One of those days

Posted on Thu Oct 3rd, 2024 @ 2:01pm by Captain Taliserra Tigran & Lieutenant Commander Jack Slattery

1,983 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: A marathon not a sprint
Location: USS Wolff- Various
Timeline: Md01 1445hrs

Brendan checked his PADD during his short trip onboard the runabout. He had been on his way to the wolff for more than 32 hours. This was the first time in 20 odd years that he was kind of nervous. In the past it was; Go in, do his job and within 48 hours he was off to his next 'mission'.

This was his first independent posting, in the sense that he chose his promotion, and the new assignment. It also was kind of weird that he was an officer now. Having served the better part of 20 years as an enlisted man. Yet, to get the assignment he wanted and move on his search, he accepted the commission to Lieutenant.

"Ready to go, Chief?" Edward said as he turned around facing the newly promoted Lieutenant JG O'Sullivan.

"Yeah, yeah. Just getting ready. And don't call me Chief, It's still Bren or Sully. Served with you for a good part of 10 years, and I'm not calling you Chief just because some idiots decided to exalt you to Chief petty officer. Besides, We've been shot and stabbed at more than once. Just beamed me over to the Wolff, Ed." Sullivan put his PADD in one of the pockets on his trousers and grabbed his bag. One thing he did pick up from his stint at the academy, cadets had the better part of the uniform in the fleet, so he adopted the cargo pants from it, it was not against the uniform code.

"Aye, Bren. Beaming you over in 5…4…3…2…1" Edward quickly turned around as Brendan took his place on the transporter padd.


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USS Wolff, transporter room

Rematerializing onboard the Wolff in mere seconds, Brendan rolled his neck and exited the transporter room, giving a quick nod to the transporter operator heading quickly to the bridge. Station design and ship design was not that different, but it did feel weird somehow having served mainly on star bases or planet assignments.

With the senior officer briefing over, both Taliserra and her new Xo had returned to her ready room to discussion the assignment privately. "I do hope this turns out as easy as it sounds." Taliserra remarked.

"We can only hope," Jack said as he walked with her, meeting her eyes with a small smile before raising an eyebrow. "I will remain cautiously optimistic this is just an escort mission."

"We're a long way from any of the borders, nothing but friendly ships for several light-years in any direction." Taliserra replied. "If anything goes wrong, it would be something with the Marathon's systems rather than anything else."

Brendan arrived at the bridge, giving the officer on the bridge a quick nod, and rang the chime to the captain's ready room.

Taliserra looked up from the Padd in her hand. "Come in."

O'Sullivan Walked in and grabbed his Padd from his front trouser pocket. And jumped to attention, holding out the padd for the Officer in charge.

"Chief Warr.......... Sorry, Lieutenant O'Sullivan, Starfleet Security reporting for duty, Sirs" He stood to attention staring above Tigran's head, it was a nice bulkhead. In 20 years it was a habit he picked up like many enlisted in Starfleet.

Jack looked at Brendan before he gave a small smile. "At ease, Lieutenant," he said, an almost playful tone in his voice. "Before you make me look lazy." He took the padd from the man, glancing over at it. Security. Human. From Volan III. He had been a cadet when the war broke out and had followed the news religiously. The man before him was four years older than him, so most likely served in the war. "I'm Lieutenant Commander Jack Slattery, the First Officer. Captain Taliserra Tigran I assume needs no introduction..."

Brendan stood at ease and put his hand in his pockets.
"Haven't read up on the crew, Commander, in my old job if I knew you it wasn't a good thing. And as a Pilot, I think you know not to get on the bad side of a Chief Warrant Officer." a grin appeared on his face, he usually used to scare the shit out of Chief Petty officers

Jack raised an eyebrow, looking at the Lieutenant for a moment. "Now, how did you guess I was a pilot?" he asked, before shaking his head with a small smile. A rhetorical question, more than anything. He handed the padd to his Captain. "Looks in order to me," he said, referring to the transfer order as he met Taliserra's eyes.

Taking the Padd Taliserra read it for a few moments, her hand moved to the Lcars display built into her desk and bought up the man's Starfleet file, there was one thing that stood out quite strongly. "Welcome onboard, Lieutenant, congratulations on earning a field commission."

"Thank you, cap'n. The commission not so much, but in old rank a ship posting wasn't going to happen very fast. I'll miss being a CWO, completely lack of decorum or rules in general kind like being back with the maquis" he chuckled. "So I think I need to find out who the CSEC is. Only thing I did check out, none was listed. Had a stint at the Academy, so a lot of Security and tactical officers I do know."

Taliserra shot her Xo a quick look. "You were Maquis?" she asked, quite surprised.

