EXETERRPG: (21, 15:00) CO, Lt. Commander Trip Williams -Mission Closer

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: The Flames of Purity
Day: 21
Stardate: 2445.09.21.

(USS Exeter -  Bridge - CO, Lt. Commander Trip Williams - 15:00)

The Exeter was on her way back to the Alpha Quadrant. Her mission to
eliminate the cult presence in the Gamma Quadrant was a success, the
Genesis device had been dealt with, and they had made successful contact
with old friends in the Gamma Quadrant and were bringing back a number of
trade goods from the Gamma Quadrant to the Alpha Quadrant. His schedule
once they arrived at Deep Space Nine would be a bit hectic, but at least
his crew would get some much needed R&R. He also needed to sit down with
Ailynn and go over the roster looking into personnel changes and
promotions. It was looking ever more likely that Paul Sleeford, with his
injury, would no longer be able to serve in Tactical. There was also the
decision on what to do about the Tactical chief position overall, as they
had received word from DS9 before crossing into the Gamma Quadrant five
days prior, that ensign Dareshaa would not be returning to duty for at
least three months and she would be sent to a rehabilitation center on
Earth. He was contemplating a switch, moving Paul to OPS as acting Chief,
and keeping Ravok in tactical, but he had time to figure it out. There was
also going to need to be a conversation with Foxglove, but Trip was waiting
to call Dale and his Dad for advice before figuring out what to do.

Trip was also curious to return as they had encountered a shockwave that
had emanated from the wormhole, hit the Exeter in a flash, and disappeared
just as quickly. He wasn't sure what it was, but it seemed to be harmless
and he was sure he'd find out the answers once they returned to the Alpha
Quadrant.

"Ensign Rodriguez, open a shipwide channel."

"Si Capitan," Came the reply from the Spanish Ops officer. "I mean, Aye
Sir."

"No worries Ensign, I know enough Spanish to understand Si Capitan," Trip
replied with a chuckle.

"All hands this is the Captain, prepare for crossing the wormhole. We're
going home."

"Ensign Winters, drop us from warp and take us through the wormhole, full
impulse."

"Aye sir," was Ronnie's reply.

Within moments the Exeter began entering the wormhole.

(Location Unknown)

With a flash Trip was no longer on the bridge of the exeter but was instead
near a dock overlooking a pond. He looked around, wondering where he was.
There was a solitary figure on the dock sitting with a fishing pole in the
water.

"Q?" Trip asked, wondering if this was some macchination from the
Universe's most notorious trickster.

"Don't insult me like that." The figure sad in an even keeled tone. "Come
on old man, there is an extra pole, join me, the catfish are really biting
today."

Trip walked up to the figure and sat down. The back of his head had been
obsucred by a fishing hat, but as he sat down and looked straight into the
figure's face he knew who he was. "Holy $%#@, you're, you're, you're him."

The figure laughed, "That I am. In the flesh so to speak."

"You're Ben Sisko. Holy $#@% I can't believe it."

"Well believe it son, here I am."

"I mean I heard rumors that my first officer saw you, but I thought...well
I didn't quite believe it."

"Well I wanted to meet you."

"Is it true you punched a Q, the Q in the face."

Sisko chuckled. "I was not a fan of his shenanigans."

"I'd have probably done the same thing."

"I know, you have moxy old man, I like that."

"So why am I here?"

"I just wanted to have a chat." Sisko said as the scene shifted, they were
on an empty baseball diamond. Sisko then handed Trip a glove. "I think this
will be a bit more you scene."

Trip placed the glove on his left hand as Sisko did the same. Sisko then
took a baseball in his right hand and tossed it to Trip.

"I see a lot of myself in you kid. The tenacity, the fire, the passion, the
hubris, the anger, the obsession, the righteous indignation, and that ever
important paternal instinct."

Trip caught the ball and threw it back. "What do you mean?"

"You have a lot of passion son, you care, and that's your best quality. But
most of all you understand the importance of a team. Don't shut them out.
But you know that."

