Stardate: 60314:0059
Title: Renewing Old Acquaintances
Author: Captain Deadilus
Time: Current
Scene: USS Horizon


It had been several years since Scott had had a glass of port. Wine occasionally, ales of various descriptions more frequently, but port...several years indeed.

Sitting down with Dr. Matthews and Ensign Doyle, Scott found the conversation stimulating. Both he and Dr. Matthews were interested to hear about Tammin's experience on Cardassia, especially as she was an unofficial Bajoran representative (unofficial in the sense that she was Bajoran and not an ambassador). Although Ted was half-Cardassian, half-Human, Scott realised he didn't know whether of not he had actually lived on Cardassia or one of the colonies. He made a mental note to re-check Ted's personnel file when he went off-duty that evening.

Scott was about to say something when his combadge chirped.

[Captain Deadilus - can you join me on the bridge?] It was the voice of his Operations Chief. Not a good sign.

Tapping the little shield over his heart, Scott informed her that he was on way. Making apologies for having to leave, he exited the quarters and made his way to the bridge.

~

As the turbolift doors opened and disgorged the Commanding Officer onto the bridge, he turned to his COO.

"Autumn. Problems?" He queried, knowing from the fact that she had called him that the answer was most likely an affirmative.

"I thought you would want to know that Alex Khavok has been arrested under what seems dubious circumstances and is currently being held in the brig on Starbase 9."

Scott took that as a 'yes', but having know Alex from their time at Starfleet Academy together, he wasn't in the least surprised.

"What information do you have?" Scott was surprised that a Security detail had actually ARRESTED and DETAINED the CO of the Relentless.

Autumn tapped her console calling up some information, but Scott was sure she had it all memorised already.

"I have established that there was some kind of fight in the bar, but the reasons seem unclear. Also, I found out that Admiral Foster is current off the Starbase and that a Commander Frank Burgle is currently in charge. I just
reached the Relentless and it seems their XO is currently en-route to talk to him."

Impressed with the details she had managed to get, including ones he hadn't anticipated her checking such as the Admiral's location, Scott paused for a moment.

"Well, I will go and see if I can be of assistance." Scott smiled at her, although she couldn't know that this wasn't the first time Scott had got Alex out of a brig!

Turning to leave, Scott realised that his ship was now fully functioning.

"Autumn, good job on getting the power problem sorted out, and thank you for letting me know about Alex."

And with that, Scott departed the bridge for Starbase 9.

~

Tapping his combadge, Scott checked on the location of Abigail Winters, the XO of the Relentless. It made sense to meet up with her first and try to find out what had happened. Although Alex had ended up in a brig on more than one occasion (often ending up dragging Scott with him!) he wasn't the sort to start a fight. The problem was that he was usually the only one left standing at the end of a fight, and so usually the one Security arrested!

The Starbase computer system informed him that Lt. Commander Winters was in the Admiral's office, and reminded him that Commander Burgle was in charge. Scott's good mood dropped a little - Frank Burgle was a pain in the neck, and enjoyed being such to junior officers. 

~

Commander Burgle's voice carried through the open door frame and out into the small intermediate office. Scott could hear him stalling the XO, being his usual 'pain in the neck' self, and enjoying it. The young Ensign looked a little nervous as Scott approached, and the CO guessed that the young Ensign had already been chewed up and spat out by Lt. Commander Winters.

"The Commander is unavailable..." The Ensign began.

"I'm sure he is..." Scott began "To everyone but me."

The Ensign went to protest, but Scott merely met his gaze and the Ensign fell silent.

Leaning on the doorframe, he listened to Frank's usual rubbish. 'Professional courtesy' obviously did not appear in Frank's vocabulary.

"If you can't let the matter go, then surely you can release him from the brig. I will happily vouch for him." Although Scott had not met her in person, this was obviously Abigail Winters, the USS Relentless's XO.

"Well you see there's the problem. For us to release Captain Khavok it would have to be on the word of someone of equal rank or above." Frank was just loving this, and was totally oblivious to the Captain now stood in his doorway, which would make Scott enjoy this just that little bit more.

"Well, then you have my word that Captain Khavok will cause no more trouble."

Scott spoke up, causing both of them to shift their attention to the as-yet unnoticed visitor.

"Commander Deadilus" Frank stood up, remembering them as equals of rank, and showing his first sign of professional courtesy in front of Abigail.

"That's Captain Deadilus now." Scott smiled calmly at them both, all of them realising that Commander Burgle had just played himself into checkmate.

"And back to the matter of you releasing Alex..." Scott finished off, his smile increasing almost unnoticeably.

Commander Burgle paused. Scott was sure that, if left long enough, steam would blow out of Frank's ears and make a comical whistling sound. But he had already decided he wanted to save the Relentless's XO from having to spend any more time with this piece of filth.

"Of course, Captain." Commander Burgle began, already scheming again. "You'll need to fill out the necessary authorisation, have your position confirmed, your command location verified..."

Scott cut him off before he could spew out any more rubbish.

"The paperwork can be sent to my ship and filled out by my Chief of Operations, as per regulations. As for verifying my position, I'm sure the records speak for themselves and our past doesn't need to be dug up. And my
ship's not going anywhere just yet, so flight is not a concern either." Scott smiled still, and he thought he caught Abigail smiling slightly as well.

"ENSIGN" Frank called out suddenly, the young Ensign appearing like a shot at the door. "Escort these two to the brig, and authorise the release of Captain Khavok." Frank almost spat the words out.

"Thank you, Commander." Scott tipped his head slightly to Commander Burgle, and turned to the attractive XO. "Shall we go?"

~

Leaving the office, Abigail turned to Scott, the pair of them following the Ensign.

"So how exactly is it that you know Captain Khavok?" She queried.

Scott smiled yet again as he turned to the pretty and petite woman, and began to tell a story from their time at the academy, recounting a bar and the fight they had both been in protecting a female friends honour...


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Captain Scott Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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