by Wayne23 » Sun Dec 05, 2021 7:05 pm
1/14: 3:30 p.m.: Tragedy struck early this morning. Our Captain always sets foot on the bridge at exactly 7:00 a.m. Every single morning unless he has arrived earlier. This morning he didn't.
At 7:20 he still hadn't shown. At 7:33 the officer in charge hailed the Second in Command, Brad Fredericks, who immediately made his way to the bridge. Brad hailed the captain. No response.
After doing this three times, Brad entered the Captain's quarters. He found him in bed, dead. The ship's Doctor was called. She confirmed that that Captain was dead and asked Brad's permission to perform an autopsy since Brad was now Acting Captain. Permission was granted.
Just a few minutes ago the Doc confirmed that the Captain had died in his sleep of a massive coronary. He died between 3:30 and 6:00, instantly.
The Council will meet at 7:00 to appoint the new Captain. Interestingly enough the appointment of the 2nd in Command is not automatic and the rumors are flying. Brad is a quiet, almost sullen man, and he is not popular. I doubt that anyone denies his competency though. I think he should get the job and I would bet that he will.
The Council has 12 members. The Captain is NOT a member since he reports to the Council. The 2nd IS a member.
11:55 p.m.: What a meeting! It turns out Brad was NOT appointed Captain. Nobody was. There were three nominations, Brad, Chief Navigator Irma Gray, and... me. I immediately jumped to my feet to decline. I was told i couldn't decline. It was a duty that could not be refused. I explained emphatically and in great detail all of the reasons why i did not want the job. I was told to sit down.
A vote was taken: Brad 5, Irma 4, me 3.
Another vote was taken. No change. A total of 15 ballots later there had still been no change.
I moved that one more ballot be taken and that the person receiving the fewest votes should be dropped. The motion passed.
The vote was 4 to 4 to 4. 7 more ballots led to the same result.
On the next ballot there was a change: Irma 5, me 4, Brad 3. Brad was out. My only hope was that 2 of the 3 votes for Brad would go to Irma but there was no way to
know.
The next ballot was 6-6. 11 more ballots were 6-6. The Chair said that we would adjourn until tomorrow night with Brad as Acting Captain until the new Captain was appointed. Then Brad threw a monkey wrench into the works. He refused to serve.
After a discussion the ship's Doctor was appointed Acting captain. She would be an excellent Captain but no one else could do her job as well as she does. She's training several people, but they're not ready yet.
I just got to my quarters. Woke Lacy, and told her what was going on. I also told her what no one on the Council knew- while Brad was still a candidate I voted for him every time. When he was no longer a candidate I voted for Irma every time.
"Change your vote."
"What!"
"Change your vote."
"No chance. I don't want the job and I don't want that life. I love what I do and I love my entire life."
"Too bad. The ship needs you. And frankly, if this were put to the entire crew you'd win in a landslide."
"That's not going to happen and my being Captain is ABSOLUTELY not going to happen!"
"Change your vote."
"NO!"
"Sleep on it."
"I don't need to sleep on it."
"Jed, you have a duty. You need to do this."
"NO! ... Sorry... Look, do you doubt that Irma would do a good job?"
"No, she'd be fine. But you'd be better, and you'd have practically 100% support, which she probably wouldn't."
"I am NOT giving up a job I love, coaching hoops, playing in all the tournaments, time with my family- all of that and more. I'm just not!"
"Sleep on it."
I slept on it.