Reporting For Further Duty

Posted on Thu Oct 19th, 2023 @ 4:48pm by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Lieutenant JG Anton Zakharov

Mission: Contagion
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: 360
1812 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Anton attempted to straighten his blue jump suit for the sixth or seventh time. He had done his best to get it clean to the best of his abilities. But being so far from home it was difficult to get your hands on a new Star Fleet uniform. Some of the stains had now faded, but the burn marks were still visible, despite his best efforts with a needle and thread. He had stashed his usual tool belt back in his locker and had tried to press and iron the uniform. He had even polished the zippers. The reason for this attention to detail was Zakharov had been summoned to the Captains Ready Room. Anton had been informally looking after engineering since the Chief moved moved, and Anton hoped the Captain had finally decided to put someone else in charge. He had of course met the captain in passing but had never really been this close for a one to one conversation. Some of the junior officers had joked that he should tie some string to his leg so they could track it and find him if he went missing. Coughing, and straightening himself one more time. He pressed the call alert button to the Captains Ready Room and awaited permission to enter.

Beth could not shake the bittersweet feeling of leaving Michael behind on Relea to continue his research for the ship. She was now tasked with bringing someone else into Sloan's position, a daunting responsibility. The weight of the decision weighed heavily on her shoulders as he had been her boyfriend and the emotions with complicated by something more secretive that she had not truly thought on properly yet. It wasn't just about finding someone with the right skills; it was about finding someone who could match Sloan's passion and dedication, it was what the ship deserved and needed.

“Come in.” She called softly.

"Captain," said Anton, crossing the threshold into the Captain's ready room. He took off his NX-05 cap and held it behind his back, and stood smartly in front of his superior officer. "You wanted to see me, Ma'am?"

"I did." Beth's eyes met Anton's as he entered her ready room, a mix of determination and concern etched across his face. She had been pondering this moment for days, and the weight of her decision was palpable. She nodded and gestured for him to sit. "Take a seat." She added just encase he missed the motion.

Anton nodded politely and sat in the designated seat. He fidgeted a little from side to side, whilst trying to keep his posture as straight as possible.

"Anton, I've been thinking," Beth began, her voice steady but tinged with regret especially as she used his first name instead of surname or rank. "Sloan's departure has left a significant gap in our team, and we need someone to fill his position. We need you to do that." She used we so that the man it was coming from her and Gerhard. They had spent many days wondering if it would be better to put Jamesson there and put someone else on the newly christened operations but the man from the Alternative universe was doing such good work.

Anton's jaw dropped and he pointed at himself in surprise. "Me Captain? Are you sure?" he realised he had just questioned the Captain and cast his eyes down to the floor "Urrmmm sorry captain" he said apologetically in his thick Russian accent. "Its just i have not had much leadership experience."

Beth spoke softly, her words carrying a sense of consideration. “I could have put Jamesson there sure but he is quite happy with operations and I believe it might be a little hard for the department having there dead former chief engineer back in command.” She finished her sentence with a gentle smile, hoping to ease some of the concerns that had been voiced.

Yeah that would of been a bit weird thought the Russian engineer to himself. He had not really got over the Boss's death, nor had he got his head around this whole parallel universe thing.

“Well you have leadership experience Ensign. You have successfully been managing Beta watch for a while now.” There had been an uptake in production and morale on that shift.

"Thank you Captain" responded Anton beaming with young pride.

Beth passed over a small item - a pip. It would be silly to leave him as an ensign. Sloan had requested to stay as that as punishment but there was no needed for it now. “It comes with the promotion to Lieutenant junior grade promotion.” She added trying to make him see that he was worthy of this change.

The young engineer's jaw dropped, and he pushed closed it with one index finger under his chin "Captain I....." he did not know what to say. Anton was speechless, which for the Russian was a rarity.

Beth arched an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on the Ensign who sat before her, stunned into silence. His reaction was a surprise for her; she had never witnessed him so devoid of words and caught off guard. Within the confines of their current predicament, it seemed they had all but ruled out the possibility of advancement.

