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USS HORIZON: Called to duty

Posted on 03/11/2017 @ 12:52am
Edited on on 04/24/2017 @ 9:11pm

Mission: The Fox and The Wolf
Location: USS Horizon docked at Starbase Lotus
Timeline: 88969.9

Posted by:

User: Kheren

User: Redding

User: Caltern

User: BLZBUB

User: AlexSomers

Commander Elliago Nasaro-Myth M.D. was an experienced chief medical officer. Born and raised on a galaxy class starship by a captain mother and a chief engineer of a father serving together for decades. He had graduated with honours from both his university medical doctorate on Delta IV and from Starfleet Medical and the Academy. He had been recruited by the most elite division of Starfleet.

In Lotus Fleet, he had served under Captain Reafis on both the starbase and the USS Sapentia, under Captain Summers on the USS Spectre, under Captain Syntron on the USS Phoenix, under Captain Felez on the USS Lotus and under Captain Kheren on both the USS Artemis and the USS Horizon.

He had been there during the Romulan takeover of the starbase, when the assimilated USS Tempest had been found prior to the final Borg Invasion, during the Borg War of a Thousand Cubes, when the Azimuth Horizon had been discovered and afterwards when it had been tamed and then when the first ship entered it's pocket universe, when the Zetarians genetic factory had been found, when a rogue AI and a lost Jem'Hadar squadron had been found at the edge of the galaxy, when the Undines made their first diplomatic overture, when the second Guardian of Forever was discovered and when an alternate timeline was about to wipe out reality itself.

He had assumed medical command duties when barely out of the Academy and not even yet a full-fledged officer, commanded a shuttle to guide a starship out of an anomaly and then a starship bridge during a diplomatic crisis against an implacable adversary, participated in a commando raid and cumulated more bridge experience as a medical officer than anyone else in Starfleet.

But this was the first time in his entire career that he would have to act as the executive officer of a starship, and the flagship of Lotus Fleet no less.

Was he truly up to such a challenge when his Hippocratic Oath to Never Do Harm could hinder his choices and colour his judgment? Could captain Redding, his new commanding officer, truly count on him?

There was only one way to find out.

Entering the vast bridge of the Horizon, he did not even glance at the main viewer's image of the starbase where the Lotus class capital ship was moored, on an outside docking pylon as she was simply too enormous to fit inside like the other ships of the fleet. Elliago went straight to the medical command chair he had pioneered himself and where communications were handled.

That suited him just fine. He had the prove himself first as an XO before sitting in that other chair on the opposite side of the Big One, and that would start with the first basic responsibility of a first officer. he opened a channel to both ship and starbase.

"This is the Horizon; to all crewmembers and officers of the flagship, report immediately to your station for departure. Confirm your readiness to your department head. Department head officers, confirm your section's readiness to acting first officer Nasaro-Myth. All bridge officers will report directly to Captain Redding. We depart at nine hundred hours. Horizon out."

If the Doctor had glanced outside he might have noticed the figure of a single person standing on the forward hull of the ship looking ahead into the void.

As the newly appointed Captain of the Horizon Redding stood in silence just outside the closest spot on the exterior of his ship to its bridge. Thinking.

He watched without much interest as worker bees and shuttles finished their final work on the Horizon.

Only here could he remove himself from the myriad of questions and people his duties required him to interact with.

Like most people enlisted into the black ops programs, Redding had mental safeguards in place to make his mind and emotions difficult to read.

His old Communications officer aboard the USS Response, Now known as Captain Felez, trained him for over 2 years to 'disguise' his emotions almost constantly, something he used mostly against Felez himself because of his wife in later years.

Redding's mind was naturally difficult to read thanks to the layering of memories from past lives, making his past indecipherable to read at all, and his current thoughts difficult.

But such constant safeguarding takes its toll and from time to time he liked to do things like this, away from any prying minds.. to think.

His suit beeped an alarm that he had set and he turned it off, released his mag boots and kicked off back to the maintenance hatch just in time to receive Nasaro-Myth's announcement.

