Lieutenant Commander Christopher Caldwell: The Search
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Chris M
Aug 8, 2025, 8:37:31 PM8/8/25
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((Pagrati Lounge, Deck 10, USS Astraeus))
Why did he not learn his lesson? What did he get for reaching out to others? Pain. Friends that leave without saying a word, a girlfriend that leaves the first chance she gets. You emotionally invest in others and all they do is end up hurting you. So why did it fall to him to be chasing after Ral to check on him when anyone else in the room could have.
oO If there were someone else to do it I'd let them do it but there isn't is there? Story of my career. Oo
Sometimes he really didn't like himself and as he started to wonder whether the reason he hadn't asked the computer to locate Ral or just called him on his combadge was because he was hoping that he wouldn't find him, his dislike for himself only grew.
((OOC: Will wait to see if Ral wants to be found XD))
Someone had to go and check on their Chief Engineer but, for obvious reasons, neither Mei'konda nor Lael could leave. Following a quick process of elimination that left only one logical candidate. He placed his empty brandy glass on the bar. He would catch up with Lael and Chythar properly later, once this was handled.
Caldwell: Sorry all, I just have to go check on something.
He gave the Captain a single, discreet nod, silently signalling his intent and hoping that the Captain would 'cover' for him should anyone question his own exit.
Happy that the Captain took his meaning he proceeded with purpose towards the exit, leaving the party behind.
Caldwell: Sorry all, I just have to go check on something.
He gave the Captain a single, discreet nod, silently signalling his intent and hoping that the Captain would 'cover' for him should anyone question his own exit.
Happy that the Captain took his meaning he proceeded with purpose towards the exit, leaving the party behind.
((Corridor, Deck 10, USS Astraeus))
He couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes behind the Chief Engineer but on a ship the size of Astraeus and with its complex, yet readily accessible, turbolift network, the engineer could have been halfway across the ship by now. He figured it was probably safe to rule out a site to site transport or use of the Jefferies tubes, the horizontal and vertical service tunnels that ran throughout the ship in order to facilitate access to various ship's systems or, in emergencies, acted as a way of moving about the ship.
oO I'm sure that Ral didn't find the party so bad that getting away constituted an emergency. At least I hope not. Oo
He walked briskly along the corridor, the benefit of the Pagrati Lounge being at the very front of the ship meant there was only one direction that Ral could be heading, well until at least he reached an intersection.
For a moment he considered just asking the ship's computer to locate the Chief Engineer but it felt a little extreme at this point. Instead he'd see if he could find him the old fashioned way and then consider making use of some technological assistance.
Deck 10 was not only home to the Pagrati Lounge, it also included a number of large viewports that lined the external bulkheads.
oO Great for someone wanting a moment of quiet reflection. Oo
He continued through the ship, sticking to the perimeter walkways. As he walked he started to try and work the problem, trying to think what it was that would have resulted in the abrupt departure. He didn't know Ral that well but he figured there could only be so many reasons and a good old fashioned process of elimination would at least get him closer to the answer.
Whilst he knew that Ral had served alongside Lael for a not inconsiderable amount of time and would no doubt be sad that she was stepping down from the First Officer role, he thought her good news with regards to her family growing would have more than offset things. For the time being he eliminated that.
Whilst the ship had suffered some damage during their last mission, there was nothing that necessitated an urgent departure to deal with, Ral's staff had been well trained and would have been able to deal with any outstanding repairs or routine technical issues. Anything more severe, something that would have required the Chief Engineer's presence would have surely resulted in either the Captain, Lael or Christopher himself being notified. He eliminated that option.
He'd covered the entirety of the port side of Deck 10 and still no sign of Ral. Whilst he'd just eliminated an engineering emergency that didn't mean Ral wouldn't have gone to Main Engineering. It was his usual place of work, his domain possibly even his sanctuary, it wasn't unreasonable to conclude that it might be exactly the place a Chief Engineer might go when things were feeling too much.
He turned at a junction, nearly bumping into a junior science officer, a weary looking Bolian. The young officer nodded politely, as they navigated around one another. Caldwell turned to watch him go for a second before continuing on his way.
He didn't know much about Ral's family life, he supposed there could have been something uncomfortable about pregnant women or children but Betazoids were typically extremely open and emotionally mature and whilst Ral was only half-Betazoid, he assumed that, either as a result of nature or nurture he wouldn't have any issues on that front.
The only thing that left that Christopher could immediately think of was the fate of the Astraeus. The ship had, rather unexpectedly been called back to Earth and was not expected to be in drydock for a period of time and some of the crew were being reassigned given the lingering logistics and manpower issues following Frontier Day but surely the ship's Chief Engineer would be remaining to oversee any refits and repairs. Christopher also hoped to remain aboard, if Lael were stepping down then it was even more important that there be some continuity, plus someone had to keep an eye on the Starfleet crews that would be working on the ship, can't have them going around changing things without permission. No that wouldn't do at all.
