Captain Takato Office

The PADDs kept piling up as another assistant placed a few on her desk. Ryoko rubbed her template, trying to read the PADD she had in her hand. “Thank you” She briefly responded without looking at the Petty Officer. She bowed and left the Captain’s office, but within a minute, she returned.

“Captain, a Commander Towalr is demanding to speak with you?” She is standing at the door awaiting a reaction from her boss.

A sigh came from Ryoko’s direction as she lowered the PADD and clicked her tongue in disapproval, looking outside her window. “Let him….in” She said, resisting the urge to decline it. She knew why he was here. It was bluntly obvious after receiving so many messages already.

The Petty Officer nodded and looked behind her, giving a nod to the Commander who passed her into the office. “Captain Takato, I thank you for your valuable time. But I am here concerning the Tokyo change of command. It seems my message was misunderstood, and I am here to explain it better,” Towalr stated, stopping in front of the Captain’s desk. 

An exhalation of breath came out of Ryoko, and she turned her gaze at the Commander, slowly sitting back in her chair. She placed the PADD on the table. “Sure…humor me” It was the duty of a Captain to listen to her people, but this guy was pushing his luck. 

“Thank you, Captain” The Rigelian man stated with a slight nod to her. “Captain Jameson loss has hit our crew deeply, and they need more time to adjust. The assignment of Commander Yun is premature, and she seems like a hardworking woman, but we believe she is not a good fit for Tokyo. The Tokyo needs special care and a Captain that understands these needs” 

Staring at the Commander briefly, Ryoko saw him getting nervous and then shook her head gently. “Then I understood you clearly the first, second, and third time.” She raised her fingers, counting it. “Request denied for change of command, Commander. I am not going to have this argument any longer. Captain Yoon-Jung is arriving soon at Deep Space 47 to assume command. Do I make myself clear?” She made the name clear so as not to be mistaken again.

Towalr shrugged at that comment. “Is it not better to …assume someone to command at the Tokyo itself? Rather than let someone from the outside take command?” He tried his best to defend his case in front of the Captain. 

The man did make a sound argument regarding the situation of Tokyo. She moved her hand over the desk and grabbed a PADD. Taking a look at it “Ahh Tokyo…the New Orleans class that was previously under the command of the decorated Captain Jameson. Captain Jameson died during Frontier Day.” She paused briefly and looked at Towalr, who nodded to the information. “Assuming your ….observation…” 

She looked back at the PADD. “We got Lieutenant Commander Ibrix, Chief Medical Officer, who is a seasoned officer but shows no interest in command. In my opinion, we got Lieutenant Commander Deem, who shows interest in command but is still green.” She placed the PADD down and sat up, looking at him. “And we got you… While I know your records very well, you have not completed the command course that every Captain requires. Aside from that, you have yet to prove to yourself that you can command in dire situations”

“I am doing the command course, Captain, and have proven myself countless times.” Towalr was shocked at the accusation that he hadn’t proved himself after all that time.

“Did you now if that would be the case, then the damage to the Tokyo would not have been severe, and I wouldn’t be dealing with filling the gaps with the crew list?” Ryoko crossed her arms. “Potentially, Captain Jameson would be still standing…” 

He looked in horror at her. “Are….are you accusing me of not saving Captain Jameson?” 

“I am not saying that, Commander. If you stepped up and did your job as a First Officer rather than shoving it to someone else, I am saying that. Then he might have lived” Ryoko had read all she could about the Tokyo and their situation. When the junior staff shot Jameson, Commander Towalr cowered himself away for his sake and left the Captain to die, ordering officers to protect him. Ryoko would rather give him the boot, but she was limited on personnel as it was. 

“Well…it was ….chaotic moment and …I believe I did what could be done.” Towalr was barely holding a front against this lioness of a Captain. “What is so special about this, Commander Yoon-Jang” 

‘is this guy for real….he truly believe that?’ Ryoko thought as she shrugged and shook her head again. “Commander Yoon-Jung…” Ryoko corrected him again “Stepped up her game on the USS Wakefield, when it lost its First and Second Officer and some key senior staff during Operation Sundered Wings. She proven herself also during the invasion of the Lost Fleet at Deneb and managed to stand her ground at the Frontier Day crisis.” Ryoko was tired of this as she rubbed her template to ease the upcoming headache.

Trying to find any other reason to dismiss this transfer “The crew won’t accept her!” Towalr threw out at the seasoned Captain.

