The Command Track

Posted on Sun Jul 4th, 2010 @ 6:46pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Lieutenant Commander Hannah Edroski

Mission: Shoreleave
Location: Starbase 332 - Promenade Lounge
Timeline: Shoreleave Day 3 - 1507hrs
Tags: promotion, lieutenant, lieutenant commander, interview, starbase 332, promenade, pregnant, child, children, family, danger, transfer

The Endeavour had been docked with Starbase 332 for nearly three days now, and the station's new commander still hadn't arrived. However, Benjamin wasn't about to let that stop him from starting to seek out replacements for the crewmembers he had lost during the last mission.

'Lost' was a misleading term, he decided. Though a very small number had died as a result of the infection that had spread throughout the ship, the crewmembers whom Ben now had the task of finding replacements for were not among them, though each had been infected and either restricted to quarters, or entering self-imposed exile therein to care to family members they had aboard - one of the downsides, Benjamin decided, of running a starship within which he had decided to allow families - a decision he was debating whether to revoke. No, the officers he had to replace - Lieutenant Commander Anderson, Lieutenants Winters and Solomon - had all either requested reassignment or been transferred elsewhere by Starfleet Command. Such an exodus of his senior staff felt like a physical blow to Benjamin, as he also now had Lieutenant Kinu vying for transfer, along with Engineering's deputy, Lieutenant Foster.

Ben had decided to tackle his crew problems from the top, and had spent the days since Commander Anderson's resignation as his second in command looking through the candidates for his new first officer. One name on the list of candidates came as a rather pleasant surprise; Starfleet Command had Lieutenant Hannah Edroski - the pregnant security officer they had picked up during their Metron mission - listed as a candidate for command-track advancement, along with a personal application from her for the posting aboard the Endeavour, filed after their docking with 332. Ben had taken the opportunity to speak to one of the only candidates within range for instant communications, and had invited her to join him in one of the station's promenade lounge/restaurants.

She had gotten herself together. She was still feeling a little under the weather but she was doing a lot better now that she was back aboard a starship. She dressed in a rather nice outfit,professional but not something a prostitute would wear, and she moved quickly towards the station. She had to think hard to remember where the station was but she finally shows up,"Good evening, Captain. I hope your night has gone well?" She waits until he sits back down before sitting herself.

"Not too badly, so far," Benjamin responded, standing to reach out a hand and shake the Lieutenant's before sitting back down. "You look to be doing a lot better yourself," he noted. "Doctor Ogino has been taking care of you, I trust?"

"Very much so, sir. She is a very skilled doctor." She smiled as she sat down. She gave a rather firm handshake,something not very many females do. She ordered a light dinner when it came time to order.

"So," Benjamin said, as the waiter left with their orders to go and ask the chef to being preparing the food. "I received your application for first officer of the Endeavour." Me mentally slapped himself for the way that was phrased. He'd always hoped that once he had attained the rank of Captain he'd pick up the almost legendary sense of oratory that seemed to be prevalent amongst officers of the rank, and yet he was speaking as if simply trying to fill an awkwardly empty silence. "May I ask what made you decide to apply for the position? I can't very much say that the first mission you spent with us could have possibly been an enjoyable one for you."

"Well considering we were far away from the Alpha quadrant at the time, I decided that i needed to be with whoever had me. I have years of experience in security. It was not enjoyable, but who also ever said that I would quit at first sign of failure, Captain."She said, her face blank and true.

"And is your decision to apply for the post still the same, now that we're back in the Alpha Quadrant?" he asked. He hoped that she wasn't applying to be his second in command just because at the time of writing there had been no other ship to apply to.

"It is still the same. I was about to transfer to another ship anyway. I just hope my husband is all right..."She shakes her head a moment,trying to shake her worry from her head.

"Is he in Starfleet too?" Benjamin asked. He had gathered from the life growing inside her belly that she was married, but her file hadn't mentioned the man's occupation.

"He is a Lieutenant in the medical field actually. One of the nicest men out there. How lucky...We both understand of course that one of us could pass at any time. We just hope that never happens." She frowned a small bit then let out a small sigh of air.

"Starfleet has gotten safer, especially for medical personnel, over the last century," Benjamin responded, as their food was brought over to them. "I'm sure he'll be fine, and I can give you my assurances that for as long as you're on my ship, I'll do everything in my power to keep you and the rest of the crew safe."