Brendan sighed. "Starfleet probably has it filled as 'was involved in the Cardassian treaty conflict'. I'm from the Volan colonies, which back then were in the DMZ. My parents got killed. Was 17 or 18 and joined the maquis. Got caught during a raid on a ship by Starfleet and spent a year in the stockade. I didn't join Starfleet, I was asked, and after the dominion war it was back to jail or stay in the fleet. After that, well, it's in my record. Spotless and squeaky clean record, pinnacle of professionalism. And now I'm a junior officer on your ship." He smiled. " I'll try not to instigate rebellion and claim some backwater colony as the new maquis nation. I fought for revenge and not the cause."

"Prison or the service." Taliserra said. "An ancient practice in times of war for some species... but you appear to have taken to it well, to ensure it remains that way."

Jack studied Brendan as he waited for the response, somewhat intrigued. The Maquis bit didn't bother him as much as he knew it bothered others. Maybe because once the dust had settled, he had read up on the geopolitical climate of the colonies and the way that...things went down. He may have been up in arms too.

"Yeah, sure. I had that threat 23 years ago. Because of a treaty I wasn't a federation citizen anymore so I do take offense, cap'n, I never turned my back on my loyalties the federation turned theirs and made sure millions died when the Cardassians ran to the Dominion. Yours and ours. You needed help and came to us, we answered the call and fought your war because you were losing. You wanted to pardon us, but you can't pardon non-federation citizens, we got a General Amnesty when we rejoined the federation took a few years longer. I wasn't a criminal, how much the federation news service did try to paint us with that brush." Brendan scowled... he wasn't political at all, but this was his opinion on the matter. "Never did get a fucking apology, either."

Jack gave him a nod, considering it for a long moment. "Yet here you are, in Starfleet," he commented, lightly. "Serving the Federation." So whatever animosity he had couldn't run that deep. "And maybe...less of the swearing while on duty and speaking to the Captain." The last was said in similar tone, but the look in his eyes showed that Jack did not appreciate such colourful language in front of the Captain.

Brendan looked at the first officer and smiled. "Aye, Commander. But I think the average Trill in the fleet up in the ranks is a joined trill, so I think the cap'n probably heard more colourful language than mine in 2 or 3 hundred years. And why I stayed in Starfleet that's classified. And somebody had to teach commanders and captains the finer points of irregular warfare so the next war you might not lose that many ships and crews."

Jack studied the other man for a moment at his words. Oh, he'd look into this classified reason, if only to make sure the man was solid. His impression of him so far was that he did not care for Starfleet or the Federation. When things like that happened, Jack always wondered why someone would even bother to go through the Academy. After all, it was a tough thing to do. Or, maybe this man wanted to be there, and it was all bravado being put up. Maybe he was just nervous, which would be understandable, and maybe account for the lapse of manners. "There is a certain level of professionalism required on a Starfleet vessel. And respect," he said, the warmth gone from his voice and face. He wanted to make sure he understood it for the future. "In regards to what language we use in front of others. I am sure you understand that."

Brendan gave the cold stare he mastered over the years as a NCO and perfected as a Chief Warrant Officer. "Aye, aye, Commander." standing to attention. "May I be dismissed?"

Taliserra wasn't quite certain how to take the mans remark about the average Trill in starfleet being joined, yes there were two joined Trill on the Wolff but they were certainly the minority. She eyed the human for several seconds, there were definitely things she didn't like in him, he seemed very brash and she felt he probably had a very high opinion of himself and his abilities, and a distaste for the way things are 'supposed' to be done. "Be sure to check in with the chief medical officer and Lieutenant Wyse after you have met your department head, there is not a lot of time before we're due to depart for our destination... Dismissed." She eventually said.

"Already on my schedule to check in with the doctor after I leave here. And I'll try to find out who Lieutenant Wyse is. As for my department head, when I left earth saw no department head listed. Except a Lieutenant Volsung the assistant department head. I'll check in with him after the CMO, Starfleet Medical orders to square away first with the Ship's CMO it's on the padd, cap'n." He nodded and did a neat about face and left the office.

When the ready room door closed Taliserra sat back in her chair. "Well, that was interesting." She remarked. "Keep a close eye on him Commander, he may hold a commission but he certainly does not act like an officer."

Jack nodded, a slight frown coming to him. "I will," he said, exhaling slowly. "I feel he will test my patience." And most likely, it would take some work before O'Sullivan started acting like an officer, not an NCO who held power in an area he was master of. A small smile came though and the frown eased. "It'll be fine, Captain."

"I do hope so." Taliserra let out the lightest of sighs, she tapped out a few things on a Padd then offered it to Jack. "Would you take this to Lt Baka for me, then take some time to explore the ship a little. I'll see you on the bridge at 1630hrs."

"Yes, Captain," he took it, giving her a small smile. "I'll see you on the bridge." He was grateful for the chance to explore the ship though. A chance to meet people.


OFF:

Captain Taliserra Tigran
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Command Jack Slattery
Executive Officer

LTjg Brendan O'Sullivan
Secuirty/Tactical Officer.

 

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