38 Years Ago Yesterday

Yesterday marked the 38th anniversary of a great moment in my life, the beginning of my journey from boy to man when, just over two months from my 13th birthday, my Dad brought me my first pint.

Renegades - Civil War Chapter Fifty-Two

Along with his newfound friend Harry Kim, Tom Paris boarded the Voyager for the first time. As is usual with the boarding of a starship for the first time they reported to Sickbay. It was there they first met Voyager’s CMO, Doctor McCarthy. Although pleased to see Kim he was not to happy at seeing Paris.

“Welcome aboard Mister Kim.” McCarthy said, shaking the young Ensign by his hand. “And you must be Tom Paris…the observer.”

Paris could tell instantly that McCarthy had taken a dislike to him. McCarthy made no attempt to hide his dislike for Paris, and Paris made this aware to McCarthy.

“As a matter of fact.” he said, “I’m observing right here, now. Have me met before Doctor?”

“Not exactly Mister Paris. I was stationed on Calder Prime about the same time as you. I treated the wounded from the Calder II incident. One of them was a friend of mine.”

Kim could see something was going on here. He tried to interject himself into the situation.

“Perhaps we should go and see the Captain.”

“You do that Mister Kim. She’s been asking about you.”

“Maybe I should go along as well.” said Paris.

The two of them then left Sickbay. McCarthy was pleased about this. He had no wish to even be in the same room with someone with Paris’ reputation.

Renegades - Civil War Chapter Fifty-One

Dockachin, yardmaster of the Qualor shipyards, watched from a stationary position as two Federation tugs attached lines to the static form of the U.S.S. Valkyrie. It had come as a great shock to him with his orderly Zakdorn mind when the entire crew of the ship before him had been arrested. It also seemed a great waste to break up such a starship. The Valkyrie had been through a lot admittedly but even so she was still in good condition.

The tractor beams suddenly took hold of the ship on her stardrive section. This was a procedure Dockachin insisted upon. He always felt safer doing it this way. After all, many of the newer ships had been designed with detachable saucer sections. You couldn’t be too careful.

The tugs gingerly moved the great gleaming ship to what would be her last position before scrapping began. The actual date for the scrapping of the Valkyrie was some time off, Dockachin had several other ships due to be cut up before her, and he had no intention of altering his schedule, even for the President herself. At last, when the ship had been positioned to his satisfaction, he returned to his office.

To his surprise, and to some extent alarm, he discovered he had a visitor waiting for him. The man was clad in an old-fashioned dark suit, wore a cape and a broad brimmed hat. As Dockachin entered he removed his hat to reveal a young face, possibly about thirty to thirty-five human years. The Zakdorn breathed a sigh of relief. For one moment he thought the renegade Magus had decided to pay him a visit.

“Good day to you Mr. Dockachin. I have come to you on behalf of a wealthy client with a proposal.”