jeriendhal (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jeriendhal) wrote2009-09-21 09:36 am
jeriendhal) wrote2009-09-21 09:36 am
Entry tags:
Fic: Altered Trajectory, cont. (alt-Rufus, Hazel)
Posting this bit, which I'd been working on last week since I got tired of the angst-o-rama with Marty and Whitepelt (there's a happy ending to that story, but it's taking a while to get to it).
Health Update; Made appointment with the doctor for this afternoon. Thought my fever had finally broken but it appears to be climbing up again. :(
The landing bay was set in the fat belly of the Falcon Claw, along with the engineering section and the CInC, while the ship’s flying bridge, where most of the sublight navigation was handled, was contained in a wide, saucer shaped deck connected to the main hull by a short boom to maximize the view from the exterior viewports. Captain Sharpfang was there, hovering over the shoulder of the ship’s pilot and minding the final preps for their undocking from Newspring’s civilian transfer station.
“Ru Ofanius Brushtail and Haz Elin Swiftfoot reporting as ordered, Captain,” Rufus announced.
Sharpfang made a vague salute in their direction and they waited until she was satisfied with the pilot’s projected flight plan out of the system. She was average height for a vixen, her pelt a solid cream color, with a face that would have been pleasant if hadn’t held what seemed like a perpetually harried expression. Finally she turned to face them and said, “Welcome aboard, Lord Ru Ofanius, Lt. Swiftfoot.”
“Just Miss Swiftfoot, or Hazel if you prefer, Captain,” Hazel said. “I’m a civilian nowadays.”
“Once Navy, always Navy,” Sharpfang said. “Anyway, the only Mister onboard is my first officer.” She directed her attention to Rufus. “Lord Ru Ofanius, I am informed by Lord Lakewalker that my Falcon Claw is at your disposal. This came in a mission briefing that was unusually tight lipped even for a Security operation. Which is doubly annoying since that prat of a security officer I’ve been assigned likely knows more about what’s going on than I do. I don’t suppose you’d care to enlighten me further?”
If her easy acceptance of Hazel hadn’t been enough for Rufus to be inclined to like her, Sharpfang’s curt dismissal of Mac’s sense of self-importance had cemented his appreciation firmly. “I would be delighted, Captain. May we speak to you privately?”
She nodded and gestured them into her office just off the bridge, not more than a cubical really given the ship’s compact size, and had them sit down. Quickly Rufus brought her up to speed with the story. He included all the details, even the unbelievable ones of the crew alternates from that other, brighter universe, including his own twin. Captain Sharpfang limited her commentary to a few pertinent questions, and the occasional flicking back of her ears for the more bloody parts.
Finally, when he had concluded his tale, she leaned forward in her seat and asked, “And you regard your risk assessment of the Varn Dominion as accurate?”
“Given the evidence I saw and the probable veracity of the people I spoke with, yes I do,” he replied. “Though I’m a bit surprised you haven’t just told me to my face that I’m utterly mad.”
“Some of what you said fits the official reports I’ve been handed down, particularly the recent ramping up of the Terran Navy’s activities. As for the rest…” She smiled ruefully. “I was given a direct order from Admiral Pouncer that, I quote, “You are to believe everything that comes out of Lord Ru Ofanius’ mouth and regard it as vouched for personally by the Ten. Period.” So I suppose I must.” She tapped a fingerclaw on her desk. “That does not change the fact that I regard the idea of a revived Dominion, however much a shadow of its former self, with a hefty helping of panic.”
“They are not our enemy,” Rufus said insistently. “Nor is the Terran Confederation at the moment. If we can make peaceful, open contact with the Dominion, I’m certain that everyone’s fears will be allayed. But if we let the extremists take the initiative, the chance for rational debate will be lost.”
Health Update; Made appointment with the doctor for this afternoon. Thought my fever had finally broken but it appears to be climbing up again. :(
The landing bay was set in the fat belly of the Falcon Claw, along with the engineering section and the CInC, while the ship’s flying bridge, where most of the sublight navigation was handled, was contained in a wide, saucer shaped deck connected to the main hull by a short boom to maximize the view from the exterior viewports. Captain Sharpfang was there, hovering over the shoulder of the ship’s pilot and minding the final preps for their undocking from Newspring’s civilian transfer station.
“Ru Ofanius Brushtail and Haz Elin Swiftfoot reporting as ordered, Captain,” Rufus announced.
Sharpfang made a vague salute in their direction and they waited until she was satisfied with the pilot’s projected flight plan out of the system. She was average height for a vixen, her pelt a solid cream color, with a face that would have been pleasant if hadn’t held what seemed like a perpetually harried expression. Finally she turned to face them and said, “Welcome aboard, Lord Ru Ofanius, Lt. Swiftfoot.”
“Just Miss Swiftfoot, or Hazel if you prefer, Captain,” Hazel said. “I’m a civilian nowadays.”
“Once Navy, always Navy,” Sharpfang said. “Anyway, the only Mister onboard is my first officer.” She directed her attention to Rufus. “Lord Ru Ofanius, I am informed by Lord Lakewalker that my Falcon Claw is at your disposal. This came in a mission briefing that was unusually tight lipped even for a Security operation. Which is doubly annoying since that prat of a security officer I’ve been assigned likely knows more about what’s going on than I do. I don’t suppose you’d care to enlighten me further?”
If her easy acceptance of Hazel hadn’t been enough for Rufus to be inclined to like her, Sharpfang’s curt dismissal of Mac’s sense of self-importance had cemented his appreciation firmly. “I would be delighted, Captain. May we speak to you privately?”
She nodded and gestured them into her office just off the bridge, not more than a cubical really given the ship’s compact size, and had them sit down. Quickly Rufus brought her up to speed with the story. He included all the details, even the unbelievable ones of the crew alternates from that other, brighter universe, including his own twin. Captain Sharpfang limited her commentary to a few pertinent questions, and the occasional flicking back of her ears for the more bloody parts.
Finally, when he had concluded his tale, she leaned forward in her seat and asked, “And you regard your risk assessment of the Varn Dominion as accurate?”
“Given the evidence I saw and the probable veracity of the people I spoke with, yes I do,” he replied. “Though I’m a bit surprised you haven’t just told me to my face that I’m utterly mad.”
“Some of what you said fits the official reports I’ve been handed down, particularly the recent ramping up of the Terran Navy’s activities. As for the rest…” She smiled ruefully. “I was given a direct order from Admiral Pouncer that, I quote, “You are to believe everything that comes out of Lord Ru Ofanius’ mouth and regard it as vouched for personally by the Ten. Period.” So I suppose I must.” She tapped a fingerclaw on her desk. “That does not change the fact that I regard the idea of a revived Dominion, however much a shadow of its former self, with a hefty helping of panic.”
“They are not our enemy,” Rufus said insistently. “Nor is the Terran Confederation at the moment. If we can make peaceful, open contact with the Dominion, I’m certain that everyone’s fears will be allayed. But if we let the extremists take the initiative, the chance for rational debate will be lost.”
no subject
Thank you so much, Royce :)
Nice order she received... *grins*
I do not know if I would have believed him - even on this order... ;)
mjkj
I think I found a word missing in the third paragraph (of the story): "it":
...with a face that would have been pleasant if hadn’t held...
...if it hadn't held...