Posted by Warrant Officer Jonathan Durheim (Chief Engineering Officer) in MPT-LS: Year of Hell - CIC Bridge - Setting out (all welcome)

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in MPT-LS: Year of Hell - CIC Bridge - Setting out (all welcome)
Captain Zachariah Cobb sat, tense and alert, in the CIC’s central seat, wearing the oppressive mantle of one far older and decrepit than even his own advanced years. It appeared, to any who gazed upon him, that events on the starbase had taken a considerable toll, the mission, and the heated conversations with the Admiral, draining him almost to the last drop.

Around him the room lay silent, the odd bleep and chirp as terminals capitulated under wiser, more sentient hands the only occasional break. And every now and then, a whisper, as the captain murmured quietly a repeating sentence to himself.
“And I have done a hellish thing.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

“What might that be, Mr. Cobb?” The reedy voice appeared as if out of nowhere; the Chief Engineer could be remarkably light on his feet when he chose to be.

Frankly speaking, it was somewhat unusual for the eccentric Chief Engineer to find himself on the bridge. Sure, on many ships the CE was never far from their beloved engines.... But in this case, as in many, the Leviathan was… different. The engines were indeed, vitally important. But her cargo… well, engines didn’t typically drive whole crews to madness, or worse fates. At least, not when they were in proper order. Durheim was rarely found far from the cargo bay; long since converted to a mobile prison specializing in containing those things that couldn’t be explained. But in preparation for this rather unique (and possibly one-way) voyage, the containment bay had been nearly emptied. The Starbase hadn’t exactly been pleased.... But Admiral Roebuck’s word carried weight, and no official complaints had been registered. As such, the CE had found himself with an unusual amount of free time, and had wandered onto the bridge in time to catch the Captains’ dire muttering.

-WO Durheim, CE

If Cobb recognised the presence of his favourite engineering chief, then he gave no indication of the fact. Instead his eyes remained downcast, his posture hunched and drawn and almost without respite, that damned, repetitive murmuring.

At the helm, MacReady caught Durheim’s attention and waved the man over.
“He’s been whispering that same sentence since we left the starbase,” he moaned. “It’s downright creepy, is what it is!”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb