After Briefing Chat

Posted on Sat Mar 17th, 2018 @ 5:08am by

1,041 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Emerald Road
Location: Observation Lounge

When all the officers had left Anika remained, Will thought she might, he expected it. He understood hers like the other officer's positions on what was going on but now was not the time or place for a divided house. They had a mission to do and one of their own was hanging in the balance regardless if that one was his lover. "Something on your mind?" He could not blame any of the officers for what they said, each had the perfectly understandable position to say it.

"Many things." She said with a sigh before she elaborated. "They are afraid. I don't blame them."

"Nor can I." Will replied as he stood next to the windows watching the stars streak by. "I'm expecting a very long winded debriefing after this is done. It would not surprise me if you find yourself leading this crew." Part of him told him that this was perhaps the beginning of the end for his career.

"I believe you for the debriefing. I am not looking forward to mine." Her dark, troubled eyes flickered over her shoulder at him. "I hope you're wrong about that second bit. That is not how I want to get my first command."

Will could at least agree with her on that part, hardly a fitting move to a first command. "I'd like you to make sure we are ready for what ever we may face, who ever took Vash is smart, they wont go down easily or without a fight and that's something I want to win." In order to fight though, he first had to catch.

"We'll be ready. Honestly I think we're already ready, but the crew doesn't know it yet." Anika's nod was speculative, as if going over the crew and their relative reaction times.

"They are distracted by me and that too I can't blame them for. I have knowingly put them in a position I know is difficult." Will felt for them but hoped that while he walked the straight and narrow they would support him.

"You know how closely you have to toe the line sir?" Anika's quiet question split the silence that had stretched between them.

"Close, I've already violated standing orders by going beyond the warp 5 limitation, but I have to watch out. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I have to know when to stop, or I shouldn't have started." Will replied considering her words carefully. He understood what she was saying though, what she was getting at.

She nodded slowly and tapped her fingers against the table in front of her. "I think the worst possible insult is to say that someone meant well. Because it implies they don't do well."

"If we don't get her back the results will speak for themselves. If this is a revenge kidnapping then shes going to suffer badly before the end. I have to make sure we get there before its too late." Will answered, he knew what she meant but at the end of the day Command would only be interested in the final result.

"I know." A delicate sigh escaped her lips. "Are you going to be alright through this?"

"I'll be better when we get her back and put this behind us." Part of him also missed the actual Dreadnought, there was something said for the comfort of whats known and to Will the Dreadnought was a known element to him. "Did you enjoy your leave?" Will asked.

"I'll be better when we get her back and put this behind us." Part of him also missed the actual Dreadnought, there was something said for the comfort of whats known and to Will the Dreadnought was a known element to him. "Did you enjoy your leave?" Will asked.

"It was interesting." she said with a tone to her voice that indicated there was a story to be told. Her eyes drifted to the henna patterns that decorated her left hand and she smiled. One fingertip traced the edges of a lotus blossom that disappeared under her sleeve.

"I just hope that the rest of the crew managed to enjoy the downtime, they earned it after the last mission." Will ran his fingers through his hair. He knew he was alone, no other starship to help him and a time sensitive mission to undertake. "Hardly a smooth first stint as First Officer for you, appointed recently, disastrous last mission and reassigned to this." His hand indicating the very different ship that what they were both used to.

"Well, my sister enjoyed her wedding, and I enjoyed punching out my ass of a brother. The rest of the crew probably had a nicer time than I did." Anika chuckled and then answered the unasked question "Oh, you've certainly kept me on my toes. I do rather like that."

"Seems I am not the only one having family issues." Will replied. "I also hear you have taken a particular interest in a civilian on board. Large fellow if I recall." Will spoke turning so his back was to the window.

"Boy scuttlebutt moves fast around here" she said wryly and then shook her head.

"Much smaller crew now." Will replied smiling perhaps the first time since he walked into the room. "Wouldn't be that federation contracted architect now would it?"

"It would" she acknowledged a delicate little smile touching her lips "Ediras is his name."

"I see." Will nodded. "A rather imposing figure of a man." Will may have noticed him once or twice before, tall, lean, broad and muscular. "I'm glad he was assigned to this ship with you."

"Me too" she answered with a smile, before she walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. It was a gentle, silent vote of support from his XO. She would stand by him. "We're going to get her back for you Will."

"I hope so, otherwise she will haunt me for the rest of my days." Knowing Vash, she would at that. "She's dangerous now, hate to see what she'd do to me in my sleep in the afterlife."

Her hand squeezed gently as she laughed at his joke. "No lie, we'd all be hurting for sure."

RSS Feed