Don't Sit Down 'cause I've Moved Your Chair

Posted on 05 Oct 2016 @ 4:56pm by Commander Luke Wyatt & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm

1,288 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: USS Galileo, Sector 014 - Deck 1, Bridge
Timeline: MD -04 - 0737 hrs

[ON]

Luke had a pretty restless night, he hadn't managed to get himself to sleep a whole night through without a nightmare since the Mirror Universe excursion. It mostly comprised of him and Abbey talking but as she did she grew further away and every time he tried to refocus or grab her back his hand would disperse her altogether like a cloud of smoke. This usually wouldn't bother him but to keep himself from going back to sleep everything morning he had to drink coffee, he hated coffee.

Stepping onto the bridge Luke looked around, most of the oncoming bridge crew was in the process of taking over form the Gamma shift but he still couldnt see Lirha. Stepping back of the bridge he walked back past his own room and pressed the door chime to the admirals door holding the pot of coffee he wasn't one to usually make or give the Admiral a drink but if he didn't he'd have to drink it and he couldn't think of anything worst.

The chime went unanswered, however, for many long moments. Probably because Lirha wasn't in her office yet. The hour was still early for her and she was slowly making her way to the bridge. Alpha shift was not due to start for another twenty minutes, and so she found herself a bit surprised to see the familiar red-collared man standing outside of her office when she entered the bridge.

"Good morning, Mister Wyatt," she said from behind him as she approached.

Turning to see the Admiral he smiled "Ah good morning Admiral, good sleep?" He asked holding his hand out with the flask of coffee and the mug to drink it in. "Would you like some mediocre coffee to wake you up this morning?"

She shook her head sleepily yet adamantly. "No, thank you. I cannot stand coffee. Something about the smell makes me nauseous..." She stepped past him and into the ready room to her desk while motioning for him to follow her. Once seated in her comfortable chair, she leaned back and suppressed a brief yawn. "So what can I help you with this morning?"

Luke sighed the mug of coffee now being a burden he didn't want, as an ensign walked by he palmed the mug off to him and smiled before quickly following behind the admiral "Honestly? I've trying to find things to do. This new role is amazing and all but there almost nothing for me to do anymore"

"Oh? Bored with reading sector reports from Starfleet Intelligence, already?" she teased with a light chuckle. "I remember the first time I was assigned to a starbase posting as a chief intelligence analyst...it was not exactly what I had been expecting and the work was...monotonous," she admitted.

Luke couldn't help but smiled at that "I could, by memory, tell you where the entire fleet is as of 30 minutes and its condition, God forbid if I was an enemy agent infiltrating star fleet! Or captured we'd be up the creek without a shovel?" He shrugged "Something like that anyway"

"Yes, that would be unfortunate. But I would be sure to kill you before any enemy would extract information from you." She hid the jest in her voice which was only betrayed by a slight wrinkling at the corner of her eyes. "Well, I will be happy to have you assist our various departments. I cannot think of a senior officer who would not appreciate an extra pair of hands while on duty. What would you like to be doing?" she offered.

Luke frowned at her comment and hoped she was joking but at the same time he'd kill her too "Well" he thought for a moment "Id be useless in most areas but I've always wanted to get better at flying and I already get on with ensign Delani and flight is a bit undermanned. I also dont think having me near a warp core, science pexperiemnt or a surgery is s good idea"

"You...want to assist flight control?" His preferred choice of department came as a bit of a surprise to Lirha which was evident in her light voice. It wasn't that she didn't think he could perform well, but rather that a man with his prior experiences and grit seemed a bit more suited to physical work than finesse starship controlling. "I suppose I could make arrangements. Have you discussed this with Miss Derani?"

"Not yet. I had planned too though" He smiled "I know it's a little odd, I know and we'll before I went away with her I didn't have the same appreciation as I do now for departments. Do you realise how interesting the warp core is adm the technology behind it. I had the chief explain it to me" he said.

Lirha nodded in agreement. She'd felt the same way when she had attended her first flight control courses at the Academy many years ago. Although she didn't possess a natural aptitude for piloting like most of the career helmsmen, she nonetheless enjoyed the thrill and engineering behind space flight. "I know the feeling," she replied just as another thought popped into her head. "There is another option as well if you wish to assist another department. It seems Miss Benice has been called away for several months on another assignment. She recently departed not more than an hour ago. I realize you already have experience within the Security department but if you would like to help supervise the personnel during her absence, it could be arranged."

He thought on the moment "As much as I would like to I think the assistant chief can manage things I'm sure it won't be long until starfleet send a new chief besides I can always help out if they need it." He offered hoping he didn't sound to ungrateful.

"Are you familiar with all of the department's personnel? There are several NCOs who would probably need another officer to look to for guidance." If for nothing else than to keep the chain of command intact, she added privately.

Luke couldnt argue with that logic "Ok, I guess I can help out until a new chief arrives. It does make sense and at the least gives me something more than watching fleet reports and graphs every hour" He added sourly. Gods he needed a good battle to spice up his life.

"Then it is settled," she said, still not quite 100% awake but feeling a bit more invigorated while the early-morning business meeting began to conclude. "The department is yours...for now," she continued. "You can report to Commander Wiggins on your progress and any needs you might have."

He nodded "I'll have a inventory check see where the department is at and where Gyce had left it, hopefully the change wont impact the department to much.I'm starting to think the position is cursed." He teased. "Are you sure you don't want that coffee?"

"I would rather be put into a targ pit than drink that sullen cocktail," she protested. The Orion looked at the stack of PADDs in front of her which had been neatly arranged by her yeoman overnight to be processed. A soft sigh traveled through her gold lips as she looked up at him once again. "If there is nothing else, dismissed. And good morning," she added in her best attempt to be cheerful.

He chuckled lightly before lowering his head with a respectful nod, "Have a good day admiral" He said before leaving her to her own thoughts.

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lt Cmdr Luke Wyatt
Chief Strategic Operations Officer
USS Galileo

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