Disclaimer: I do not own Andromeda (if I did I'd have one of those snazzy Slip Fighters. Ooh and a Force Lance!) I just recently came across some Andromeda episodes on the internet and it got me a bit nostalgic. I used to watch Andromeda a lot when I was younger. And no matter what sci-fi series I see, The Andromeda Ascendant is always the most beautiful starship of the lot of them. Anyway I was watching the beginning episodes and I saw this scene from D Minus Zero. Call me an overly romantic sap (and I can be at times) but I guess to me this was a very touching scene. So I figured I'd start with it. There will be more like this and maybe a few original shots as well. Because if captains can fall in love with their ships, why can't the ship fall in love with her captain? So without further ado, please read, review and enjoy!
The Heart of a Starship
She projected herself on his desk right in front of the picture of Dylan and Sarah. Reaching a hand toward it she began to caress the handsome, smiling features of her captain…
"Did you hear me?"
Startled out of her reverie she quickly turned around.
"I'm sorry I was reviewing tactical scenarios, what did you say?"
Her captain stepped out of the shower with naught but a towel that he was using to dry himself off.
"The residue on your hull. That's how they were able to target us without using their active sensors. We need to scrape it off any suggestions?"
"I'll talk to Harper maybe I can get him to go out there with an E…" her captain then put his towel behind his shoulders.
Oh my…
"EVA suit and a squeegee." She looked down hoping he hadn't caught her momentary stutter.
Her captain gave a light chuckle. "I'm sure you two will come up with something."
Her eyes darted below his waist for a second before she remembered she should be more polite and closed them.
Then he went back into the shower a bit too soon for her liking.
"He's a good kid you know. Smart. They all are. Beka, Rev Bem, Trance, Tyr."
As he was saying this she was wrestling with the desire to store or delete the recent images while berating herself for having the debate in the first place.
Blissfully unaware of this struggle, her captain continued. "They're smart they're talented and they're totally undisciplined."
In the end she decided to store the image for future review. Her self-condemnation was greatly mitigated by the fact she couldn't deny she had greatly enjoyed the show. But she quickly brought herself back to more serious matters.
"You're afraid you can't, depend on them?" She ventured.
"No, no not at all." He returned from the shower but this time with pants on to her more than slight disappointment.
"They're not the weak link. For that we need to look somewhere else."
She paused for a second as she let that sink in.
"Oh,"
That was all she could say to that as doubt flashed across the mainframe that was her mind. Was she the weak link? She was heavily damaged and not operating at 100% combat capacity. At 100% she would have swatted their current foe like a bug. Now though? They had to play cat and mouse until they could outwit whoever was attacking them.
His next sentence derailed her train of doubt.
"The problem isn't them, " he said solemnly. " The problem is me."
How could he even dare to think that about himself?
"Don't ever think that." She replied with a bit of indignation. "You're a fine commander." As far as she was concerned, that was fact. When he was assigned to be her captain she had of course researched him. His academy scores were excellent his service record quite impressive and his loyalty and dedication to the Commonwealth were unquestionable. Besides, she was a Glorious Heritage class ship of the line. The Commonwealth only gave command of a ship like herself to its best and brightest. And her captain was a prime example of both of these.
He smiled a bit at her defense of him and looked like he appreciated it. But then he became somber again.
"300 years ago, maybe. But times have changed and maybe they passed me by. Napoleon Bonaparte was one of histories great strategists. But if you plucked him out of his time and set him down just 200 years later, would he have any idea how to maneuver a tank brigade? Or how to use close air support? Of course not, he would've been a relic. Just like me."
He may have had a point. But she would not have her usually confident captain doubt himself like this. He was far better than that.
"You're not a relic," she reassured him, her voice rather gentle for her warship nature.
"The Commonwealth may have fallen but you did not fall with it." It may have been due to betrayal and bad luck, but they did not fall with the Commonwealth. They were still here and she didn't intend to see herself or her captain fall anytime soon.
Despite her assurances, her captain was still grim. "Tell that to whoever's gunning for us."
Then he exited his quarters. Ready to fight and win against their opponent.
For her part, she should have dispersed after that conversation but she decided to linger on his desk for a few more moments. Using the interior sensors to make sure Dylan didn't decide to make a sudden turn around, she turned back to the picture and began her caress again.
Yes, she decided. She would tell whoever had picked a fight with them that she and her captain did not fall with the Commonwealth. And she would be sure to send that message with a particularly brutal volley of missiles.
As long as she had a single weapon in her arsenal, as long as she still existed, she would protect Captain Dylan Hunt to the end.