Cmdr. Genkos Adea - The Long Walk
Genkos Adea
(( Shuttlebay 1, USS Artemis-A ))
It was with a mixture of trepidation and sadness that Genkos made his way to the shuttlebay. He had said his goodbyes to the crew somewhat surreptitiously. He hadn’t thrown a party or anything ostentatious like that, but merely met up with all the officers that he would miss; in twos, in threes, on their own, he had made time for them all in the past week, and told them about his reassignment. He’d learned from the Gorkon that people didn’t really appreciate it if you just disappeared, as much as he’d wanted to.
But he’d said the hardest goodbye, to Addison, alone in her office with a bottle of sapphire wine. He knew it must have been a vague mix of pride and sadness that she’d recommended him for the post aboard the Eagle, and he’d of course leapt at the chance to be closer to Kalianna, but even so, he’d known Addison now for five long years, and she was one of his closest friends.
He couldn’t help but feel that she was hiding something from him, but he assumed it was merely the depth of her feeling. So one can imagine his surprise when the shuttlebay doors opened to a completely full room. He’d been expecting a shuttle, maybe a pilot, but this was something else. The entire crew seemed to be assembled, a seat of faces all looking at him. For a moment, his mouth was a perfect ‘o’.
Never one to be the centre of attention, he suppressed the urge to turn behind him and pretend to search for what they were looking at. Instead he took a deep breath, choked back the tears that threatened to pour down his cheeks and looked the Captain dead in the eye.
MacKenzie’s face remained stern and unwavering. When she caught his eye, she bellowed.
MacKenzie: Attention to orders.
On command, the others assembled in the bay snapped to attention, their heels connecting with the deck plating in a singular, unified clang that echoed off the bay’s high ceilings. When the reverberation stopped, she continued.
MacKenzie: I believe your shuttle awaits, Commander.
A barely perceptible cough hid the emotional outburst - it appeared he was getting what the humans called a “right royal send-off”.
Adea: Captain.
Genkos moved slowly towards the senior staff, breathing heavily as he did so. As long as he took deep breaths, he probably wouldn’t cry, right? He clicked the fingers of his left hand, and Toto yapped happily - he couldn’t believe his luck that all these people had come to see him, he was the luckiest boy.
It took what felt like an hour to reach the head of the line, where the senior staff, along with Addison and Talos, were all assembled.
MacKenzie: Any last words, Mr. Adea?
Genkos took another steadying breath before turning to the assembled crew.
Adea: Farewell to the crew of the Artemis-A. It has been one of the greatest honours of my life to serve with you all.
MacKenzie: Commander Adea, your service to this ship and its crew have been exemplary. Our loss is the Eagle’s gain, and I am filled with nothing but pride knowing that you are leaving us in pursuit of a higher purpose. On behalf of the entire crew, I wish you fair skies and calm seas.
Genkos’ eyes filled with tears and he bowed his head low, to prevent anyone from noticing.
Adea: Thank you, Captain.
She nodded slightly before returning her attention to the rest of the assembled crew.
MacKenzie: Dismissed!
Her eyes tracked the group of officers as they slowly filed out of the shuttlebay en masse. When the bay doors closed, it was only Genkos, Toto, and the senior staff who remained. Genkos turned to the assembled crew and shook his head.
Adea: You bastards.
MacKenzie: Response
Any: Response
His eyes floated from each of the crew - taking each and every one of the assembled senior staff in, each one each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys.
Adea: I really am going to miss you all.
MacKenzie: Response
Any: Response
---
Commander Genkos Adea MD
First Officer & Chief Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
G239502GS0
"You know, I'm really easy to get along with most of the time, but I don't like bullies and I don't like threats, and I don't like you, Culluh. You can try and stop us from getting to the truth but I promise you that if you do I will respond with all the 'unique technologies' at my command." - Kathryn Janeway