Reporting as Ordered.

Posted on Fri Feb 1st, 2019 @ 12:47am by

689 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: The Emerald Road
Location: XO's Office
Timeline: 22:00 Following caught.

"Acknowledged ma'am," Rebecca said, "I'm on my way."

It was the swing shift, and she was in command while the rest of the senior staff were off. "Helm, maintain current speed and course." She nodded to an Ensign, the only other officer on duty at the moment and she cross to the turbolift and was gone.

After a short journey she arrived outside the XO's office, and pressed the door chime.

"Enter" Anika called out, brow furrowing in concentration- did she have a meeting that she wasn't remembering?

Rebecca entered and snapped to attention before the Commander. "Lt. Rebecca Sandoval reporting as ordered ma'am."

"And good morning to you commander. Can i get you anything? I was just going to refresh my coffee." Anika made good on that by sticking her cup of lukewarm coffee back into the replicator.

The young lieutenant smiled gratefully. "Coffee please... uh black," she added hastily. "Here's your personnel report for operations. I looked over the department, and I think Chief Petty Officer Daniels should take the day shift when I'm on nights. Ensign Stormtalon doesn't have Daniels' experience. "

Setting a cup of black coffee in front of her, Anika sipped at her blend. "You know chiefs are not required to cycle through the shift rotations. You dont have to do any deltashift work if you dont wish to."

Rebecca sat in front of the XO and took the coffee and sipped it. "Not bad. Nicholas and I have a real coffee supplier in Seattle... Nicholas is a friend from the Academy. He's the Chief Engineer aboard the Tigris." She set the coffee down and took a deep breath to get back on track. "I can't get much bridge command experience working with the Commodore. If I want to command a ship someday I will have to put in some nights."

"I'll put you in the command rotation days and nights if that's what you want of course." Anikas smile emerged like light from behind a cloud. "It'll be nice to have more than the two of us on the roster."

"It is. Thank you ma'am."

"Anika," she corrected quietly as she adjusted the duty roster on the PADD before her.

"Yes ma... Of course Commander." Rebecca was rather straight laced when it came to the chain of command. "Not sure that I could get used to calling your name. You are my superior after all. Mom was big on that sort of thing. She was the XO of the Missouri." What she didn't tell Anika was that her mother had died at the Second Battle of Chin'toka when the Missouri was destroyed.

A shrug answered her "Merely a preference of mine. It breeds familiarity, and encourages socialization when we're not on the bridge, you understand?"

"Yes, ma... Of course Anika. I'll try to remember thilat."

"Most people don't but I keep trying anyway. "The woman smiled and then tapped her finger on the pad that had her personal information. "Is there anything that I need to know about you that's not in here.?"

"Such as?" She asked carefully.

A shrug answered her question " Anything youd rather tell me than have me find out by reading, or anything in your past that I could expect to catch up to you?"

She frowned, "I don't think so. It's not like I have a whole lot of skeletons in my closet. I tried marijuana when I was in college prior to the Academy, but I didn't care for it. My greatest failure has also become my greatest triumph. Almost failing out of the Academy with a newborn baby at home was certainly a wakeup call... that and Kahlina, and Nick giving me a verbal slap upside the head."

"Fair enough, thank you for your honesty. " Anika smiled softly "Please dont hesitate to come back to me if you need anything. I would also appreciate knowing about any personnel or disciplinary issues you come across in your staff. "

"Of course. That is only to be expected ma... A.... Commander."

"Thank you. Dismissed Lieutenant" her smile was tiny but amused, her eyes flickering back down to her desk.

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