He sighed, not only had he not yet found Ral his attempts to figure out what was likely to be bothering him, if indeed he was correct that something was up. Part of him was relieved, he wasn't entirely sure what he'd do if and when he caught up with Ral, he wasn't fantastic with advice, sarcasm? Definitely. Advice? Not so much.
oO I wonder if the Federation has ever encountered a race that communicates via sarcasm? Pretty sure that hasn't happened, if it had I'd know, I'd have been appointed ambassador. That would be a great career move. Oo
He returned his focus to Ral but his problem remained, this was blue shirt work, not Christopher Caldwell work. His emotional intelligence only extended so far, his social skills had been finely tuned over the years for flirting, not for mental wellbeing.
oO I'm a philanderer not a counsellor. Oo
He couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes behind the Chief Engineer but on a ship the size of Astraeus and with its complex, yet readily accessible, turbolift network, the engineer could have been halfway across the ship by now. He figured it was probably safe to rule out a site to site transport or use of the Jefferies tubes, the horizontal and vertical service tunnels that ran throughout the ship in order to facilitate access to various ship's systems or, in emergencies, acted as a way of moving about the ship.
oO I'm sure that Ral didn't find the party so bad that getting away constituted an emergency. At least I hope not. Oo
He walked briskly along the corridor, the benefit of the Pagrati Lounge being at the very front of the ship meant there was only one direction that Ral could be heading, well until at least he reached an intersection.
For a moment he considered just asking the ship's computer to locate the Chief Engineer but it felt a little extreme at this point. Instead he'd see if he could find him the old fashioned way and then consider making use of some technological assistance.
Deck 10 was not only home to the Pagrati Lounge, it also included a number of large viewports that lined the external bulkheads.
oO Great for someone wanting a moment of quiet reflection. Oo
He continued through the ship, sticking to the perimeter walkways. As he walked he started to try and work the problem, trying to think what it was that would have resulted in the abrupt departure. He didn't know Ral that well but he figured there could only be so many reasons and a good old fashioned process of elimination would at least get him closer to the answer.
Whilst he knew that Ral had served alongside Lael for a not inconsiderable amount of time and would no doubt be sad that she was stepping down from the First Officer role, he thought her good news with regards to her family growing would have more than offset things. For the time being he eliminated that.
Whilst the ship had suffered some damage during their last mission, there was nothing that necessitated an urgent departure to deal with, Ral's staff had been well trained and would have been able to deal with any outstanding repairs or routine technical issues. Anything more severe, something that would have required the Chief Engineer's presence would have surely resulted in either the Captain, Lael or Christopher himself being notified. He eliminated that option.
He'd covered the entirety of the port side of Deck 10 and still no sign of Ral. Whilst he'd just eliminated an engineering emergency that didn't mean Ral wouldn't have gone to Main Engineering. It was his usual place of work, his domain possibly even his sanctuary, it wasn't unreasonable to conclude that it might be exactly the place a Chief Engineer might go when things were feeling too much.
He turned at a junction, nearly bumping into a junior science officer, a weary looking Bolian. The young officer nodded politely, as they navigated around one another. Caldwell turned to watch him go for a second before continuing on his way.
He didn't know much about Ral's family life, he supposed there could have been something uncomfortable about pregnant women or children but Betazoids were typically extremely open and emotionally mature and whilst Ral was only half-Betazoid, he assumed that, either as a result of nature or nurture he wouldn't have any issues on that front.
The only thing that left that Christopher could immediately think of was the fate of the Astraeus. The ship had, rather unexpectedly been called back to Earth and was not expected to be in drydock for a period of time and some of the crew were being reassigned given the lingering logistics and manpower issues following Frontier Day but surely the ship's Chief Engineer would be remaining to oversee any refits and repairs. Christopher also hoped to remain aboard, if Lael were stepping down then it was even more important that there be some continuity, plus someone had to keep an eye on the Starfleet crews that would be working on the ship, can't have them going around changing things without permission. No that wouldn't do at all.
He sighed, not only had he not yet found Ral his attempts to figure out what was likely to be bothering him, if indeed he was correct that something was up. Part of him was relieved, he wasn't entirely sure what he'd do if and when he caught up with Ral, he wasn't fantastic with advice, sarcasm? Definitely. Advice? Not so much.
oO I wonder if the Federation has ever encountered a race that communicates via sarcasm? Pretty sure that hasn't happened, if it had I'd know, I'd have been appointed ambassador. That would be a great career move. Oo
He returned his focus to Ral but his problem remained, this was blue shirt work, not Christopher Caldwell work. His emotional intelligence only extended so far, his social skills had been finely tuned over the years for flirting, not for mental wellbeing.
oO I'm a philanderer not a counsellor. Oo
Why did he not learn his lesson? What did he get for reaching out to others? Pain. Friends that leave without saying a word, a girlfriend that leaves the first chance she gets. You emotionally invest in others and all they do is end up hurting you. So why did it fall to him to be chasing after Ral to check on him when anyone else in the room could have.
oO If there were someone else to do it I'd let them do it but there isn't is there? Story of my career. Oo
Sometimes he really didn't like himself and as he started to wonder whether the reason he hadn't asked the computer to locate Ral or just called him on his combadge was because he was hoping that he wouldn't find him, his dislike for himself only grew.
((OOC: Will wait to see if Ral wants to be found XD))
==========/\==========
Lieutenant Commander Christopher Caldwell
Mission Specialist & 2nd Officer
USS Astraeus, NCC-70652
A240101CC1
Lieutenant Commander Christopher Caldwell
Mission Specialist & 2nd Officer
USS Astraeus, NCC-70652
A240101CC1
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