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Posted by Lieutenant Commander John McHarrie (Consultant Researcher (Abell-level)) in McHarrie’s arrival

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in McHarrie’s arrival

“Not yet, protocol requires me to report aboard and get my evaluations out of the way first,” he replied, “I have no doubt that they will be above and beyond the standards that I am used to.”

“I hope you do not mind, but I brought a personal
project onboard. Don’t worry, they aren’t a danger to the ship or the crew in their current state. The vacuum of space fixed that we permanently.”

-John

Well, that certainly grabbed the captain’s attention.

“What kind of personal project?” he asked, hoping that McHarrie hadn’t yet figured out that he could pretty much do whatever he damned well pleased on this ship without Cobb getting any real say in the matter. “I…would appreciate a risk report on it before we leave the starbase with it onboard. And you might also want to run it by the Science Chief.”

“Oh it’s dead, and if that changes, you’ll be the first to know after I’ve beamed it out into space” John said confidently now referring to ‘they’ now in the singular, “And I’m looking forward to Commander GLaDOS’ insight. As an XB she has a some what unique perspective on life and death. This particular project of mine will also be of interest to her too. There are only two risks associated with the corpse. One is the Romulans finding out we have it, the other is Section 31. I trust you won’t tell them?”

“Dead?” the captain repeated, the apprehension in his tone increasing rapidly. “The Romulans? Section 31? I don’t know what kind of trouble you plan on getting this ship into now, Mr McHarrie, but I can assure you, we have managed to mire ourselves well and truly in the mud without any assistance from you already. So no, I have no plans to call up the Romulans and no care for the overblown miscreants that have provided my only interactions so far with section 31…but if they somehow come looking for us anyway then, I don’t care if you’re an abell-level consultant or a bloody novel researcher, Commander. I’ll have your head on a pike. Do you hear me?”

So…no offer to see the Abell-section just yet. Well, he’d have to keep on the good side of Commander McHarrie and see what he could get out of the man.

“Well, when you do get to inspect your lab, let me know if there’s anything else you need, eh?” he offered amicably, a very rare mood for Cobb. “Also, we do have one…ah…anomaly currently onboard that you might want to take a look at. I…can take you down there when you’re ready, if you like.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

“Thank you, sir, I look forward to meeting it,” John said. He paused then spoke in a lower tone so as not to be heard by the other crew members present, “I appreciate your circumspection in this relatively public space, but I’m sure you’ve done your homework about me, seen the gaps in my record that are classified and undoubtedly have questions or heard rumors of what is in those gaps. If you wish, we can have a more open discussion about those in a more private place, for example my quarters, or my lab, or maybe somewhere of your choice if you prefer?”

-McHarrie

At this, the captain’s demeanour softened measurably, his eyes dancing with mischevious wonder. “Aye, a meeting in your lab sounds…entirely fitting for such a confidential discussion. Tell me the time and the place and I will be there. You can count on that.”

A moment of silence passed, during which Zachariah Cobb fancied he had gained the advantage over the newly-arrived John McHarrie. But his internal gloating was soon diminished by another, altogether more terrifying, thought.

“Ah, Commander,” he ventured, “it…will be safe, to enter your lab, right?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb