[deuZige]

Utopia Planetia

Research and Development, Advanced Fighter Development Program Fascility


Stardate: 59001.07


The Commodore let the moment of silence stretch long enough to be certain it felt awkward for everyone before speaking again. “In that case I must remember to have my assistant send a copy of the regulations concerning civilian access to restricted facilities and the use of Starfleet assets by civilians to your commanding officer. But that is not why I am here. I am here regarding your request to return to active field duty.”



The Commodore’s words did break the stoic and carefully controlled expression that Schrit always maintained in the presence of higher ranked officers. The expression changed and showed surprise mixed with concern, however short it was there. The kid also reacted to the Commodore’s words.


As the implications of the Commodore’s words became clear to Danre his jaw dropped and he scowled as he looked towards his father. “You’re leaving me aren’t you?” he said, his voice breaking with the constricting of his throat. Before Schrit could begin to reply Danre turned and ran off to the locker room, leaving Schrit and the Commodore. The look on the Lt. Jg’s face almost had the Commodore order the man to go after his son. Schrit however hadn’t moved from his spot or change his stance, or give any other indication that he wanted to stop the kid from running off. Instead he asked; “I trust your son is going to be fine without an escort in this facility?”


“Yes sir, he’ll be fine. He knows what and where he is allowed in here. He just….. I haven’t told him about my request yet. I’ll have a talk with him after our conversation is finished.” Schrit explained. Commodore be Red nodded. “Fine. Is there somewhere we can talk?” he asked. Schrit nodded and pointed to a door next to the one his son had disappeared through. The briefing room should be empty at the moment sir”


Moments later the two men sat across from each other and the Commodore could finally get down to business. “You are probably wondering why a Commodore is personally involved in the transfer request of a Lieutenant Junior Grade, and talking to said officer face to face.” Cmdre. Be Red began. It took a moment before Schrit responded. “I’m sorry sir, I normally probably would but my mind is a bit preoccupied with my son right now. Now you mention it though I agree it is unusual for a high ranked officer to concern him or her self with such trivial matters.”


“Well, in your case it may not be as trivial as you think. You see, I have been given the job of coordinating and facilitate the fleet wide adoption of fighters vessels as well as developing, testing and analyzing SOP’s and their role in Starfleet tactics and strategies.” the Commodore explained. Schrit’s eyes widened a bit in surprise. “Fleet wide? SOP’s? The fleet has made up it’s mind on the fighters at last?” Schrit asked. Shirt nodded.


“As you probably know Starfleet has been slow in accepting there is a place for fighters at all, and had not used fighter’s at all from it’s inception until a decade or so ago. Starfleet considered itself a purely scientific, non-military organization in which there was no place for anything that has a singularly military purpose like a fighter has. Shuttles and runabouts would do fine in their place if needed was the general reasoning.” Commodore be Red continued. Schrit nodded before commenting.


“Yes, it wasn’t until the Dominion War that Starfleet realized dedicated fighters could mean the difference between victory and defeat and started development of both the ships and the pilots. The Sparrow became the first fighter class vessel in active service. Pilots like Zoteke Madwan, the Sparrow’s testpilot and later the squadron commander of the Shepherds, proved in his service on board the August, the Starbase Legacy and then the Colony on J572004-A that fighters were indeed a valuable asset that Starfleet could hardly deny needing.” Schrit said, his eyes glinting with enthusiasm and passion. He was clearly passionate about anything relating to the fighter’s history and needed no lecture from Commodore be Red on the topic.


“I am not going to ask or wonder about how you know about J572004-A as I might be forced to have intelligence investigate your access to confidential and secret information. I’m sure you are aware of the files on J572004-A being classified and this is an exceptional occasion on which you mention being aware of that colony’s story.” the Commodore said, obviously uncomfortable that Schrit knew about outpost 42 and the colony on planet J572004-A. The skirmish known as the Battle of Legacy that resulted in the loss of lives and the destruction of many Starfleet ships as well as an entire Starbase was a wound in Starfleet’s history that had the potential to ignite a fight with the Klingons all over again, even years after the event.


Even though the officers and crew that had been part of the battle or the initiative it inspired had been awarded the “Battle of Legacy” commendation they were later ordered to never speak of the events to anyone ever again after a report to the council by the Bureau of Temporal investigations. The bureau’s investigation concluded that the initial causal events had originated in the year 2411, and that alone justified sealing any information related to J572004-A, regardless of the involvement of the Klingon Empire.


Schrit responded to the Commodore’s threatening remark with the expression of a child caught with their fingers in the cookie jar. “Yes sir, of course sir.” stammered Schrit, not having considered the classified nature of the information in his enthusiastic passion for the history of fighter craft in the fleet.


“Well then… I shall skip the history lesson as well as the current situation and get to the relevant part of the matter then. At this stage the adoption of the fighters within Starfleet isn’t without it’s detractors some of whom having the weight and influence to put a stop to the fighter’s adoption given enough information to back up and justify their opinion. Your…. Unique career and unexpected request to return to field duty made me wonder if there was anything that I should worry about in relation to the tasks I’ve been given.” the Commodore said relieved to finally get to the whole point of this conversation and curious as to how Schrit would respond .


