(This story will outline both my new crew and a new set of considerations for my character.)

“Captain, urgent message from headquarters,” the latest in a string of interim communications officers called to Arturus.  Lieutenant Vansic had been released from the brig after two weeks for gross insubordination, but upon release, had immediately launched a tyrade against Arturus’ command skills that resulted in an additional two week sentence in the brig.  Having tried to transfer Dag Vansic to numerous other commands and been rejected every single time, Arturus had all but given up on removing the disruptive presence from his ship.  Every other commander seemed to know about Vansic’s antics.  “It requires the command key to decode.”  The officer continued a moment later after scanning it.

“Transfer it to a datapad and bring it to me.”  Arturus said from his command chair.  He had sat down for the first time in hours and wasn’t about to stand again just to input a code.  The Doashim was in a precarious state, requiring constant attention and maintanence to keep the occupants alive and reasonably safe.  As a result, Arturus felt as if he was needed in a million places at once and when he finished one place, a million new demands appeared.  The lieutenant brought him the datapad a minute later and Arturus took it and inserted his command password to decode the transmission.  After a second, the word “approved” flashed on the screen and the gibberish changed to common.

From: Rear Admiral Riel Fury, NCXO
To: Lt. Commander Corran Hargraves, SCAP STRC Doashim

Subject: Orders
The Doashim is to proceed immediately to the main shipyards for a complete refit.  Upon arrival, all of the crew will be transferred to other commands.  You will report in one week to the CR90 Cerberus for your new command and will be tasked to Task Force Alpha under the command of Commodore Dawkhawk.

Arturus immediately spotted the name Riel Fury.  It had been a long time since he had seen the former Navy commander.  The two certainly had not been on the best of terms prior to the Admiral’s departure, but Arturus had not been on the best of terms with many of his superiors in his early service.  Times had changed; in some ways he had changed.  Darkhawk was another name he hadn’t heard in a long time.  It seemed as though the retired officers had returned to help VE in a time of great challenges.  His attention, however, quickly shifted to the latter part of the message which made him cast a rather stunned look.

“Are you alright Captain?”  The communications officer, still standing in front of Arturus asked after seeing Arturus’ facial expression.  Arturus wanted to jump down the officer’s throat for asking such a question.  He was not alright.  In fact, he was infuriated.  The first order he had from the man who stalled his career was, in effect, a demotion to an insignificant command with a pathetic excuse for a capital ship.  Arturus pressed the erase button and thrust the datapad back into the ensign’s hands.

“Dismissed Ensign!”  Arturus barked.  The ensign jumped slightly, saluted, and marched back to his post.  The crew had come to learn not to question Arturus over matter such as this.  Arturus respected initiative and good suggestions, but he did not appreciate anyone interfering into business that did not concern them and certainly into anything related to himself.  A couple of the men of the bridge looked up for a quick moment before getting back to work.  Arturus sat in thought for a few moments and then shouted out navigational commands to bring the ship to the main VE shipyards.  When one of them asked their mission, Arturus put up his hand to interrupt the man midsentence.  A moment later he switched on the ship’s intercom:

“Attention all personnel.  This ship has just been ordered to make for the main shipyards for a complete refitting.  Before you get too excited, note that you will all be transferred immediately to other commands.  That is all.”  He said in a tone that hinted at anger, frustration, and a certain sense of relief at the fact that his ship was finally going to get much necessary repairs.

“Will the officers be going with you to a new commander?”  Commander Ferran asked Arturus after a moment’s pause.

“No.”  Arturus replied sharply.  “The officers will be dispersed to other commands as well.  Last I checked, corvettes only have one officer on board to command it, the rest is done by NCOs.  Once we arrive you will no longer have to deal with me.”  Arturus continued.  The last sentence was a not so subtle reminder at the fact that Arturus was constantly berating the Commander for his lack of initiative, understanding of overall strategy, and what Arturus considered to be a lazy work ethic.  Ferran simply took the comment without a reply.  Either he was used to it or, as Arturus suspected, he was too thick to grasp the full meaning of his remarks.

Arturus sat embittered at the developments.  He had really hoped that he had proved himself enough to at least keep his level of command, if not upgrade to a larger ship or more important frontline command.  Instead he found himself going to a petty ship in what could only be described as a rather insignificant campaign by his standards.  He was tired of mopping up the rear threats, hunting pirates, rogue imperials, and insubordinate rebels.  The real strategy and battles were at the front closer to the core and now he felt as though he was permanently stuck fighting the scum of the universe.  Arturus took out his datapad and sent a message to the crew of the luxury liner he operated called the Decadence, named after the class of the ship as it was the first of its class.  A few days there might at least liven his spirits and would given him a chance to be around a crowd of sophisticated people again before he went back to fighting people worth less than the recycled dust particles under his perfectly polished boots.  The ship replied momentarily with its coordinates and flight plan.  Arturus then sent a message to one of his droids to fly his shuttle to the main shipyards so that he could take it to his ship.