Inspiration

Posted on Wed Aug 26th, 2020 @ 11:31pm by Lieutenant Samantha Leyton

Mission: Mission 3 - 100
Location: Samantha's Quarters
Timeline: MD 45; 2200 Hours
555 words - 1.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Sitting cross legged on her bunk, dressed in a black t-shirt with the word "Friends" on it and grey running shorts. Her hair hung down just past her shoulders as she rummaged though a grey box containing personal items. It had now been over a month since they had been lost and she was beginning to wonder if they would ever find a way home. She found an old photo--the color fading showing a man in an antique flight suit, holding a flight helmet in his right hand, sporting a large grin. His hair was close cropped and she deduced it was taken aboard an old Earth Carrier as water could be seen in the background along with an old fighter that she recognized as an F-18 Super Hornet.

She smiled at the photo of her great grandfather at a young age. On the reverse, there was faded writing made by a ink pen that stated "Lieutenant Jake Leyton, USS John C. Stennis." Her family had always served in the military and now they served Starfleet. Serving and especially flying was in her blood--her very DNA. She wondered if Starfleet had considered them dead or missing. She placed the photon back into the box as her eyes came across a data chip.

She grabbed the chip and placed it into the monitor on her desk. A moment passed as the monitor accessed the data on the chip. A moment later, her great grandfather appeared on the monitor, dressed in the same flight suit that he had wore in the photo minus the G-Suit. In the background was the grey spartan bulkhead of his quarters on the carrier. "Hi Kate, hey babe. How are you and Ben? I sure miss you two. I'm sorry I haven't contacted you more often, it's been hell the past few days. Yesterday, those damn Eugenics took out the Nimitz. We managed to eliminate their base...but the cost was high. Rick didn't make it back," he let out a sigh and paused, rubbing his face before looking again in the camera. But hey, I'm doing ok--you always said I was too stubborn to die anyways, right? Leytons usually are," he laughed before continuing. "Word is this war will be over in a month or two...God I hope so. I'm always thinking of you. Love you always, babe," he spoke just as the intercom cut in and an alarm sounded: "Condition Zebra! All hands General Quarters! Inbound bogies!" Her great grandfather jumped to his feet. "See you and Ben soon!" The video ended at that point.

Samantha removed the chip and placed it back into the box. Her Great Grandfather and Grandfather had both faced dire situations in their careers--and now she was no different. 'It's a part of serving,' she deduced. And as her great grandfather said, Leytons were too stubborn to die--or give up. She closed the box gently and placed it back in the storage compartment under her bunk. Laying back on her bed, she thought of her time thus far, her new role as the ship's Second Officer and of her new relationship with Aurelius. Sure, things were more stressful, but they could be much worse and hopefully she could help keep the Vrav off their backs. She closed her eyes in search of sleep.