Antican Antics Reaching the XO

Posted on Tue Mar 31st, 2026 @ 1:48pm by Lieutenant Margarar & Lieutenant Commander Jack Slattery

1,329 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Crisis at Zeta-294
Location: USS Wolff, Holodeck 2
Timeline: MD02 - 1230

Once Margarar's meeting with the Captain was completed, she knew what her next duty was, she had to meet with the XO. After that, she would have to meet with the Chief Engineer.

She reflected on the monotonous tasks of meeting people and the shame that she had to remain "on duty," at least until all of these introductions were complete. She only hoped that someone would let her off duty so she could get some decent sleep or go running on the holodeck.

That thought fresh in her mind, she asked the computer, "Where is Commander Jack Slattery?"

"Commander Slattery is in holodeck two," the computer answered in the same monotone, perhaps slightly bored cadence that it usually did.

In holodeck two, Jack Slattery had been piloting a fighter, one of the older types retrofitted at the end of the Dominion War when people were desperate. He had never fought in the war, but been a cadet during it. But he had been taught how to fly one of these and secretly...it was one of his favourites. He had just landed it when he saw the arch appear and he opened the cockpit to climb out. He wore a jumpsuit and his blue eyes were bright from the burst of adrenaline he had felt.

Margarar looked around. Privately, she was embarrassed to have stepped in on the Commander's free time. However, she was "on duty," and she needed to complete her tasks before she would have any opportunity to do the same. "Are you Commander Jack Slattery?" Margarar asked with bloodshot eyes.

He jumped down and walked over, watching the Antican before he smiled. He had never met one before, but he had seen the transfer orders. In person, she was shorter than he had expected, friendly looking...but he knew better than to underestimate anyone. "Lieutenant Margarar," he said with a nod. "Yes, I am. I am so sorry I did not greet you when you were coming onboard...the transfer had no date or time of expected arrival."

"It is of no consequence. I just came from meeting the Captain in the lounge. I am sorry to have interrupted your free time. However, I am 'on duty,' and as such, I am bound to report to you after meeting with the Captain. After I am done here, I must meet with the Chief of Engineering, as duty dictates."

She paused for a moment. "I apologize if I am coming off as rude or disinterested. There was a variance in the EPS conduits on the shuttle that took me here and it made it difficult to sleep. IT was less pleasant because I was not permitted to look at it or fix it."

Jack looked at her with a small smile, slightly amused and slightly sympathetic. "At ease, take a breath," he said and nodded, taking in the information. "Pilots get iffy when Engineers want to pull stuff while they're flying. Take it from a former flyboy..." the smile widened a little and he moved to the briefing chairs in the holographic fighter shuttle bay. "Sit. You must be tired. We'll make this brief..."

"Did you say 'at ease'?" Margarar asked, her eyes lighting up. "Does that mean that I am no longer 'on duty'?" For the moment, she obeyed the apparent order to sit down.

"Well...you are on duty as much as a Starfleet officer is on duty when they're reporting to their First Officer," he said with a small and playful smile, considering what she had said. He knew not to...give too much leeway on the first meeting. He might not be in uniform but there was still a chain of command. "But you can be a bit more informal if you want to with me. You said you haven't slept well."

"I see," Margarar responded, her eyes becoming more neutral. "I have not slept well, Sir. Shuttles are not particularly large so even the slightest variance in their systems are noticed by me. Knowing it was there and not being allowed to fix it kept me up longer than I would have preferred. We Anticans can be a bit more sensitive to sound and sight than you humans. Apologies if I have offended."

"Not offended," he said, holding his hand up for a moment as he gave her a small smile. "I'll make this short and easy, so you can report to your Chief and then clock off and go to your quarters. I'll contact the Quartermaster and have her send your number to your PADD. Now...I have two questions, Lieutenant Margarar," he sat back a little, studying her. "How can we best help you achieve what you want to achieve here?"

"I believe, unless my hearing is deceiving me that was only one question, Commander. As to what I wish to achieve here? I'm not certain what you mean by that. I suppose that some day I wish to be a Chief Engineer." She thought again, debating whether it was appropriate to say that she also wished to be a mother. Margarar decided against that, as there were no other Anticans in Starfleet.

"So, at the end of the day, I suppose that working well here will lead me to what I want to achieve. May I ask whether I am getting my own quarters or I will be sharing with someone else?"

"You'll have your own," Jack said, understanding the question well. "You're an Assistant Chief. You won't have to share with anyone." He considered what she had said. What he had tried was to show her support...which maybe she was too tired to think of right now. Which meant the second question didn't matter as much.

He took a moment to consider it. About what was important as he watched the bloodshot eyes of the Antican. "I think...maybe we'll schedule a proper meeting, when you've had some sleep. Does that sound better, Lieutenant?"

"Very well, Commander, after I meet the Chief. I have to complete my duty before I can rest," she informed Jack. "I always follow my orders to the letter 'on duty,'" she informed the Commander. "It will be nice to have my own quarters. On my last ship, I shared them with someone who smelled rather badly and snored."

Jack was decently sure he didn't smell the best in the flightsuit, but only gave a smile. He stood, giving a nod. She was very literal. He would need to remember that when he interacted with her. "Well, hopefully your own quarters will give you some peace. We also have a lounge here, where a lot of us go after duty. Get some rest before you do your onboarding medical and counselling." He stopped, realising he was saying a lot. "Welcome onboard the Wolff, Lieutenant Margarar."

"Yes, I know you have the lounge. As I said, I met the Captain there. He seemed comfortable there, almost as if he was 'off duty' all the time. Thank you for the welcome, Commander. May I be dismissed to proceed with my duties in reporting to the Chief Engineer?"

"Of course," he said, giving her a nod. "You are dismissed, Lieutenant." Making it more formal might be good for her. But he made a note to put a follow up meeting, once she had gotten some rest and done the other things that needed to be done.

"Thank you, sir." With that, Margarar turned on her heel and exited the holodeck, intent on getting to Engineering.

Jack watched her go, taking a slow breath before he gave a small smile. He knew how it felt, being new on a ship. Maybe not that sleep deprived but he could...sympathise. He moved to the fighter again, taking a breath. "Computer, let's go another round. Slattery Beta-Four."

OFF:

Lieutenant Margarar
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Wolff

&

Lt. Commander Jack Slattery
First Officer
USS Wolff

 

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