Everything Has Changed

Posted on Sat Feb 15th, 2020 @ 12:58am by Lieutenant Samantha Leyton & Captain Bethsabée Leroux

Mission: Mission 2 - Fallout
Location: Deck E - Sickay
Timeline: Day 3, Month 1, Year 0 08:00
1269 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Beth was just about to turn and leave sickbay when she saw someone out of the corner of her eyes getting prepared to leave sickbay. "Bonjour Lieutenant." The Officer in Charge greeted warmly realising who the woman was. She had garnered who everyone was after the last five months of travel but this was the first time she was actually being Executive Officer to work in a real-life situation, she had always had Leah to fall back on. "How are you feeling?" She wondered thinking to all the people that had been injured in the travel to 150 years from home. Did this woman even know that yet or that her department head was so badly hurt it was unlikely he would be able to fly ever again.

Samantha looked at the woman for a moment before responding--recognizing her as the XO, or at least she had been. She made her way over to the woman. "I've been better to be honest, ma'am. I'm surprised to wake up in sickbay and not in a hospital since the doc said I was out for a few weeks. What's going on, Ma'am?"

"Weeks? You have been out 72 hours or so. We were not sure you were going to be waking up, to be honest. You knocked yourself pretty hard." Beth wondered confused for a moment before she had the nasty realisation no one had told the woman what was occurring despite the purple nebula being visible from any porthole. Why had no one told her what was going on and prepared her to step out the doors. "Lieutenant, while we were sheltering from the radiation we got tugged into a space anomaly. We are approximately 9 point 5 thousand light-years from Earth. At Warp 4, it will take us about 150 years to get home."

Samantha was unsure of how to respond. "150 years?" she repeated. Her mind raced, refusing to believe what she had heard. "H-how?" The thought of never seeing Earth again was like a knife through her heart. "I mean, there has to be some way back, ma'am. "

Beth could see the woman's mind whirling and twirling as she tried to register what was happening and how it had all happened. Beth was taking comfort that eventually they would get home in some form even if they were not there to see it, children or grandchildren might. "We do not have a quick way back as of now. We just have to do what the crew of Atlantis do best, do the next right thing and carry on until we get to where we need to be." Leah had always said she had the best crew out of all the NX Fleet.

Samantha closed her eyes, fighting back tears, letting out a deep slow breath. She knew the Commander was right. She could hear her grandfather now--'work one problem and then move onto the next until you reach your goal.' She opened her eyes. "You're right ma'am. What's our situation aboard ship? Are we operational or dead in the water?"

Beth stayed silent until she saw the woman gather herself properly together. It would take everyone time and patience to tackle the realisation that they were stuck with these people forever. "We are slowly becoming operational." It would take time and resources that they really did not have to become operational to a standard that was required but it was neither here nor there, they were no longer dead in the water which was progress.

"I should check with Engineering to see if there's anything I can do," Samantha stated. "I've been asleep for nearly three days. It's about time I get off my ass and help out, ma'am. "

"Have you been released properly?" Beth inquired not moving to look at the charts but she would if she felt the woman was doing too much before she was ready. It would only damage the woman more if she charged on instead of resting, they could not afford to be foolish with their health at all now.

"Yes, ma'am. The doc told me to take it easy for twenty-four hours and check back, but it sounds like the ship and crew needs me more." Just the thought of being on bed rest for another day drove her crazy. She needed to be up and moving about--she still felt weak and stiff from being bedridden for those three days.

"Take it slowly. Help in areas that are not heavy lifting." A nurse said from the doorway making Beth smile a little. It was exactly what she was going to say to the woman.

"Ship needs every man and woman but we need them to be healthy." Beth encouraged making sure that the woman understood. There could be no medical evacuations to earth or anywhere else.

"I'm good to go, Commander," Samantha ensured. "How are the rest of the crew?"

"They have been better," The Commander assured gently. It was a shock for sure but some of them were prepared for things like that and had quickly made peace. Some did not have much to go back to sadly, whilst others were in states of despair that Beth was not sure how they were going to get out of it. It was a work in progress and three days were not going to perform miracles.

"I can understand," she replied solemnly. "I have a family on Earth to get back to and I'm going to do everything I can to get back to them."

"And I will try everything in my power to get us back there." Beth wanted to hope and pray that the trip would not take three generations but they had somehow been transported that far my a rift that had appeared out of nowhere. How lucky did they have to get to have it happen again?

"I know ma'am. I have a feeling it will take everyone to get us home..." Samantha trailed off. She wondered if they weren't just better at finding a suitable planet and starting a colony there instead of being trapped aboard a ship traveling through space that was designed for only six months before needing resupply.

"One step at a time," Beth assured quickly. It was fast becoming her new motto and something she hoped the grew would appreciate eventually. It was not a perfect approach but it was an approach that gave everyone breathing space and enough time to process all the changes before taking the next challenge.

"Yes, ma'am. How is Lieutenant Davis? The doc told me he was injured," Samantha asked of her department head.

"He has been better." It was not her place to discuss the man's condition but she would confirm he was okay. "I am sure though he could do with a visit from yourself? Maybe you should head to him and discuss the department?" Why had she not considered that earlier when the man was so badly injured. This woman had the potential to be his replacement as department head.

"Yes, ma'am. I will, thank you. If there is nothing else, I would like to do so now and then attend to my duties," Samantha replied with a curt nod.

Beth did not need to say anything other than return the curt nod and allow the woman to return to duty. Everyone was needed and she was thinking that the woman was going to be needed more than she realised at the moment.

OFF::

Commander Bethsabee Leroux
Officer In Charge/Chief Communications Officer
NX Atlantis

Lieutenant JG Samantha Leyton
Chief Helm Officer
NX Atlantis