What were they thinking!?!

[Cptn Neptune 0]

Neptune sat blinking at the communications screen. What were they thinking!?! The visage of Starfleet Command faded into darkness and the eerie silence filled the small room. “I am a diplomat…not a Starship Commander!”

 

Admiral Forest’s face filled the communications screen, “Greetings Commander,” his voice was flat and unmoving. “I am pleased to hear you recovered the Enterprise and the Aldrin in one piece.”

 

Nodding slightly, Neptune leaned closer to the screen. “Then you’ve received my full report?”

 

“Yes, we have.”

 

“And what about…”

 

Forest lifted a hand, “I am only sorry I won’t be able to hear about it in person.”

 

“I was under the impression,” Neptune lifted an eyebrow, “that I’d be returning to Earth for debriefing.”

 

“There’s been a change of plans…”

 

“Oh?”

 

Shifting his weight slightly and leaning into the screen, lowering his voice, Forest nearly whispered, “With Captain Moore’s…situation…we’ve had to make some…changes to plans.”

 

“I see…”

 

“At the moment, Starfleet is inclined to uphold the Captains’s field promotion of you to Commander…making you…”

 

“The next inline for Command of Challenger?”

 

Nodding, “At least for now…”

 

“But can’t Challenger simply return to Earth?”

 

“I am afraid not,” Forest shook his head, “We have a diplomatic mission for, and it’s of some importance, and if you delay at Earth…”

 

Neptune lifted his eyebrow again. What could be so important that they couldn’t delay until a more suitable Captain could be found. He’d never commanded a Starship for any length of time…blast. “What could be so urgent?”

 

“We’ve encountered a possible ally against…forces gathering in the darkness.”

 

“I see…go on.”

 

“The Saurians are very apprehensive about making contact with us,” Forest said directly. “Apparently, they’ve remained mostly out of Galactic affairs, even though they’ve been in space longer than us…”

 

“Delicacy,” Neptune almost corrected him, “but not timing…”

 

“Well,” Forest said with a sigh. “That’s the catch. Every so often, they go into some sort of hibernation for a few weeks while they store enough energy for their mating cycle…You need to get there before they hibernate on us…”

 

“And let me guess…they’re due in a few weeks.”

 

“Bing bing,” Forest smiled. “Challenger is waiting for you at Alpha Centuari Commander…good luck!”

[Cptn Neptune 0]

Note: Admiral Forest is not to be confused with the dearly departed Admiral Forrest.