Back at Work
Juanita Barrett
After leaving Commander Bela Trish headed towards the bridge. After checking in with the officer on duty, she headed to the Captain’s ready room and rang the chime.
The Captain sat reading up the end of the Romulan system and the loss of Ambassador Spock with coffee in hand when the chime went.
“Come.” He called
Patricia walked in and gave Jon a tiny smile.
“Guess who's back?”
Jon smiled “and about time to. If it had been any other member of the crew I wouldn’t have put up with such slackness.”
Patricia gave a soft laugh as she walked into his room.
“Yeah well, seems you can’t get by without me, so thought I’d better come back. So, miss me?”
“Ofcourse.” He replied motioning to the seat at the other side of the desk. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
Patricia nodded.
“Yes, I think so. Sam seems to agree with me it’s about time to get back into some semblance of normality.” Patricia gave him a tiny smile. “And besides, I am starting to miss being in the thick of things.”
“Do you want to come straight back into the XO role or ease back into it?” He asked while sipping the coffee.
Patricia held up the PADD in her hand.
“Bela was ahead of you. She’s designed a program for me to ease back into things, and it’s really well done, so I’m going to follow it. And yes, I will be asking for help if I need it.”
“Good.” He said simply “are you up to date with the recent developments?”
“Mostly. Bela took me through a lot, and also prepared a full report for me.” She looked at him for a long moment. “You look tired Jon..”
“Don’t you start.” He said “I am a little tired but it’s nothing I can’t manage.” He handed her a PADD. “Based on this intelligence from Fairchild I’m expecting a fight at some point as we collect Dr Jarok.”
She grinned as she took the PADD from him. Patricia quickly read over it and frowned slightly. She nodded in agreement.
“Oh yeah, we are definitely going to have a fight over the Doctor. Good work from Destiny. So, why don’t we avoid it all together and pick them up early at a different location?”
“We are ahead of our schedule already but there is a good chance they are being monitored as we were so moving the location may only postpone the inevitable. At the moment I believe we have an element of surprise.”
Patrica nodded as she read over the PADD again. She looked up and raised an eyebrow at him.
“Have we thought about using a decoy?”
“Explain?” Henna said simply
Patrica gave him a tiny smile.
“I read it somewhere, not sure where, but sometimes when they had to either pick up someone, or protect someone important, they used a decoy. Someone who looked like the person. In this case, obviously we can’t gimmick up another Romulan but we can simulate Romulan bio-signs. Why don’t we set up a few shuttles or some such, have Romulan bio signs inside and sneak her through that way?”
Henna sat back in his chair. “It's certainly something that we should look into. Anything we can do to pull the wool over these romulans bastards rather than take them on head to head would be better.”
Patricia nodded in agreement.
“Exactly my thinking. The more we stay away from them, the happier I will be.” She gave him a tiny smile. “Do you want me to see what we can come up with then?”
The captain nodded. “Any option is better than what we have. However you’ll have to work fast. Right now we are flying into the situation completely blind. Why have no idea of the size of the fleet that awaits us or even if a fleet is awaiting at all. I don’t like the variables.”
“That’s an understatement if I ever heard one. I will coordinate with Fairchild and Bela, and see what Nate has to offer as well, with your permission?” Patricia gave him a tiny smile. “I am eager to get back into the swing of things.”
“Whatever you need, Commander but like we have said, don't push too hard.”
Patricia nodded.
“I know. I have everyone watching over me like I’m going to break, but I’m not, I bent a fair bit, but didn't’ break.” Patrica sobered a moment. “Coming back to work, that’ll just give me the structure and normality I need right now.”
Henna nodded knowing exactly where she was coming from. His last encounter with the Romulans had left him in exactly the same place. Back to business then he thought to himself. “Roger that.” He said “Work with the other but I think it might be prudent to make the ship ready for battle anyway just in case.”
:Understood, I would feel a bit better myself as well. We’ve both been on the wrong end of the Romulans and neither of us want to experience that again.” Patricia sighed. “It’s been a long road for us all Jon. I am just glad I am here with you.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” he replied
Patricia nodded.
“With your permission, I’ll get started then.”
“I want an initial report on possible options within the hour. Time is not our friend here Trish.”
Patricia nodded in agreement.
“Understood Captain. I’ll get to work straight away.”
“And Trish. Raf’s shoes are not being to be easy to fill but i have every faith.” he smiled
:And I am honoured by that faith.” Patricia smiled warmly at him. “By your leave sir?”
“Dismissed XO.” Patricia stood up and gave him a jaunty two fingered salute and left him to it.