“Then, is it not your job to make it so that they do accept her?” Ryoko counter the Commander back with narrowed eyes “Look, I will state this one time and very clearly, so you understand it. Commander Yoon-Jung will arrive at Deep Space 47 to assume command of the USS Tokyo. She will Captain this ship, you will be her First Officer, and I hope for your sake I will not see a rapport of disobeying commands from her or help me might force of the galaxy. I will transfer you to a remote outpost. Do I make myself clear?!”

He wanted to respond but saw the anger in Takato eyes. “Understood, Captain” Towalr acknowledged “But the crew needs its mourning time…” 

Standing up and grabbing a PADD, “I got no time for this, Commander. Everyone is mourning their losses. Meanwhile, Fourth Fleet is dealing with Deneb region.” Ryoko stopped at the side of the desk and looked at him. “Or have you not noticed?! People lost their lives in the Lost Fleet invasion and Frontier Day, and it was not only Tokyo that lost good people. I am understaffed, have limited resources, and you are wasting my time.” She was not holding back. She barely slept for 4 hours in the last 48 hours. “Now get back to your ship, welcome your commanding officer, and stop bitching about it. I got an appointment with Rear Admiral Grayson. Good day” She left him behind to get to her appointment. 

Towalr was left stunned behind, looking at the stars outside. What did he do wrong? Why would the Captain not understand him? He would have been a better fit to replace Captain Jameson. He even said it himself. Maybe this Commander is befriended with Captain Takato? Possibly, she pulled strings to get this command. Yes, that must be it. Towalr bolded his fist and walked out of the office. He would not let some green Captain take command of his precious Tokyo. 

People on Deep Space 47 were getting ready for their next assignment. Ships were departing to their designated assignments to help restore Deneb to both physical and mental damage left behind by the invading forces of the Lost Fleet. People were more focused on what had happened in Deneb than the whole event around Frontier Day. Starfleet chose to withhold information from those who lost their senses to the sudden Borg takeover. Knowing that they unwillingly harmed a colleague would be devastating for a junior officer. 

A woman with short black hair rushed through the people with a travel bag over her shoulder. Rushing past the crew members waiting to board the USS Tokyo, she is stopped by the security officer who stands there. “Ma’am, could you please get back in line? Everyone is waiting to enter the ship” He formally and politely stated while he scanned the woman being a bit messy. 

The woman looked behind her to the line and saw the annoyance in their eyes with a twinkle of curiosity as she gave a brief nod to them and looked back at the officer. “I am running late Lieutenant. I have to be on board the ship as the senior staff expects me” She explained while reaching out her ID. 

The man gently grabbed the ID, and before he could react another voice rose. “Is there a problem here, Lieutenant?” a woman with a teal uniform stopped next to the man, looked at the woman, and then back. 

“No, ma’am. This lady is trying to skip the line. I kindly asked her to return to the back and await her turn. But she claims the senior staff is waiting for her.” He points up her ID. “I was about to check her ID and question her further upon the hurry she is in”

The woman grabbed the ID. “Excuse me” She stated looking at it, then back at the woman waiting. She lowered the ID and looked at another woman in a yellow uniform standing there with her arms crossed and sighted. Looking back at the woman “Commander Yoon-Jung, welcome to the USS Tokyo. I am Lieutenant Commander Viamame Ibrix the Chief Medical Officer of the Tokyo.” Viamame wove her hand to her side to the other woman. “This is Lieutenant Yozria Deem, the Chief Engineer Officer of the Tokyo” 

“Commander Yoon-Jung?” The security officer replied, looking confused at the Asian woman and realizing what was happening. “I… am sorry Commander, I didn’t see your pips so I…” 

The Asian woman raised her hand. “That is my bad. You were doing your job, and I commend you for that. Commander Yoon-Jung Ko, Commanding Officer of the USS Tokyo reported for duty, Lieutenant. Permission to board the USS Tokyo? So I can resume my duties and prepare the ship for launch.” 

Nodding quickly in agreement, the security officer stepped aside and let Ko pass her. Only to resume his work afterward. 

The two other senior officers followed their new Captain. “I do apologize, Commander, I was unaware you would be arriving so soon on the ship. I would have informed your First Officer, Lieutenant Commander Towalr of your arrival, so he could have welcomed you personally” 

Shaking her head, Yozria rolled her eyes at the mention of Towalr. “Don’t count on that…” She muttered. 

Ko blinked a bit “No worries Commander, I have arrived somewhat earlier due to the mission we are being assigned to by the Fourth Fleet. Sadly I don’t get the breathing space to learn the ship and its crew better” Ko looked over her shoulder briefly to Yozria. “What does your remark refer to Commander?” As the three kept walking.

