A Second Chance

Posted on 19 Feb 2018 @ 3:23am by Commander Marisa Wyatt & Commander Aren Ban

2,182 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth - Space dock
Timeline: MD 103 - 0800

[ON]

The last few weeks had been a whirlwind for Aren. Not only had he had the opportunity to have temporary command of the Hathaway,he had been approached to be the first officer for a long term science mission. Part of him had been a bit worried that after the Kreanus Incident, no commanding officer would want him apart of the command team, much less a first officer. Apparently he had done something right or at least someone was willing to give him a chance, as he had been offered just the position, and already had a mountain of work to go over.

The ship was new and the Captain was still trying to put together a solid command team, and there were still some open positions. Aren had recommended several individuals for the open positions, and the Captain had given him the go ahead to talk to them. The first one on his list was Lieutenant Sandoval. She was a good officer but Aren had heard that she was having some trouble readjusting after the Kreanus Incident. He had sent her a message, requesting a one on one with her at the Space dock first thing in the morning. There was a lot of prep that he had to do, and not a lot of time to do it before they were required to report.

Since being a Cadet, Aren had learned of the importance of Coffee, which had become more a morning ritual than the actual need of the stimulant. He poured himself a cup from the carafe he kept on his desk, as he waited for Sandoval to arrive.

Marisa had been genuinely surprised by Commander Ban's request to speak with her. She'd barely seen him on the Hathaway as most of her duties kept her in the science department. It had been nice to get back to science on a starship and she'd enjoyed working with the cadets. But she had to admit that right now she preferred to be doing rather than teaching.

Since the request was a formal one, she pulled out her Starfleet uniform and carefully dressed for the meeting on the Stardock.

Just before the appointed time, she rang the commander's door chime.

Aren did a quick once over of his uniform, to make sure that everything was in and, more importantly, that he didn't have an obvious stains or spills. "Enter." Aren said, after he had ensured that his uniform was clean.

Marisa walked in and bowed in the Vulcan greeting before smiling. "Hello, commander. I hope you are well?" She was a little more Vulcan than usual as she was also a little nervous about the meeting.

Aren smiled as she approached. Aren had wished that he would have been able to add his own personal touch to the room as was standard for most captains, but seeing as this was only a temporary assignment, the room maintained its rather spartan nature. "Yes, quite. Please have a seat." He motioned for her to sit in one of the two available chairs in front of the desk. "How did your cadets been hold up?" Aren asked. He had skimmed through all the cadets evaluations, as well as reading the reports that came across his desk, but he had learned from his first CO that getting the proverbial pulse was better than anything on a PADD.

Marisa took a quick look around the spartan office as she took a seat. "Not bad. Oci and Jemima need to have a little more confidence in themselves, which will come with time. Jemima will need a ship where the commander has a sense of humor. She can be a little...unorthodox." She couldn't help grinning at her word choice. "She has a hard time holding still and will often dance or bounce as she works. How did you like commanding a cadet cruise?"

"I see, I will add the note to her file, but she may not get that luxury." Aren said as he quickly searched for a PADD on his desk to make a quick note. "To answer your question, it has been...interesting to say the least, but very rewarding." He said as he considered the experience for a moment. "This was one of my first real commands, and between you and me, I didn't think that I would ever see that seat again." He said with a smile that wasn't meant to be humorous. "How has the science department been treating you?"

"Based on what I saw on Kreanus and the Hathaway, you do very well in command. It was only a matter of time." Her smile turned wry and she chuckled. "How is science treating me? Better than counseling. Sorry." She shook her head. That wasn't what he wanted to know. "It's hard to think of myself as having been as green as those cadets--if I ever was. I enjoyed being on a cadet cruise, but I'm hoping to do more than teach or observe. I haven't had any luck in Starfleet so I'm considering applying to do some field work."

Aren nodded. "I know the feeling. Cadet cruises really bring out some interesting incites. If you don't mind me asking, and if you don't want to answer, that is quite alright, but what is making you want to leave Starfleet?" He asked, wanting to make sure he understood her situation a little better before making his request.

Marisa paused and then sighed. She might as well tell him. She'd kept everything so tightly locked away inside that she was beginning to feel claustrophobic. Besides, it was now in her record. "I don't mind." She ran a hand through her hair. "Starfleet Medical has determined that because of my reaction to my experiences on Kreanus, I am currently unfit to be a counselor. I can still work in science; but even though I've applied to a number of ships, I've had no luck. The position was already filled or my application was rejected." She gave him a self-deprecating smile. "I've been looking at other options. One is to teach, but I don't want to do that right now. The other is to go back to fieldwork. I have some friends who have given me recommendations. So it's just a matter of finding somewhere I fit."

Aren nodded in understanding. He had gleaned some of what she was talking about from her file, but he still had wanted to hear it directly from her. "I see." He said, before taking another drink from his coffee. "How are you liking working within the science department? Regardless of where life takes you, do you see yourself focusing more time on subjects within that discipline?"

