OOC: You can count on the vast majority of us Fred, that as long as
we're able we'll sim until everything is tied up and complete.

OOC: Ben, I'm assuming your sim is set after the wedding mate, if not
then I'll edit of course. If you don't mind I stuck in a bit more
conversation, which I hope you don't mind! I'm not looking forward to
it either, but at least we know we can keep each other, and Aresee of
course, in excellent company. I'm sure we'll all need it!

((Victory's Corridors))

::There wasn't much left to do, but it was understandable that some of
the crew of the now defunct USS Victory were so reluctant to leave.
Some had served onboard for far longer than others, but they all knew
how much it would affect everyone.

The major disagreement between the crew had been why? Captain Phoenix
had supposedly been on the mend through the wonderful work of Dr.
Harden so everyone was looking forward to some R&R, and eagerly
anticipating a new mission. Instead the ship was to be decommissioned
with little or no explanation. Commander Diamond was off to Starbase
Ops, so were many of the crew, but why couldn't he have taken over?
He'd always seemed willing and enthusiastic about a command position,
and had commanded the Victory magnificently himself on many occasions.

Chris himself couldn't stand the idea of a new ship. His home as far
as he was concerned was the Victory. A Star Fleet officer he had been
told though must be ready for anything, and he had promised he would
approach his new assignment with aplomb.

His new assignment...The Constitution-B. He didn't know much about it,
only that it was a new Galaxy class variant, and that he'd be joined
by his good friend Ben Hunnicutt and Aresee Ventu. They'd need to
stick together he realised, if they were to keep going. Maybe that was
too drastic but the thought of what could happen, quite frankly scared
him.

He'd made a whistle stop tour of the ship, taking in the most
important features, but in fact he didn't want to spend much time in
one place, brought back far too many memories. He'd left Main
Engineering to last, but nowhere held any character and emotion. There
were only a few left onboard sparsely dispersed throughout the
darkened corridors. Anything and everything was dead.::

((Main Engineering - Deck 11))

WADHAM: ::Entering and looking for the lighting panel:: Ben, is that you?

::The silhouette of a man hunched over the main engineering console
identified his best friend, and told Chris enough about Ben's and his
own fractured mental state.::

WADHAM: Ben, you realise we've got to disembark within the next hour?
You nearly ready?

HUNNICUTT: Yeah, I'm coming.

WADHAM: You're worried I know. We all are. I can't stand the idea of
what might be.

HUNNICUTT: Just been thinking, I don't really want to leave.

Anyone: The Victory has been both our homes for two years. Two years
to build friendships, have adventures, explore. There's so much more
we haven't done.

HUNNICUTT: It just doesn't feel right.

WADHAM: I know, but we can't discuss that now. There is nothing left
here, just an empty unemotional shell. This ship is not the Victory we
knew, but we will see it again someday, I promise you Ben.

::Chris could see there wasn't any more to be said. With a consoling
arm around the other, they departed and with one look back they saw,
for possibly the final time, the name above the entrance...'Victory'.::

To all of you, I wish you the best of luck for the future. These are
such unfortunate times for the whole crew, especially Captain Phoenix
and Commander Diamond but I'm sure we'll have a chance to sim together
again. I know each and everyone of us is deeply affected by this, but
I also know we won't allow this to be the end. This will only be
temporary I'm sure. There are so many more adventures we are yet to
have together...

Best Wishes

Live Long And Prosper My Friends

Lieutenant Chris Wadham
Chief Operations Officer
USS Victory
238403.30