Receiving a glare from Viamame, Yozria smirked a bit “Well, your assignment to this ship is by some senior staff seen as a bad omen” 

“Yozria…” Viamame muttered in her direction.

“What…it is true” Yozria bites back at her.

“Please explain. Spare me the sugar-coating, what is the situation of this ship” Ko was not in the mood to deal with people that have issues with her assignment. She always went straight to the person to deal with whatever they were having issues about. 

A hum came from Yozria, thinking of what to say or better how to formulate it most diplomatically. “Commander Towalr was expecting to become the next Commanding Officer and feels like he was overlooked at the selection by Captain Takato. My brother, Lieutenant Commander Sujian Deem, your Chief Security Officer, also sides with that moral choice.” Yozria didn’t mind throwing her brother under a shuttle. He was man enough to solve his problems. 

Another sigh escaped from Viamame as she looked away from both of them.

“Commander, is this true?” Ko stopped and looked at Viamame.

“I…uhmm.” She took a deep breath as the senior doctor shrugged. “After the death of Captain Jameson, it has been speculated that Towalr was not happy about the new appointment and made more than one attempt to cancel your assignment.” Feeling ashamed by the mere fact that the man was doing such action behind people’s backs.

Letting the information sink in, she eventually shrugs as Ko continues walking. “Wonderful, got to deal with that also” She entered the turbolift. “I will get to my quarters first and get with you guys to the bridge afterward. Would you be so kind as to inform Commander Towalr to inform all senior staff to gather at the ready room?” Ko nodded to them. “Deck one.” The doors close.

“Why did you tell her?” Viamame spoke without looking.

“What is the fun in it if she doesn’t get to know what kind of problems are brewing right now?” Yozria spoke “I’d rather not have this ship dive into a mutiny because of a poor losing person like Towalr. To be honest, I am really glad that he didn’t get the command seat….I would have asked for a transfer.” With that said, she turned around and walked away from the tubrolift. 

Rolling her eyes “Not only you would have done that…” Viamame muttered to herself and tapped the turbolift button waiting for it to arrive. 

The ship's atmosphere has been tense since the recent changes that had hit the crew. A few people in the senior staff were acting in a form of protest against the assignment of Ko to the command seat. The Task Force Commanding Officer had already declined the protest with good and solid reasoning. So, the next part would be up to Ko to deal with it. The main fire starter was her first officer, someone she needed to trust and have her back in difficult moments. She tapped her desk a few times on the desk as her eyes redirected at the time and narrowed it. “Freaking 40 minutes late and ignoring my hails” Leaning back in her chair and taking a deep breath. 

Then a few seconds later, the chime went, “Come in” An immediate reply came from Ko while sitting back up and looking at the door seeing her first officer enter the office. “Ahh, Commander…” 

He raised his hands and showed a pity face. “I do tend to apologize, Commander Yon. I was occupied with ship duties and getting the Tokyo ready for launch” He stopped at the desk and gave her an uncomfortable smile intended to give assurance. 

‘Right, Captain Takato did warn about his behavior. This guy is going to be hands full for me’ Ko thought and blinked a bit and took a deep breath placing her hands over each other on the desk. “Commander Towalr, we have not had the chance to meet each other. I would have appreciated your greeting me upon my arrival in Tokyo. I also heard you have extreme difficulty remembering my name correctly, so I only say it once for the record. It is Yoon-Jung, and you address me as Captain, as I am the Commanding Officer of this vessel” 

Before Towalr could respond, Ko had already raised her hand. “I am not done, Commander. I believe we had an appointment 40 minutes ago. I let it slide this time, but I would appreciate it if you were here when I call for you. And please do not shove forward an excuse that you were required with duties on the ship. We got senior staff to prepare the ship. Your first officer duties do not require you to micromanage every senior officer on this ship” Ko had already read into his file and was, like Captain Takato, not impressed.  

His facial expression had difficulty upholding that awkward smile. Frustration was breaking through his fake smile. “Comm…Captain I apologize for not welcoming you to the Tokyo. But at that moment my duties were required elsewhere. I did send some senior staff to welcome you to Tokyo, and I am certainly not micromanaging anyone on this ship” He recovered his standing. “I am simply following orders by the Senior Staff's keen advice to improve my chances in my career” 

For a moment she blinked at him in surprise at what he just said. “Right, but I already receive reports from crew members and even…” Ko slides to the right on her computer. “From dry-dock personnel of your interference in their duties.” She looked back at him from the console. “And what advice was given to you to do such a thing?” 