“I understand sir. At my age, rank and with my history I am expected to move up the ladder in the R&D sphere setting course for eventual retirement. But if you look at my career a little closer you’ll see that transferring to R&D wasn’t a natural progression of my career but a reaction to circumstances. I had unexpectedly become single father of a one year old and felt I couldn’t combine that with being a fighter pilot in the field. The Uss Breda wasn’t suitable for family so I couldn’t be with my son there. The only way to avoid having to resign my commission was to get a transfer to a position that allowed me to bring my son and stay together as a family. I am for ever grateful to Starfleet for giving me the opportunity to start working here at Utopia Planetia, allowing me to continue both my career in Starfleet and my responsibility as a father.” Schrit explained, before pausing to see the Commodore’s reaction. Commodore be Red nodded after a moment, and then got up to pace to and throw in thought with his hands clasped behind his back.


“Yes. The circumstances and motivations behind your move into R&D are perfectly clear and understandable. Commendable even. The reasoning and motivation for your request to move back the other way, after eleven years, especially considering your current position as chief test pilot and imminent promotion, is what is puzzling me. It seems to me that going back to being a fighter pilot on a ship of the line, taking orders from someone with less experience and younger than yourself, is a considerable step down from where you are while you’re poised to go up the career ladder if you stay here.” Shirt said to Schrit, sitting back down to look the Lieutenant Junior Grade in the adding; “Being a Lieutenant Junior Grade at your age is almost unheard of as it is, raising red flags in the minds of many an officer. Taking a step down when you have the opportunity to move up will severely hinder your chances for advancement even more. Why would you even consider this?”


A hint of a smile appeared on Schrit’s face for a moment before he answered. “My son’s eleven years old right now, and he’s exceptionally intelligent, independent and becoming an exceptional young man I am very proud of. I am confident that if Starfleet assigns me to a place where there’s no room for families he will be sad, angry and hurt for a while but eventually accept my choice and understand why.”


“And that why is….” prompted Shirt.


“I have served in Starfleet my whole life. I’ve dedicated my life to defending and serving the United Federation of Planets and what it stands for. In return for my service Starfleet has allowed me to rise out of a miserably poor family and a life with no prospects for his future from an enlisted ground pounding grunt to become a proud commissioned officer respected and appreciated by my peers and superiors. But most important of all is that my son’s eyes sparkle and his face lights up with pride when he talks about me. That is a debt that I will never be able to repay.” Schrit answered, his expression passionate but humble.


After a moment though that expression turned into something else, something Commodore be Red couldn’t quite interpret. Before he could ask Schrit though the Lieutenant Junior Grade added; “Besides that I have to admit the I’ve missed the excitement, freedom and diversity that a pilot has compared to the repetitive, predictable and carefully scripted flying as a test pilot ever since my last Combat Space Patrol, and have been longing for every single day since.”


The silence between them filled the room for a few moments as Schrit didn’t know what else to say and Shirt was considering what he had been told. He was surprised at the man’s honesty, leaving himself vulnerable, and placing his career in the hands of Shirt. With Schrit’s career of more than twenty eight years, that career was his life and vice versa. The man’s sense honor and of duty towards the Federation and Starfleet was as exceptional as it was admirable. Considering that, as well as the absence of misconduct or other causes for concern on Shirt’s service record Shirt made his decision.


“Very well then. Your request for transfer is hereby granted. You have been assigned to the USS Ares effective immediately and ordered to report to Deep Space 9 where the Ares is undergoing a refit at the moment. You are to report to Lieutenant Tess upon arrival.” Commodore Shirt be Red told Schrit before adding with a smile ;“As the Sovereign class has the facilities to support officer’s families, you can, should you choose to do so, bring your son with you. “ and held out his hand to Schrit.


The expression on Schrit’s face upon hearing the good news was brighter than the brightest star blazing with happiness and joy. Commodore Shirt couldn’t help but feel all warm and tingly himself for being able to give a man like van Hulftoid such happiness and joy. Schrit, still bewildered and caught off guard by the Commodore’s sudden announcement shook the offered hand. “Thank you sir, thank you! I…. we… thank you!” Schrit stammered, his mind struggling to catch up with the moment.


“No thanks needed Lieutenant. It is Starfleet who is grateful to have men like you in it’s service. Your dedication and sense of duty are exceptional and admirable. Good luck. Now go find your son. I think the two of you have a lot to talk about!” Shirt told Schrit. Schrit then stood at attention and saluted sincerely which Shirt returned with both respect and sicerity. Then he turned and walked out of the room and on to the shuttle to take him back to Earth.


For a few moments Shirt stood alone in silence, gathering his thoughts. Then he headed out to talk to his son, having no doubt Danre would be as happy as he was about the future that awaited them on the USS Ares.