Oh Captain, My Captain
| BorgSpace | |
| Episode name | Oh Captain, My Captain |
|---|---|
| Season | Assimilations |
| Episode number | Captain's Story |
| Writer(s) | Maija Meneks |
| Year | 2347 |
| Stardate | XXXXX |
| Chronology | |
| Previous in series | N/A |
| Next in series | A Second Chance |
| Previous in timeline | N/A |
| Next in timeline | N/A |
Summary
Gerson (pre-assimilated 4 of 8) is introduced as a Moytite adolescent who is a underage apprentice engineer on a run-down freighter - Jezebel of the Twins - whose normal cargo consists of smelly agricultural byproducts. The story opens with him working to fix the food replicator, only to be pulled away due to a priority alert in the ship's single crew bathroom.
With a backflash, the personal history of Gerson and the clan he belongs to is explained. Many centuries prior, the founder of Gerson's clan - Juruvi Dreng - found a container full of alien music and other items from early mid- to late-20th century Terra. Although it is never said if Juruvi actually believed the music sang of alien gods or if knew a good scam when he saw it, a new religion was created...with Juruvi as the holy leader. By the time Gerson was born, the clan was long under the spell of the alien pantheon; and only an accidental exposure to the outside world allowed Gerson to know that there was more to life than Beatles and King. With that knowledge, Gerson eventually ran away from his clan and took refuge in the first job he could find, that job junior engineer on Jezebel of the Twins.
It soon becomes apparent that Jezebel is more than she appears. Specifically, the old freighter is a small-time smuggler. While the smuggling operation is run solely by the captain and his first mate run the operation, it is likely master engineer Killian suspects (not that he cares). It is during a short-cut to a smuggler's cache that Jezebel develops engine problems...and sees a Borg cube already in-system.
The sighting of the Borg cube brings to light Jezebel's second surprise: her captain and first mate are ex-Borg. Captured and processed into drones many years prior, Captain J and Sir had been rescued from the remains of a Borg moonbase by a Drin Borg Institute vessel. After undergoing the de-Borgification process, the pair had returned to their home system, discovered their officially deceased status, and begun new lives by buying Jezebel of the Twins, with the occasional foray into small-time smuggling.
Gerson is sent hullside to inspect the nacelles. Eventually Captain J and Sir have themselves sedated by the Infirmarymaster in order to block the emerging voices, leaving the rest of the crew alone to try to restart the engines and escape. While on the hull, Gerson comes up with the idea of dropping loads of Jezebel's smelly, and flammable cargo, upon the Borg cube. As by this time the cube has Jezebel in a tractor, there is nothing to lose, and so, one at a time, Gerson manually releases ten cargo loads of very strong fertilizer. One at a time they smash against the cube and are lit on fire.
The Borg cube blows up.
It is the last pylon Gerson inspects that is found to have created the engine troubles. After making the temporary repair, and as he heads back to the airlock, five more Borg cubes arrive. Unfortunately, Jezebel and her crew are out of manure.
The end is predictable...and Gerson is reborn as 4 of 8.
Jezebel of the Twins crew:
- Captain J (Jackon) - Jezebel's captain, smuggler, ex-military (second lieutenant), and ex-Borg
- Sir (Eligni) - first mate, smuggler, ex-military (secuity chief), and ex-Borg
- Killian - master engineer
- Gerson - apprentice engineer
- Polukeh - computer and systems master
- Lunilin - computer and systems apprentice; neice to Polukeh
- Madi - physician; Shutov
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Story Notes
This was the last of the Assimilations mini-series stories that was written. This one was specifically saved for last because I felt that the 'who' behind Captain was very important to ensure it felt correct. I already knew some of the pieces of Captain's past life - In-Laws of Relativity - as well as mention made here and there of his personal history, it was this story where it all came together.
Of course, the best part of this story is the image of flaming manure taking out an entire Borg cube...and the panic among the Collective at this revealing of a brand-new organic-based weapon.
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