"Thank you for your assurances, Captain. I am relieved to hear that you would protect me even though you just met me"She smiled a bit at him sincerely

They ate in silence for a few moments, before Benjamin turned the conversation more towards business. "So what made you decide to apply for a command career? Security is a tough enough environment for a parent to raise a child from, but command is hardly an easy position, either." He spoke from experience, though his time as a father was entirely whilst a commanding officer, mostly on a science vessel. He'd had more freedom to spend time as a parent than they'd either likely get the chance to on the Endeavour.

"I cant be doing what a security officer does in my condition. way too dangerous for the baby."She says simply."I had always wanted to help to command a starship since I entered starfleet."

"Have you thought about the fact that being an executive officer may be dangerous in a whole new way?" Benjamin asked. Typically first officers were called on to lead away missions, though he knew that if he selected Hannah he wouldn't be able to send her on any such missions whilst she was pregnant, or likely for a little while shortly after. But being one of the two officers in command of a starship painted a rather large target on one's head, regardless of where one was.

"I have thought about it and it is better than putting my child at risk being a security officer. I know what the position holds. I have thought about this alot."

"Okay then," Benjamin said, setting aside his fork for a moment. "Let's get on to the nitty-gritty then. We're on the bridge, and I've just made a decision which you either strongly disagree with, or believe puts the crew or the Federation in an unnecessarily dangerous position. What do you do?"

She puts down her own fork then rests her head on her clasped hands,"I would ask to immediately speak with you in private to see if there is another solution to the problem."

"And if I keep to my resolve that my decision is the right one?" Benjamin pressed. "How far would you push the matter? Would you let the rest of the crew see our disagreement over the course of action to take?"

"I would push it as far as I could, even if it meant a mark on my record. And no, I wouldn't let them see it because it is between YOU and ME" She took care not to yell but she did stress the You and Me.

Benjamin nodded, moving on to a different hypothetical circumstance. "And what about in a situation where you were in command of the ship for a time, and came up against a choice; you would have to either place the crew in a dangerous situation, probably leading to casualties, to render aid to a non-Federation group of citizens, or leave the citizens to die in order to keep the crew away from harm. Which option would you take?"

She lets out a breath,"Well the prime directive states that we must do all we can to help those in need. I would go help."She looked at him and waited for more.

Ben nodded satisfied, and began thinking through the other applications he had highlighted for his short-list for the position. Most of them were to far away, and likely wouldn't even be with them for a good two weeks after they left spacedock, and Hannah was one of the most qualified for the position, having also received a recommendation from her former commanding officer. Benjamin chose to make his decision now, rather than waiting for a month or more to be able to interview more candidates - and he had the feeling he was making the right choice.

"Well Miss Edroski," he said. "Based on the information I've got about you from Starfleet, and what you've said to me this afternoon... I would be honoured to offer you the position as my first officer on the Endeavour."

"I accept, sir. Thank you for your confidence" She nodded her head a bit then with a loud *crack* she popped her neck "It was starting to bother me, I apologize."She grinned.

"It's alright," Ben responded, smiling. "There is one more thing, though," he said, reaching into his trouser pocket. "I need an XO who can wield the appropriate authority for the position. Someone higher than a Lieutenant." He took out a small black box and placed it on the table in front of his new right hand - he had brought it with him incase he had decided to make the decision he just had there and then.

She blinked and took the box,opening it. She seemed rather shock about the sudden promotion.

"Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander," Benjamin said, his grin growing. He finished one more bite of his meal, and then stood up, holding out his hand for her to shake. "I'll see you aboard-ship tomorrow morning."

She shook it rather firmly with a smile"Thank you sir. Have a good night and what time do you wish me,sir?"

"Ten hundred hours will do," Ben responded. No point in making it any earlier while they were technically on shoreleave. Besides, she'd soon enough have enough to worry about with the extra paperwork; he wasn't going to make her get up extra early on her first day to face it. "Have a good evening yourself," he said, before releasing her hand and moving off towards the exit, heading towards the airlock where he'd be able to get to the ship and Sarah - he figured she'd want to be one of the first to know he'd chosen his new first officer.

OFF:

Captain Benjamin J. Byrne
Commanding Officer
USS Endeavour NCC-86105

&

Lt. Commander Hannah Edroski
First Officer
USS Endeavour NCC-86105