The ship was immense, his first command, a Loknar class now more than a hundred years old and out of service, was barely a quarter it's size.

He wondered if perhaps he finally bit off more than he could chew, and only now, in this place could he admit that Kheren.. made him feel old.

Kheren seemed the perfect officer for his time, and Redding was a caveman in comparison.

So many different races, and he had to care how they felt and listen to their opinions and.. *Ugh* he thought. Could he be like that in this new universe? he just wasn't sure.

Can this old dog learn new tricks?

I guess I'll find out.

---

Lieutenant j.g. Trea sat within her quarters, a place she had been since she'd arrived. Two smaller, human men sat opposite her, the latest to brief her on the ship's status. As they concluded, she sighed. "Good. Good. You're the last ones I think."

The first of the two men to speak up was objectively handsome, with chiselled features and a big smile. "Ma'am, you've been in your quarters since you arrived. You should be out there exploring the ship! It's amazing."

The second looked at the first and frowned. "I-I don't think she's had the time, David." He gestured, almost apologetically, to the stack of PADDs on Trea's desk. Their reports sat at the very top of a rather impressive pile.

Trea laughed at this and shook her head. "If you had told the story of my future, that I would be in Lotus Fleet, and that I would be in charge of security and tactical for the Fleet's flagship from the first day, I would have mocked you where you stood. But the honour is great, and the honour is..." she extended her long arms to wave up and down at the very same stack of PADDs. "This! I have been reading these since I came aboard, and if not these, I have been reading about the Horizon! There are so many -details-."

David grinned. "Hey, you'll get the hang of it, ma'am. I'm sure. Tim and I have your back. Right buddy?" The other security officer cringed just a little when David slapped him on the back and started to give a weak nod in return when all three of their commbadges chirped. It was Commander Nasaro-Myth's broadcast.

Trea immediately looked to the PADDs, then looked to the two. "Mister Beauregard." She said to David, then to Tim, "Mister Reginald. You'll report to your stations now, as ordered." She stood up, almost at the same time as the other two did. She towered over them both when she did so. She was nearly a foot taller than David, and more than a foot taller than Tim. They both looked up at her and chorused, "Yes, Ma'am," before turning and departing from her quarters. She took the two steps to the LCARS-enabled desk that had been installed in her quarters, then said, "Computer, language mode: Praxiar." There was an affirmative chirp, then all the text on screen rearranged itself into spirals and curving arcs. It was the report she had been drafting, summarising her staff's reports and the department's readiness. Her orange eyes scanned the text, then she quickly tapped in a few more annotations. "Convert to Federation Standard and send to Commander Nasaro-Myth." She then tapped her commbadge. "Lieutenant Trea to Commander Nasaro-Myth. We have circled and confirmed our readiness as a department. I begin the journey to report to Captain Redding now."

The mesmerising voice of the Deltan CMO and acting XO sang in her ears.

"Acknowledged, Lieutenant. Your vital signs have been recorded by the ship's internal sensors and matched your latest medical record at Starbase Lotus. You are cleared as fit for duty. Welcome aboard. I'm looking forward working with you."

Elliago was quite sincere. beyond his natural cordiality, exobiology was his passion. meeting and working with the Praxiar promised to be as fascinating as it would be agreeable. sure she was security and this bunch tended to be rather less social than other career options; but then again, he was Deltan. getting along with people, especially of the opposite sex, was never the problem; if any, it was the opposite. Fortunately, his professional detachment and his Oath of Celibacy were there to protect them.

Still, some fraternising among the crew was conducive to better performance and a more fulfilling experience. And as an XO, it was his duty to see that the ship would run smoothly. But judging from what he already knew of this Lieutenant Trea, this would not be a problem.

