Chapter Text
The Star Beagle Adventures
Episode 15: Close to the Edge Part IV - Seasons of Man
Scene 5: Temperance Rules
…Lost social temperance rules above…
15.5
Temperance Rules
“What is that?”
It had been nearly a year since Commodore Yui Song had donned an EVA suit. Considering how long she had been an astronaut, wearing a space suit should have been second nature. But she had only put it on often enough and long enough to keep her Extra Vehicular Activity certificate valid. Which was a requirement for her to serve in any role on a Star Fleet vessel or any spacebound installation.
Yui had joined Captain Skip Howard on the bridge of the U.S.S. Escort. She had at first been inclined to ask why Rhonda Carter was absent, but a cat-sized alien that looked like a cross between a stag and a tiger shrimp had captured her attention.
The small creature was standing on the helm station, managing to be at the same time, utterly alien and unbearably cute.
“That is The Runt, the most aptly named of Ensign John Sevork’s children,” Captain Ronald Howard, XIV replied. “She could not be transplanted and could not survive in open space, unlike her siblings. So it appears that the U.S.S. Escort is her home.”
“How do you figure that, Captain Howard?” Yui asked.
“She was born here,” Howard responded. “In her father’s home. It’s her birthright.”
“Then by that logic, all of John’s children have a claim to Escort,” Yui objected.
“The rest of them are free,” Howard countered. “They’ve moved out. Gotten their degrees. Landed the corner office. Taken out mortgages. But The Runt can’t leave. This is the only home she can survive in. And only if she’s cared for.”
Master Chief Bill Waller, sitting at the helm station, spoke up. “I’m taking care of her until my captain gets back.”
“You mean Commander Carter, Master Chief,” Yui corrected.
“She may be a commander now, but she’ll always be my captain,” Waller replied. “And I’m not the only one on this boat who thinks so... Sir.”
“Perhaps the only one to express that opinion so bluntly to a flag officer, though,” Howard chided.
“Where is Commander Carter, Captain Howard?” Commodore Yui asked.
“Out of uniform and under orders to avoid Star Fleet personnel for three days,” Howard replied.
Yui Song was shocked. “You’re isolating her? Do you think that’s appropriate?”
“You defrocked her, sir. I’m having her defenestrated.”
“In plain English, Captain…”
“I have a ship full of civilians,” Captain Howard observed. “Yesterday, today and tomorrow, Rhonda Carter is a civilian. She has been a soldier since she was 17. 35 years. Star Fleet has used her, celebrated her, relied on her, and for several years, ignored her and tried to pretend she never existed. Until they needed her to fight their wars for them again. They’ve been proud of her, afraid of her, embarrassed by her. As long as she is under my command, I’m going to care for her as if she were one of my own.”
Yui Song made an amused noise. Then: “Okay Captain, I didn’t put on this bulky space suit to stand on a non-functional bridge. Show me the damage.”
“Yes sir,” Howard agreed. “Let’s start with the attaching pylon for the port nacelle. Easily the worst damage on this ship. That structure is being held together with spot-welded crossbars and structural integrity generators.”
At the port bridge exit, Howard turned toward Bill Waller. “Please join us, Master Chief, and bring The Runt with you. It’s time to show part of her value to the commodore. Call someone to take your station and join us once you’re relieved.”
“Aye Captain,” Waller responded. He activated the communicator in his EVA suit. “Flight Specialist DeCoucy, please report to the helm.” He turned to see Flight Engineer Abra Kahen looking at him from the bridge engineering station.
“So what do you think of our new captain?” Kahen asked.
“I want to hate him,” Waller replied. “Rhonda Carter is the only captain of the Escort. Well, there was Kirk Freeman, who captained this boat for a little over a week before he was killed in battle. Rhonda’s been our captain ever since. But you heard the man.”
“He is a Howard, sir,” Kehen responded. “You know what they say… Star Fleet is the Howard family business. Four admirals and I don’t know how many captains over the centuries. All of them with a reputation for inspiring fierce loyalty.”
Bill Waller nodded. “Rhonda’s in trouble. She would never admit it, but I’ve never seen her doubting herself so much. She needs help. Help that I can’t give her.”
“Maybe a temporary demotion and some time in the care of a Howard will be just what she needs,” Kahen mused as a gangly, dark-skinned young Frenchman strolled onto the bridge.
The young man strode up to the helm station and stood at attention. “Master Chief,” he said.
Bill Waller stood up. “Take the helm, Gabriel. I need to join the commodore and our new captain on a damage survey.”
“Aye, Master Chief,” the young man replied, then settled at the helm and looked curiously at the cat-sized alien who was standing on the console.
Waller scooped the creature up and cradled her in his arms. “Come along, Runt. Got some nice, yummy mushroom bugs for you.”
The Runt vibrated her oddly paddle-shaped head, emitting a soft rumble not entirely unlike a cat’s purr.
15.5