Packed In Not Unlike Sardines

Posted on Fri Feb 10th, 2023 @ 12:40am by Captain Benjamin Ingram Dr

Mission: S2:4: If Not Like A Mirror
Location: Canopus Station Dock
Timeline: MD-5 9.30

Ingram looked at the faces in the dock master's office. Some were the in the grey and orange of Starfleet Merchant Marine, the hauliers and stevedores of commerce for the logistic fleet train. Others were in dusty coveralls, the freight runners for the colony of Landers Fell. Others wore the wild rags that the Rish declared clothing, not just cotton scrimshaw.

And they all looked right at him, with the gormless expression of people who probably thought that meeting him in person would somehow make everything better. And like a child motorboat boat noises, no amount of bu-bu-buts so going to do anything.

"I understand your frustration," Ingram said placatingly. In point of fact, did not understand their frustration. "But for the foreseeable future all dock yard traffic is to be wholly controlled by Starfleet personnel. That means no haulage of good to and from the Station unless-"

The noise, for that, was what the wall of sound was that assailed his ears, roared from them.

"Unless....UNLESS ESCORTED- ESCORT-!" Ingram bit off his words, frowned as people spoke over and around him, and resorted to a little bit of lab politics he'd used back on the USS Odyssey. He held two fingers to his lips and blew hard, emitting an ear-piercing whistle that would have made any bosun worth their pipes glow with pride. The room quietened. "Thank you. As I was saying unless escorted by the Station's air wing."

"That's a load of bollocks!" one of the Rish captains shouted out. "I've got orders to fly shipments up from the colony to aid with the evacuation, how can that be aided by having my ships lumbered with one of your fliers or with one of your harbour pilots?"

"Agreed, but the escort is for your safety and the onboard Starfleet personnel are to make sure you get through docking and transhipment as quickly as possible. Efficient turnaround is the key here, people," Ingram held up a hand for silence. "I am not installing my station's personnel on your shios to oversee safety regulations-"

Lie 1.

"-nor as spies for any smuggling or extra-legal affairs-"

Lie 2.

"They are there for your benefit."

Lie 3.

"Look, I'll make it simple. This arrangement is a volunteer operation from the ground up. We need to pull up stakes from the Colony, and transport supplies from the Shore Battery stations around Carpathia and the cities in the gas giant's atmosphere. The quicker we do that, the quicker we can move to safety," Ingram said. "Now, that is the golden ticket. The bitter pill is that instead of the mild interface in your day-to-day, I could commandeer all free shipping in the Carpathia System under the emergency powers act granted to me by Starfleet Command General Order 68. And in doing so conscript every ship captain here into the Canopus Malita. Captianjs who would be under the auspices of Starfleet legal requirement."

He held up one hand.

"Option 1: remain free agents."

He held up his other hand.

"Option 2: you take my coin as I shove it down your throat. I know which one I'd prefer, and I imagine it's not the option you all want," Ingram growled. "We have what amounts to an armada which is, at best, months away from arriving in the system. An Armada of people called Concordance would very much either like to infect us all with their religion or burn us alive. We are leaving this system soon, and it will be accomplished sooner if you as its lifeblood stop wasting time whining about the minor inconvenience of having someone on your ships to validate your fucking parking!"

He lowered his hands.

"Now, if you don't mind me I have work to do. If I find myself called back here for any reason save the miraculous virgin birth of common sense, I will enact option 2 and merrily sign the conscription paperwork while the first malcontents vessel is turned into a scrap paper weight for their trouble," he growled to the assembled crowd. "This is my station, my personnel, my command: and you are all in my way."