Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket (Executive Officer) in Side Sim: Buddy and the Breen: Live On the Ark Angel

Posted by Ensign Buddy Cullum (Security Officer) in Side Sim: Buddy and the Breen: Live On the Ark Angel

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket (Executive Officer) in Side Sim: Buddy and the Breen: Live On the Ark Angel
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The guitar riff had been stuck in Buddy’s head all morning.

It started during morning drills—just a few syncopated notes he’d tapped out absentmindedly on the arm of a chair in the security briefing room. Then it followed him through weapons inspection. Now, as he reviewed departmental duty rotations on a PADD, it had evolved into a full-on earworm with lyrics threatening to write themselves if he didn’t get them out soon.

He spun the PADD on his fingers and let it clatter onto the desk with a soft thunk.

There had to be a way to let it out. Not just the music—but the version of himself that felt most alive when he was on stage, crowd roaring, lights low, feedback humming through the soles of his boots. The real Buddy. Not just the rank and file security officer, post-trauma survivor, “assimilated but doing okay” Starfleet darling.

No. He needed to make something. Loud. Honest. Unfiltered.

He needed the band back—even if it was a new lineup, a new stage, a new starship.

Buddy and the Breen… live on the Ark Angel.

The title popped into his head like a phaser blast. Bold. Stupid. Perfect.

He was grinning before he realized it.

The cargo bays were spacious. He’d seen the sound system in the rec lounge. Maybe they could do a show—a holorecording, even. Get the crew involved. Musicians, poets, dancers, that weird Bolian ensign who played jazz on a modified theremin. Maybe even the Princess and Pic could come if the counselor was cool with it.

But first… permission.

Buddy straightened his jacket, smoothed a hand through his hair, and left his quarters before he could talk himself out of it. Within minutes, he was standing outside the executive officer’s office, heart hammering a little harder than he liked to admit.

He took a breath, summoned his most charming grin, and tapped the chime.

-Ens. Cullum
Security Officer

Alex had heard his chime as this is his first ever visitor apart from his promotion. He had then stood up. “Enter!” Came a voice from inside. He had a nice warm cup of team in his hand and some crackers on the desk as he was snacking.

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket
Outgoing Chief Engineer/Executive Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

The doors slid open, and suddenly, Buddy’s confidence wavered. Maybe this was a dumb idea. He was new. Still proving himself. What right did he have to ask for… well, anything?

Still, he stepped in and stood at attention—just in case Lieutenant Commander Becket was the by-the-book type.

“Sir. Ensign Buddy Cullum, Security,” he said with a crisp nod. “Requesting a moment of your time—I’d like to make a formal request for use of ship resources.”

There was a beat as he stood there, spine straight, trying to ignore the drumline of nerves tapping through his chest. He knew the XO was the one to go to for allocation requests, but still… part of him worried this would all sound frivolous.

But it wasn’t. Not to him.

He held his ground, trying not to fidget.

-Ens. Cullum
Security Officer

Becket sat back down and chuckled a little. “As you were Ensign. No need to be by the book. I maybe by the book. But not in this room. So don’t worry about being more on the study side.” He replied. He then took took a pause then continued. “How can I help you Ensign? Would you like something to drink something to eat?” He asked Ensign Cullum with a nice calming soothing voice. “At ease before you strain something.” He added.

Becket sat back down as he took another sip of his tea. He was pretty happy about seeing a junior officers under him and being about to get to know him a little bit.

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket
Outgoing Chief Engineer/Executive Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Buddy immediately relaxed, the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding escaping in a soft whoosh.

“No, sir—nothing for me,” he said with a small smile, tempted to jokingly ask for a beer like he had with the counselor, but thought better of it. “Thank you.”

He took a steadying breath, hands clasped loosely behind his back now that he was more at ease.

