Decisions

Posted on Fri Aug 1st, 2025 @ 7:14pm by Lieutenant Commander David Wallace & Commodore Sureth & Captain Shauna Vehn

Mission: Stellar Problems
Location: Meeting room in Intelligence office
Timeline: Concurrent

On:

David had kept a low profile while working on a number of projects, including the replacement of the Athena. The short list was down too three support ships that fell within the criteria the Commodore had laid out, he had it narrowed down to a shortened list even had the delivery times, he'd also been able to get his department staffing sorted out fully and many of the new staff were slated to arrive soon. As he arrived at the designated time, he looked around the empty room. He was still uncomfortable with the idea that he was making these decisions, let alone having to present them.

Sureth attended to his earlier meetings and then tagged Captain Vehn to join him in this meeting with Lieutenant Commander Wallace.

" Commander where do you wish to meet?" Sureth asked while walking through the civilian side of the promenade.

Shauna nodded to Sureth as she caught him up on the promenade.

" Let's meet in Commander Wallace office." Sureth directed as he was almost there. Ringing the door chime Sureth waited.

David half smiled, "I'm in the meeting room just off the main area." he said as he set down his pad on the new table top.

Sureth turned around and later caught up with Captain Vehn as they both joined Wallace in the meeting area.

" Commander I hope you have some good news for us?" Sureth said as he entered.

"There's a short list but it's all good I think." David said with some energy.

" He was tasked with finding a replacement for the Athena." Sureth explained to Shauna.

“Ahh I see” Shauna nodded understandingly. “What do we have Commander?” She looked at David curiously.

"there are four ships available, as I need to depart within the next six hours including filing the request to bring the ship back too the station." he presses a couple of pads on the embedded controls to bring up the holographic displays. "Interceptor Class, small crew size think a light version of the intrepid class, upside is it can launch two fighters if needed, has a pair of science labs, medical and so on." scrolling to the next image set "Three are pending launch, only one is named, USS Cascade."

Switching to the next ship "USS McCook, Akayzi Class." The image came up "It's scheduled to be put into mothballs for reserve fleet duties unless we take it, and it's almost forty years old so there is the maintenance concerns." he paused "From what the yard masters have said our next opportunity to get a ship is four months."

Shauna nodded. “If I had to choose I think I’d most likely go with the Interceptor, it’s ready and it sounds impressive. Although the McCook also holds an element of interest, but it would depend on the maintenance side of things. It’s a shame we can’t take both.”

" Captain Vehn is right. Commander Wallace negotiate for both Vessels. The Interceptor will replace the Athena and I may have use for the MCCook." Sureth replied.

David did his own version of a crooked smile "I had a feeling about McCook, it's a day and a half away at the reserve depot, far as the Interceptor which one? USS Cascade or one of the other two?"

" I will let you and Captain Vehn make that decision. As for the McCook and being old, there is an old proverb that says there maybe snow on the roof but there is still fire in the furnace." Sureth replied.

Shauna smiled. “Can’t say I’ve ever heard that one before Sir, in any of my lives.” She looked towards Wallace. “Which of the Interceptors would you choose?”

David didn't blink in his reply "USS Cascade, it's ready for delivery now and I could have it here inside of eight days, the other two ships are just going for trials and inspections so that adds on three additional weeks." he paused "Also the Cascade has an Algeron exemption." hoping that will seal the deal.

“Ohh so it’s exempt from the ban on cloaking technology?” Shauna nodded. “That could prove useful. In that case the Cascade it is.”

"Just so you're aware these exemptions aren't given out very easily and until last night I didn't know they existed, let alone they were a thing." David said pointing at his pad "Only three ships have this exemption officially, according to 'sources' there will be more in the coming months following an announcement from the big three." David said factually.

Shauna nodded. “Then we should count ourselves lucky. Contact the necessary people and let them know we’ll be taking the Cascade, and the McCook. We don’t want anyone else getting there ahead of us.”

David keyed some commands into the embedded controls and the holographic images changed to wireframe renderings of the ship USS Cascade NCC-770629 assigned to Starbase M-69

David stood up "The McCook is already on the way, I had a feeling we were going to be taking on both ships." he said with a smile "I'll depart in a few hours to collect the Cascade along with some crew transfers who are in that sector."

“Wonderful” Shauna smiled warmly. “I’ll look forward to seeing both of them when they’re here at the station.”

" Commander you have done a very good job. Thank you." Sureth added.

David took a half step back, "I'll see you in about a week then."

Sureth nodded and then exited the room as he had to be else where real soon.

Shauna smiled as she watched both men depart, the station was becoming a real hub of activity and she was enjoying being a part of it.

In the turbolift heading too the departure area David mulled over the bizarre events getting a cloak capable ship sounds like the intervention of his father, but from what the Admirals assistant was able to say he was part of some diplomatic mission, again no details as to why or what is going on, as the lift slowed and stopped David stepped out to the departure level of station, the transport was already boarding, "Welcome aboard Commander!" a cheerful steward said as he walked though the airlock.

End