Chat with the XO.

Posted on 24 Oct 2014 @ 3:18am by Lieutenant Min Zhao & Commander Scarlet Blake
Edited on on 24 Oct 2014 @ 6:00pm

2,205 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo: XO's Office
Timeline: MD -27 - 1600hrs

ON:

[[USS Galileo - Bridge]]
[[1600]]

With the shift change taking place and Commander Blake coming off duty, Min decided this was the best time to speak with her. Stepping onto the bridge, Lian in a sling that T'Vanna had convinced her to try, Min caught Blake's eye as she finished her shift briefing for Captain Holliday.

For Blake, it had been a very on and off and hard day. A lot had already happened, a lot that had required her to work off the bridge for a few stints. Frankly, coming back to the bridge had made for a nice, quiet, calm change to her day compared to the rest of it. As she moved to head off to another firefight, she caught Zhao's eyes and recognised the look. "Something I can do for you, Lieutenant?"

As Blake approached, Min composed herself to broach the question she wanted to ask. Protocol didn't dictate that Min had to speak with Blake but this was as much a courtesy to her as anything else. "Commander. Do you have a moment to speak privately?

Scarlet nodded despite her headache, waving to her with a hand to motion for her to join her in the turbolift. "We can go to my office, Deck 2," the last was instructed to the computer in the lift as she rubbed the back of her neck with a sluggish hand. Once the doors were closed, she looked to Lian with a small smile. "Congratulations, I'd heard the rumours...." she reached out to touch a soft little hand with the tip of her finger.

"More then rumors. She was born early on the (MD9th). Funny thing is I had her with me that afternoon during the tribble crisis briefing and nobody noticed, I assume because of the focus on the mine and those blasted tribbles."

It was only a few seconds before they were deposited on to deck 2 and Scarlet led her into office. "Now what is it I can do for you? I hadn't expected to see you so soon."

Min took a seat once they were in Blake's office. "I won't be watch standing for a few more days but this tribble situation meant I've been doing light duty work, paperwork mostly. That however isn't why I'm here."

Scarlet nodded, moving to take her own seat behind her desk, sighing as she shifted to get comfortable. "What can I help you with then?"

Min continued. "It's more of a personal issue and something that were it not for my circumstances of joining this ship, I'd probably not bother to bring to your attention." She paused. "I can explain in more detail but the long and short of it is that Jared and I are planning to have another child at some point in the future."

Scarlet watched her for a long moment, looking to the small baby before nodding gently. "I take it that if you're bringing it to my attention, you are planning for the near future?"

"We're not planning per se, and that's the crux of the issue. Planning suggests we're taking steps to prevent another pregnancy until we both feel it is time." She paused. "When I was younger, my mother once said that the biggest mistake she made vis a vis her family, us, was waiting after my brother was born until she was ready. In her words, 'Ready never comes.'"

"I still have to ask Jared if he's still on-board with the idea but when we spoke of this last, we agreed that we wouldn't take any steps to prevent another pregnancy after Lian was born."

Min paused. "I guess what I'm saying Commander is that Jared and I are planning to stay off the shot now that Lian is born and whatever happens, happens."

"I see," Scarlet nodded, sitting back as she watched her, her features even as she let out a gentle breath. On the inside, she felt some concern...once a counsellor always a counsellor perhaps? But even as First Officer, looking after the crew was still her concern. "Have you considered that your hormones may be influencing how you feel on it?" she asked, a blunt question perhaps, but it was her worry. She remembered how she'd felt when she had Lily. The rush of it all.

"I have no doubt Commander that they are influencing my decision making process. You have to understand tho that my past mistakes aside, settling down into a marriage and family is what I want to do in life, that one thing in my life outweighs Starfleet. Don't get me wrong, I derive pleasure and a certain satisfaction from my work on the Galileo and I'd hate to ruin this second shot at a career over something silly, but being a mother and wife is who I want to be remembered for when I'm gone."

Scarlet nodded as she looked down, frowning as she let out a long breath. "However, this could effect your career. This ship isn't equipped for children. There's no child care. There's no schooling. The quarters are cramped and there's limited leisure facilities. Being an officer, a department head no less, at the same time as being a mother to a child is difficult, but two children? Two babies? That will make it even harder to commit the time needed to your chief position," she replied honestly, meeting her eyes. There was no judgement in her voice, just laying out the reality.

"I understand the career implications Commander. And I realize that on a ship like the Galileo, we're really not suited to having families aboard, despite the small influx we seem to have had of late. While the children are younger I think it would be workable as Jared is around as well." Min paused to think a second before she continued. "When I first was assigned to this ship, even with just Lian on the way, I knew that there would come a time where I would have to consider requesting a transfer to a more family friendly ship for that exact reason. A second child would merely speed up how soon such a choice would have to be made. Also, most likely I expect that with more then one child I would need to step down as Department head to care for the children because, as you said, competing demands on my time."

