Speak of the Devil

Posted on Wed May 13th, 2020 @ 10:43pm by Lieutenant Callum McDowell & Captain Mikoto Misaka
Edited on on Tue May 19th, 2020 @ 10:12pm

1,331 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: New Beginnings
Location: Deck 01 | U.S.S. Ermiana

Lieutenant McDowell stepped out of the turbolift and took a moment to look around the Bridge. It was almost identical to the Farragut's but felt bigger somehow. Was it really or was that simply a result of the Ermiana being so much bigger than her Nebula-class cousin? He'd be spending enough time here to ponder that question and come to a conclusion. But for now he had a new Commanding Officer to meet.

The turbolift had deposited him at the fore of the Bridge, right beside the Captain's Ready Room. He made sure his uniform was sitting perfectly before reaching out and pressing the door chime to announce his presence to the Captain.

"Enter" a female voice called from the other side of the door.

Callum began striding towards the door, which parted exactly when it needed to. He came to a stop before the Captain's desk and snapped crisply to attention, a skill he'd never lost since it had been drilled into him at the Academy. "Lieutenant Callum McDowell, reporting for duty." He announced confidently.

Mikoto looked up from the PADD she was reading. "Speak of the devil..." she said. "I must say Lieutenant, handling a type six like that was rather interesting" she told him. She placed the PADD down and pushed it to one side. "So, with that handled and the promise you won't do something stupid again in a shipyard; relax Lieutenant. Before you strain something"

"Thank you, ma'am." With a smirk, Callum relaxed his muscles, spread his stand and folded his hands behind his back. "And you have my word; I won't do something stupid again in a shipyard while under your command."

"Drop the ma'am. I prefer Captain" Mikoto said simply. "So, as my new chief pilot, tell me a bit about yourself. Something I won't find in a Starfleet record jacket"

Callum had to think about that for a moment. He wasn't fond of the whole 'tell me about yourself' command style. Everything the Captain needed to know was there in his service jacket for her to read. Anything else was irrelevant to his duties and none of her business. Naturally, he didn't say that nor did his features change to show that he was unhappy with that particular question. With his smirk still firmly in place he told her, "I love music, particularly classical and musical theatre." It was the one thing that wouldn't show up in his record that he was willing to share.

"A music lover I see" Mikoto replied. "I've dabbled a bit in classical violin" she stood up from the chair and crossed to the replicator. "So, can I get you something to drink? You'll discover my command style is different to most, but I still believe that knowing your crews strengths and weaknesses is a benefit in any situation. Would you agree?"

The Lieutenant nodded. "Yes Captain." He didn't believe that included getting to know her crew's likes and dislikes but again, he kept that opinion to himself. Not feeling like a drink of anything in that moment he told her, "I'm fine for a drink, thank you."

Handing him a cup of green tea, Mikoto returned back to behind the desk. "Glad we're on the same page. Tell me Lieutenant, what do you know of the Flight Control Department on a Galaxy Class Starship?" She asked curiously.

Callum glanced down at the tea. While he preferred herbal tea over coffee, he wasn't in the mood for a drink so just continued to hold the cup while replying to the Captain's question. "We're responsible for the navigation and piloting of the ship. We're also responsible for the Shuttlebays and auxiliary craft." This was hardly his first rodeo and he found it odd that after a decade in Starfleet, his new CO was asking him if he knew his job.

Mikoto took another sip of tea. "I understand you've been in Starfleet a long time. I only asked since you're on one of the most advanced Starships currently in The Federation apart from the new Intrepid Class Vessels. I wanted to make sure everyone on this crew is upto standards" she paused. "Which I can see you are"

"I spent the past five years on the Farragut, three of those as Chief Flight Control Officer." Callum told her. "The Ermiana will have different flight characteristics than her Nebula-class cousin but it won't be anything that I haven't been trained to handle."

"Indeed, the Nebula Class is very similar to that of the Galaxy, most of the technology on these ships were tested on them" she took another sip of tea before placing the cup down. "Now, what do you know about the Viridian System? Surely you heard the news about the Enterprise?"

Callum had more than heard about it. "The Farragut was one of the ships involved in rescuing the crew of the Enterprise from Veridian Three. I piloted shuttles down to what was left of her to pick up survivors and whatever materials could be recovered."

A smile crept across Mikoto's face. "Good" she said. "Because our first assignment once we leave spacedock is to return to the site of the wreck. We are to begin removal of all sensitive Starfleet equipment as well as transport several teams from the corps of engineers which will begin the salvage operations. I chose you knowing that you knew the territory well, and since we'll be using our shuttles as well as repairing and salvaging some of the Enterprise's compliment, I know you would be the perfect officer for the assignment" she explained to him softly the smiling resting nicely on her face.

"Well at least I know the way." Callum replied as he flashed a lopsided smile. He made a mental note to get in touch with his brother in law. Angelo was a Lieutenant Commander with the SCE in San Francisco and would be able to give Cal a lowdown on the SCE team. He banished the thought for now. "Sounds like my department will be kept busy during this one." That was fine with Callum. It would give him a chance to make a through assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of his department and develop an improvement program.

"Indeed" Mikoto replied. "We'll be relying heavily on shuttlecraft and those new Danube Class Runabouts we've been given. They've proved rather useful from what I hear at Deep Space Nine, so Starfleet have given us five to play with. Much of the equipment from the Enterprise can't just be beamed up. It might not be fancy flying around a shipyard, but these shuttle runs will be going on constantly. You'll be the one managing every one of them"

McDowell nodded. "Understood. We'll get it done." He was already beginning to make a mental to do list. "My pilots will be fully rated on the Danube-class by the time we reach the Veridian system. We'll get it done."

"In that case, your first task will to be modify those Danbues to be able to transport cargo up from the wreck. As well as many of the shuttles we currently have on compliment. I'm sure that Engineering can spare a few hands to assist you. Before that however, clear yourself with sickbay and settle into your quarters on ship. We're due to leave spacedock in two days time" she said simply. "Any questions?"

Callum shook his head. "No questions."

Mikot once again rose from the chair and held a hand out to the man. "Then by all means, welcome aboard the Ermiana Lieutenant" she said.

Lieutenant McDowell set the still full cup of tea on the Captain's desk before grasping her hand firmly. "Thank you, Captain." He pulled his hand back and snapped to attention again briefly before turning sharply on his heel and leaving the Ready Room. There was a lot of work ahead of them.

Posting by

Captain Mikoto Misaka
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Callum McDowell
Chief Flight Control Officer

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