Not In Kansas Anymore Part 2

Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 @ 3:53pm by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Ensign Michael Sloan

Mission: Mission 1 - One Step forward
Location: Ready Room
1079 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Stepping into the Ready Room with Beth, Michael got straight to business. He rubbed his brow mostly due to stress about the news, then said, "As I'm sure you've noticed the Captain wasn't with us. When the ship his turbulence a few hours ago, she got out of isolation with her command override codes and went to engineering." Shaking his head, he finished, "She fixed the engine problem but was exposed to the radiation too long. We found her in Engineering."

Beth did indeed notice that the woman was nowhere to be seen at all. Where could she be at a time like this when they ship wasn’t where it was meant to be then it all came flooding out of his mouth where the woman actually was and Beth felt the world that had shift 360 degrees just moments before doing it again the other way. How were Beth and the rest of the crew meant to handle this sudden shift without Leah? The Captain was the calm and cantered one, she knew what to do in every situation. “I see,” was all she said as she sat on the desk.

"We have to get back to Earth," Michael stated. "Without her leadership, we don't have what it takes to make the treaty." Without saying it, he knew that Beth was now the Acting Commanding Officer of the Atlantis and he really did not trust her to get the peace deal done.

"We have a bigger issue than just the treaty that I would have been perfectly capable of making and why I was brought along," Beth said lowly as she looked the man over properly. He still hated her and believed her not able to do the job that she had been brought to the ship for.

"If you say so, ma'am," Michael replied to the last part of her comment. Because she held the higher rank, he used the proper ma'ambut because he did not respect her leadership he did not call her captain. Looking into Beth's eyes, he paused for a moment. Realizing what she said, he asked, "What is the bigger problem?"

"I do say so, Commander." The woman narrowed her eyes at the man before she indicated the window where the purple hue was still visible from the small window. He might not respect her and almost pretty much hate her but he had no choice right now but to work with her. "Where do you think we are?" She asked making sure her accent was less pronounced so he could hear the question.

Michael gazed out of the porthole to view the indicated purple hue. Not grasping what exactly Beth was trying to say, he replied, "We were aimlessly going at warp for almost a whole day. That hiccup in the engine may have taken us off course a bit. My guess would be the Hellaspont Nebula. What about it?"

"No Commander. Our sensors cannot get a navigation lock on the stars, even if I use the Vulcan database. We aren't in known space." The woman said simply. She didn't know any more information than that as they had been still trying to work it all out when they had left the bridge.

“What do you mean?” Michael asked, looking as though he had been punched in the gut. “That’s impossible.”

"Not impossible." The woman assured quickly as she saw the man pale just slightly. "This is why we need to start working together. We are the senior most officers on this vessel now." Beth reminded him.

Nodding his agreement, Michael stated, "Of course. I have the experience, the crew will respect my command. But you would make a good XO, to help us communicate with anyone we meet." Not considering her position, he starting thinking about what they had to do. "We'll need to check supplies, ensure nothing contaminated our food an water, they have become our top priorities."

Beth blinked at him for a second before she shook her head. "I am the senior officer here, Lieutenant Commander." The woman said firmly. "You have two choice mon ami...You are either with me and the crew or against me and the crew. Your choice." She added as she heard the request for them to go to the Bridge.

Absolutes and ultimatums. Those were two things that drove Michael crazy and Beth just used both against him. "Veru...," he blinked, before continuing, "Is that how you choose to run your ship? Threats and ultimatums." Cracking his neck at the gall of the Commander, he said, "I'm with the crew and my oaths with United Earth and Starfleet are sacred to me. Just make sure you have more than just ranks. Are you the one to lead us home from however far we are away?"

Turning away as though he were going back to the Bridge, he quickly reconsidered and turned back to Beth. It was clear from his voice that he did not like what he was about to say, but he had to say it. "Because of my respect for Captain Morgan's decision-making abilities, I will respect her wishes. You are the Captain of this ship." His brown eyes almost burned a hole through Beth's own as he stated, "Being a leader is more than just getting us home."

The woman raised an eyebrow as she watched the man blink almost as if he was confused for a moment before she looked at him patiently, it took every ounce of self-control she had not to just punch him in the face but Leah would be so disappointed if she did that. "The question Michael is are you the man who thinks he can get us home when the first thing you thought to do is over reach on the chain of command and circumvent it." The woman said to him heading towards the door.

Before he could respond in another volley of character insults, the interior comm unit chirped as Ensign Fairchild's voice sounded from the speaker. "Commanders, the computations have completed, you are needed on the Bridge."
Looking back toward Beth and somehow sensing that he needed to put on a brave face for the crew, Michael nodded his head. "Very well... Captain," he stated, moving to the side so she could enter the Bridge first.

OFF::

Commander Bethsabee Leroux
First Officer/Chief Communications Officer
NX Atlantis

Lt. Commander Michael Sloan
Chief Armory Officer/Second Officer
NC Atlantis