Losses

[STSF_Scooter 0]

Losses

During the 8 hour TBS

 

Released from sickbay, Colonel Marx stood in the officer's lounge, looking out through the viewports, but not really seeing anything. 2261. I've been asleep for almost 250 years, and the universe has changed. He ran his hand through his now normally short hair, courtesy of Ens Khole and a pair of clippers. I've lost everything, my family, my life, my crew...he felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up.

 

“Penny for your thoughts,Colonel,” Scooter asked, pulling him out of his ruminations.

 

“I'm trying to adjust, Commander...Wesley, is it?” She nodded, as she gently guided him to a low table and comfortable chair. She settled down, across from him. “Its a lot to take in. The last thing I recall, before waking up, was ordering Lieutenant Yoshida to set the autopilot and cruise on the Hasslein Drive...our sublight drive, and headed down to the cryotubes.

 

“I lost everything, Commander, and I have no idea why I'm even still here.” He paused for a moment, as he realized something. “You're not human, are you? You're not related to Bruce Banner's cousin, Jennifer Walters, are you?”

 

Audraya chuckled at that. “No, nor am I related to Gamora. I'm an Orion, we're from a region of this quadrant of the galaxy called the Delphic Expanse, and yes, this is our normal skin tone. Normally, we're traders and slavers—with females usually as the commodity.”

 

“So how did you wind up in the starfleet?”

 

“I was raised a slave, by my own family, until I was 'purchased' by my step-father, Robert Wesley. The Wesleys helped me recover my humanity, and raised me as their own.

 

"And Colonel, you're in good company aboard the Creek; we all know about loss. I've lost friends, subordinates, and even lovers, although the worst was when I lost my father and virtually all of my shipmates at the Battle of Vulcan, as did most of Earth-assigned Starfleet; Doctor T'Aral lost her entire planet, save for around 10 thousand. And then there were the three terrorist attacks a couple of years ago.

 

“I still have nightmares about the Battle of Vulcan, and being trapped aboard an airless, heatless, dark as a tomb derelict, with vacuum just on the other side of the bulkhead.”

 

“But,” the Colonel countered, “you still have your friends and crew. I have no one. Hell, I have no idea how my wife took it when she was told of our loss. This mission had already strained our marriage to the breaking point.”

 

“Well, I would say go back to the time you came from since the future is not what it used to be, but that's not really going to work. Join Starfleet, help make a difference.”

 

“Problems, I take it?”

 

“Just the usual, for any power. Someone once joked that the future should have been labeled 'Some assembly required.'”

 

“Commander, its very tempting. But I'm a fossil. What I learned about command was 250 years ago. What I know is horribly out of date.”

 

“Command styles never are, Colonel. Except for the ones that are totally inept. But then, those captains tend to Darwin themselves out of existence. And, unfortunately, their crews. I've read your record. You accorded yourself honorably during the Augment attack on your base; Silver Stars, as I recall, weren't handed out like candy during the Eugenics War. Nor was it your fault that Sydney was nuked, so that stigma doesn't hold true any more.” She stood. “Colonel, I do hope you join Starfleet, but if you don't at least I'll understand. When we get to back to Harrington Station, I'll talk with Admiral Coyote about reactivating your pay account and getting your back pay. Almost two hundred and 50 years worth ought to be a tidy sum^*.

 

“We'll begin preparations to tow your vessel back to Harrington in the morning. I know you've gotten plenty of it, but you'd best get some rest or at least down time.”

 

Marx nodded. “Good night, Commander. And thanks for the chat.”

 

“You're welcome, Colonel,” Audraya smiled, as she walked towards the hatch.

 

_________________

 

*Based of of the 2014 Defense Finance and Accounting Service 2014 military pay chart, and assuming no adjustments to annual pay and allowances (Family Separation, Aviation, Submarine/Space duty), a lump sum of roughly 41 million. Of course would there be parity in a dollars to Federation credits exchange rate?