Foregoing the transporter, Shelly walked the docking ramp leading out to the Horizon. She wanted to get a feel for the size of the Lotus class vessel, and from the viewports along the walkway, she was taken aback. Because of the sheer length of the Horizon, and the boarding causeway's necessity to mate only at the saucer's outer rim, the entirety of the ship could not be easily seen. She seemed to stretch away, forward and aft, out of sight. Yellow cargo management units flitted about her here and there, like gnats circling an elephant. Shelly slowed a bit to take it all in. The vessel was staggeringly huge!

Movement at the port ahead drew her eye and she noticed the two men guarding the access port. Gripping her meagre satchel tighter she moved toward them, knowing that she would be tested prior to entry onto the ship. David had warned her about the demanding security protocols Lotus Fleet had placed on all their vessels. Stepping up and stopping at the small desk-type kiosk that the red-suited Lieutenant stood behind she announced herself, although somewhat shyly.

"Ensign Shelly Rogers, a Diplomatic Aide, requesting to board the ship please," she said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Glancing once at the other man, she noted his dissimilar uniform; Black tunic and pants, greyish shoulder top and a green collar with a single insignia of unfamiliar design. She assumed him to be military, not Starfleet like his companion. Right away she didn't feel any trust for the second guy. Looking back at the star fleet officer she awaited clearance.

Second Lieutenant Alexandria Somers had heard the recall from her quarters on the Horizon, sighing heavily she got up and put her tunic on, unlike the new bridge crew that Captain Redding had been assigned with, she wore marine green, yet she was to double up as Strategic Operations Officer, she had been studying what her new job entailed and she felt far from qualified to do the job. Still new experiences and all, she zipped up her outer tunic as she left her quarters making sure that she had her trust hidden collapsible Quarterstaff hidden on her belt, she never left home without it, she walked down the corridor and entered the nearest turbo lift and waited till the doors closed.

"Bridge" Alex simply said and the lift took her straight up to the bridge. She exited a moment later onto a huge bridge, she vaguely recalled the last time she had entered this bridge, Kheren was in command back then and she was new to the ship and then like now was awed by the size of the bridge it was one of the few things that could intimidate her and she did not like it. She nodded to the crew that had gotten there before her as she went over to her new station and logged on and looked through the functions and menus and again she was overwhelmed by her new duties; Alex was also aware that if needed she would be spoken to, so for the moment she continued on with getting used to her station.

Captain Redding walked on to the bridge and glanced over the personnel in a passive way heading to the captain's ready room, he was carrying a duffle bag. One of the security officers went to attention and started to call out "Captain on the.." but Redding waved him off as the ready room doors opened.

"Don't do that. Everyone as they were."

Before the doors could close he turned to look at Alex.

"Lieutenant Somers, in my ready room as your duties permit."

The doors closed before she could respond.

Moving between the XO chair and the CMO Command seat each side of the captain's chair in order to check their connection, Elliago stopped to flash a grin at the dumbfounded security man.

"First time on the flagship, hey Mister Kyle?"

"Does it show that much, Doctor?"

"Well, anyone who served with Captain Kheren, her previous commander, know how much he disdained and forbid this bridge announcement protocol. He thought it pompous for anyone below the rank of admiral... and rather silly, only disturbing working people to acknowledge someone they already knew coming in to do his part of the work, not get applause. As for Captain Redding, you just saw... and there is one thing you should know to be on his good side."

"And what's that, Sir?"

"Never put protocol in the way of real work."

The Deltan then flashed his irresisitible smile and a wink of his dazzling violet eyes towards Alex.

"Good advice for you too, Lieutenant. But you're MACO; you already know."

Alex looked around, everyone seemed to be purposely concentrating on their tasks, with none looking at her, she was thinking 'what have I done now' with some trepidation she walked across the cast bridge, which was the same size as her bedroom in her parent's house on earth. As she crossed it all the worst case scenario thoughts were going through her head, she could not help it, hazards of marine life; she stood in front of the doors and knocked.

Lt. Trea exited the turbolift not long after Somers. She paused there, taking it all in, then looked to the Deltan and smiled.

