Meeting the Boss

Posted on Tue Jun 28th, 2016 @ 7:13am by
Edited on on Tue Jun 28th, 2016 @ 7:14am

1,497 words; about a 7 minute read

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

I was at my station on the Bridge when I saw Ayla leave the Ready Room, had to admit that was probably a strained meeting. I'd no doubt hear about it later when we got off shift but for now I had to focus on my duties. Nobody knew this Havrelli guy, I'd done a check on him and so far things looked ok but everyone knew what word said and action revealed were always two different things.

It was probably a good idea to let the crew have a day off after the Admiral departed, S'iraa was well liked on board and his leaving was difficult for many, even unsuspectingly the junior officers, saw a few of the ladies tear up or two watching the shuttle leave. His loss would be felt for a while as well as the fun time I had with the Mrs, teasing minx and her heels. I was stiff in muscles I didn't know I had.

=^= Commander Mark Bawden, report to my Ready Room. =^=

I looked up, now it seemed was my turn under the light. I walked to the door and made sure I looked presentable before pressing the door chime.

Ready Room

Captain Havrelli was pondering over his meeting with his First Officer, he was unsure about her so far but would give her the chance to prove herself. She seemed to want the chance and he'd give it to her, only time would tell if she was suitable under his command in the role.

"Come." Ra spoke turning in his chair to see the door. "Commander, please, take a seat." Ra stood up to greet the Commander, his hand outstretched towards him.

"Thank you." I answered as I covered the small space between the door and the table. I shook his hand and slightly surprised at the minor difference in temperature of the Captain's hand in my own. Just like the Trill's That or I was just a little nervous and so warmer than usual. "You wanted to see me Captain?" I said as I took the offered seat.

"I did." Ra spoke sitting down himself and leaning back in the chair. "I understand you have served with the ship since her commission?"

"That's right, when she was a Galaxy Dreadnought Class." I answered, now there was a ship. I missed her, she was a tactical beauty. Back then though I was the a different time.

"You have served different roles by your records, Engineer, Marine and now Tactical. May I ask how that came to pass?"

"Well." I sighed as I got comfortable. "I joined as a Marine but on one mission most of my team was killed, two were executed because Intel dropped the ball. When I returned I punched out our DTO." I saw that I might have to explain that one. "Detatchment Intel Officer." I paused for a second before resuming. "He ordered the mission but he neglected to mention mission critical details in his mission briefing which were later revealed to be known at the time at the Court Marshall."

"What happened next?"

"I was kicked out of the SFMC, temporary service termination they called it. My Brother was CO of the Dreadnought and so keyed me in as the Chief Engineer." I wrapped up that chapter of my life.

"Your jacket says you served as the ships Chief Engineer before returning to the Marines." Ra questioned.

"True, I served out my TST and rejoined the Marines. I admit I was glad to do it, it's where I felt I belonged." I spoke thinking back to those times.

"One particular report indicates you killed your Wife during a mission." Ra spoke observing the mans reactions.

My shoulders dropped a little, a dark, difficult day in my life that I still had nightmares about. "We were on an away mission and heading to the beam out site when some....parasite or creature attacked Ayla. For all my strength I couldn't pull it off her, it latched around her neck and when I tried to remove it it just caused her more and more pain. It was killing her slowly, I didn't know what to do. It was feeding off her life."

I didn't realise that as I was speaking my eyes had dropped so now I was looking at a point on the tabletop. "I didn't know what else to do, I couldn't get it off her. I took her into my arms and fired my phaser." It was almost as if I was reliving that moment in my mind. "The thing, what ever it was must have known she was dead and I was able to remove it and throw it aside, no doubt it was coming for me as its next meal. I shot it and beamed Ayla to the ship."

"That must have put a strain on your relationship?" Ra asked.

I nodded, if not so much for her, but me. "For a while I had trouble looking at her, a walking reminder of what I did, what I had to do to save her.

"Why the change to Tactical?"

"As time went on my priorities changed, Ayla fell pregnant with Miracle and I knew I wasnt getting any younger and being a Marine has it's risks so the choice was simple to make, harder to action." I replied. I wouldn't lie I still missed it, I even still had a green uniform in storage but my life had changed and I was a family man now.

"Tell me." Ra said looking at the Commander. "What is your tactical assessment of the ship?"

Change of subject, good, fine by me. "The Ascension Class is the most heavily armed and armoured in the fleet to date, and also the largest which obviously can work against her." I replied.

"Combat tactics?"

"Typically stand off and broadside on engagements are favoured, we are too large and slow to fly rings around a target like a Defiant could." I answered. "If pressed and forced into close quarters then launchers are set to proximity detonation to force the attacker away for ease of targeting and engagement. Our shields are the strongest in the fleet, second only to a Starbase, we can take it as well as dish it out."

"Boarding considerations?"

"If boarding it anticipated my teams can have shipwide checkpoints established within 2 minutes. However with the amount of officers I have I'd like more. The Marines have often tag teamed with Security to repel a threat but if they are deployed on a mission, obviously leaves gaps." I replied, I really wanted more officers, maybe Captain Havrelli can pull strings and get me some.

"By the reports of Admiral S'iraa, whom speaks highly of your capability as Tactical Officer. I'd like your overview of the ships offensive and defensive systems. You have used them, know them. I have only read them on the schematics and reports." Captain Havrelli wanted to know an honest opinion, not something he'd read about or studied on a blueprint. But from someone who had used them.

"The ship has 26 Type 12 arrays, the same fitted on Starbases. With multi targeting capability we can engage up to 8 targets at the same time depending on where they are around us. We have 12 burst fire torpedo turrets because the ships size and speed limits the practicality of the traditional fore and aft arrangement found on most ships." Then something else came to mind. "Captain, at maximum tactical output we would expend our torpedo compliment within minutes, I'd like to request that supplies be made available at our next stop off, we need more torpedoes. If we get pulled into a lengthy engagement we don't want to run out of our heavy weapons early. Standard triple layer shielding and total ship coverage of ablative armour."

"I agree, it was something I was considering when I was handed the specifications to the ship prior to my arrival." Captain Havrelli remarked. "I'll make preparations for another 4,500 Quantum and 1,800 Photon Torpedoes to be made available, this should enhance out tactical longevity in an engagement. Additional measures should be taken for storage of this many weapons."

"Lt. Bradshaw would be the man for the job but I can give him all the information he needs." I replied. Seemed like I was making headway, maybe this Havrelli wasn't so bad after all. "Anything else Captain?"

"No, nothing for now. I'm still meeting most of the Senior Staff but if there is anything else. I'll let you know Commander." Ra spoke. "Dismissed."

"Very good Sir." I rose and then left.

Once the Commander had left the talk did give Ra more of an understanding of the ship but also the man. Tactically sound, experienced and a stable figure within the crew. He'd be a valuable addition but he'd need to be cautious, he was linked to Ayla, what happened to her effected him as well.

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