Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - You Can Have It All

[Addison MacKenzie]

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

The commanding officer of the Artemis, after enjoying a quiet view of her ship from one of the maintenance observation lounges, had encountered her new first officer. The blond woman, who was four years her elder, was no doubt interested in making a good impression on Starfleet’s ranking member in the Borderlands. In their first interaction, however, MacKenzie couldn’t help but feel like she had a lot to teach her new XO.
 
MacKenzie: Walk with me, Commander.

The two started to slowly amble away from the view of the Artemis.

MacKenzie: I assume – rightfully, I think – that you are a well-rounded person. Someone whose service in Starfleet has helped shape their view of the galaxy. Yes?

Munro: I'd like to think so, sir.

Addison nodded.

MacKenzie: I’m glad to hear that. So, when I ask you about yourself, I’m not interested in your service record or what drove you to ::gestures into the air:: this, I want to know about you.

Munro: I guess I've just been so focused on this lately. It's been an interesting few months. 

MacKenzie nodded again slowly, and smirked.

MacKenzie: You’ve got a lot to learn, Commander. Your entire life can’t be about this job, otherwise this job will consume your life – and that’s no way to live.

Ava nodded. MacKenzie wondered how deep the point would actually stick. 

Munro: I'll definitely take that on going forward. I may have come on a little strong, Captain. You see, until recently, I was the opposite. I had my life, it was the whole reason I was stationed on Earth. You've seen my service record but what isn't on there is the why. My daughter and then later my husband. Harper's now in Starfleet Academy and about to live her own life, make her own stories. That scares me to death but it means that I can be here now. 

Munro continued to trail slightly behind her. 

MacKenzie: You must be very proud. (beat) But you can’t let them or anyone else get in the way of being yourself.

Munro: I didn't stop being me but there were certain parts of myself I had to put on ice :: beat :: so to speak. I think I've overcompensated in some ways but if you get to know me better :: smiles :: and I'm sure you will. You'll find that there's a lot more to me than a Starfleet delta. Some have even said I'm a lot of fun. 

MacKenzie: Fun…

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. 

A slightly uncomfortable silence settled between them, until finally the flag officer broke her posture.

MacKenzie: I’m kidding, Commander…

Munro: Response

MacKenzie closed her eyes and shook her head slightly, only the latter of which was observable by the junior officer trailing her.

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: Response

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: 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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