"Wonderful," she breathed. She was clearly taken in by the size and open space. The polite clearing of throat from officer Kyle brought her gaze to him, finally. She shook her head towards him, then moved her way to Commander Nasaro-Myth.

There was a wariness in her gaze as she looked down at the too-attractive medic and first officer, not directed at him personally, but likely his species. The Praxiar Treaty of 2403 was apparently still new in her species perspective. Logically, the woman should know all Deltans in Starfleet swore the Oath after all. At least she wasn't reaching to her phaser holster, or to that collapsible staff just behind it that her people called a "Sael-e-ain".

"Commander Nasaro-Myth," she began a bit warily, tilting her head down at him in such a way that he could see the glint of her phaser earring through her thick, dark hair. The faint orange glow illuminating the helix of her ear could be seen flickering on and off in a pattern that seemed to match some of her movements. "The ship's computer told me the Captain would be here."

Elliago raised his head to meet the gaze of the towering woman. Having served for years with an Andorian female of the same size, he was not reacting at all to her height; but her unique hearing and looks identified her to him instantly and that was what fascinated him. The presence on board of a Praxiar would have been enough for him to ask for a transfer to the Horizon and get the opportunity to meet her.

He made a conscious effort to stay professional and not as friendly as he had a tendency to; not just because of his new bridge acting post or because of any apprehension or dislike of her, neither he had, but because he had studied what was known of her species. As both a CMO and an XO, he had to take care to let her adapt to the presence of so many males of so many species... but most of all to him. As a Deltan, his formidable attractiveness went even far beyond the legendary lure of the Orions; he would be the hardest one for her to deal with... and he would sit right behind her and her routinely needing to interact directly with him.

"The captain is in his ready room with Lieutenant Somers. You may familiarize yourself with your bridge station while waiting. Any questions or requests I can help you with?"

"I see..." Then the Praxiar shook her head, not taking her pale orange eyes off him as she did so. "No questions or requests at this time," she replied, equally as professional. "Thank you, Commander."

The lieutenant made her way to the security station, and this time nodded to Kyle. He stepped back, allowing her to take over. "Computer, this console - language mode: Praxiar." Once more, the text dutifully morphed before her eyes into the swirls and curving arcs of her native language. Her eyes scanned the layout, and while she did so, she said finally, "Commander, sir, maybe one question: how do other species' ...women... deal with..." she paused, grasping for the right word while still apparently working her head around gender. The lieutenant finally decided upon, "...you?" She added, "You are too pretty."

At least one thing that would help her would be the sheer size of this bridge and of the whole ship. It would have been far more difficult on the bridge twelve times smaller of a Defiant class escort with not even personal quarters like the McKenzie.

He could not help himself and smiled broadly at this.

"You'll have to ask them, Lieutenant. Maybe it's easier for Andorians because of their weird four gender paradigm; although with their heightened smell from their antennae making them quite sensitive to my pheromones... which I keep in check, rest assured my dear. I take my Oath of Celibacy just as seriously as my Hyppocratic Oath and my Starfleet Oath... and all for the same reasons. So I'd say it's my responsibility."

Size was indeed relative Redding thought as he again looked around the room.

This 'ready room' was almost the size of his first command's bridge.

With a sigh he sat down his duffle bag and opened it. He pulled out its contents one at a time, looked them over and placed them on his desk.; a knife, a ship's dedication plaque, a type 2 phaser with type 1 attachment with stand, an award placard in wrestling on the Klingon home world with a medal inset, as well as a pair of ceremonial bat'leths set together on a wall stand.

The very last item was a wicked looking knife of Andorian design sealed on to a metal blueish plaque. Dried blood could be seen on the blade.

He sat down still looking at the blade, remembering a friend now long dead.

Redding eyed the door for a second at the idea someone knocked on it, but said "Enter" and the door opened.

"Lieutenant, come on in. Just making myself at home." He set the type 2 phaser to the left on the desk and positioned it.

He motioned for Alex to be at ease by waving at the chair in front of him.

