Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Maybe the Job Isn't the Worst Thing

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( Maintenance Observation Lounge – Deck 372, Deep Space 224 ))

Munro: Captain, can I ask how you balance duty and personal life? If you don't mind?

They'd almost done a lap of the maintenance lounge, nervous junior officers glanced at them as they passed and scuttled off to resume a task. 

MacKenzie: ::deadpan:: Oh yes: I don’t believe in fun. 

To their right, a Duderstadt class ship was being repaired, much of its hull exposed. A slightly uncomfortable silence settled between them, until finally the flag officer broke her posture.

MacKenzie: I’m kidding, Commander…

Her executive officer smiled and exhaled a sigh of relief, letting herself laugh out loud. 

Munro: You did have me with that one.

MacKenzie: Truthfully, I’m not the best person to ask. I never settled down, and I don’t get back to Earth to see my family as much as I should… Relationships take effort.

Munro: I understand that, I rarely go back to Naura IV - my homeworld - to see my parents. I love them dearly but there's always something else to do. 

MacKenzie left space for Munro to elaborate more. It felt like she hadn’t quite processed the thought in its entirety.

Munro: My husband thinks I'm ruining his life by leaving Earth :: laughs :: He has a flair for the dramatic. Captain, you never met someone that made you want to give it all up - settle on some station or planet? 

She cocked her head slightly, considering the question, but proceeded to dismiss it just as easily.

MacKenzie: Too many other important things to do: life-saving operations, mediating ground-breaking peace treaties… You can have it all, but you can’t have it all right now.

Munro: I got that back to front. Story of my life, I never learned the easy way. 

Ava indicated a small seated area, where a café of sorts had been set up for the maintenance workers. MacKenzie gestured for her new first officer to have a seat.

MacKenzie: After you, Commander.

As they took their seats, with an impressive view of the station's docking area her first officer turned to her again.

Munro: I hope you don't mind me saying so but it does sound like you need a reminder of your own advice from earlier. And I quote ‘your entire life can't be about this job’?

MacKenzie held her face steady, except for the slightest tightening of the muscles at one corner of her lips.

MacKenzie: Just through the door and already have my psycho-analyzed, Commander? 

Munro: I don't mean to pry, honestly that's not my intention. 

She smiled more deliberately.

MacKenzie: Wasn’t it, though?

Munro: Response

She smiled and waved her hand in front of her face dismissively.

MacKenzie: I tell you what, when you figure out how, let me know and we can compare notes. Until then, let’s make it a point to make sure we hold each other accountable to doing the best job the other can, and then some.

Munro: Response

MacKenzie smirked, bowed her head slightly, and extended her hand across the table to shake her new XO's hand.

MacKenzie: You have yourself a deal.

Munro: Response

 

 

Tag, and TBC!

 

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Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A

Captains Council Member at Large

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