Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - This Job Will Consume You

[Addison MacKenzie]

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

 

While admiring the Artemis through the large observation windows in the depths of Deep Space 224, the commanding officer of the Luna-class vessel was approached by the ship’s soon-to-be first officer. As with all new officers, she wanted to take the opportunity to get to know her newest right-hand, and how they responded under pressure.

After all, rank made very little difference to MacKenzie where such matters were concerned.

MacKenzie: So, Commander. I hear you’re to be our new first officer. Captain Niac gave you quite the recommendation.

Munro: :: attempts a joke :: That might have had something to do with the brandy I gifted him :: more serious :: We served together back on Earth, at Starfleet HQ.

She smiled and nodded curtly.

MacKenzie: Tell me a little about yourself, Commander.

Munro: Well, as I said I served at Starfleet HQ, within Operations, until Captain Niac asked me to join his crew as Chief of Operations and -

As the woman spoke, the look on MacKenzie’s face slowly started to sour until finally she was waving her hand in front of her face as though she was trying to repel a noxious odor.

Munro: Is there a problem, Captain, maybe I could go back further? 

MacKenzie: No, no. I’ve already read your service record.

Ava forced a polite smile on her face. 

Munro: About me then? That’s not included on my service record :: beat, pause to think :: I love Starfleet. And I know you’ve heard that a million times because we all have, right? 

Addison closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. Perhaps she wasn’t being clear.

MacKenzie: ::flatly:: Oh yes, we all love Starfleet… Anything else?

Ava took a deep breath and released it slowly. 

Munro: :: nods :: I say it because I am Starfleet, so if you want to know who I am, that is me. I was even before I knew what the word was. I believe in exploration, in understanding, in building something better than what we had before. People working together, all those different voices, different worlds, united by something greater than ourselves is our greatest strength. But mostly I’m hopeful. That annoyingly persistent kind of hope. That no matter how dark things get, there’s always a way forward and I won’t stop until I find it. I will never stop. Before I was even a daughter, a wife, a mother, an officer.  That’s who I am. That’s who I’ve always been at my core. 

MacKenzie blinked, aggressively biting the inside of her lip to keep her attention focused on maintaining her composure and not allowing her attention to wander. For some reason, she had a feeling she was being less than successful at the endeavor.

MacKenzie: Commander, ::pointing to the pips on her own collar:: you don’t have to sell me on Starfleet. ::pointing to the pips on Munro’s collar:: I think you’ve gotten far enough along in your service to know that this is the right place for you, for all of the reasons you mentioned above.

Munro: I apologise for being so blunt, but I’d very much like to be your first officer, Captain. With that I promise I will serve you and the crew with truth, passion, dedication … always. If you’ll have me? 

Addison once again wiped her forehead, calling into question whether or not her clarity was in question. She tucked the PADD with Munro’s orders on it under her arm and gestured away from the observation lounge’s windows.

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: Response

Addison nodded thankfully. Progress.

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: Response

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.

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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