Mending a Broken Chain

Posted on 14 Mar 2016 @ 9:29pm by Lieutenant Commander Jiang-Chao Xiao & Commodore Harvey Geisler

1,099 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Black Hawk Corridors
Timeline: MD 1

"Commander Xiao, the Black Hawk has docked," came a lilting feminine voice from the comm system.

"Thank you," Jiang-Chao replied before thumbing off the comm signal.

He had arrived on Starbase Unity less than 24 hours previous, having been reassigned from the Sovereign-class USS Aries, where he had been serving as the Chief Flight Controller. He had spent his entire career piloting starships, even when he was engrossed in scientific research, he still took shifts at the conn. Flying just seemed to come easy to him, surprising since he hadn't even left Earth until he joined Starfleet. Although his long-term goal was starship command, he saw that as being years, maybe even decades, away.

But now here he was, transferring to a new ship, albeit temporarily, as Executive Officer.

He felt wholly under-prepared. For the last six months, Jiang-Chao had been taking shifts as the Aries' watch officer during night shifts. Captain Aaronsen had even promoted Jiang-Chao to Second Officer (in addition to his helm duties) several weeks previous.

But that seemed like worlds away from being XO, especially on a ship, and with a crew, that was new to him.

Since arriving on Unity, he had mostly stayed in his guest quarters, venturing out only to eat at one of the public eating areas. Now, however, he needed to go meet with the CO of his new assignment, Captain Harvey Geisler.

***

To say that Harvey Geisler was not looking forward to his next engagement was a gross understatement. While he understood Mac's reasoning, Harvey did not cherish the idea of having to break in a new First Officer right after the Consortium debacle. As much as he did to cripple their working relationship, Harvey needed to patch things up with Mac.

And now he had to deal with some young kid. Commodore O'Connell had made it clear to Harvey. Resources were few among Starfleet forces. The Consortium controlled everything. While O'Connell and Cameron did everything they could to reallocate resources and personnel, the Black Hawk was fortunate to see little turnover.

Even capable Command Officers in short supply, and this Commander Xiao was all the Gamma Quadrant had to offer right now.

Harvey traversed the corridor to reach the starboard airlock, wondering what to even say to the Lieutenant Commander. Hell, he even hoped the crew could trust him after what they'd just been through.

Time would tell.

The Captain entered the airlock waiting room just as the Boatswain completed mounting the moorings. The Warrant Officer noticed the Captain's arrival and requested permission to open the docking hatch, a request which Harvey reluctantly granted. Here goes...

The hatch opened and Jiang-Chao put a smile on his face just in time to greet his new CO. "Captain Geisler," he said enthusiastically, extending his hand. "Lieutenant Commander Jiang-Chao Xiao. Great to meet you sir."

Were the room more occupied, Harvey would have taken more of a diplomatic approach. But, as the boatswain had stepped through the hatch to check the other connections for the umbilicals, leaving the Captain and the new XO alone in the airlock. "Commander," Harvey greeted. "This way," he said, turning for the door that would lead them into the corridor.

JC followed Geisler into the corridor. "I'm a little surprised to have been assigned here, sir. Especially as Executive Officer."

"I wish the circumstances were more ideal," Harvey replied. "Unfortunately, you're here because my current Executive Officer is taking a Leave of Absence, authorized by my medical and counseling staff. Someone's got to fill her shoes while she's gone, especially since I again don't have a Second Officer."

"Of course, Captain," JC replied quickly. "Will Commander Kos be remaining here on Unity?"

"Unity's not staffed for her needs," Harvey replied, guiding them to a turbolift. "She'll be traveling with us during our next mission."

He had read the report about the Black Hawk's last mission, but the info on Commander Kos' status had been pretty much glossed over. It didn't seem that Geisler was inclined to speak about it now either, so Jiang-Chao dropped the subject.

"Unfortunately, because of the urgency of my reassignment, I haven't been briefed yet on the mission, Captain."

"Ever hear of Yolvanda II?"

"I've heard of it, yes," JC answered. "The name anyways. But I don't know much about the planet itself."

"Think of it as Risa, just in the Gamma Quadrant. Task Force Command has ordered us to ferry some supplies to the planet, as well as bring back a few things. The crew will be able to take a few days' leave in the process."

JC smiled. He'd never been to Risa, but he'd heard many...titillating stories of the pleasure planet. "It sounds like I am lucky to have been assigned here," Xiao said happily. "What kind of supplies?"

"Food stuffs, replicator matter, odds and ends." They arrived at a turbolift, which seemed to have been sitting there waiting for them. "Our real goal is to allow the crew to have some R and R."

Jiang-Chao nodded. "For how long?"

"Not long," Harvey said, tapping the button for Deck Two. "Unity will need us back if we're going to do something about the Consortium."

"I haven't had to deal with the Consortium myself yet, Captain. I hope that isn't too big of a strike against me."

The Captain grunted. "Consider yourself lucky."

"Of course sir," Xiao replied. He was concerned that he might had offended Captain Geisler, which was not a good way to start his time on the Black Hawk.

"Just because you're lucky doesn't mean you'll be away from it forever," Harvey cautioned as the doors opened. "We're about to have a staring contest with a few of them."

"Is there anything specific you need me to do, Captain?" JC asked. "I'm not sure if you've had a chance to review my personnel file, but my background is in flight control and stellar cartography, primarily. I'm not sure how much use those skills will be for our mission, though."

"For the mission," Harvey replied, stepping out into the corridor. "Not much. But your cartography skills may come in handy as we start to analyze the Consortium's status."

"Of course Captain," JC responded. "I'm here to provide whatever support I can."

"I'll have more details for you following the Staff Briefing," Harvey replied, stopping outside a set of quarters. "Which is in about half an hour. I'll expect to see you there, Commander."

Jiang-Chao bowed his head slightly in deference to Geisler. "Until then, sir."

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