Lt.Cmdr. Drex - No time to rest
Drex Drex
((Science Deck - Deck 14 - USS Eagle-A))
Drex was glad Adea was back on board.
Not just because the Captain had returned safely from Alomia, but because his presence lifted a weight he had been carrying alone. While Adea had been gone, the responsibility for the ship and crew had rested entirely on his shoulders. He had accepted it, there had been no other choice, but when the report came in that Commander Falt’s team had succeeded and everyone had been beamed back, his first thought had not been relief.
It had been: I’m not alone anymore.
Maybe that was selfish. But it was true.
He was also relieved that the diplomatic situation with the Alomians was no longer his burden to solve. Adea was Betazoid, he would understand them better than he ever could. He would probably understand Karen better, too.
The image of Karen collapsing on the bridge still haunted him. For a split second, he had wanted to go to her. But as First Officer, the choice had never really been his to make. The ship’s security had come first.
Since Adea had left, events had spiraled from bad to worse. One emergency had followed another, leaving no time to think, only to react. And beneath it all, Drex had felt that not everyone agreed with his decisions.
Now that the crisis was easing, he could admit something to himself: bringing Seth’s shuttle aboard had been a mistake. He had done it to reposition the Eagle, to buy them time. But in the end, he had never given the final order to move the ship. The risk had remained and the gain had not.
The turbolift doors opened, and Drex stepped out onto Deck 14.
This deck had always been one of his favorite places on the ship. Its modular design allowed entire sections to be reconfigured depending on the mission. It was not a quick process, but it was efficient and flexible. Science at its best. And if that was not reason enough to appreciate it, the deck was also comfortably distant from the bridge.
The doors to the large science lab slid open with their familiar whoosh, and Drex entered.
Several officers were already waiting.
He did not need to force a smile when he saw them.
Lieutenant Gnai stood near the central console, the Galadoran who had tracked down the saboteur on Deck 6. Beside him was Lieutenant Stapledon, the newly appointed Chief Science Officer who, only hours earlier, had still been missing on Ondo. Dr. Iroka was present as well, continuing the collaboration with the crew since their arrival in the system.
And then there was Commander Falt.
Drex’s smile widened slightly as his gaze settled on him.
Tomas Falt had been the first officer Drex met when he was assigned to Denali Station. He had served under him for months, learning, observing, sometimes struggling, but always growing. Falt was a good officer. A strong commander. A good man.
And, Drex liked to think, a friend. Even if he had never quite felt comfortable enough to call him Tomas.
Drex: Glad to see you all. ::He gave a slight nod toward Iroka.:: Doctor, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m grateful you’ve chosen to continue helping us.
Iroka/Gnai/Stapledon/Falt: Responses
Drex: Well, while the Captain works to determine whether the main factions of the Alomian population can agree on a common future for the system, we are in charge of two things. ::He stepped toward the nearest console and activated the holographic projector.:: First, we must stop the autoreplicating drones. We cannot afford to have them running wild and uncontrolled. Second, if the Alomians decide to proceed, we will need to shut down the AI.
Iroka/Gnai/Stapledon/Falt: Responses
((OOC: I leave only 2 tags since we are in five))
TAGS/TBC