"I'm always a scientist. Even when I was serving as a counselor, I woul science," Marisa said. "I don't expect that to change. Whatever I end up doing, it will include science."

Aren smiled. "Of course, pardon me. I was more trying to tease out how you liked leading your own science department, even though it is mostly full of cadets, and we had certain training criterion, the same principles still apply. Was it enjoyable?" Aren asked.

"Sorry, I misunderstood the question." She smiled apologetically. "Enjoyable? Yes. It was nice getting back to running a science department, but it was harder to sit back and let the cadets stumble around to figure out how to solve a problem. It's easier to show them what to do, but they'll learn better if they do it themselves. I do miss the opportunities to explore that working in a starship's science department provides."

Aren nodded before taking another sip of his coffee. "Would you ever like to run your own department on a starship outside of the academy? Even if it meant sticking with Starfleet?" Aren asked.

Marisa raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was getting at. "If the offer is good," she said. "Meaning that I would have a chance to do my job, to have opportunities to explore, to be part of a team." She shrugged. "I haven't given up on Starfleet, but I'm not having much luck there, either." She chuckled. "I even got rejected from the new Galileo."

Aren shook his head. "I am sorry. Sometimes the application process is a test in and of it self." Aren said with a half smile. "There is a unique opportunity that recently came across my desk. I recently was offered an executive officer position, which I have accepted, and we are still putting together the command team. I read your paper on the aquaponics design that we spoke about a few months ago, and considering your success on the Hathaway, I wanted to have some one on our team that I knew and trusted. Someone that I could rely on. I was hoping that you might be interested in taking charge of our science department." Aren said, reaching for a PADD and sliding to her side of the desk to read. "This isn't a set of orders, as this is a long term mission. Its an application that I am sending on your behalf, which my attached request. If your were to accept all you have to do is apply your digital signature." Aren said, leaning back in his chair. "I know this may seem like a like big jump, but please feel free to read through the documents, and ask any questions. Though I must insist that you do that here," he said as he gestured to the chronometer that adorned the spartan wall, "I have a shuttle that I have to catch in the not to distant future." He added with a sympathetic shrug.

"Congratulations on your position," she said, pulling the PADD towards her. "You had some good ideas that went into that paper. Thank you." She looked over the application and raised an eyebrow in surprise when she saw the name of the ship. She looked back at Ban. "Are you sure? I've already been rejected once."

Aren nodded. "Yes, I am sure. I think you would be an asset to the ship, the Captain, and my self. But ultimately it is up to you." A half smile spreading across his face.

Marisa returned his smile and affixed her thumbprint to the PADD. "What's the worse that can happen? I get rejected again?" She handed the PADD back to Aren. "Thank you for your confidence in me."

He smiled a small smile. "I have a feeling that that wont happen, and you should be getting the official approval before the morning. Though I would advise you that you get what ever you will need for a long mission." Aren said with a small incline to a wall mounted clock. "There is a transport bound for Rigel II. It will be one of the last ones before the report in date."

She raised an eyebrow. "Rigel II? Okay. Most of my things are still packed. I'll be on the transport." At least she didn't have to do much to be ready. "Is there anything else you'd like from me?"

Aren smiled. "That is supposed to be my line Sandoval, but no, I have nothing else, do you have anything for me?" He asked, wanting to give her a chance to ask any questions or if she had anything she wanted to discuss.

She did have one question. "Who is the Captain of the Galileo?" It would be nice to know who she would hopefully be meeting with.

Aren looked thoughtful for moment before answering. "Someone we have meet before. Captain Saalm." He said, taking a moment to watch her.

She stared at him blankly for a moment, feeling hurt, angry, bewildered, confused. "Then why did she reject my application?" It was one thing to be rejected by someone who only knew her personnel profile. It was another to be rejected by someone she'd worked with. What had she done that Saalm wouldn't want her on the ship?

Aren thought about it for a moment. "I don't know who was the first to review the applications, so I can't speak with absolute certainty. I can find out for you if you really want to know."

Did she really want to know? Yes and no. She shook her head. "No, thank you. If I get a chance to talk to her, I might ask. If I don't, then I'll have my answer." She smiled at Aren. "Either way, I appreciate the opportunity."

Aren smiled before nodding. "Very well. If there is nothing else feel free to gather what you can. Again we leave for Rigel II, 0600 tomorrow morning. I look forward to seeing you there."

"I'll be there," Marisa promised. "And if I get the assignment, I may ask your advice putting in some fish tanks."

Aren nodded with a smile. "Most certainly."

"Good. See you tomorrow," Marisa said, returning the smile. Things were finally starting to look up. She hoped.

[OFF]

Commander Aren Ban
Executive Officer

Lieutenant JG Marisa Sandoval
Science Officer

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