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I thought it might be fun for us all to flesh out and maybe RP our fondest memories of Paul Resnig. Kind of a ÔÇ£Greatest hitsÔÇØ if you will. All are welcome to contribute. Enjoy.

RP

Commander Augustus Damier stretched as he reclined in his high-backed, leather chair in his stateroom. Propping his feet up on the oak desk in front of him he reached into his shirt pocket and produced a pack of cigarettes and a gold Zippo lighter. A moment later he was enjoying the flavor and aroma of a custom blend tobaccos cured in vanilla and cherry extracts, with just a pinch of illegal tobacco, just to round out the taste. ÔÇ£Computer.ÔÇØ He said aloud. The computer chirped in reply, indicating that it was listening for instructions from him. ÔÇ£Play some music for me. The usual selections.ÔÇØ The computer chirped again in reply as the sounds of classical guitar began playing in the background.

A moment later the comms unit on his desk chimed. ÔÇ£God, canÔÇÖt I have just one minute of peace to myself?ÔÇØ he stated somewhat irritated as he pressed the answer button. ÔÇ£Yes, what is it?ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm sorry to disturb you sir.ÔÇØ Sandy Crane, the communications officerÔÇÖs voice replied. ÔÇ£You have two messages coming in from Sol system. Shall I rout them to your stateroom sir?ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£ThatÔÇÖs fine, IÔÇÖll take them in here.ÔÇØ The commander said, abruptly hitting the cancel button as he leaned forward in his chair and crushed out his cigarette in a nearby ashtray. Turning his attention to the view screen near the left edge of his desk he tapped the flashing, messages button and watched as the monitor fuzzed a bit and auto adjusted for brightness and contrast.

The first message opened.

From: Nancy Damier

Brooklyn, NY. Earth.

Commander Damier watched as the recording of his mother fidgeted and fussed with the vid-screen that was obviously perched on the kitchen counter. Leaning back again he waited.

Hello? Is this thing on? The woman in the recording asked as she smacked the side of the screen. She was wearing a terrycloth housecoat and had her hair up in curlers. Anyway, hello honey. Its your mother. She announced too loudly as if she was trying to actually shout across the galaxy to his ship. This is so exciting. She continued. I just heard from Susie, you know the admirals secretary, shes such a nice girl. She says that youre up for a promotion. Damiers mother was almost squealing with glee. Isnt that wonderful dear. Imagine, my son the Oh I can hardly contain myself. Anyway sweetheart, I have to go now. Mildred from next door is coming over. Were making scones. Bye bye honey. She started to reach for the end button then suddenly looked back into the display. By-the-way, call your mother. I never get to hear from you. The woman tapped a few buttons and smacked the side of the screen again causing the colors of the monitor to go wild and fill with static. Now how do you turn this silly thing off? Commander Damier watched as the flower patterned, tile of his mothers kitchen floor rush toward him before the display went black.

ÔÇ£I have to remember to get her a wall mounted COM unit the next time IÔÇÖm home.ÔÇØ He pressed the flashing button again to continue on to the next message. It was from Commander Grossman, an old academy buddy now aboard the Interrogator patrolling Mars.

ÔÇ£Hey there Augie.ÔÇØ A blond haired, officer in his thirties said to him through the vid-screen. ÔÇ£Unless youÔÇÖve heard from your mother already, IÔÇÖve been given the honor of letting you know that youÔÇÖre being promoted. GALCOM HQ gave me some long-winded, official looking letter to read to you. Something about all four delegates being safely delivered to LV-130 or some such sh**. I didnÔÇÖt know you were running a limo service. Anyway bud, official ceremonies will be held at HQ as soon as you get back. IÔÇÖve read your report about what happened, pretty amazing stuff. It looks like you really deserve these.ÔÇØ The officer made a motion as if to point over DamierÔÇÖs shoulder.

The commander turned to see his replicator unit producing a set of Supreme Commander rank insignias. Picking up the devices he examined them for a moment. He felt stunned as he attached them to his collar.

ÔÇ£Congratulations sir.ÔÇØ His friend continued, making a mockery of a salute in the viewer. ÔÇ£Oh, before I forget. Heather, the waitress from the ÔÇ£One Eyed WeaselÔÇØ in New Orleans wanted me to tell you that she misses you and canÔÇÖt wait to pick up where you two left off. Whatever that means.ÔÇØ Commander Grossman gave a sly wink. ÔÇ£Well bud, got things to do. Catch you planet side. Later.ÔÇØ The screen again went black. Though whether it was because the message ended or because of something else was unknown because at that exact moment the ship rocked wildly as Damier was thrown to the deck.

The stateroom went pitch black a second before the red emergency lights came on. The computer sputtered and crackled. Warning, DamageDamageDamdazzzt.

ÔÇ£This canÔÇÖt be good.ÔÇØ Commander Damier stated as he picked himself up from the stateroom deck and headed, double time, out into the passageway.

ÔÇ£Captain on the bridge!ÔÇØ Everyone snapped to attention as Commander Damier arrived and took his captainÔÇÖs chair.

ÔÇ£As you were.ÔÇØ The commander replied as he lit up a (normal) cigarette. ÔÇ£WhatÔÇÖs the situation Resnig?ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£Sir.ÔÇØ The combat officer began. ÔÇ£As you know, on the way to LV-130 we managed to upset quite a few people. Capturing their bases, destroying their ships and what have you.ÔÇØ

Damier nodded his acknowledgment.

ÔÇ£Well Sir.ÔÇØ Resnig continued. ÔÇ£Our probes have picked up increased enemy activity along our path to GALCOM.ÔÇØ He handed Damier a data pad that showed information from various long-range probes.

