Lost

Posted on Sun Mar 9th, 2025 @ 5:49am by Captain M'Raz & Kenneth Hunt
Edited on on Mon Mar 10th, 2025 @ 8:28pm

1,753 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Resistance is Necessary
Location: USS Jane Addams- Corridors
Timeline: MD002 - 0700

Cadet Hunt was wondering down the corridors. There was so much that happened over the past twenty-four hours. Commander Moak died as a result of them going down and rescuing as many people as possible. There was still no word from any member of his family on Earth. His grandparents and cousin who resided around Starfleet Headquarter were more than likely dead. As long as his uncle, aunt and two cousins who lived in New York that was bombarded from space in the opening attack without warning. His parents were in Houston, which was attacked, but not bad as the other places initially. They could still possibly be alive, but the Jane Addams went radio silent with communications. For the first time in his life, Kenneth felt completely useless and was now just trying to clear his head when stumbled upon Captain M'Raz. "Captain, Sir."

Returning from his appointment with Dr. Pierce, Raz was headed toward the turbolift when the cadet all but ran into him. He stepped back somewhat and nodded, "Cadet." He meant to move on but something in youth's expression stopped him. "Are you lost?"

Kenneth went completely silent as he thought about the question. He knew his way around the ship for the most part. But he definitely was lost in the sense of not being in the right state of mind. "I honestly don't know Sir. At this time, I have no purpose and really have clue on how to proceed."

"You were supposed to be assigned to a department," Raz said. He kept his expression neutral though he was not entirely happy with the thought that his orders hadn't been followed. "What year were you at the Academy? What was your Major?"

"Commander Reeves assigned me to security," Kenneth quickly responded. "And I am second year cadet majoring in security. As far as no purpose, I guess it's more along the lines of feeling helpless. The majority of my family is likely dead right now."

"Come with me," Raz said. He knew the ship, years of late night wanders had embedded the layout of the Jane Addams deep into his memory, and he led the cadet to his own dining room where his breakfast was ready to be served. He gestured for Hunt to join him at the table and sat down, nodding for the steward to begin. He waited until the coffee was poured and the steward went to fetch their meal to begin speaking. "It's a tragedy of unspeakable proportions," Raz said quietly. "And I know it's hard. The not knowing. Not being sure. "

He lifted the mug to his lips and took a sip then returned it to the table, his attention focused on the cadet. "If you were in command of the ship, right now, what would you do?"

Hunt was still somewhat surprised to be sitting at the Captains table. Let alone asked a question. "Recover as many survivors as possible and likely fall back and regroup with more ships. Prepare for a counter offensive."

Raz nodded his approval. "Which is what we did," he said quietly. "Though preparing for the counter offensive will take some ... research. Nothing we threw at the cube and from reports, fired at the Borg themselves, had any effect."

The steward returned and set out breakfast for the two of them, avocado toast with chorizo sausage and Manchego cheese, and then left the dining room as quietly as he came.

"Very few ships in the Sol system survived the attack," Raz continued, "and its likely that they'll be hunting us soon if they aren't already. And that's why, communication is being restricted. Before I ordered that, people were already trying to reach out. And communications can be tracked. I'll be honest with you. This career comes at a cost. And now, more than ever, it's going to be dangerous and difficult. But you're a cadet, you haven't graduated and there's still time to change your mind, if you want to."

"Absolutely not," Kenneth spoke up. "Sorry about that, Sir. I didn't sign up to quit at the first sign of 'trouble. Restricting communications I understand. But its the unknown that's bothering me more than anything. I'm doing exactly what Commander Reeves instructed me to do, but I feel I should be doing more." The Cadet stared at the food, unsure on whether to start eating. He felt it best to follow M'Raz lead in the whole breakfast interaction.

"Please, go ahead and eat," Raz said as he gestured toward the plate. "So, its the down time, eh? Check with Operations then. Maybe you can help out with the refugees. And if nothing else, you could always volunteer to keep the children entertained. Read stories. Play games. That sort of thing."

