One Last Goodbye

Posted on 08 Aug 2016 @ 10:41am by Captain Jonathan Holliday

668 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Episode 11 - Divinum Mundi
Location: Various - USS Galileo
Timeline: MD31 - 2200hrs

[ON]

Holliday looked around his now vacant quarters, stripped of any personal possessions and with only the bare fittings of an XO's quarters remaining. The computer consoles had been powered down and covered with their dustsheets pending a new occupant of the room, his personal effects removed, stowed and already transported to the waiting Runabout for his journey back to Earth, and any facet of his personality wiped clean. A fresh start for the new First Officer of the ship.

Picking up the small duffle bag that remained with the last few of his personal effects, the Captain slung the strap over his shoulder and headed out into the corridor, taking the time to turn off the lights, and seal the door behind him.

The transporter room was not a far enough walk for his liking - barely the opposite end of the corridor in fact. This late at night, the ship was mostly devoid of activity - Deck 2 either being home to sleeping officers and crew who had finished their shift, or the odd maintenance worker too busy engaged in their work to notice their former XO heading for the transporter room.

In truth, Holliday preferred it that way - that the crew were focused on their jobs and not on the events going on around them - when he was a serving officer here, the Martian would have scolded anyone who turned to see who was approaching them rather than getting on with the task at hand.

There was a strange feeling in the artificial air that night. Nothing was wrong with the life support system of course, but the problem instead was with the Captain himself - the trepidation of leaving the ship, and moving onto a new challenge was one thing, but more urgent was the feeling of nervousness that someone else would be taking the reigns of his former command, and would be expected to protect the crew and look after their interests in the times to come.

And it was then that the transporter room door came up in front of him. Inside was the lone operator who was on duty that evening, already in possession of the coordinates of the runabout that was waiting alongside Galileo to take the new Dean of Tactical Operations back to the Academy. Pushing the duffle bag strap back onto the full height of his shoulder, Holliday headed on inside and took his place on the transporter pad.

Taking one last look around the bay, John reached up and tapped his combadge.

=^=Holliday to Runabout Kent - one to beam aboard. =^=

With a final nod to the crewman on duty, Holliday felt the embrace of the transporter beam take a hold of him, and after a moment saw the inside of the Runabout in place of his former posting.

Stepping forward from the bay, he said nothing as he acknowledged the Lieutenant sent to collect him stationed at the helm station of the runabout with a curt nod.
Acknowledging the Captain with a nod of his own, the pilot looked back to the control console and tapped in a few simple commands. After a moment, the small ship's engines powered up, and began to move away. Taking in a broad arc that allowed Jonathan one last look at the small but sleek vessel he had called home for so many months, the runabout turned back on itself, and in a flash, leapt to warp.

Its destination : Earth.

[OFF]

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Associate Dean of Tactical Operations
Starfleet Academy



ooc: This is my last post as a member of this crew. I would like to thank both my shipmates and fellow writers, but also the readers of this sim who have followed our adventures the past few years. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with you all, and will remember this writing of ours with great fondness. Perhaps in time I will make my way back here, but until then, I wish you all the very best.

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