Appointments: Science

Posted on Thu Apr 17th, 2025 @ 8:23am by Lieutenant Michael Harris & Captain M'Raz

1,512 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Resistance is Necessary
Location: Captain's Ready Room | Deck 1 | USS Jane Addams

It hurt. One of those sharp pains that he wouldn't, couldn't speak about. Denali had been brilliant with two Ph.Ds and a talent for applied mathematics. Quirky. She preferred pen and paper. Kept journals. Left notes for herself. She loved her job and insisted on beaming down whenever they were heading into something new, something unknown.

Kabyn had been gentle and caring. Good at coaxing his patients into cooperation and certainly not above making house calls. Older but still capable of blushing when someone paid him a compliment. Wicked chess game. Not at his level but good enough that he had to pay attention when they played. Kabyn loved books though his tastes ran to classical fiction. He missed the chess games and the book swaps and the long conversations.

Kingsley was elegant and gracious with the driest sense of humor and the hint of a smile in his eyes. The man was a walking encyclopedia of customs and culture. He remembered Kingsley taking a short leave of absence once because he wanted to experience a particular event first hand. He'd spent days preparing and came back with this euphoric look on this face.

He missed them. Senior staff. Capable officers but more than that. Friends. Family. And now, he was replacing them, one by one, long before he was ready to do so. With everything else that was going on, well, this was just one more onerous task to heap onto the pile. New people. People he didn't understand. Wasn't sure of.

And now, it was time to bring in another possible replacement. He sent a message to Lieutenant Harris, newly on board, after being found in an escape pod, and requested the Lieutenant come to his Ready Room. With that done, he headed to the replicator for another cup of coffee, his replacement for down time and reflection, and returned to his desk to work while he waited.

Michael had been resting in guest quarters that he had been assigned. He wondered what would be next for him. With the loss of the Hawking, and Earth evacuated. There must be a regroup point for the fleet, and once there he would look into his next orders. For now there was nothing for it save to relax, heal, and mourn.

Michael had replicated his favorite pewter stein as a replacement for the one lost on the Hawking and he sat drinking some apple cider. It comforted him. He raised the cup and was about to give a toast when Captain M'Raz' voice came over the comms summoning him to the Ready Room. Without delay Michael set the cup down straightened his uniform and made his way to the Ready Room. Once there he rang the chime and awaited permission to enter.

"Come in," Raz said as he looked up, over the rim of his mug, and then, changing his mind, set it down and rose to his feet instead.

Michael stepped into the Ready Room. "You asked to see me Captain," he asked as he squared himself in front of the Captain's desk. He took a quick look around at the way the Ready Room was decorated. You could tell a lot about a person by the way they decorated their personal spaces.

The color scheme, designed by yeoman number two (or was it three), was predominantly gray with blue, cream and yellow accents and that meant nothing to him. Course, when the yeoman (whatever her name was) had done her 'big reveal,' he'd blamed his lack of emotional response on his Caitian features. And while it was true that his emotions weren't as ready displayed given the physiology of his people, the lie was more for the yeoman's benefit because really crushed was not a good look on anyone. That one had lasted nearly four days before requesting a transfer, something of a record.

One entered through the small waiting area where a yeoman was supposed to be stationed though the desk had been empty more often than not. Raz's desk was directly across from the door with the credenza and painting behind him and two comfortable armchairs in front of the desk. On a raised platform was a sofa long enough for Raz to stretch out on, another armchair and a coffee table. A wooden bowl in the center of the coffee table had a small collection of stones, one for each of the yeomen who had come and gone over the years.

What made the room unique was the wealth of 'extras' that Raz had accumulated during the thirteen years he had been aboard the Jane Addams. A painting over the credenza behind his desk, probably the only place on his home world that had ever brought him peace, that had been a gift from an old friend. The bookshelves were crowded with a small collection of first edition books interspersed with statues of felines from a variety of worlds, geodes, and a series of miniature pen and ink drawings of people he'd met over the years.

"First," Raz said, the deep rumble of his voice softened, gentled, "I wanted to personally express my sorrow over the loss of the Hawking and her crew."

"Thank you Sir. There were some truly great people on that ship." Michael appreciated the sentiment but in hindsight wished the Captain had not mentioned his ship. The mention brought the memory of all those Michael had lost to the forefront of his mind. "I will say that I could not have been rescued by a finer ship. You have one hell of a crew here."

What's left of them, Raz thought and immediately brushed the memories away. There was a lot to be done. "Yes, we do," Raz said. "We've spent the past year on the border dealing with Cardassians primarily and a month or so tracking down one sneaky group of Orions. I had thought we were due for vacation but apparently, we were training for all this."

"Life is always just preparation for what is coming next. There will always be someone looking to take advantage of an awful situation in my experience. Although I do wonder what the Cardassians, and Romulans are thinking with the Borg moving about this close to their borders." Michael cocked his head as he spoke. He realized that perhaps the Captain had asked him here for more than small talk. But, he decided it best to let the Captain lead the conversation.

"That's a good question," Raz said. "But before we get into all of that, there's something I wanted to ask you. I know that you're still ... dealing with the loss of your ship and crew ... as I am myself. But, the Jane Addams is in need of someone to run out Science department. And, well, you're the most qualified on board. Normally, I would submit a request to personnel but, I suspect it will be quite some time before Starfleet gets that organized. So, I'm filling positions as I can."

Michael smiled and nodded in agreement with the Captain's organizational comment. "It is not like I have anything better to do at the moment. I would love the chance to get back into it and see if I can help end the Borg. After all I drink a lot of caffeine and I know things."

Raz chuckled, raspy and low, "Different things," he said, "but basically the same. I drink Caffeine and I know things. Alright. Then, I hereby accept you as the Chief Science Officer for the USS Jane Addams with all the rights and privileges that go with the position. Computer please note."

"Lieutenant Michael Harris is now the Chief Science Officer for the USS Jane Addams," the computer responded.

"Good. See the quartermaster about getting quarters for yourself on Deck 2 and then go have a look at the labs. If there's anything you need, submit a request and we'll see what we can do about getting you what you need."

"Aye Captain." Michael smiled as he looked himself up and down. "I guess my only request at the moment is a taller chair on the Bridge." He allowed the humor to settle for a moment. Harris was glad that the Captain seemed to have a sense of humor, he hated the stuffed collar Captains. "I will do my best. Thank you for the opportunity, Captain."

"Talk to our Chief Engineer," Raz murmured. "Booster seat, some sort of lift mechanism, whatever you need. Bridge, Conference Room and of course your lab." Caitian features didn't lend themselves as easily to displays of emotion, at least not so that humans could read them, but there was, to the discerning, a bit of a twinkle within his pale gray eyes. "If they give you any trouble, tell them the request comes directly from me and, welcome to the Jane Addams, Lieutenant. You are dismissed."

Michael nodded and turned to leave the Ready Room. He decided that his first stop would be the Quartermaster. An upgrade in quarters would be delightful.

 

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