Star Trek: Liberty author Joseph Manno wrote this drabble a couple of years ago without much information from me on where Dark Horizon would be at this point. However, I believe he captured Jack McCall perfectly at this stage in the DH story.
"Act Your Age"
written by
Joseph Manno
He'd heard it yesterday.
Chamberlain's sheer size gave Jack a certain anonymity, in that no one expected the captain in their little corner of the great ship. A week's growth of beard and backpack slung over civilian clothes completed his "non-entity" status.
It happened as he trudged towards his quarters, taking the scenic route: A pair of crewmen were working on an EPS relay, and jawing as techs have since the first machine was built and promptly broke down.
One said, "I hear it's Starbase 577 once the old man gets back."
The old man.
Jack smiled.
Now I'm captain.
* * *
Dark Horizon Story and Characters Copyright ©2006 Michael Gray