Towalr shrugged for a moment. “I only gave helpful advice on how to be more efficient in their operations. They seem to be slacking, and I wanted to get our ship faster and ready for take-off” He defended his point. “Plus Captain Takato stated that I have to be more involved with the crew's daily operations” He nodded to himself as if he agreed with his judgement. 

‘Is this guy for real….’ Ko thought while giving a shrug and leaning back in her chair “Look, we are responsible for the daily operations on our ship. Operations of Starbase 86 are responsible for the duties at dry-dock. We do not interfere with their job.” She shook her head a bit. “Alright, what is the ship's status?” 

Nodding to her “I totally with keep that in mind, Captain” Towalr bowed his head to her. “The Tokyo is ready for launch. We have gathered all the required information for our mission” He stopped and looked at Ko with a soft smile.

Ko narrowed her eyes and waved her finger around. “What else?” 

Looking confused at her “What do you mean Captain? The ship is ready. What more do you wish to know?” Towalr stated. 

“What….” She couldn't believe what she heard, and Ko took a deep breath. “Are all personnel counted for? Any problems with the duty schedule? Or any on leave? Are there any transfers that I should know of? What about supplies, are they in? Is there any damage to the Tokyo and if so are they repaired?" What was she dealing with, an incompetent first officer or someone who refused to do his duty? 

Thinking for a second “I have delegated those duties to other senior officers on the ship. They have reported to me that the ship is ready” Towalr replied pleased with his answer.

Looking sharply at him “Are you joking right now? Like really….because this is by far funny. These are the basic answers a First Officer must give to his/her Captain. You are responsible for personnel, and you are responsible for getting the resources checked and confirmed. You need to know if the Senior Staff have turned in their report” She was feeling her blood boil.

“I believe I am not responsible for that Captain. I coordinate the crew in their daily duties and guide them where required" Towalr smiled again. 

“That is one of your duties, now I friendly request this once….get out and do not return to me until you get those reports. If you cannot do this within 1 hour, I will put you on non-active, and you can be the first officer of your quarters for all I care.  Now get moving” Ko was not amused with his lacking attitude in sense of duty. 

Towalr took an offended stand “You are required to treat me with respect, I do not tolerate such behavior and I can make a formal complaint to Starfleet about it”

Getting off her seat and leaning on her desk looking sternly at him “Respect is earned Commander. Get out of my office and do your job. Or start applying for a new one” Ko was not joking as he was triggering her to overload in fury. 

The Commander saw he was pushing his luck and gave a slight nod getting out of the office of the Captain. 

Sitting down on her chair she breathes a few times in and out letting her anger shimmer down. She looked at her computer and started to type a message. “Can I potentially request a new First Officer?” and pressed send. It only took a few seconds as a message reply came back.

“Ah, you have met my migraine, sadly but no. With the current condition of Starfleet, personnel is problematic. So my tip, hold dearly onto the code of conduct, and you might have a new First Officer sooner than you expect. Good luck. Sincerely Captain Takato”

“Ahh F*ck…”  She placed her head on the desk. 

It was already a long day, and there were many reports to fill out and check out. The crisis at Starfleet HRM was not a joke, but Ko managed to get the crew fully staffed on the Tokyo.  She scratched her head while reading the latest report that Towalr had made based on her request with some pressure. “I can barely make head or tails out of this report, but it gives me a general indication of the ship” She mutters to herself as she arrives at the bridge. She exited the lift and walked to the ready room, hoping her senior staff would be waiting there, but the sign that no visible senior staff were present at the bridge gave her some hope. 

Entering the ready room, she gave a soft smile seeing the people she wanted there, being there. “Good afternoon, all. Thank you for your time for this briefing on our mission in the Deneb region.” She went to her chair and sat down as she wanted to continue. Towalr stood up.

“The thanks can be diverted to me, Commander…sorry” he gave that same awkward smile and pointed at her briefly. “Captain” 

She placed her PADD slowly down, looking at Towalr with confusion. “Right…. Let us continue with the briefing, shall we” And looked at the rest of the staff as Towalr awkwardly sat down. Ko pressed a button that made a 3D blue image of a sector showing “Let’s start from the beginning. My name is Commander Yoon-Jung, and I am your new Commanding Officer. I know you all are mourning Captain Jameson who lost his life during the tragedy of Frontier Day. So I have managed to open a chamber on deck 5 dedicated to the people who lost their lives. This room will do if you or your staff need time to process this. Our counselor is open to private talks that are related to this event. Please make use of that.” 