"Did you know we met once before?" He said spinning around his desk display screen.

A picture of her much younger with her father stood out on her personnel file. "Sorry I didn't recognise you right off, but you filled out a lot since then." He cringed slightly, he had meant to say 'filled in a lot..' and moved on quickly.

"I had a few run-ins with Ambassador Somers during my time with the Klingons, one time he brought you along."

As she took the seat Alex noted his slip up and smiled a mysterious smile "I see, I do not remember you Captain and you must have been young yourself" He looked too young to have known her that early, but now he mentioned it she remembered seeing him there, she raised an eyebrow "You do not look that old Captain" she said with realisation. I think one time you both went to a Klingon bar for some Bloodwine. Since then I have been in plenty of fights and have gone toe to toe with a Klingon in a drinking contest and won. But saying that the next day I must have upchucked my stomach as I felt like crap, but I drunk the Klingon under the table" she said with pride "why did you want to see me Captain?" she asked.

"vaj 'e' leghmo' pe'vll SaQ nuq 'oH Qu'llj'e' naDev 'ach?" he said in fluent Klingon, placing his right hand on his chin.

Roughly translated he said "So Commander, have you found out what you're job here is yet?"

Smiling at him "ghobe' jIH am vIHHa' getting wIj bearings" she said in fluent Klingon using English words as there were no Klingon versions for them, then switching to english "while my Klingon is a little rusty, I learned a lot growing up among Klingon's, I attended most functions on Qo'noS, by the time I had reached the age of 20 I was as skilled with the Bat'leth, Mek'Leth and D'TagH blades and the best blade master the Klingon's had. Of late though I have taken a liking to the Wakizashi blade and use two of them, ideal for close combat, then there are my two versions of a Desert eagle pistol, the ones I tend to use aboard ships and bases are the Pulse Phaser models similar in workings to that of a Klingon disruptor pistol. The other versions are real working replicas with real ammunition and extended mags, even now I have a weapon on my person" she said and waited for the Captain 's response.

"Excellent, and fortunately for you I agree with personal weapons as long as you can prove to proficient with them of course." He held a finger up for her to wait as he checked the personnel files.

"Hmm, looks like the only one on board that knows how to use 'swords' is.. me?" he mocked a surprise reaction.

"Not many people train with swords in Starfleet it seems, I'll have to certify you to carry them when we get a chance to work on it." and put on his serious face.

"Set up a training room for the next few days and we'll go over it." He then stood up and walked over to a wall holding a ships plaque.

"In the meantime we need to get this ship on the move, round up the senior officers and have them in the meeting room by.. lets say 1600 hours. I'll give a briefing and basic mission online at that time."

He then turned to face her still holding the plaque. "Does this look good here?"

She looked at him and pulled out a small Padd and placed it on his desk "I already have certification from SFMC HQ Captain" she said showing him the certification on the Padd, that had the signature of her melee weapons trainer on it "I only use bladed weapons in combat or when required otherwise I follow ship rules where such weapons are concerned, even then most of the times I found that the missions I have done does not really need blades, but I carry them anyway, something to do with having them and not needing them, rather than not having them and needing them" she paused as she prepared to answer his next question.

"It does, you might want to display more than a Plaque Captain," she said looking at where he was placing the item, then she thought despite her certification she suspected Redding's comments on certification were for his own piece of mind, this she understood, he was new to the Horizon and he did not really know her yet. Then she remembered his comment on the briefing and pulled out another Padd and sent a priority message to all Senior Officers Padds notifying them about the mission briefing at 1600 hrs, then she looked at the Captain "Anything else Captain, that Padd I put on the desk is your copy of my certification on the blades, as for the Pistols, the hard ammo ones I rarely get to use them these days, it is either my Pulse Phaser versions or standard Starfleet regenerative Phasers" she added and was surprised that the Captain had not asked her about her hidden weapon she had on her person, it could be seen if one knew what they were looking for. Lucky for her the hidden weapon was rarely used outside of training and uncommon in Starfleet.

