Meeting the New CO

Posted on 01 Jul 2016 @ 7:27pm by Lieutenant JG Felix Langston & Commodore Harvey Geisler

1,605 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Risky Business
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD 1 - 1400 hrs

Lt. Felix Langston had just finished setting up his new quarters on Deck Two. Deck Two! he thought, that's for the senior officers! I've never had a post like this before. Before he left the room, he took a look at the most spacious room he'd ever lived in during his time at Starfleet. These quarters made his old home on the USS Sacagawea and the USS Peregrine feel like shoeboxes by comparison. He noted the pictures of Lettie May, Ray and Petey, and the old admiral himself on his desk. This was already starting to feel like home.

Felix then went to the mirror to make sure his uniform was presentable. This was his first actual meeting with the new CO, apart from briefly glimpsing him at the briefing on Starbase Unity. He made sure to tuck his uniform shirt in with care. He stood as straight as he could in the mirror, taking note to make sure his hair was more or less in place. Langston men had a tendency to let their hair get wild, particularly on long duty assignments. Everything looked suitable. He walked over to his desk, grabbed a PADD and made his way out the door.

Walking to the turbo lift, he made sure to wave and/or nod his head and smile at the crew members walking past. He had to find a way to remember everyone's names on board the ship. As he approached the lift, the doors whooshed open. "Bridge," he said to the computer as the doors closed. The computer beeped affirmative and the turbo lift went up to the bridge.

Felix stepped out and nodded at the officers on duty as he made his way to the ready room. He tucked the PADD into his right arm and reached out to the doorbell. He drew his arm back slightly, but then steeled himself and tapped the panel.

Harvey sat behind his desk, reading a report from the Task Force Senior Staff. As the ship was operating under radio silence, Harvey had requested as much information as he could regarding developments across the fleet, amounting to enough reading material to last a couple weeks should he need it. Of course, that information would be nearly useless by the time they returned, but it was a good way to pass the time in these quiet hours of the mission.

The doorbell did not startle him in the slightest, especially since he would expect it during these hours of the day. The Captain simply turned the display off and called, "Come," commanding the doors to open to reveal the person wishing to see him.

The doors to the captain's ready room slid open to reveal the captain sitting at his desk. Felix stepped through as the doors closed behind him. He looked around, nervously hoping he wouldn't fumble over any of his words. He walked up to the captain's desk and stood straight.

He took a quiet, deep breath and gently sighed it out. "Lt. Felix Langston, reporting for duty as new Chief Flight Control Officer," he said. "I'm honored to serve aboard the Black Hawk."

"Welcome aboard, Lieutenant," Harvey said, taking a moment to size up the younger man. He seemed a little nervous, as many a fresh officer had been in front of their new commanding officer. The Captain recalled small pieces of Felix's personnel file. It had been handed to him just before leaving Unity, and with the Black Hawk's sudden departure, nor did he expect the new officer to be on the bridge during their hasty departure. Still, it was good to finally meet the younger man.

Harvey smiled, hoping it would do enough to ease the Lieutenant. He rose from the desk to take his finished cup of coffee back to the replicator and asked, "Can I get you something to drink, Mister Langston?"

Felix swallowed and cleared his throat slightly. "Uh, sure thing, sir, I'll take a water if you're offering. I'm already double my normal daily coffee intake. I need something to dilute the system."

Dilute the system? he thought. That's probably the stupidest thing you've ever said to a CO

Harvey couldn't help but chuckle at the comment, even though it was at the Lieutenant's expense. "I didn't think one could have enough coffee," he replied before instructing the computer to replicate two glasses of water.

Felix smiled and breathed out a small sigh of relief. "Thank you, sir," he said to the captain. "I'm eager to get started, and to be honest, quite a little nervous about my first post as Chief of a department. I was wondering if you had any words to say regarding that."

After Harvey handed off one of the glasses, he returned to the other side of his desk and gestured for Felix to sit if he so desired. Harvey sat in his chair, put held the untouched glass close to his chest. "The only thing different between being both a chief and a member of a department is just that you have to manage people. As long as you're good at what you do, which is easy to assume since you've been promoted in both position and rank, you should have no trouble. The real test is how well you get along with others."

Felix sat down and lightly sipped his glass of water. He held the glass in his hand as he rested is arm on the armrest. "Thank you, sir," he said. "Anything you can tell me about who's who in the CONN department?"

"You've got a good department," Harvey acknowledged. "A couple stand out though. First is Lieutenant Adan who just transferred to Chief Support Pilot. He's spent some time behind the helm and has been fairly good at it. The other, who I don't intend to let Starfleet steal, is Cadet Khan. She's... colorful, but very talented. I'm sure you'll have to do a bit with her as well while she concludes her studies."

"Wow," Felix said as he shifted in his chair. "You have a cadet on helm duty? She must be good, I hardly noticed any rookie mistakes."

He swirled the water around in his glass. "So, sir...what do you think about our mission?"

"You'll find that extraordinary circumstances both warrant and require extraordinary measures," Harvey replied, not needing to defend any decisions that he made even if it wasn't being questioned. And, not answering the younger man's question, Harvey countered with, "I have many thoughts, but I'd like to hear yours first. I assume you've at least heard my ship-wide announcement and read what information is available."

Felix took a sip from the glass. "This is pretty heavy for my first Chief assignment, he said. "I mean, a Thalaron weapon? I thought those were a myth, but then I saw for myself what happened to the Romulan Senate. My Dad kept stuff like this from my siblings and I when we were kids. Now I'm beginning to see why."

Felix took another large gulp of water as he went on. "And this weapon of untold destruction is in the middle of a Mutara-class nebula. It might be a little easier to win at Go after starting second."

He paused for a bit. "I'm sorry about the Consortium, I know you lost some good people. But I promise, as long as I, or any other member of the CONN team is in that chair, you'll be in safe hands. I'll see to it personally, captain."

"I expect nothing less," Harvey replied. "We'll be blind, completely blind. The Black Hawk's maneuverable, but she's bigger than what we're going up against. You've got your work cut out for you."

Felix finished the rest of his water. "Well sir, as long as I have a tall ship and a star to steer her by, I think I'll be alright," he said as he half-smiled and placed the glass down on the desk.

"You'll be just fine," Harvey said before taking a drink of his. What was the old saying, What doesn't kill you makes you stronger? Harvey knew first hand how true that was. "Personally, I hope this rumor is just that, a rumor. But, it's best to be prepared for the worst. All I can guarantee is that there will be a showdown. Just make sure you and your team are ready. Standard emergency protocol is in effect. Keep a relief officer near the bridge, and one in Engineering should anything happen to us on the bridge."

"Aye, sir," Felix said. "I was just going to the XO to get the duty assignments after our meeting here. Once again, thank you so much for approving my request to transfer here. I can't explain, but I feel like I'm connected to this ship, like I was meant to fly her. I'll do my best to keep my new home and this crew safe, sir."

The captain nodded, and placed his half-full glass of water on the desk. "I'll hold you to that, Lieutenant. And the Black Hawk's a good ship. Treat her like a lady, and she'll always get you home."

"Aye, sir," Felix said. "If there's nothing left, sir, I'd like to see the XO about getting my duty assignments. Requesting permission to take the post."

"Granted," Harvey replied, rising from his chair. "Welcome aboard, Lieutenant Langston."

Felix stood up and smiled. "Thank you, sir," he said. He straightened his uniform jacket and walked out of the office.

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