Doing as instructed, Hunt began to eat. "I'll go ahead and check with operations. Keeping busy has always been my go to when things bother. Just never to this level. Not to sure about entertaining children though. I was a more serious kid."

"There's bound to be a few of those down there," Raz said. "And if not, you can always drag them into something active. I don't know your human games at all. On Cait, it was more, you be the prey, I'll be the hunter. That sort of thing."

"We have something similar called Manhunt or hide and seek," Kenneth chuckled. "Is Starfleet seriously allowing the Cadets to leave?"

"Things have changed a bit," Raz said. "I'll know more once we make our rendezvous but as a second year, I think you'd be forgiven for wanting to separate from Starfleet. Understand, I don't think it's a particularly smart idea myself but, ultimately, we have to decide for ourselves how we live our lives."

"I have no desire to leave. Can't speak for the others who arrived with me, but I am almost certain they will want to stay as well."

The thought flitted through his mind that he was, in a way, speaking for them, but Raz left it unsaid. "We are living in uncertain times," Raz said. "It's alright to be scared. Worried. But we're Starfleet. Our job is to figure it out. And that's what we're going to do." He quieted for a moment as he began eating more because his body needed the fuel than anything else. Too much happening to take any real pleasure in the meal though, if asked, he would of course say that he loved it. Never irritate the person making your meals was one of the 'rules'.

"Sir, I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me and the meal as well," the Cadet spoke. "But if I can ask one question. What is it that you wish to see from new officers?"

"It's a lot of things," Raz said. "Someone who sees what we do as more than a job. Someone who has a unique contribution to offer. Ideally, someone who understands the need for a chain of command and who can see past the need to bark orders, to really see the people under his or her command." He wrapped one paw around his coffee mug, extending one nail slightly to stroke the side, as he thought. "Someone who can think for themselves and isn't afraid to speak so long as its tempered with respect. And all of that sounds like a lot and it is, and there are some variations, but those are the key points I think. Why?"

Hunt took a quick sip of his drink. "I want to be an officer who leads by example. The chain of command has been impressed on me since I was a child and I respect it. But I see so many versions of how officers lead. And I wonder what style of leadership I would take on. My friend says that I shouldn't take things so seriously. But she tends to look at life as seriously and can joke her way through things. But she still manages to get the job done. Not sure if turning things into a joke to always lighten the mood is the bet. But would that be her own style of leading?"

"There are many approaches and yet, they all have some things in common. Tell me, can you guess what they are," Raz asked.

"Leading by example," Kenneth answered. The young man went silent as he thought about some other things. "Knowing how to put the right people together to complete a task."

"Yes, although you'll find that Operations is largely responsible for assigning the right people to an away team. They go with the team lead's preferences but if that's not possible, they'll find the right people and assign them. Think more ... big picture ..."

"Operations. I've been considering what I should minor in. Figuring out what steps are best to one get into command."

"Rather than taking a minor, like ... Operations," Raz said, "you could try rotating through the departments. Rather than master one, begin learning all of them. Not so that you'd be an expert but that so you understand how the ship works." He polished off the first of the two pieces of toast and reached for his coffee mug. "If command is your long-term goal, that's a good way to start on that path."

The young was clearly surprised. "Had no idea rotating through departments was an option. I would definitely like to do that whenever you feel the time would be right for me to do so..." Suddenly the Cadet went silent briefly. "I apologize Captain. Getting ahead of myself. For all I know, I might end up getting assigned elsewhere."

"True," Raz said quietly. "First, you have to get through the Academy and that could be problematic, given how things are right now. Perhaps we can set you and the other cadets up with a course of study here on the Jane Addams."

"I for one would appreciate that," Kenneth replied with an eager smile.

"Then, I'll look into getting it started," Raz said. "Put together a list of the cadets, include the year their in, their major, that sort of thing. It will help with setting up a program."

"I will get you that list right away."

"Well," Raz said as he lifted his coffee mug, "you could finish your breakfast first."

Hunt simply nodded as he went back to eating the contents of his plate.

=================
Captain M'Raz
Commanding Officer
USS Jane Addams

Cadet Kenneth Hunt
Security Cadet
USS Jane Addams

 

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