"It's a replica of the one my father's ship had, they were never able to find the original, lost with all hands." he looked a little more passive as he spoke about it.

"He was a MACO Colonel." It seemed as if he was going to say more, but stopped.

"Nothing more Lieutenant, see you at the briefing." and returned to his desk.

Looking up, the meeting was obviously finished, she smartly saluted.

"yes Sir" she added and left his Ready Room and returned to her Station on the bridge, running the strange meeting through her head. So distracted was she that she did not notice the new arrivals on the bridge.

After a lengthy and somewhat harrowing security process at the boarding ramp, Shelly made her way inward toward the main bridge ten decks above and nearly half a kilometre inboard. The leisurely stroll was mostly to familiarise herself to the immensity of the ship and its layout. Actually, however, she needed time to acclimatise herself to these new surroundings. Sure, star base Lotus, her home now for the past months, was gigantic in and of itself, but knowing one was on a starship over a kilometer in length and almost as wide, comprising over forty decks and employing about twenty-five hundred crew and civilians, she wished to give herself some sense of the place.

The decks were literally crawling with people, from almost every known species in the galaxy. As she guided herself toward the main bridge, by using the panel displays interspersed along the decks and the PADD in her hand, Shelly noted the various departments and tried to mentally affix them in her mind. Residential apartments and the computer core seemed to occupy most of decks nine and eight, while science labs and transporter rooms took over decks five and six respectively. deck four was cargo and shuttle bay, while decks two and three comprised mainly officers country. Finally, after nearly an hour of prowling the halls and taking the lifts one deck at a time, Shelly entered the main bridge, port side.

Looking about at the huge expanse she took it in. To her right along this aft wall were crewmen at two science stations; to her left was another large station directly centre aft, then another turbo lift entrance with two engineering stations further along. Stepping further into the bridge she noted the tactical rim behind and raised above a set of five chairs. Walking around the rim and down the ramp past the port engineering station Shelly walked over to the first chair starboard and looked toward the large view screen at the front. Just below that was the helm/navigation station nearest her, and port side of that the operations station, both currently manned by busy personnel.

Turning toward the large center seat among the five in the center of the bridge Shelly belatetly noticed the Deltan officer seated in a chair, watching her somewhat speculatively. His blue collar suggested sciences or medical, and Shelly noted the three solid rank pips of a commander on his collar. His position, to the right of the center captains seat made his assumed position known to Shelly and she assumed the Deltan to be the ships executive officer. Placing her satchel bag onto the chair to his right, Shelly introduced herself to the bald headed, purple eyed man.

"Ensign Rogers reporting for duty, Sir."

"Ah, acting Ensign Shelley Rogers, we meet again," Elliago said in his warm, charming voice, his dazzling smile barely less mesmerizing than his lustrous purple eyes. "I'm glad this time we will be on the same side of the bridge."

It was not so long ago that the woman had been working with a renegade Cardassian during the classified investigation in the theft of the USS Diamond Star, sister ship of this flagship, perpetrated by none other than her own brother. Through some Starfleet bureaucratic cloak and dagger play, David Rogers had kept, although in a surveilled, restricted way, his rank and commission and transfered to some unknown Starfleet siberian assignment while she was now being appointed as a diplomatic aide to the Horizon. That was quite a twist, considering that, the first time they had met, she had been pointing a disruptor at Captain Connora'tu Felez and him.

"I have reviewed Starbase Lotus medical file on you and confirmed you as fit for duty. Welcome aboard. Anything I can help you with?"

Shelly looked again at the Deltan officer, then finally realized they had, in fact, met before. This lighting, on the Horizon bridge, was far different than the Cardassian bridge where she had last seen him. Somewhat abashedly, she corrected her introduction.

"Ah ... yes, sorry Commander. I didn't recognize you."

He made a mock sad face that was all the more charming.

"You have no idea how painful to hear this is for a Deltan."