"I do." Trip replied as Sisko caught the ball and then threw it back, this
time with a little more zip.

"You're young, and you feel like you might not be ready, or deserve it, but
you have that X-Factor, that drive. And you are open to the opportunity. I
almost gave up the opportunity to command Deep Space Nine due to anger,
regret, rage. But I didn't, and it was the best decision of my life. Always
keep that openness son."

"I will sir." Trip said catching the ball. It stung a bit. "You've got a
hell of an arm for a dead guy, or are you dead, a spirit, an ascended
being?"

"Something like that."

"I'll take that to heart sir.'

"Not need to call me sir, son, Ben will do just fine."

"I don't know sir...I mean Ben, it's hard to meet one of your heroes." Trip
was going to throw the ball back but Sisko began laughing.

"Hero," he said with a smile. "I guess I've been called that and then some.
But you want to know the secret to being a hero."

"Is there one?"

"Of course Trip, the secret to being a hero is having a heroic crew. My
crew were heroes, exemplary, without them, I'd have been a historical
footnote."

"I have been lucky in that department. My crew is the best. Better than I
deserve."

"Don't forget that son, your crew is your greatest asset. The best captains
were the best, not just because of their ability, but because of their
crew. The ability to inspire and get the best out of them. But also the
knowledge that without the crew, you are nothing. You have to respect them.
Be there for them. You have to be a father to them."

Trip threw the ball back to Sisko. Once Sisko caught it the scene shifted
and all around Trip he saw images of his crew, all 500 of them as children.
He saw young Sleeford, young More, young Erin running through the streets
of Santiago de Chile, Ravok floating around through a freighter with the
artificial gravity off, Young Gabe reading a book, young Merek tinkering
with some toys, Ire learning how to fly, young Adala collecting rocks,
young Foxglove practicing martial arts, young Ailynn running through the
Bracken vineyard. All 500 crew members passed before his eyes, Starfleet
and Civilian alike, all inas young children, eager to learn, to love, to
grow.

"You are the father, they will serve you and treat you as well as you treat
them. Never forget that son. Nurture them, help them grow. That is your
most important task as Captain, your most important task as a person. To
help those around you grow and be better. You want to be the best dad ever,
I see it in your eyes. Being a good father to my son Jake helped me be a
better Captain to my crew. Being a good captain to my crew helped me be a
better to my son Jake. Never forget that. Never forget that being a captain
is a sacred trust between you and your crew. Be there for them."

"And Trip." Sisko said as Trip finally threw the ball back to him.

"Yes sir.?..sorry again, I mean Ben."

"Never lose your love for baseball." Sisko said, tossing it back.

Trip laughed. "I'm not the star player anymore, huh, I'm the manager."

"Yes, and it's your job to develop your players and put them in the best
place to succeed. Life, linear time, it's all baseball. Never forget that."

The scene faded once again.

(Exeter Bridge)

Trip was suddenly back on the bridge of the Exeter, within moments the
Exeter passed through the wormhole and was back in the Alpha Quadrant
looking at Deep Space Nine. They were home.

"Ensign Winters, take us into Deep Space Nine."

Ronnie nodded and set the course.

Trip then looked down to his left hand. He hand't noticed it until then,
but he was holding onto a baseball. He looked at it closer, an inscription
across the middle that simply read, "Trust in your crew and they will never
let you down. Best Wishes, Benjamin Sisko."

~Neat~

(End of Mission)
(reply none)
(posted by Will Banowsky)

NRPG: The mission is now over, for the next two weeks we will be posting on
Deep Space Nine and have a chance for a crossover with the other crew.
There will be some housekeeping stuff that I'll handle on the Exeter list,
promotions, etc. Feel free to send anything on the Exeter to the Exeter
list. But while on Bajor or Deep Space Nine, Please send them to the Reboot
Rpg List to allow for potential crossover with the other crew. Well done
everyone, I',m so freaking proud of you all. The shockwave was a way of
resetting the universe and merging any duplicates out there that
exsited pre reboot, etc
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