WIPpet Wednesday: Command Decision

It’s #WIPpet Wednesday !

K.L,Schwengel’s brainchild encourages writers to move their WIPs (works-in-progress) to publication by posting excerpts related to the date.

WIPpet Math:

Today is December 11, 2013.

I added the month and the date: 12+11=23.
I then added the digits of the year. 2=0=1=3=6; 23+6=9.
And, as a holiday treat, I added 4, to give you my favorite number – 33 sentences total.

No one offered a favorite for this WIPpet, so here’s more of my Trueborn Warp series Star Trek fan fiction WIP, King of Shreds and Patches:

Spock and an enigmatic woman from a troubled time in his past struggle to save two worlds from alien threats, neither knowing whether their renewed connection will bring salvation or devastation.

We join Jim Kirk as he prepares to meet with Admiral Nogura, with the intent to get the Enterprise back. This scene occurs shortly after Jim’s previous WIPpet, “There’s a Thing Out There!”

This WIP is set in the time frame of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Within the Trueborn double series, this WIP occurs before Spock discovers whether T’Lys is real, or a childhood delusion carried into adulthood. It’s the companion volume to Sima Garo Provides (Trueborn Weft Series), original fantasy.

He’d told Sonak the meeting wouldn’t last three minutes. Maybe the Old Man had spies on the landing platform, because he kept Jim waiting exactly that long before he entered his private conference room. Jim came to attention, and waited another minute for Nogura to acknowledge, and gesture him to a seat. Form was important to the Admiral.

“Now, then, Jim, what is it you wanted to talk about?“

“With your permission, sir?” He held up the data chip with all his reports and analysis on it. Nogura nodded, and Jim inserted the chip, thinking of the other one, the one in his pocket, almost like he was carrying Spock around as a talisman.

Nogura listened to the spiel – the whole thing, which came in at two and a half minutes – he’d timed it.

“I believe, Admiral Nogura, that I am the only man for the job.”

Nogura watched him for another long minute, and the three Jim had projected stretched into four, with nothing decided. He couldn’t get the ship launched early if he didn’t get the command, then get over there. He started to feel the tension and pressure, but the small weight of Spock’s data chip in his pocket helped him to find calm again.

“I’m not sure there is a job to do, Jim – and you haven’t been in the center seat for over two years, now.”

“That is true. On the other hand, Decker hasn’t commanded anything other than a research craft, in space. And, for the last two years, he’s commanded a starship in drydock.”

“You recommended Captain Decker glowingly, Jim.”

“With the understanding that he’d have a five-year mission to cut his teeth on, Admiral, not a potentially vital mission to save the planet.”

“I’m not at all sure there is a need for a mission.”

“That thing is still headed on a direct course for Earth, Admiral. I’ve been tracking it – it’s incredibly fast. We won’t have a lot of time to act, if it turns out to be dangerous, and you’ve sent the Enterprise off somewhere else. Is that a chance we can afford to take, Admiral?”

Five minutes, now, and another while Nogura just sat there and watched him. Finally, he said, “You make a valid point. How long do you need to get the ship ready?”

“Twelve hours from the minute I set foot on that Bridge.”

Another minute ticked away. Jim mentally held Spock’s message in his mind, to calm himself.

“What else do you need?”

“I need Bones and Spock.”

“Do I need to remind you that they’ve both resigned their commissions?”

There we have it – a man with a mission, now accomplished. Will things go smoothly? Is he ready for this? Will Bones and Spock be found?

For December, pick the WIP, and POV character! If you have a favorite, don’t be shy! Someone decides, and it could be you! This WIP is the default.

And here’s a song for the returning Captain…