Mom, Dad!!

Posted on Sat Sep 8th, 2018 @ 10:37am by
Edited on on Sat Sep 8th, 2018 @ 10:37am

1,045 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Emerald Road
Location: Quarters
Timeline: Before Intercept

James sat in his quarters after a hard day in Engineering preparing the cores for maximum output at a moments notice. His computer chimed indicating that a signal was coming in. He opened the link without checking to see who it was from. It was my parents.

"Mom, Dad." James greeted them, his smile was forced for the most part, fake pleasantness because I was tired.

"Good to see you Son, we heard you were in orbit and Starfleet told us you were still logged on board." My Father said. Gregory was a Civil Engineer designing and building orbital stations and satalites for trade and civilian vessels. He wasn't some big shot CEO or the best in the business but he did what he could when he could. I couldn't say I had a bad childhood, my Father made every effort to spend time with me as I grew up but I couldn't forget the look on his face when I enlisted. James knew he was hoping he'd follow his footsteps.

"What's the matter dear?" His mother asked him. Rosemary was a Teacher and taught Nanorobotics for medical applications in hospitals. She enjoyed her work and he remember sometimes playing with her work models as a kid.

James sighed, hiding things from the folks was always a failing of his, he couldn't keep it bottled up so he had to say something. "I um....well...you see."

"Take your time Son, we are not going anywhere." My Father said as he watched the pair of them get comfortable on the sofa.

"Have ah...you ever taken on a job, or a task that seems...so monumental in scope that even if you give it 110% of your effort you feel it's too big for you?" he'd laid it bare, he knew my parents would understand what James was saying.

"Sure, why do you feel that is the case where you are now?"

James nodded, sure he was honoured to be assigned to the Dreadnought and there was many top assignments when he graduated to choose from, he knew many applied for the Dreadnought and James was one of them but I never expected to actually get it. "What I am doing I'm trained for so it's not a case of not knowing what I am doing." He took a breath. "Usually graduates are assigned to a ship or a base under a Captain but the Dreadnought was an Admiral's Flagship and as you can understand the standards are very, very high."

"You feel like you are in too deep too early?" His Mother asked to which he nodded.

"About 10 years ago I was approached to design a new orbital structure that could be easily added to by modules with smooth integration of additions to facilitate the demands of what needed to be done. The demands and time constraints were high and I knew that if I did it, I'd make my career and I'd be offered more jobs so that I was able to take better care of you and your Mother."

"I don't doubt the Dreadnought would make my career Dad, but do I really want to make it before it's really begun?" James replied. He could see his Mother understood as skilled and talented as she was and a natural in her work from a young age I could see she faced the same issue.

"Son, everyone has talent and it is up to them what they make of it over the years. You and I both know you are a capable and skilled Engineer, otherwise you wouldn't be where you are now. It is natural to have doubts when something big lands in your lap, sometimes these things are unexpected, sometimes they are meticulously planned for a long time before they come together but when it comes only you can make the best of it." His Father retorted and he could see his point but not sure he fully grasped James's, he didn't expect to get the Dreadnought, he applied because a few of his classmates did mostly as a one in a million shot laugh.

"I'm finding that I am second guessing myself. These new ships of Starfleet are massive, I mean the biggest in service and the sort of postings that Commanders should be getting, I'm not even a Commander yet and here I am as CEO."

"Don't forget Son that the Admiral that was in command of your ship had a say in your placement as well. I'm pretty sure if he didn't think you could stand up to the task then he would not have approved your appointment." His Mother spoke.

"That's just the thing though, why me?" Why indeed, new ship with cutting edge technology and all the trimmings. It was a prize appointment for any senior officer. "Usually the most skilled are appointed to new ships, they have the most experience, front line ideas outside of the classroom honed by years of practical experience and hands on time. I hardly have any of that."

"Son, we have always supported the choices you have made even when you are away from home we have asked about you, hoping you are alright and look forward to seeing you when we can. But this this is something you need to figure out, maybe talk to someone and get a different perspective or maybe speak to the Admiral to help answer some questions."

He'd thought of that to be honest, it would answer questions but would it also come over as insecure and doubting of himself to do so? "I thought about that on the way to Earth, we got a new Counselor and they have the whole confidentiality thing."

"Why not try that, speak to them and see what they say before you do anything." His Mother told me.

"Ok, listen I have to cut this short, duty and all." It was a lie but this conversation was difficult enough as it was and was not getting easier.

"Ok Son, let us know how it goes and drop by some time, we'd love to see you in person."

Farewells made James closed the link, only problem was he didn't know if he had more questions than answers as a result.

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