Master and Commander

Posted on 16 Feb 2016 @ 2:33pm by Commander Andreus Kohl & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim

1,592 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1, Main Bridge
Timeline: MD 16 - 0200 hours

[ON]

It was early, well technically early by the ship's internal set chronograph. Sickbay was empty, and Allyndra had worked her presentation but gotten bored of it finally. She pushed back from the desk and stretched and then decided to take a stroll. If she was needed here someone could call.

As she walked, she got to thinking that had there not been a change in the command structure. "Computer who is in command on the bridge?"

[Commander Andreus Kohl is currently gamma shift commanding officer]

"Really?" Allyndra thought and then smiled. She had missed that one and so her mind was made up. She made her way to the bridge. As the doors opened she did not ask to come on, she had bridge privilages.

"Well from Medical, to Science and now in Charge of the Ship, what surprises are yet in store from the amazing Andreus?" She said.

On the other end of a turbolift shaft, minuscule course-changes were the only surprises in store for Andreus Kohl. As Galileo's Second Officer, his lean form was settled into the command chair. His posture looked comfortable, but only because he was lost enough in a task to forget where he was, and who he was supposed to be. His eyes were on the LCARS interface beside the chair, as he swiped through a series of menu options with a fingertip.

"CONN, take a look at the changes I've plotted to our course," Kohl said. He strove to strike a balance between making the statement clear, as an order, but still delivering it as if he were asking a favour. "Science as been looking to point the secondary deflector array at a class-G star as part of the calibration efforts. I think this will take us closer to Jouret without adding any time to our journey. ...And if I'm wrong, can you fix it?"

"I am only a lowly saw bones. Good for patching up the scrapes and bruises, not engineering tech," Allyndra replied. She moved next to the chair. "So now Second Officer?" she said and then stopped. "I should add to that sir."

Kohl turned his head slowly to direct a frown at Allyndra. It was the kind of frown that said: girl, please, nothing about you is lowly. He shook his head too, and then he said, "When Commander Stace first became Executive Officer, I took on the responsibilities of the Second Officer. During the NIMBUS affair; the war games. It's only recently that I was told these responsibilities were to be my top priority."

Allyndra leaned close so the rest of the bridge would not over hear. "I suspected some changes when I did medical for Science Department replacement." She laid a hand on his arm for just a moment since she would not make a scene here even on gamma. "I must say I am proud and happy for you. I have always felt bad about the situation after I came aboard this ship. Perhaps not quite the career path you envisioned but here you are sir. May the Twins bless."

As if he could disagree with Allyndra's apologetic remark, Kohl shook his head suddenly. His brief tenure as Acting Chief Medical Officer had come to an abrupt end when Starfleet Command had assigned Allyndra --and officer with Command experience herself-- to replace Kohl. "If I never told you before, I never felt bad about reporting to you, about learning from you," Kohl said. He kept his voice low to match hers, but that didn't keep the insistence out of his delivery. "Thank you for your kind words. This isn't too far off from what I imagined for myself; I just never imagined I would be sitting in this chair so soon."

"It is something isn't it?" Allyndra replied. She had been technically for a brief period of time Executive Officer officially but due to the missing and secretive mission of the actual Captain, had acted as the Captain. While it was not a secret since it was in her record, she rarely talked to anyone about it. "I actually think that people like us, those in the medical profession that is, make decent command officers. One has to make hard decisions in the operating room, with sometimes little data and work and think quickly on the spot all the hallmarks of what is needed for this job." She pondered that for a moment and then asked, "But enough of that how is my friend? It seems a long time since we had a talk."

Staring at Allyndra, Kohl could only nod wordlessly, as he considered her question. He remarked, "Between serving aboard Nautilus for the war games and being locked up in my quarters by the Terran Empire, I've been feeling disconnected from all of my friends. Piecing the ship back together, I'm feeling frayed, if not quite burned out. I could use a good nap some day soon."

Allyndra nodded. "I too. It has been a harrowing time and now though nothing expected you have to keep track of the ship. If you need it I will put in an official medical recommendation for light duty."

"I don't believe that should be necessary," Kohl replied. "We'll be released for shore leave soon enough. Besides. Look at me." --Kohl raised both palms to indicate the viewscreen-- "All that matters is that. There. Keep the ship pointed towards shore leave," --and then spread his arms wide-- "When's the last time I got to stay in one spot for a whole shift? Doesn't get much lighter."

Allyndra chuckled. "I would say that is a fair assessment. Hopefully it will stay quiet the rest of the way. I almost have my presentation finished and that I have to get out of the way before we arrive. Almost as soon as there I have to head off for home." She shook her head. "No rest for the wicked is that the phrase? Though I have not been really wicked that I know of."

"I can't say I've ever known you to be wicked, Allyndra," Kohl said in utmost seriousness, and kindness. "I'd like to get back to Argelius. I'll lose a lot of shore leave to the commute and I'll only be able to stay for a handful of days, but I think it'd be worth it." --At that, his eyes studied the viewscreen, as he couldn't contain a momentary wistful grin, and then he looked to Allyndra again-- "What's calling you back to Akkadia this time?"

Allyndra tapped the arm for a moment in nervousness. There were a lot of things but she was not ready to let things too far out at this point in time.
"House business. I have been asked to attend to." She let it go at that. While she trusted Kohl, there were too many ears about the bridge.

Taking her statement at face-value, Kohl took little notice of Allyndra's choice to hold back. Rather, he grinned wistfully at the thought of his own time on Akkadia, a year or so back. With delighted embarrassment, Kohl said, "I promised Jcarl from the Irsemia house that I would come visit him, you know? I'd ask to join you, but I have family business of my own on Argelius."

"Nothing serious I hope," Allyndra responded.

"I don't believe so," Kohl replied, but the vowels in believe were elongated under the weight of his uncertainty. He shared a quick look at Allyndra as if to say: you know what it's like. "I haven't been told why yet, but my presence has been requested at the temple."

She nodded. "A word fraught with much weight, requested and without explanation. Well," she laid a hand briefly on his. "I hope it will be something more positive than negative. Well we have a saying, may breezes blow gently, may fair winds guide you, you the Twins protect and guide you and return you safely to shore." It was really something one would say for a matron flight but still she felt it expressed that hope that the journey would be easy as well as the return.

"Thank you, Allyndra," said Kohl. Since he was oblivious to the context, he accepted the well-wishes at face value. He glanced down at the LCARS display beside his seat, just briefly, and then returned his full attention to the Chief Medical Officer. "I hope your winds will be gentle, and fair, and protecting as well. We haven't known protecting winds aboard Galileo in some time now..."

"No, we have not but life moves on none the less. Let us hope for more joy than sorrow while we have the time away." She looked at the big screen a moment. Then she nodded, "It was a pleasure to just talk again friend. I should leave you to your watch, but I hope you will not mind if I periodically pop in."

"Come now, Allyndra," Kohl said in a blithely chiding manner. "You are always welcome on the bridge. Always. Welcome to bring your friendship, your observations," Kohl remarked, "and your sage advise."

"And perhaps a joke or two if I hear a good one," she remarked. "It can get lonely and boring. See you soon enough Master and Commander." She made an actual curtsy before disappearing.


[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Andreus Kohl
Second Officer
USS Galileo

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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