Good Ol' Boys

Posted on Mon 15th Jun, 2026 @ 1:05pm by Captain Gordon Francis & Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Barron

1,008 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: [MAIN] Learning to Fly
Location: Texas
Timeline: One Month prior to Station Reset

Gabe stood in the back acreage of his families ranch, button down pearl snapp shirt open to his chest, white cowboy hat turned brown by sweat and dirt, his jeans with creases so sharp you could cut yourself hugged his legs as he moved. He squinted against the bright East Texas sun as he paused to grab the water canteen off the back of his horse. He was in the middle offending the fences where some of the families cattle had broken out of earlier. He grinned as he tasted the sweet tea his mother packed in the canteen rather than water. She knew what his weakness was and that was her sweet tea. He gulped it down before returning the canteen to the saddle and pulling the wires taught before mending them.

The whine of the transporter alerted Gabe as Captain Gordon Francis materialized a few feet from the fence.

Frank emerged from the transporter cursing the Texas sun. He immediately remembered how much he hated the place. The silly hats, harsh heat, and home to the Dallas Cowboys, who had defeated Frank's Kansas City Colts in the Super Bowl some fifty-odd years ago on a technicality. The aging Captain had never forgiven them, having been at the event with his father.

That said, it felt good to be on farmland again. Frank needed to remember that as he approached the aged Klingon. Frank was a decade his junior, but having the Klingon below him in the chain of command didn't bother him. Frank stepped off the pod and introduced himself.

"Hello there." Frank said, putting on a smile. "I'm Captain Gordon Francis. Is this the farm of a Lieutenant Gabriel Barron? If not, I'd be curious to know what Gabriel Barron is doing with someone else's cattle." It was a simple joke, but Frank felt a little humor would do away with any tension. Frank didn't know why or how any good Starfleet officer could last so long under a "lieutenant" rank. Nevertheless, he had to assess the man first before asking him to take on a very serious duty, and he figured a kind approach would be best.

"Hello Captain, no it ain't my farm it's my families ranch." Gabe scowled at the man but the grinned at him "What can I do ya' for sir?"

Frank stepped forward, hands behind his back. He was in full uniform, no doubt baking in the humid Texas heat. "I'd like to offer you a job, Mr. Barron. I'm Commanding Officer of Starbase one-oh-nine. We're placed in a sparsely-explored region near the Delavi Expanse. I need a Chief of Security and judging by your file, I think you'd fit the role splendidly."

Gabe stopped and squinted at the Captain for a moment. "Ya know sir if you count my time in green I've been serving for 16 years. This is the first time Ive really taken time off except for after I got my papers after the war. If Im being completely honest with ya I was thinking of retiring and going back to school to get my MD. Those idiots in the Empire think that war is glorious. I guess it aint the thing for a good ol boy from East Texas." He paused and looked up at the sun not speaking for an extended period of time before continuing "This was the first time I really felt like I could go back to healing."

"An MD, huh?" Frank said. "Our medical staff is top of the line, and our Chief of Medicine is top notch. I'm sure they wouldn't mind helping a southern farm boy with his studies."

Gabe looked at the man across from him and raised an eyebrow. "Not that I'm putting requirements on my joining your team but if you can make that happen then I'd happily bring the Star Base to heel."

Frank laughed. "I hope it doesn't come to that. Do you think you could handle both school and keeping the peace? Both can be a lot of work, especially on a starbase the size of 109."

Gabe snorted "I'm sure I can manage. After all my job is to find the right people, delegate and ensure they have what they need to make the base run smoothly. If it dosent run smoothly then that means I failed at my job."

Frank nodded, allowing Gabe a bit of blind confidence. As long as Gabe could be humbled when he realized the station almost never ran smoothly, the Captain felt he'd found the right person for the job. He also knew from experience that farm boys had a strict work ethic.

"One last thing," Frank said. "I'm retiring soon, and my replacement is a Fesarian. How do you feel about answering to a Captain less than half your size?"

Gabe shrugged "If I can't respect the man I can respect the rank."

"For whatever it's worth, I respect him," said Francis. "You've been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. Report to your new assignment in two weeks. I suggest packing soon. It's a bit of a trip to Starbase 109. We're a little off the beaten path." He touched his badge. "Francis to USS Sabretooth, one to beam up."

Gabe blinked, he had been a Lieutenant for the vast majority of his career. Having a promotion, new job and a CO that seemed to be willing to help him branch out of security and become a Doctor... he didnt have anything to say to that so he nodded.

"Thank you sir, I'll see you aboard." Gabe said before the transporter whisked away the captain. He'd have to get his go bag and talk his momma into parting with some beef, might even be able to get some meat sent to the base after he got established. His mind shifted gears and he thought about the special phases he knew a friend was working on. He'd have to procure some of them for the base as well. So much to do and so little time.

END

 

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