Left in the Dark

Posted on Mon Jun 14th, 2021 @ 8:28pm by
Edited on on Tue Jun 22nd, 2021 @ 8:03am

1,181 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 11 - Family Matters
Location: Ready Room - Deck 1 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 1540 hrs

As the doors hissed closed, Quinn stood in the middle of the room. He wanted to skip protocol. "I want to apologize to you COB." Quinn said. He hated leaving the chief of the boat in the dark, about the mission. But he would need his crew's full support to get there mission done, without the support of their captain.

Lan tilted her head. She didn't understand why the captain would need to apologize to her. She couldn't detect an error in his way. She could tell the Commander seemed nervous and even when the captain left. "I do not know why. Does it have something to do with your inner reaction to the captain leaving the ship? Is he not going on a vacation? From the reports I read before coming on board, I thought the vacation was exactly what he needed after all that had happened." She looked quietly at the commander now, her face not showing any emotions.

Did she not know, or was she trying to cohort him into tell her. He just gave a warm smile, as he went on to say. "I am referring to the Captain's vacation." Quinn pointed out. Then he went on. "As Chief of the Boat, you should have been included in the conversation. You are the heart and soul of the enlisted personal." Quinn pointed out to her.

Lan nodded. "I understand, but I also understand if you have your reason for not including me in the conversation. Let us hope this won't have any re precautions for the workings of this vessel, sir. But I will not pry. Starfleet follow orders they do not ask questions."

"I appreciate your blind faith, but you are not simply another enlisted personal. You are the Chief of the Boat, and should have been included. For that I am sorry. I can not say with any certainty if there will be any repercussions, but I can say the possibility is open." Quinn told her, being very careful with his selection of words.

"Of course, sir, apologies accepted," She replied, "Is this all you wished to tell me here? Or is there more?"

"I have realized, since coming aboard. We really have not interacted on any level. As members of the command team, I wanted to change that." Quinn started to explain to the COB. He felt bad, that he was just starting this now. And not sooner.

Lan again didn't understand the inconvenience, but that must be her Vulcan nature. "Commander, I believe a lot has happened before my arrival. I can understand we there for were other wise engaged. But as it stands we are now conversing on a command level, do we not?"

"Very true, we are now beginning that process. I just wanted to reach out and make it official. I have the upmost trust in your abilities, and have been impressed with what I have heard. Especially from the crew." Quinn pointed out to her. He loved to pride himself, on being the heart and soul of the crew.

Lan shrugged. "I am just doing what I came here to do, to the best of my abilities. I was raised on Vulcan, so I am not like my sister who now also serves here. Maybe she feels sad about that sometimes, she is more outgoing and spontaneous. I am rather satisfied with the way things are."

"I have not really had the pleasure of getting to know your sister." Quinn said, with a warm smile. But that was not really the point, he needed to get to know his first officer. "From what I understand, she is a capable officer. I am however more interested at the moment of getting to know you, and working with you." Quinn pointed out to her.

"Well then, would you like to start this cooperation right now?" Lan was not really good with sentiment and emotions. Serving with a crew that mostly exists of people always showing emotions was going to be hard on her. But she knew she would adapt. "Unless there are more things you like to know about me beforehand."

"I would like to start this cooperation. We will be working closely for the foreseeable future." Quinn said to her, with a big grin on his face. He loved how direct she was. That was a refreshing point. Almost vulcan like in its demeanor.

"Yes, our positions on this ship would dictate that we will be working together in the future. So how would you like to us to begin?" Lan asked and added, "I only ask because this is my first time on this ship. There is already a social structure and professional dynamic I am not yet a part off."

"I am hoping to change that. It's very important to me, that the Chief of The Boat become a vital part of the social dynamic of the USS Pioneer." Quinn said, with a reassuring smile on his face.

"Yes, yes, sir, maybe we should stop dancing around the issue here. You already explained in three different ways how you would like to change my position on the ship, maybe we should just, as you humans say, cut to the chase. How would you like to proceed?" Lan said as she tried to stay as calm and emotionless as possible.

"Direct and to the point, I like that. Let's start by having you meet the Jutrai with me." Quinn said, with a big grin on his face. Quinn wanted the COB by his side, when he met with them.

"Very well," Lan said, "I shall prepare for that. Is there anything I need to know about the Jutrai that is important for this mission?" She asked in a calmly manner. She wanted to make sure she was fully prepared for this mission.

"I will make sure all data we have is sent to you." Quinn said to her, as he stood up, and reached out to shake her hand. "I think this has been a productive first meeting." He suggested to her, signaling that their time was almost up through his body language.

Lan got up as well. "Agreed, sir." She took his hand as was customary when one was offered. "I shall meet you later when you go meet the Lutrai. Should you need me before that, you know where to find me." She let go of the hand and then asked, "Am I dismissed, sir, I believe there some weapons lockers that I need to check?"

"Dimissed, and I look forward to meeting you with the Jutrai." Quinn said, as the doors swished open. He was smiled, as he watched Lan approached the doors. "Thanks again, COB." Quinn said as the scene starts to fade away.

A joint post by;

Commander Quinn Ó Flannagáin
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer

Command Chief Petty Officer Phuong Lan Nguyen
Chief Of The Boat/Master-At-Arms, USS Pioneer

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