Pomp and Regrets - Part Two

Posted on Wed Aug 31st, 2022 @ 6:30am by Commander John 'Nuke Em' Sheridan & Lieutenant Commander James "Dash" Derringer & Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - USS Spirit of Winter
Timeline: 0940Hrs - November 27th, 2393

Commander John Sheridan rose to his feet, he tapped his combadge. "Sheridan to Yamaguchi. Gabe. Would you join us in here please and thanks?" he knew what was coming was half pomp and the other half was circumstance but many of the younger people in the fleet loved these moments, it was what guided them along the path to their final destination. Many saw the final destination of their careers as being in the Captain's chair.

"Right away sir." came the response. Gabe was sitting in the command chair of the watch. He rose to his feet. "Savv, you got the bridge," he commented to his spouse who rose to her feet without complaint or even hesitation. She went over to the command chair before she sat down after a moment.

Yamaguchi went over to the ready room door before he knocked. He was then permitted entry. He entered after a moment before he went over to where the skipper was standing behind his desk. "What can I do for you skipper?" Yamaguchi inquired. It may be formal but then it may not be and he also did not know why he wanted either.

Sheridan smiled. "Well, Gabe. I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. With all the privileges and responsibilities of said rank." he explained formally. He shook the other man's right hand with his own as he handed him a small black box with his left.

"Congratulations Gabe. It's well earned." Derringer commented with a smile.

Sheridan paused before he let out a soft sigh. "Of course. You know what this means. Right?"

"I do," Yamaguchi answered. "I know Savv will want to come with me as well," he commented as he opened the black box. He pulled the single black pip out. He took a moment to admire it before he gently reached up to his neck and then he placed the pip onto his collar next to his two golden pips which had marked him as a Lieutenant.

Derringer indicated the chair across from him. "Take a seat, Gabe. We need your help to select your successor. I'm sorry Gabe. Regs say so."

"That and Savv and I have children aboard. We're among the last to have children aboard."

"You'll always be welcome here Gabriel..." Sheridan smiled across at the younger male before him. "but all of that said... I need your assistance with your replacement." he commented as the dark-complected man sat back and made himself comfortable. "I've been looking through the tactical database for someone who would jump off the page at me but for some reason... I didn't select anyone."

"Mmm... Well, we can't have that, now... Okay. let me take a look." Yamaguchi answered as he simply turned the chair he was now sitting in, to face his commanding officer. "Let's see..." he paused. "You will want someone with a lower rank... So they can't be poached from you by some asshole wanting to nail you on the procedures of things," he commented before he realized her double-entendre. Gabe decided to ignore it and press ahead. "Also avoid higher ranked people as they tend to not stick around because of Starbases and their own commands," Yamaguchi added. "Computer, interface with Starfleet mainframe and display all tactical officers of Lieutenant rank seeing transfers in the last two weeks." he commented, "It'll probably be a few, due to recent events around the Federation..."

"Working." the computer answered in its usual flat female voice.

"Display on-screen when ready." Yamaguchi quipped.

The list appeared as requested and it was over a thousand names long. Yamaguchi sighed softly. "Alright... Now remove anyone below the age of twenty-four years old relative to their species." With that, a third of the list vanished. "You want someone who is stable and mild-mannered, you do not need a hothead or a malcontent," he added.

Sheridan nodded. "I want a successor to you. They seem to be hard to find."

Yamaguchi looked almost pained. "I'm sorry skipper. But we almost don't exist," Yamaguchi answered. "My next assignment is on Starbase Vanguard. Oh, I already knew that weeks ago," he added. Yamaguchi smiled, he liked his issues to be as cut and dried as possible but he also understood when they weren't. "Computer, remove anyone with a bad review or physic evaluation." and with that, almost half the remaining list disappeared. "Three hundred or so names remaining." he paused. "Now, computer remove anyone above the age of thirty-six and all of the mustangs..." Yamaguchi paused. "People too old won't stay either... and it'll also remove the officers who still think like they are enlisted men."

Two hundred and sixty names vanished, this left about forty names. "Alright, I can work with this," Sheridan answered.

"Computer, highlight anyone who had their last assignment on a Starbase, Deep space station or Federation outpost." eight names were suddenly highlighted. "Let's start with these ones first... They are often wanting to get away from bases with massive populations and want the small village feel of a Starfleet ship rather than the cities in space that Starbases often feel like."

Sheridan tapped the first name, it was an officer who was a Bajoran male. He went through his request and it said a colony or a ground base, so he removed him, the elimination process was quick and shortly the three officers were down to two candidates. "What about this one. Heather Shepard..."

"Mmm..." Derringer paused as he regarded the female before him. He smiled as he admired the young woman's picture. "Mmmm... She's a looker, I might have to take this girl to bed and fuck her myself."

Sheridan raised an eyebrow as she opted not to press further. "She's skilled... She has over a half a dozen degrees from Starfleet tactical school," he commented. "Maybe this is the one..."

"Let's call her, and ask her directly," Yamaguchi answered.

Sheridan went about the arrangements.