The commander set the pad aside without looking at it. ÔÇ£Get to the point Mr. Resnig.ÔÇØ His patience was growing thin.

I-I sir. Beads of sweat were forming on Resnigs forehead. Based on these reports, Engineering

ÔÇ£The short version Lieutenant.ÔÇØ

I decided to

ÔÇ£Shorter.ÔÇØ

There was an undetected malfunction in the nav computer

ÔÇ£Shorter!ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£I crashed the ship into the ocean,ÔÇØ Resnig gulped. ÔÇ£Sir.ÔÇØ

The commander silently took a long drag from his cigarette and crushed it out on the console in front of him as he contemplated what he had been told. ÔÇ£Do we have a way out of this mess?ÔÇØ he asked nobody in particular.

ÔÇ£Yes sir.ÔÇØ Kara Moran, the Tactical officer replied. ÔÇ£Before erm, achieving splashdown, we did manage to launch a shuttle that was to begin mining operations in order to collect more fuel. That shuttle is still out there and may be able to tow us to shore.ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£Achieving splashdown. Interesting turn of phrase Miss Moran.ÔÇØ Commander Damier stood and took a posture that indicated that he was relieving Resnig of the con and that he was now in charge. ÔÇ£Stand down battle stations, our marines have been through enough this trip, and have that shuttle drag our sorry asses out of here to a SAFE place to conduct repairs.ÔÇØ He turned his attention to his combat officer. ÔÇ£Follow me.ÔÇØ From his tone, the word ÔÇ£moronÔÇØ was implied at the end of his order. Resnig sheepishly obeyed and followed Commander Damier out to the portside bridge wing.

ÔÇ£Let me get this straight Lieutenant.ÔÇØ Damier began as the airlock closed behind them. ÔÇ£You failed to inform me of increased enemy activity when it was first discovered. You failed to inform me that system upgrades were available for installation and ask permission to set down for repairs. You failed to inform me upon initiation of planet fall. You used a malfunctioning computer to aim for a continent and missed. You even failed to look out the damn window,ÔÇØ he waved his hand toward the blast shields that were still raised over the bridge windows. ÔÇ£to verify that you were indeed over land before setting down. Is that correct Mr. Resnig?ÔÇØ He didnÔÇÖt wait for an answer before turning his back on the other officer.

The sun was bright in the golden sky of the planet on which the ship was currently stranded. The ocean stretched out as far as the eye could see and gentile ripples caused the sunlight to dance across its surface. Commander Damier enjoyed the calming affect the scene had on him. ÔÇ£Under any other circumstances this would be a beautiful day for a swim.ÔÇØ He thought to himself. ÔÇ£You know Resnig. Back in the days of wooden ships and iron men, youÔÇÖd be keelhauled and strung up from the yardarm for your gross incompetence. As it stands though, we have no propulsion, so keelhauling is out. Besides, I wouldnÔÇÖt want to waste the rope on you.ÔÇØ He paused a moment to consider his next actions. ÔÇ£Given the design of this ship, I doubt that any serious damage has resulted from our little afternoon voyage. Therefore, IÔÇÖll be placing an official reprimand in your record and you will be restricted to your quarters pending my decision weather or not to recommend a court-martial for you. Have I made myself clear Mr. Resnig?ÔÇØ He turned to face the officer once again.

ÔÇ£Yes Sir.ÔÇØ ResnigÔÇÖs face went white as he noticed his commanderÔÇÖs shiny, new, collar devices. His posture quickly straitened so that he was stiff as a board. ÔÇ£Perfectly clear Sir.ÔÇØ With a quick salute Resnig turned and headed at a brisk pace, back toward the airlock that lead back to the bridge.

ÔÇ£One more thing lieutenant.ÔÇØ He paused as the other officer turned to face him again. ÔÇ£Before you leave, find out whatÔÇÖs wrong with that and get it corrected.ÔÇØ With a single finger, Commander Damier drew ResnigÔÇÖs attention to the shuttle that was ordered to tow the command craft some minutes ago. It was now flying in lazy circles overhead and showed no signs of having a qualified pilot onboard.

ÔÇ£I-I Sir.ÔÇØ Resnig turned and proceeded back to the bridge.

Commander Damier spent several minutes looking out over the water and listening to the chatter over his com unit.

ÔÇ£Yes Sir lt. Resnig, I think I got it now.ÔÇØ He heard the very green marine in the shuttle reply to the combat officerÔÇÖs instructions.

Turning to look at the shuttle he noticed that it was grossly out of position as the tractor emitter began to glow. The commander tried to sprint back onto the bridge but it was too late.

The GCV INQUISITOR groaned in seeming agony as the shuttles tractor beam, dragged her forcibly sidewise. She pitched so wildly that the commander was thrown from his feet and carried over the rail by his own momentum to plummet 100+ ft down to the ocean below.

He hit the water with such force that he was temporarily stunned and it took him a moment to shake the stars from his eyes. When next he looked up, he saw that the shuttle MK3 and his Megaron were clear of the water and flying quickly away from his position.

ÔÇ£Woohoo, I got it.ÔÇØ The marine was saying with obvious glee in her voice.

Shuttle 4Shuttle 4 The fall to the water had broken the commanders com unit. He could hear everything that went on but was powerless to reply.

ÔÇ£Good job Marine.ÔÇØ He heard Resnig reply to the shuttle pilot. ÔÇ£now set corse for 2,4,7, and set us down about 50 Km. inland.ÔÇØ

Making my head 2,4,7, I-I Sir. Dont you worry none, Ill have yall back on dry land before zzzt.

The two ships had moved out of com range and all the commander could do was watch as it disappeared over the horizon.

ÔÇ£REEESSSNIIIIIIIG!!!ÔÇØ

rp

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