The Waiting

[Cptn Corizon 0]

The bold lines of the Sovereign-class starship seemed out of place amid the cargo transports that lurched ahead of it at warp four. On the bridge, Rear Admiral Ah-Windu Corizon tapped his fingers idly on the command chair arm rests. The Excalibur was never designed for convoy duty, and neither was he to be entirely honest.

 

“Restless, Captain?”

 

Corizon glanced over to see Commander Gage Corwin smiling from the executive officer’s seat. Corizon simply rolled his eyes and resumed tapping aimlessly.

 

“You didn't have to come, you know.”

 

“I thought I’d give Commander Alcot a break.”

 

Corwin grinned widely. “Fair enough, I suppose. But you’re going to ruin the touchpad that way.”

 

Stopping long enough to let out a long-suffering sigh. Corizon shook his head. “It’s a nervous tick I’ve had for years. Done it on every Excalibur bridge dating back to the bee.”

 

The boyish thirty-something Commander grinned wider-still. It was easy to forget that the Dameon Captain had served aboard the Excalibur for over seventeen years off and on and had shepherded her through three different commissioning.

 

“I’d be stating the obvious,” he said, “but when did that stop me? You don’t like convoy duty do you?”

 

The fanged flag officer shook his head. “Not really, no. Especially not aboard a battleship with half the assets in my command committed…”

 

Tipping his head, Corwin nodded his agreement with that last statement. “Just what the hell are they transporting that fleet has a Sovereign, three Steamrunners, a Luna and two Defiants escorting them to port anyway?”

 

“Dilithium crystals,” Corizon said with a grunt. “The damned Soltans have been taking pot shots at our refineries and then there’s that labor issue on… Corian or whatever the name of that planet is.”

 

“Corianis,” Corwin corrected. “Yeah I read something about that.”

 

The Dameon shook his head disapprovingly. “I can’t imagine striking like that when we’re at war.”

 

Corwin decided it wasn’t a topic up for debate and moved on. “So Starfleet is putting this shipment under heavy guard; do they expect an attack on it?”

 

“Well they've only hit one convoy so far—of crystals anyway—so I think Fleet’s just being overly cautious… or they know something I don’t.”

 

“I find that hard to believe, Admiral.”

 

When Corizon didn’t respond, Corwin looked towards him dubiously. “So it is that they think there’s going to be an attack. That explains why you’re actually in command this time instead of Alcot. Lovely. “

 

“I didn’t say that,” Corizon said defensively.

 

“It was what you didn’t say, Admiral.”

 

Perking an ear, Corizon gave the human commander a sidelong glance. “I’d prefer the entire crew not spend the mission thinking that utter doom could descend upon them at any moment now from subspace, Commander. I’d appreciate if you kept your speculations on my knowledge of Starfleet Intelligence reports to yourself.”

 

Vindicated, Corwin accepted the mild remand from the Admiral with grace. “Of course, Admiral. I won’t speculate any further on your knowledge of Starfleet Intelligence reports, sir.”

 

Nodding with satisfaction the Dameon resumed tapping on his armrest. “The worst part of convoy duty…”

 

“Is the waiting?”

 

“Yes. The waiting.”