Thinking quickly, Shelly came to a somewhat perplexing admission for the Horizon's first officer.

"As a matter of fact, yes, Sir. I seem to be a bit out of my depth here, Commander. I am assigned as diplomatic aide. But ... aide to whom?"

"Why but to the Federation no less... and your captain in particular," answered Elliago with a warm smile but a serious stare. " If i read his record correctly, Captain Redding has a rather... archaic outlook of his duties in general and, regarding diplomacy, what was once called... "cowboy diplomacy." That might have seemed to work two hundred years ago, but when we currently see the result with the Klingons and the Romulans, to name but some of our oldest friends out there in space. Someone here has to enlighten him to more... modern options."

He made a small sigh but still smiled.

"I understand your feeling completely. I myself do have actual command and bridge duty experience and familiar with starships like the next Starfleet brat... yet I too feel out of my depth. I'll always be a healer first and last. But life is change and sentience is measured by the capability to adapt to change faster and better than biology can. And civilization estimated by our capability to help one another. So let's hep each other in these trying times."

Listening to the first officer, Shelly thought that perhaps there was a semblance of opportunity here to live up to the path her brother had started her upon. As the Deltan wound up his talk she nodded appreciatively and then picked her satchel up off the seat beside him.

"Thank you, commander. I see I have some studying to do then. I had best settle in and get to work then."

"That's the spirit, my dear," he said with a smile.

She had meant to go find her quarters and unpack her meagre belongings, but just at that moment her personal PADD chimed in its holster and she pulled it out to read the mission briefing note from Lieutenant Somers. Looking back at Nasaro-Myth she noted that he, and actually a couple others on the bridge, were reading PADD's as well. Making a mental note of these people as probable senior bridge officers, Shelly decided that she would need to brush up on the crew that would be manning this large bridge. She would be interacting with them very soon now.

"I'll get squared away now, Sir, and then return for this meeting," she finished, gesturing with the PADD to indicate the briefing note.

She wondered whom this Somers was exactly, as her understanding was that the Deltan was second in command and, as captain Redding was supposedly in his ready room, what authority Somers had to order command meetings. Starfleet protocols would be another thing she would have to garner some intel on she decided. Her past usually had her working on her own. Working together to achieve a goal was foreign to her. Perhaps a syndicate assassin wasn't a good choice for a diplomatic aide.

Elliago, frowning over his Padd, was unknowingly thinking the same thing as the half-Romulan woman. Somers was not only of much lower rank than him, but it was not her job to coordinate the crew and ensure the captain's orders were known, understood and executed; that was his job. That's what executive officer meant.

Acting XO he reminded himself with a wry smile. He knew Redding was unorthodox in many ways and his peculiar, slightly outmoded psychology ought to show in his command style. But this... either he was testing young Somers... or training her for something, maybe the feel of her own acting bridge position... or he had decided his CMO was not good enough for him to serve as his XO.

As commanding officer, that was his prerogative of course; but it would have been nice to have been told first and in person rather than in this blunt, disgraceful fashion.

Unless the lesson was for him as well.

Captains work in mysterious ways, his chief engineer of a father had once told him about his captain-mother when she seemingly did something he didn't understood. Never put protocol in the way of work he had said to Kyle of Redding's attitude; that sure rebounded fast in his own face!

Have faith, he then told himself humorously. And he thought serving under a Human, after years under one of the most unique and unusual Andorians alive, would be easy...

Alex sensed tension on the bridge and it was aimed at her, the only thing she would have done to get such uneasy interest was the message she had sent, so swivelling in her seat she looked at the Acting XO but spoke loud enough for the bridge to hear.

"You are all likely wondering why a Second Lieutenant sent a message about a mission briefing, just to put everyone's mind at ease, the Captain asked me to send out the message. I may have sent it, but it was with the direction of Captain Redding"

She paused and now directly looked at Commander Nasaro-Myth.

"Commander, does this explanation answer your curiosity? Being a Diplomats Daughter I have been taught to pick up on such tension, I may not be as an accomplished diplomat as my father, but I can hold my own" Alex said with a smile.