Scarlet nodded slowly, considering her response as she let out a soft breath. She wasn't her counsellor, it wasn't her place to present concerns that she was perhaps advancing her personal life at a rather fast pace. She'd laid out her concerns for her career if she went down that path and Min had clearly replied that she understood that and accepted it. "All I would recommend is that you spend a period of time on duty whilst also being a child carer to see how it is in reality before making a firm choice either way on expanding your family," she said quietly. She couldn't do more than try and advise her not to rush an irreversible decision. It was Min's body, and her life.

Min nodded. "I appreciate the advice. The next few month's I think Jared and I will probably be adjusting to having Lian around anyways so expanding our family won't exactly be first on the list of things we'd like to do." She chuckled. "I am told that sleep however will be at the top of that list."

"Oh yes," Scarlet laughed softly, shaking her head slowly as she looked down. "Trust me, first you wonder why you ever took sleep for granted, and then you can't remember what a proper sleep feels like and you decide it's just a myth...."

"And that alone may keep us from getting pregnant for a while. And if Lian is Colicky..." Min leaned back in the chair. "Wedding plans. We hadn't picked a date yet but I was speaking with T'Vanna earlier today. She suggested, and it's an interesting idea, that if Jared and I were planning to get married anyways, why not do the wedding relatively soon?"

"Her thinking is that with all the crew's been through, a happy event for everyone to take their minds off this mission would be a good thing. And for me I'm looking forward to the wedding no matter the date so why not?"

Scarlet smiled softly as she sat back, watching her. Again, she had to bite her tongue. She was worried this young woman was rushing things, perhaps because of, or at least in line with, the situation that her brought her to the ship, who knew. But it wasn't her job to interfere in her personal life, not unless approached for advice. And this didn't sound like she wanted advice, more a 'yes'. "If it's what you both want, we have shoreleave ahead of us, it would give us time and space for it."

Min paused, taking a step back from everything. "Commander. Am I crazy?"

Scarlet let out a soft breath, shaking her head with a half smile as she met her eyes. "Crazy? No. I just..." she leant back, considering her wording. "I worry, on a personal level, about how fast things are moving for you. I can't help but look back at the troubles you've had before, where your heart ruled your head. I'm worried....that you had a bad patch a little while ago, and now you've found something good, you might be so keen to hold onto it that you're rushing it all forward. Sometimes enjoying the moment is important too. Like...just taking the time to enjoy Lian for a while rather than thinking ahead to child number 2...just....enjoying living with someone you love, enjoying getting to know them, learning them, instead of thinking ahead to bind it and make it more serious. Sometimes, when a person keeps looking ahead for fulfilment, they can miss the things going on in the present that can be enjoyed just as much," she shrugged softly, shaking her head with a small smile. "Consider that the counsellor talking. It's your life, and you know you a lot better than I know you. Deep down, you'll know if it's right for you or too much."

Min nodded quietly, taking in what Scarlet had to say. "Some moments I'm completely sure I'm doing the right thing Commander and some days I wonder if my past problems are creeping back up on me, but in a different way. All I know is that I love Jared more then anything else in this world, except perhaps Lian."

Scarlet nodded with understanding. She wouldn't be the first young woman to be swept away by love. She leant towards her, her voice soft. "My only advice would be....you don't have to make any firm decisions today, or tomorrow, or this week, or this month. Take your time before you decide anything, to be sure those doubts are settled....if you want to make it happen quickly once you're totally sure, you can, but it's harder to do it the other way, you can't go back once you've gone forward."

Min nodded. "It's not Jared's love for me and Lian, or my love for him I doubt. I always gave him the opportunity to bail if he wasn't ready for us to be a family, and he's still here so that says something. It's more the fear of screwing things up a second time, letting my passions push me too fast, or conversely my fear of them making me hesitate when I shouldn't."

"I know," Scarlet assured with a small, half smile, shaking her head. "I don't doubt you love each other very much. It's just that sometimes, moving fast can put pressure on it. But everyone's different. What's right for one person isn't what's right for another."

Min sighed. "I probably should speak with a counselor about this. I guess I'm a little more mixed up inside then I thought."

"Well we have three for you to choose from," Scarlet chuckled softly. "That is something I can help you with. It doesn't hurt, right? Worst comes to worse, it's just half an hour of your time, and on the upside it could help clarify whether you need to maybe slow things down for the time being, or confirm that you're on the right path."

"I'll talk with Lt Carlisle. She knows my situation best and actually asked me to talk to her when I was a little more settled after the birth."

"Great idea," Scarlet said gently with a small smile before motioning to Lian. "You should get the little one back, she's been very good and patient. Thank you, for keeping me updated in your status though."

Min looked down at Lian who was dozing in her arms. "She has been. And Jared's probably wondering where I am as I'm usually home when he get's off shift." Min stood to go. "Thank you for the chat Commander. You've given me some things to think about."

OFF:

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo>

&&

LT Min Zhao
Chief of Operations
USS Galileo>

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