After the Storm Part 1 MISSION START

Posted on Mon May 11th, 2020 @ 1:17pm by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Ensign Michael Sloan

Mission: Mission 3 - 100
Location: Ready Room, Deck A
Timeline: Day 100, Month 4, 22:00
1034 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

"Just take it," Michael stated as he slid the small piece of metal toward Beth. As if trying to parry any incoming protest or argument, he said, "We wouldn't be where we are without you."

Leaning forward a little, the man added, "It was one of Leah's. I think you more than deserve to actually be the Captain, no more acting." Smiling a little, he indicated himself as he said, "I know that doesn't mean much coming from a person who's lost their rank and standing with the crew, but think of it as coming from a friend."

Beth had invited him to the ready room to discuss the new normal that was now being established on the ship after the last 100 days. She wanted his opinion on a few things and to offer something to him but it seemed he was desperate to get some stuff off his chest. "I cannot... I have not been acting." She added sounding a little disgruntled at the prospect of play-acting.

"Exactly, and that's why you deserve to be formally called Captain," Sloan responded. "You've been the rock that the crew needs to get home." He nodded toward the pip on the desk between them, "This ship needs a named Captain, not just a person keeping Leah's seat warm. It's your ship and it needs to be official. The last one-hundred days have shown that you are the right person, and she was right to make you her XO."

Beth looked at him and slowly reached for the pip before she stopped and looked at him. "Can you repeat that if I get the computer to record it?" Beth asked a little glint in her eyes as she looked at the man looking more relaxed than she had seen him in a long time.

"Oh? I have access to the computer?" Sloan tried to laugh, but he still needed to work through some things in himself. He had done much in the weeks since his rescue to rebuild his standing among the crew, but even he had no idea where to go from here.

Beth found herself smiling a little bit as she leant forward still not touching the pip but her fingers were almost there as if a barrier stopped her from going any other. "Not quite yet but I am sure I can ask or find a recording device." She said honestly.

Nodding a little, the man replied, "I understand." If Michael were honest with himself, the restrictions hurt. However, he understood them and knew that if he were in her shoes he would probably be less lenient.

It had to hurt the man to first be confined to the brig and now his quarters apart from meal times and half a duty shift cleaning in the new bio deck with the only crew member who seemed to like him enough to offer to supervise him O'Connery. "How are you feeling?" She wondered. He might not be a crew member at the moment but he was someone under her care on her ship, someone she respected as he had saved her life with the boarding party.

"Better," Michael nodded. "Memories are less like flashbacks and feel more like things that happened to someone else," he stated. "I am still figuring out who I am, but I do know that you and the crew are the only things that matters to me. Regardless of where I came from," he said, unsure of why he was saying it. But, it was something that he wanted to get off his chest.

"I appreciate that notion but we both know that the crew are still sceptical despite your heroics over the last 100 days," Beth said gently knowing he meant it. They had had a few extreme experiences in the last 100 days from saving each other's lives to just quiet moments where they have had time to contemplate what had brought them there,

"The last hundred days have been hard on everyone," Michael admitted. "We were so close to home," he added, sadness filling his voice.

The woman pursed her lips together and frowned. She would never admit that she had nightmares about it all and how close they were. "We were so close but it caused us so much heart ache. Maybe it would have been better to take the risk?" She looked at him unsure. Even if he was not her Executive Officer technically at the moment she wanted to talk about it all.

"Risk is part of sitting in that chair," Michael flatly said as he motioned with his hand to indicate the Bridge. Looking at Beth in the eye, he added, "You made the right call. Don't look at it as a failure. We know that getting home is something that can be real."

"Even so," Beth said softly. There were still a few people on the crew who blamed her for not taking the risk but it had been impossible to risk everyone for a possibility. "I am just relieved that it ended well enough with minimal casualties," Beth admitted thinking on it deeply. It had been discussed with Aurelius until she was hoarse but he said the same thing, it gave them all a chance.

"There could have been so many more," Michael replied, his voice betraying the fact that any loss was hard on him despite them being a bit more fortunate.

Beth nodded at his thoughts, they could have lost so many more or not be there at all. The last 100 days had been the hardest the woman had ever experienced personally and professionally but she was feeling ready. The woman leant out for the pips and finally picked them up. The weight almost nonexistent but it mentally it was the heaviest thing she had ever experienced. "I think I am ready." She said before smiling at the man. "Ironically I have something for you." She turned away from him for a second reaching for something and looked at the package she had wrapped up in a cloth to give to him.

OFF::

Commander Bethsabee Leroux
Officer In Charge
NX Atlantis

Michael Sloan
Crewman
NX Atlantis