“Sir, as you may or may not know, I play lead guitar and front a galactic punk band called Buddy and the Breen. We formed during our time at the Academy and even managed to release an album before graduation. But after that… we were all scattered across the fleet, assigned to different ships.”

He hesitated, briefly. Just a second. Long enough for the weight of what he was about to say to settle between them.

“After what happened on Federation Day…” he paused again, voice tightening almost imperceptibly, “we all ended up on emergency leave. Somehow, by some cosmic twist, we survived.”

Another breath. He wasn’t sure if he was selling this right—but it mattered. It meant something.

“I’ve been the first to be reassigned. And after talking to the others… we realized this might be our last real shot to have a reunion concert. One last hurrah before we’re flung to opposite corners of the galaxy.”

He straightened slightly, eyes meeting the XO’s.

“I’d like to request permission to bring my bandmates aboard the Ark Angel for a reunion concert. Just one night. We know how lucky we were to make it through the Changeling–Borg incursion. But we may not be that lucky again.”

Buddy let the words hang there, sincere and unembellished.

-Ens. Cullum
Security Officer

Commander Becket sat there as he heard what the request was about. He hadn’t realized anything about federation day. Now that the Ensign had brought it up the borg changeling incusion does sound familiar. He then set down his cup of tea down as of course he hadn’t finished it yet. He had then sighed. “Permission granted Ensign. I’ll inform the captain.” He said with a affirmative nod. However, another thought had come to mind. “Ensign. You said that you and them graduated at the same time at the academy. I’ll even speak to the captain on your behalf to see if we can get them assigned on board indefinitely. That way you guys can continue your band concert things when needed. How does that sound?” Commander Becket asked the Ensign with a smile.

As Commander Becket had thought about it since the Ensign and his friends have been through the academy together he had thought it would be best that way.

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket
Outgoing Chief Engineer/Executive Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Buddy blinked, stunned for a second—not by the approval (though that had him grinning from ear to ear), but by the offer.

A reunion concert was one thing. That had been the dream. A chance to play their songs together one last time, to scream into the void and celebrate survival. But permanent reassignment? That was… well, huge.

His grin widened despite himself. “Thank you, sir. I—I really appreciate it.”

His posture remained mostly formal, but his voice betrayed a growing warmth—an energy that bubbled up now that the green light was official.

“I think the guys are gonna flip when they hear this,” he added, shaking his head in disbelief. “I mean, we’ve been joking about getting the band back together, but I didn’t think anyone would actually say yes.”

He paused, then continued more carefully, trying not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“As for bringing them aboard long-term…” Buddy rubbed the back of his neck, clearly thinking it over. “That’s… well, that’s a generous offer. Really generous. I’d need to talk to them first, see what everyone’s assignments look like. A few of them are still waiting on orders, I think.”

There was a flicker of thought behind his eyes, something about how much had changed since the Academy—how they had changed.

“But even just the concert—it means a lot. We all lost people on Federation Day. Friends, crewmates. That show… it’s about honoring that. About being able to say we lived.”

He gave the XO a firm nod, not quite able to hold back the emotion in his voice.

“This is gonna be epic…”

-Ens. Cullum
Security Officer

“Of course Ensign. Is there anything else?” Alex said.

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket
Outgoing Chief Engineer/Executive Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Buddy shook his head, still riding the high of the moment.

“No, sir. That’s more than enough,” he said with a grin that lingered. “I’ll get in touch with the band and start coordinating with Ops on the logistics. I’ve got a few ideas already. Promise I’ll keep it within regs… mostly.”

There was a beat, then he offered a respectful nod—still a little giddy, but pulling it back into professionalism.

“Thanks again, Commander. For real. You didn’t have to say yes—but I’m glad you did.”

With that, he turned crisply on his heel and headed for the doors, the echo of boots on deck plating just a touch lighter than when he came in.

Sometimes, surviving meant more than making it through. It meant living a little louder afterward.

And Buddy intended to make sure everyone heard.

-Ens. Cullum
Security Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel