Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim- Acclimating to Main Engineering
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Posted by Lieutenant William Hampton (Chief Engineering officer) in Side Sim- Acclimating to Main Engineering

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim- Acclimating to Main Engineering

Stepping back from the warp core, Hampton turned and noticed a figure standing nearby. At first he could not make out who the man was. As he approached the man his eyes widened slightly. It was his captain. ‘First impressions count a lot. Don’t mess this up.’ He thought as he continued to make his way to Cobb. Hampton straightened his uniform before stepping up to his CO. Before he could introduce Cobb did. When he began talking, Hampton was taken aback and slightly disturbed by the informality and apparent the Captain exhibited. After Cobb gave his name, Hampton took a moment to process his thoughts. His captain seemed to have a mind which strayed, and his awareness was poor. For half a second, a ping of frustration flashed through Hampton. This was his commander? A man who’ aura was more akin to a wandering traveler than commander? As quickly as that feeling arose, Hampton pushed it down. He looked at Cobb sternly and held out his hand, something his captain should have done. “William Hampton sir, it’s your ship, you can stroll around here all you like sir.” William disguised his annoyance with his formal and respectful tone.

LT. William Hampton- CE

“Aye, I suppose that I can,” Cobb replied, taking the offered hand in a surprisingly firm grip for one who appeared so capricious. Then, connecting the uniform and pips to the presumed position, he let out a heavy sigh. “Oh, I envy you, William Hampton. Your domain here, it’s a majestic one. And you the master of it all. I’ve served as engineering chief on a few starships myself in my time,” he chuckled, before quickly adding, “Not that I intend to make myself a nuisance about your business, Lieutenant. I imagine this ship will keep me more than busy in my own role.”

Turning back to the central column of the warp core, Cobb began to pace slowly before it. “So, do you have much experience with anomalies, Lieutenant? Or are you as new to this particular game as I am?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Hampton appreciated the firm shake he received. It also helped to cool his skepticism about his CO. “You will not have to worry about this aspect of your ship Captain. I’m the best engineering officer you could have received.” Hampton responded in a confident tone. He certainly hoped that Cobb would not get too involved in the operations Hampton was going to oversee. He would hate to be at odds with his CO, and he felt that his actions would demonstrate to the captain that his presence in engineering would almost never be required.

“Oh, I don’t doubt that for a second,” Cobb reassured the man. It took a good engineer to know one and Cobb could see it, in the way Hampton carried himself, in the way he looked at the core, that he was more than up to the task ahead.

As Cobb began to pace Hampton followed suit, keeping up with the Captain stride for stride, although that wasn’t hard. Cobb was not moving in a particularly quick pace. “I know as much about anomalies as one can from reading about them.” He pronounced. “But as for real experience? I’ve been plucked straight out of mainfleet for this assignment, so you and I are both equally green at this. I believe I was selected less because of experience and more because of my unorthodox approach to what Starfleet should be doing with its resources.” Hampton said, looking forward while addressing Cobb.

Lt. William Hampton- CE

“You too, eh?” Cobb exclaimed, the sense of relief that he was not the only one new to this world of anomalies palpable in the air between them. Then coming to a halt, he leaned against the outer guardrail and added, “It’s a lot to take in at first, isn’t it. All this blue, green, yellow, abell business? I mean, I consider myself a seasoned veteran of Starfleet and yet here I am, like a bloody novice on their first day back at the academy!”

The captain laughed and ran and hand through his hair. So many other comments he could have chosen to set free in that moment, like how the hell had they managed to keep the ARU secret for all of these years? Or how dangerous did the other man truly believe these things could get? But Zachariah was conscious of not projecting his own fears and insecurities onto another. After all, perhaps William Hampton had accepted the existence of the ARU with the ease that one might take a new nebula being discovered. Perhaps Cobb himself was the only one still scrambling to keep up.

“I’ll tell you something, Lieutenant,” was as much as he dared venture in the end, “if you’d have told me, a week ago, that this was where I was headed, I’d have told you to go spin a more believable yarn.”

But that was far from the end of it and Hampton had said something else that not only caught the captain’s attention, but ignited that old, devilish twinkle in his eye. Leaning forward conspiratorially, Cobb asked, “So, what should Starfleet be doing with its resources then, eh?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

“I don’t find it hard to learn, I just find it very disturbing.” Hampton said in a steady tone. A concern that he had acquired suddenly came into his mind. He thought about it for a moment and then decided to voice it. “Sir I’m glad to hear that you aren’t apart of this little unit. But I did spend a few minutes looking at the command structure of this ship. And you are in command of the ship. But this ARU has explicitly given mission control over to one of their own.” Hampton looked around for a few seconds. “The reason I bring this up is because it answers your last question. I believe Starfleet should prioritize weapon development and technological innovation over the monotony and frankly pointless attempts to establish diplomatic relationships with our enemies. If the Dominion War taught us anything is that we can not simply shake hands and call it a day with our enemies.”

Hampton paused again. “I have my reasons for excepting this assignment. And I am happy to be serving on this ship. But all of these intelligence operatives on this ship? I don’t trust them sir. And your command is somewhat tenuous. We have a former Borg who will be calling all the shots when we are actually on assignment.” Hampton took in a deep breath. “I don’t like that sir. I just have a gut feeling that is not sitting well with me about it.” He smiled, “But don’t worry, unlike Alice, you are not in Wonderland, I’m afraid I’m joining you on our little tumble down the rabbit hole.” He looked over at the warp core momentarily. “But just so you know, if anything goes down that jeopardizes our safety, or if anyone tries anything subversive. I’ll be behind you all the way. I just met you, but I suspect you and I may be the only ‘real’” Hampton used air quotes. “People on this ship. Everybody else is answering to someone other than you. And I intend to keep my eyes on all of them.”

Lt. William Hampton- CE