hundred fleet had warped in from seemingly nowhere to the aid of the flailing allies. A battle which Craven himself had, by chance, played a larger role in than he had expected.

 

The day had been full of surprises.

 

For starters, there was his promotion to Lieutenant Junior-Grade. While he felt honored that Commander Corizon had bestowed this title upon him just prior to a major battle - a timing which he felt was more than coincidence, considering the confidence it gave the young man from Canada - Jack had little time to feel good about himself and the work he had put in. Immediately afterwards, the Dameon had called on Jack to man the Conn. While Jack had piloted all manner of starships before in training, he had never been charged with control of a ship of the Dreadnaught's potential, much less the Gamma Quadrant Flagship in a major battle.

 

"Don't get us all killed." were the words that rang through his head - when he even had time to think - during the battle. Now looking back, he had at least succeeded in that respect.

 

The turbo-lift came to a hald at Deck 11, home to the Excalibur's illustrious Stellar Cartography Lab. Walking through the sliding doors, Jack couldn't help but give a slight smile. If there was anywhere on the ship Jack loved to be, it was here....or Astrophysics....or the Arboretum...or Hydroponics. Now that he thought about it, pretty much anywhere in the Science Deptartment's realm, Jack loved.

 

As he walked along the plank that extended towards a giant concave screen, he noticed a man lying beneath the console, with his legs poking out from beside one of the two chairs.

 

Noticing Craven, the man rose to his feet. Craven recognized him immediately by his short stature as Ensign Steve Halloway.

 

"Oh hey Jack..." suddenly noticing the extra pip on the taller man's collar his face went red, "I mean, Sir."

 

Jack gave a wide smile "It's ok Steve, you didn't know...and its not like I'm your CO."

 

Halloway's nervousness suddenly calmed and turned to a bright smile, "Oh well in that case, congratulations. Er...what can I do for you?"

 

Jack's expression returned to one of all-business, "Well, Commander Itzhak's a little tied up on the bridge given all that's been going on,"

 

Halloway nodded, "Kinda crazy eh? What with us fighting giant scorpions one day and Vampires the next?"

 

Craven seemed to ignore the joke the shorter man was trying to make but nodded, "Anyway since he's a little tied up I'm making my usual rounds to all the science facilities, and I thought I'd come check on my baby," he said motioning to the portion of the console which Halloway was working on, "She's not busted up is she?"

 

Halloway chuckled, "Oh that? Yeah this whole deck took somewhat of a beating there in that firefight. Engineering's a bit tied up, but I know this construction almost as well as anyone else, save for maybe you or Commander Itzhak, so I figured I'd start some repairs here."

 

Jack grinned again, "Excellent. I'll swing by in a few hours to pick up your report for the Cheif. I've still got to hit all the labs, the Arboretum, Hydro and Astrophysics yet."

 

"Aye sir, I'll take good care of her for you." Halloway winked.

 

Jack chuckled and turned to leave. Just as he made it to the doorway, he turned back,

 

"And Halloway,"

 

"Sir?"

 

Smiling a toothy grin he added, "Be gentle with her." and made his way out.

[Captain Halloway 0]

Wait, how old is this Steve guy? I don't have any brothers... :::wonders if there's an unexpected Father's Day card coming in the mail:::

 

Nice log.