Captain’s log, supplemental.
It has been a time of much change in the aftermath of the displacement crisis at Starbase 80. Countless ships from across the fleet summoned to traverse the interdimensional rift that lurks just a few hundred kilometres away. Some of the best, most powerful ships in the fleet, I might add, but not little old Cardenas. No, we were relegated to a support act, tasked with sitting… watching… waiting. Waiting to see if we’d be required to patrol a strange new area of space, or deliver goods to a new relief effort, or if we’d have to provide a tactical response to enemy craft exiting the portal. No such luck.
No, Cardenas watched and waited as the flagship traversed the rift on some fool idealistic crusade to rescue their former comrade, an action I would have taken part in had Noli not recommended me for command following the heroic loss of Captain Mercer. A surprise, but a welcome one, and while I would have relished the chance to support my Lakota comrades in their quest, I will always be thankful to the Captain for the trust she placed in me, and for submitting her recommendation to Commodore Jaro.
Standing on watch at the station allowed me the time to build relationships with the crew I have inherited. They are talented, for sure, but they are deeply troubled. I’ve given Doctor Alen and Counsellor Tann access to all the support they might need from the medical personnel on the station in the aftermath of the tragedy, but they assure me the crew are making steady progress. Lieutenant Okoye, our chief engineer, seems to be hit hardest by the Captain’s loss, blaming himself for not being able to implement the engineering solution that Mercer helped with, and that ultimately cost him his life. Survivors guilt is a terrible thing. I’ve been there, in those dark times, when you wish it had been you instead of a friend or loved one. He’ll get over it, in time.
I know I did.
Standing at the heart of his bridge, Captain Darek Prenar observed in contemplative silence as his team went about their business dutifully and without complaint. His crew. His team. There were still moments, far more fleeting of late he had to admit, but there were still moments where he caught himself smiling like a child at the thought that he finally had his own first command. And while it was in circumstance no one would have wanted, it was an opportunity he could not pass up. An opportunity to form an exciting new partnership within the leadership structure of the wider squadron.
Joining the team under the command of Captain Thalek th’Zorati was the Gagarin-class USS Orpheus, a ship designed to take on much of the tactical aspects of the squadron’s ongoing missions. Forming a new Heavy Escort Division alongside Orpheus and the Omaha, a sister Reliant recently seconded to the unit, Cardenas was going to be part of a formidable group patrolling dangerous areas of the Shackleton Expanse. At least that was the plan. For now, they travelled together as a unit towards Tranquility Station for a rendezvous with the USS Trenton and several other Starfleet and allied vessels for a special fleet exercise. It would be their first test as a unit, and the first for Cardenas under his command. A thrill to be sure.
“Captain…”
Snapping back to the real world from his daydream, the Cardassian glanced to his side and locked eyes with the brunette that would be sitting by his side from now on, and smiled.
“Are you ok, sir?” Charisma asked, standing by Darek’s side, mimicking his stance as they stood proudly at the heart of the command center.
“Fine, thank you,” he gave a curt nod in acknowledgement. “Just pondering the mission to come,” he confessed, rocking back and forth on his heels, hands clasped behind his back.
“An interesting scenario for sure,” Commander Lennan mused with a sage nod. “I’ve never been involved in exercises of this scale before.”
“It will be an interesting time,” he agreed, eyes glancing down to the helm for the briefest moment. “We’ll join Trenton to perform a sublight escort mission through a nearby nebula, with our allied friends serving as our antagonists throughout. Quite the endeavour indeed.”
“Surprised the flagship isn’t joining us,” Lennan remarked, tucking her hands into the pockets of her pants. “Noli’s usually all over stuff like this.”
“I’m told Lakota is needed elsewhere,” Darek shrugged casually. “I probably know less now than I did when I was there. Likely some other intergalactic crisis she can get involved with,” he looked at her with a coy smile.
She knew he was lying, but appreciated his attempt to cover up the fact that he probably wasn’t at liberty to discuss the flagship’s mission.
“I’m sure whatever it is must be important,” she nodded along before retracing her steps back to her seat to the Captain’s right. She appreciated how the Captain of the squadron’s flagship had been so supportive of the crew in recent weeks, and even fought to keep Cardenas in her team when forces beyond their task force had wanted to reassign her. They’d been through so much together. Yes, she was ambitious and had wanted the center seat for herself, she’d made no secret of that to Noli, or to Captain Prenar himself upon his appointment, but she was loyal, and she would wait her turn. She’d told them that, too. Honesty, after all, was the best policy and the only way that she’d be able to form an effective command unit with Prenar. He was different to Mercer, but not in a bad way. Mercer had cultivated a family, but Prenar was cultivating accountability. It was a change they needed to get their focus back after recent trauma, to get back on track, doing the normal things that came their way.
“Approaching Tranquility Station, Captain,” Talia spun in her chair, her braids flicking wildly with her every movement.
“Take us out of warp and request permission to enter the docking pattern,” the Cardassian requested with a nod to his pilot, then spinning on his heels and returning to his seat. Whilst the pilot worked away at getting them permission to dock, the Captain glanced over his shoulder. “Commander Nilssen,” he addressed the tactical chief, “contact Orpheus and let th’Zorati know we’ve arrived ahead of schedule.”
“Aye Captain,” the redheaded Scandinavian smiled, hands dancing over her display.
“Permission to enter the docking pattern has been granted Captain,” Cos called from the CONN. “We’re clear for docking port six.”
“Take us in,” Prenar relaxed into his chair, “full impulse.”
Watching the interactions between Prenar and crew, the XO eventually lent in and whispered in his ear. “If we have a bit of time, Captain, it might be worth giving some of the crew some time on the station,” she suggested, leaning back and watching his expression. His usual stoic expression for a few seconds, until he nodded in satisfaction.
“Put together a rota,” he agreed.
“Yes sir,” Charisma rose from her chair and headed in the direction of the starboard alcove and the door leading to the observation lounge. She’d use the computers there to put together a list of which crew members deserved the added time off while they awaited the other assets in their division.
Her list started before she even reached the console, and at the very top was Chief Okoye.
