Reporting for Duty

Posted on 23 Jan 2024 @ 10:12am by Lieutenant JG Serran & Commander Scarlet Blake

1,534 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 2, First Officer's Office
Timeline: MD 01, 1530

ON

Vulcans were not generally nervous, or if they were, they did not display it. Serran was one such Vulcan. This was a new assignment pure and simple. Not exactly a promotion, though he desired for that to happen, not yet anyway. But it was an opportunity and it promised to be very different from his last posting.

Straightening his uniform jacket, he pressed the chime of the XO's Ready Room

"Come in," Blake called out, clearly distracted. Despite the fact she was standing behind her desk, she had her terminal screen open, and a padd in each hand, apparently dipping between the information in all of three.

Serran stepped inside the XO's office. His right brow rose minutely as he saw the woman.

"Good afternoon ma'am, "he said in his signature baritone tone.

"Ah, Serran, yes..." Blake motioned him over to the seat on the other side of her desk, letting out a long breath as she retook her own. Amongst everything else going on, there was a member of the crew she hadn't been able to meet before they'd left the base. Which felt like a month ago. Frankly, it was a welcome break from the piles of data piling up, but now they were quite literally lost in time, it was even more important to check in with crew. "Come in, take a seat."

What the Vulcan wanted to do was ask what the fuck was going on. But he was too disciplined to say anything remotely like that. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances Commander. Do we have any idea what has caused this anomaly?

"It was caused deliberately," Blake replied bluntly...because with everything that had happened over the last few hours, her ability to sugarcoat had been whittled away. She searched through her padds for a moment before finding one to slide across to him, so he could catch on the details he'd missed in the meeting. "We were pulled 25 years into our future, by a ship with our namesake. War has all but broken the Federation, and they think we can help, by changing their past. You'll find the briefing notes on there." She watched him carefully, for his reaction. It was a lot to take in...so much so that it was hard to process it as truth at all.

Serran's eyes took in the information and it was only out of long practice and self-control that he kept himself from cursing or reacting emotionally.

"This explains a lot," he said trying to keep his voice even, "But how do they expect us to change their past? Especially since we are in their present, our future. Unless they are sending us back, this makes no logical sense."

"That would be the plan," Blake motioned to the padd with the slightest of frowns. Even that was more emotion than she usually allowed to break through during work hours. She had been impressed by the control this new officer had also shown in his reaction. "You'll see that it refers to some research data from Cold Station 31. We destroyed it, to stop it from being used by anyone. They feel it was the catalyst to war. And if we were to hand it over, war would not break out. Understand, I'm telling you the extremely potted version. Feel free to take that with you, to catch up fully."

"I will examine things more closely after we are finished. I was speaking with the Captain earlier, he mentioned reversing a decision he had made earlier. I did not pry at that time, but that must have been what he meant.

I guess my question is, how certain is that hypothesis? What happens if the Cold Station is turned over and it creates an even larger crisis?"

"Whenever one changes the time line it has ripple effects."

Blake smiled weakly as she sat back in her chair. Because those were her precise concerns. "Well, the Galileo-B crew are convinced of it. Our crew...had some questions. Our science team will be working on alternate solutions, but in the meantime, we will be repairing their ship. It took significant damage in the process of getting us here."

"I am currently working on overseeing the optimization of power and resources on our ship first. Then, if I'm needed I can help our counterpart, once that is done. If they could use me."

"May I ask, what the alternative solutions might be? I am not a scientist, which is disappointing to my father, but I do have a pretty good intuition."

"I don't know," Blake replied honestly, shaking her head as she motioned to her door as if to indicate the rest of the crew. "A team of our scientists have gone across to the Galileo-B to work on the problem. The good news is we have some of the best and brightest scientific personnel in the fleet stationed on this ship. It's what we do best."

"That is what I was informed of when I was assigned this new post. As I stated I'm not a scientist, but I believe my duties, make theirs possible.

"Absolutely, we all have a part here," Blake nodded with understanding, letting out a soft breath as she sat back, considering him for a long moment. "We haven't had time to speak yet. Usually, I like to meet every new crew member when they arrive. Why don't you tell me about yourself," she asked softly. And frankly, it was a welcome, grounding bit of business as usual that might stop her from having a nervous breakdown.

"I don't believe there is too much to tell. As you have no doubt determined I am Vulcan, despite the anomaly of my blond hair. I believe and practice the teaching of Surak and others who followed in his footsteps."

"I am perhaps more intuitive than many of my people, but I am still guided by logic."

"On a professional level, this is my third posting, my first as a department head. It has been a challenge so far, but one I believe I am meeting."

"On a personal level. I have adopted a son. His name is Theo and he's fifteen. I am also divorced and not sure if I am looking for another partner yet."

"Yes, your son, I read about him in your file," Blake nodded gently, feeling more sure footed for this much more normal conversation. "I have my daughter aboard, Lily, but she's much younger. We don't have many facilities here for dependents, we've had to...make a lot of it up as we go along."

"Theo is used to that. He's pretty adaptable. I mean, he's gone through a lot for someone his age, or any age really, but has not only survived but in many ways thrived.

I think there are things he is probably keeping from me, but I have decided, for now, not to push to know them Every teen has their secrets and when he is ready we'll talk.

"So, tell me more about your daughter."

"Lily?" Scarlet chuckled softly, shaking her head as she relaxed a little with the question. "Well, she's 7 years old, is still convinced that one day we'll discover a dragon out here, and seems to have absolutely no sense of danger."

"Theo is the same way. Well, not the dragons but the no sense of danger. I hate to break it to you but it will be harder to break her of the latter rather than the former."

"I have a sinking feeling you might be right there," Scarlet admitted, but the remark managed to summon a soft, if tired, smile from her. "What interests you most in your work? What is it you're best at?"

"I have a rather unique situation, being in charge of multiple systems and having to juggle so many responsibilities or as my ex said keeping plates spinning."

"Being an operations manager is at best chaotic. But, I am okay with that. Thrive on it, if I'm being honest. It keeps me on my toes and every day is different."

Blake nodded slowly, accepting his assessment. So his strength was in multitasking. They had many experts on the ship, which she valued greatly. But having people who could be across a bigger picture, it was appreciated. "So you like to keep busy," she surmised.

"Yes and solve problems. As you might anticipate solve them while they are minor issues, before they become major issues that could endanger the ship."

Blake was nodding as he spoke, clearly approving of what she was hearing. It was better to prevent fires than have to put them out, after all. "I would usually welcome you aboard at this point, but...the circumstances don't seem right for it."

"I concur, Commander. Perhaps when we get back to our time, and things are made right, you can provide that welcome. Circle back as humans are fond of saying."

Blake nodded gently, mustering a small smile for him despite it all. "That's a promise," she assured.

[OFF]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

&

Lt(JG) Serran
Operations.
USS Galileo-A

RSS Feed