Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Conciliatory Grace

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( Captain’s Ready Room – Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))

 

The crew of the Artemis had been on shore leave for several days when an unexpected but familiar face made its way into MacKenzie’s office. The red-headed scientist from Amity Outpost had made the acquaintance of the Artemis crew when the former had been dumped on a Borg Cube bound for Earth. In the midst of the chaos, they didn’t have much opportunity for pleasantries, but the scientist obviously felt that she had some kind of debt to repay toward several of MacKenzie’s crew.

 

MacKenzie: Now, what’s this about unfinished business?

S. Richards: Oof, right to the question. ::Chuckling:: As many others, I am still struggling with the fallout of Frontier Day. I met members of your crew, on the Cube, here and the Kitty Hawk.

MacKenzie: It was quite unexpected running into you on the Cube, but your expertise was appreciated. I’m sure the other members of the crew feel similarly.

S. Richards: If my expertise was punching a drone and breaking my hand… Then I’ll call it successful. 

Her eyes narrowed slightly. It was perhaps a misjudgment by the young scientist, but they’d all managed to make it off the Cube [roughly] unscathed.

MacKenzie: So what are you doing on this side of the galaxy? Deep Space 224 is hardly a destination hotspot, nevermind the Borderlands…

The woman seemed to avoid MacKenzie’s gaze, as though she was admitting guilt or shame for something.

 

S. Richards: When I heard this is where you were going to be I figured it was a good chance to reconnect with people from Frontier Day, and the timing felt right. I have a lot of questions to ask and thanks to give. ::relaxing back into the chair:: I discovered a lot about myself over that time, but I think there’s more to it. ::shrugging:: Call it some soul searching I guess. 

MacKenzie: Well, the thing about Starfleet is that you often end up facing death or other moral quandaries that make you question what you thought you believed…

S. Richards: Since I'm here I will start with you… 

Richards shifted in her chair in a way that caused MacKenzie to cock her head in apprehension. They’d not met one another until their encounter on the Cube, and that mission was so steeped in adrenaline there hadn’t been time for pleasantries in a way that led Addison to believe she’d be worthy of being the subject of someone else’s soul-searching experience. 

MacKenzie: Oh?

S. Richards: I just wanted to tell you thank you. You were able to keep a level head in the Cube when some of us were clearly unable to. You had a big hand in keeping all of us alive. The way you helped lead us through left a mark on me. Because of you and some of your crew, I’m still here. 

Addison offered a nonchalant shrug.

 

MacKenzie: I’m the captain, that’s my job. Years of decision making – good and bad – help shape how future situations are handled.

S. Richards: Response

MacKenzie leaned back in her chair and raised her arms slightly, her palms facing up.

 

MacKenzie: Well that’s the problem – you have to be able to fall back on your training, because once the adrenaline starts flowing, you can’t afford to fall back entirely on your instinct alone or you’re dead.

S. Richards: Response

 

She raised her hands, this time in a posture of conciliatory grace.

MacKenzie: You’re welcome.

S. Richards: 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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