"Indeed you do, Lieutenant. I can see now why you have been selected for the flagship," the Deltan answered with his dazzling smile. "But the question is not about you following orders properly but about why the captain ordered you to do so in the first place. Of course, captains can do as they please on their ship, even put the janitor in command if he so fancies... but that doesn't tell us why. And a captain is in no way required to explain himself or his orders to us. So it leaves us wondering when he does something unusual, because we have yet to understand him if we are to serve under him."

He winked at her.

"Sole master under God and all that."

She smiled slightly at the Commanders wink

"As long as it is understood. I was wondering why the Captain asked me also, Commander, but it is not our question why, ours is to do but..."

She did not finish the sentence, but hoped her meaning was clear

"Still, I feel like I have been thrown in at the Deep End as the ship's Strategic Operations Officer. Such a job usually goes to an experienced bridge officer. Me I am a simple marine who knows what she knows, because I have to, but as the ship is so big I suppose we all have to adapt."

She looked to the left.

"I wonder if this is what the Borg had meant when they had said you will adapt to service us!"

Then she came back to the present.

"Oh well I suppose we will have to break in the new Captain and he us, huh Commander?"

"That's how any relationship works, Lieutenant, professional or otherwise," the Deltan agreed. " both sides must go halfway to meet. Captain Redding is rather... old school as an officer, much more a Kirk than a Kheren to be sure. He has to work to adapt to twenty-fifth-century ways but we too have to adjust to his ways; because he is the captain. Hence what I said before."

She looked at the Commander

"Oh I agree that one should not question the Captain, that is the duty of the First Officer and Chief Medical Officer" Alex said smiling.

"And I happen to be both," he answered returning her smile.

Then she realised what the Deltan had said.

"What the Captain is not from this century?" Alex asked.

Elliago smoothed his bald head with a lost look for a moment.

"Yes and no; it's a bit complicated and I could not even begin to explain what, how or why. Let's just say that his outlook is... classical. As I said, when dealing with him, forget Captain Kheren or even Captain Picard; think Captain Kirk or something of Captain Archer... the decisive shipmaster leading from the front old school type. I for one will not have to lead away teams as the book says for sure."

She looked a little alarmed.

"That, while admirable, is unwise, Commander. After all, the Captains have all the access codes for a Federation Sector they work in and thus are deemed to be too valuable. This is why the First Officer does the more dangerous away missions. Everyone knows that there are factions out there that do not have the same rules as the Federation does where telepaths are concerned and their use of them. There are even groups that would use torture to get what a Starfleet Captain knows and the methods they would use would make a Tal'Shiar or Obsidian Order interrogator blink. The fact that the captain is hands on is great, but the 25th Century is not the 22nd Century or the 23rd; Starfleet has more to lose should one of its ship captain's gets captured and tortured than it ever did during Archer or Kirk's time

She shrugged.

"But who am I to stand int he way of a captain who likes to put his life on the line and had the style Captain Redding seems to have."

She paused as she looked at the Commander.

"I am a diplomat's daughter. I was brought up with being taught such rules on what is official and what is not"

After adding the last bit, Alex fell silent.

"I totally agree," the Deltan said with a smile but a serious stare. "But I can only remind the captain, advise him at best, annoy him at worst, but not dictate rules to him. He is the ship's master and commander; his judgment always prevails... because he is the one to assume all the responsibilities, even of our mistakes while we are under his command. Guess that's why he prefers to take this attitude... but I'm no counsellor."

She looked at the Commander.

"Back in Kirk"s time, Commander, the Doctor was the Counsellor. But I tend to agree; one can only advise the Captain of the dangers and not to lead an away team in a dangerous situation, but in the end, the responsibility on risking his own life is his, while the rest of us hope that a hostile force does not catch him and torture what he knows."

Elliago smiled and winked.

"You said it yourself, my dear; this is not the twenty-third century."

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