"Is that an affirmation or a negation, Ensign?" she mused aloud in Russian, her tone filled with curiosity. Her multilingual ability allowed her to communicate effectively, even if her words held an air of uncertainty due to her surprise. It was a moment of anticipation, awaiting the Ensign's response to the unexpected proposition.

"Affirmation Captain please" responded the former Ensign, spilling out his words in enthusiasm. "It...I....I...thank you Captain." He could not get the words out being nervous as hell. But in his minds eye he could see all the plans he had for the Atlantis's engineering division and and future upgrades coming to light and fruition.

"Take a few deep breaths, Lieutenant," the Captain advised, her voice steady and reassuring. A promotion like this marked a significant milestone for many of the crew, and she was determined not to let her own nerves show at the step she was taking. With a calm demeanour, she continued, "So, as the new chief engineer, what's your first move?"

After settling into the exhilaration and then taking few deep breathes, "Babies" responded Anton with an affirmative nod of his head and a smile. "Let me explain" said the Russian engineer seeing the quizzical look on the Captains face. "Nature is going to be nature captain, and whether it be us picking up additional crew along the way, or the crew having babies, its going to start putting additional strain on the ships systems and supplies. Oh we could maybe build a creche somewhere too. Anyway I digress." He waved his finale thought away. "Our immediate risk is system sustainability. Eventually our ships systems are going to be worn down, and no matter how much we upgrade, repair and fix. They are going to ware out. We can replace of course, with what we make or recycle. But eventually this is going to effect the overall integrity of the ships systems."

Beth raised an eyebrow at the baby comment, but didn’t react other than that. She listened to his words and smiled at the fact it was l a similar conversation that she’d had with Sloan a few months ago, so at least it boded well that their minds thought in similar ways. “Soooo…”. She encouraged waiting to hear his thoughts and ideas on how to keep them going.

Anton couldn't help the feeling that he was getting that look teachers gave when they expected an answer, that sort of looking over the ridge of your glasses that a disapproving authority figure gave. "The first opportunity we get and with your permission, i need to completely overhaul the matter synthesizer. This won't stop the effects. But will reduce them significantly. Until we can source a new one or an alien technology alternative."

“Effects?” Beth wondered quietly. She was not aware that there were any issues with the matter synthesizer but a lot of jobs and roles were shifting between engineering and the newly created operations department so it might be still up in the air and under discussion.

"The effects on the system Captain from being so far away from home and not enough spare parts to keep the thing going for over an extended period of time. Don't get me wrong, it has plenty of life in her. But if we are going to be out here longer than her life expectancy we need to start working on the problem now sooner rather than later.

"So long-term effects and not short term got you Lieutenant." Beth eased back into her seat just a little and nodded. "Sounds good. What do you need from the command team right now?" She asked thinking that he would know of the future core but that would be a conversation for another day.

Anton gave the question a moment's reflection. "More staff" he asked optimistically. He knew the answer would likely be no, everyone was working double shifts and not one department was fully manned. Still don't ask don't get, his Dad always said.

"Sure if we get back to Earth." The Captain commented with a roll of her eyes. God loved a trier for sure but there was not enough people some days it was also why Engineering was being split to allow the Engineering side to focus on the engines of the ship without having to focus on everything else.

"Do you think we will?" Asked Anton "Get back to earth I mean Captain?" He had never really got the opportunity to ask the Captain the question before. Anton had made his peace with not seeing home for a long time, if at all. But he knew a few in the crew that where still homesick and spent many a night wistfully thinking of home.

Anytime Earth was mentioned Beth froze and this time was no different as she thought about his question and sat straighter. "I am not sure Lieutenant but I will keep aiming for home to the best of my abilities to try and get us there," Beth assured quietly. It was the only answer she had other than turning the ship back to Relea and making a life for everyone there.

"Thank you Captain" said Anton not feeling very re-assured at all. "If i maybe dismissed Captain. I have a lot to do." He stood up form his chair and stood politely.

“You are dismissed.” Beth said knowing he was not reassured by her words but all she could do was try. As soon as he left Beth quickly ran into the bathroom as a wave of nausea took her over.