Testing the Waters

Posted on Sun Jun 26th, 2016 @ 1:22am by

1,520 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: New Faces and Terror Beyond
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: Current

Sleep didn't come easily for Ra, even the close bodied contact of his Wife did little to sooth the demons that stalked him of late. He always had trouble sleeping in an unfamiliar place, even if this was now his home. Many times now had he found himself awake in the early hours of the morning wondering about the turns his life had taken of late. He started with his Wife, Elizebeth.

Here was a woman that at times he felt was beyond his reach, now that they were married he wondered at times that he was not worthy of a jewel such as she. The woman had station and class, she was well educated and teamed with awed beauty. Ra was partially blind and needed glasses to see properly so she always made her feelings for him known by act or word. He felt she made sure he never wanted for anything when it came to her.

She could of had anyone and she had a bunch to pick from if the talk from his associates and friends were to be believed and yet she married him. Being Efrosian did make things easier between them, Elizebeth liked the cool to cold temperatures which explained how she dressed behind the privacy of closed doors. As an Efrosian the cold didn't bother him and the species of Andorian and Efrosian knew the cold very well.

Sometimes he would stay up and wonder about starting family, other times he would lay there and doubt himself, rarely he would wonder why she picked him above the others. These demons he'd keep to himself, his Wife didn't need to worry about them.

Time drew ever on wards and Ra had to get ready for duty. He looked over at Elizebeth, her snow white hair contrasting against her blue skin, so tender, so beautiful. With some delicate movements Ra slipped from the bed, his Wife now alone in the bed with the thin sheets wrapped around he barely clothed figure. He closed the door to the Bathroom and showered, first day on duty and he wanted to start things off on the right foot.

Having dried and put his glasses on again he collected a uniform from storage and walked into the main living space so that he didn't wake his Wife as he dressed. His mind still toiling over the thoughts of earlier coupled with how the crew must feel with the Admiral gone and this outsider taking his place. Once he was dressed and ready he walked back to the Bedroom, his Wife still sleeping soundly in the cold room. He knew she'd understand why he was absent when she woke, first day on duty on a new ship meant first impressions counted.

Bridge

When the Turbolift doors opened Ra stepped forward on to the Bridge that was now his own. Unlike before when he came to see the Admiral he didn't really look around, now he had the opportunity.

"Captain on the Bridge."

Ra turned to see the officer. "Please, continue." Then watched the officers resume. This gave Ra to walk around the edge of the Bridge, every console and station was viewed all bar one. The Captain's Chair. He looked at it briefly feeling it seemed alien to him. An outsider looking upon the chair that a leader, a friend of this crew had once sat in, now vacant.

Captain's Ready Room.

Ra studied the Ready Room noticing that it lacked character but not in terms of material items but character of being. When Ra walked in to the room before there were paintings on the wall, artefacts and such but all that paled compared to the overwhelming presence of S'iraa. Now Ra was here in the room and he felt small within it.

He spent a few hours looking through things, making sure all his details were in order, his facts readily to hand.

"Computer. Inform Commander Ayla Bawden I'd like to see her in 15 minutes in my Ready Room."

Ra wanted to see Ayla on a more personal one to one basis. He wanted to see if she wished to continue serving as First Officer or if he'd have to find a replacement. Remembering the words of his Wife he wanted to 'feel her out' or 'get her views' on how things were. Maybe insights that get excluded from reports. Time would tell....or perhaps 15 minutes to be precise.

= Day Care / School =

Ayla finished up seeing Miracle off to her classroom and holding Marcie. when the summons came by the impersonal of the ships computer communication. She sent a back receipt of acknowledgement via computer that she would be a bit late.

She moved through the children's area with the other parents, talking with them and commiserating the loss of S'iraa and Miranda. It was mixed feeling as some of the crew was also replaced at the time. Seeing new faces she had to get to know. Some had children themselves and family was always a common ground for ice breaking in getting to know the new female crew.

Once Marcie was safely at Daycare. Ayla moved through the big ship to go see the CO. She slipped onto the bridge 20 minutes later. She looked over the bridge seeing the Center Seat vacant and the Dreadnought alone in space. It was subdued as the crew worked at their stations.

Ayla did one more check of her uniform. Even though it was fresh, it showed a bit of wrinkles from carrying Marcie. She shrugged and smoothed the wrinkles out the best she could as she announced herself to the new Dreadnought Efrosian Captain.

"Come." Ra spoke as he put the last of his effects on the table and tucking the small container under his desk. "Ah, Commander please come, sit down." Ra got comfortable, at least, as comfortable as he could in a chair clearly too big and not built for him until he had it replaced. "I hope I did not call you at an inconvenient time, I wanted to meet with you about your duties on board."

"Iz was just dropping of the children for their day at school and daycare when I got yooz call." Ayla spoke as she took the offered seat. She looked at him a brief flash of confusion flittered across her expression. Ears wilted a bit before perking up again. "What yooz expect of mez?"

"I am aware you were elevated while under Admiral S'iraa's command, you had worked with him for some time and the logical choice." Ra began as he observed Ayla. "Being new on board I am understanding that the crew are unsure of me so the need for someone the crew can trust at my side as my First Officer is clearly paramount. That in mind of course I am curious if you wish to continue in your current role or in light of Admiral S'iraa's departure you seek to assign elsewhere?"

Ayla looked thoughtful a few minutes. "Iz would need to talk this over with mez mate. Iz jumped at the chance when offered without discussing it with mez Mate. And it took mez away from mez family. Iz know they still love mez. Itz just harder for them.. Mez children. If yooz have someone better for the job. By all means put them in the slot."

Ayla looked at him and studied him. "Personally, Iz would like to continue as XO. But Iz ruffled to many feathers when Iz took the job wanting to do what needed to be done." She continued to look thoughtful. "Iz took the job when Admiral S'iraa was officially on Medical Leave and relieved of ship's command when he appointed me as XO. As the other one kinda had a relapse from her ordeal and wasn't able to continue in the slot of being XO."

"I have heard about the earlier incidents involving Doctor Patrovski." Once again struggling to pronounce the name correctly. "Lt Luthar had some interesting things to say about you too." Ra ran one side of his moustach through finger and thumb. "The Doctor has declined the Chief Medical Officers role I offered to him. Lt Luthar has agreed to remain on board and continue to serve as CAG. If you wish to speak to your Mate first then please by all means but should you opt to stay, I need you to work with our department heads, I can ill afford to lose staff when we are already so short staffed."

"Yes sir," Ayla spoke as she stood up. "Welcome aboard the Dreadnought." She looked down and fidgeted a bit. "Iz will do mez best while I'm XO. Or yooz find someone better suited for the job."

"Thank you." Ra replied. "Dismissed." He would leave the choice to her, it was her career, her family after all that was in the balance. She'd have all the time she needed to reach a decision.

Ayla departed from the Captain's Ready Room and made her way through the ship on some errand that needed her attention.

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