The staff looked surprised at each other as Viamame smiled softly and nodded to Ko in approval. “I think I speak for everyone. Thank you for the kind gesture. We have lost dear people to this awful event. I shall inform my staff about the area” 

Ko nodded at her doctor and continued “Now, Starfleet has its hands full, and we are part of Task Force 86. So we are assigned to where we are most needed, the borders.” The 3D image changed showing the borders north-east of the Deneb region “We are to dock as soon as possible from Starbase 86 to travel to this location. We are tasked to investigate beyond the borders of the Deneb region to where the former Lost Fleet was operating. Starfleet believed that there were dangerous structures left behind that could be used by any pirates that could do serious harm to the colonies” 

A tsk sound came from Ko’s side, an older Trill was leaning on his chair with his arms crossed. “So Starfleet is sending us back into the field without evaluating the dangers. How typical” Sujian was not impressed. “The Tokyo is not armed enough to deal with the unknown. There are too many loose ends that could harm us” 

“Is it not your task to keep us from happening?” Yozria replied with some attitude, “And if it happens, I will keep her together. No worries about that Commander” 

His attention turned to Yozria. “There are only so many things you can repair, but there are only so many people we have to spare. If shits hit the coils, we are screwed, simple as that. Our warp engines get damaged we are stuck in a hostile environment.” 

“Ahum” came from Towalr as he smiled. “It is perfectly reasonable arguments that Commander Deem has provided. Crossing the borders to an area unknown to us and above everything that used to be the playground of the Dominion should be reconsidered by all means” He saw Sujian nodding in firm agreement and Yozria rolling her eyes. 

Yozria wanted to reply to this but felt Viamame hand on her knee and looked at her seeing Viamame shake her head and turning her attention to their new Captain.

Taking a deep breath, “I am not asking your opinions of doing this mission or not Commanders….It is not up for debate. We are doing this mission whether we like it or not. That is the duty of a Starfleet Officer. Follow the given directive mission, whether clean or dirty, safe or dangerous. I am asking for your professional opinions on how to keep our crew safe in this mission that we are doing” Ko looked firmly at both of them for a few seconds. “So, opinions, questions that are valuable to this discussion?” 

“I like her” Yozria whispered in Viamame’s direction who simply nodded in agreement. 

“What are the actual nav points of this mission” Padgok, the Chief Flight Officer stated having a PADD in his hands. 

“We will travel from here to Galadkail and then to Leonis. We make brief contact with Task Force 93 operating vessels helping the colonists there. When then we travel over the borders in the direction of Saxue. Midway we turn south to Lungurn and back to Izar where we meet with Task Force 47 operating vessels.” While she was talking, the 3D map showed the map with a mini Tokyo-sized model flying the course.

Taking notes as Padgok nodded, Tamaz followed up “What are our mission parameters? Do Lieutenant Deem and I have to focus on redirecting power to the engines or…?” 

Ko looked at her Chief Operations Officer. “The energy output should be directed 75% to the engines. The remaining power stays at shielding. When we cross the borders we are to remain at yellow alert silent mode” Ko took a deep breath. “Starfleet has no data on what we can expect there. We are to go in there, map the area of what we find, and report back to Task Force 47 who will spread it throughout the fleet so that the right forces can be assigned to designated areas” 

“That sounds dangerous and plainly reckless” Sujian objected leaning forward. “We have no idea if the Dominion has been straight with us. They might be still lurking in the dark there and then what?!”

“We report it, keep our distance, and get the hell out…seriously brother your spine hanging to dry when you started to hang with Towalr or what?” Yozria shook her head at Sujian. “We follow protocol and as the Captain stated we are here to do our duties so resisting this is not going to work”

“Objection, Captain” Towalr raised his voice looking at Ko. “Lieutenant Deem is insulting both Commander Deem and myself” 

Raising her hand to make them stop “Commander Towalr sit down” Ko requested and looked sternly at Towalr who wanted to continue sitting quietly. “Good, I have to break it to both of you, but Lieutenant Deem is right in the current matter. It was not subtle to say it in such a matter but suck it up sunshine. We are going to a dangerous area to do our mission. I will take no further complaints about this mission before it even has started” She shrugged. “Please make sure to send in your department reports to me, it doesn’t have to be long but a regular report would do fine” She looked at everyone. “Dismissed everyone” She stood up without Towalr able to object and walked out of the ready room.

“Just the Captain we need” Viamame spoke and stood up getting a nod from Yozria leaving the two stunned behind.