Lt. Cmdr. Roger Hartmann - "Changing Of The Guard"
Amanda Nordstrom
((USS Oumuamua - 7 Forward Lounge))
One day more.
That was how long it was until they arrived at Earth, the home to
many people on the Oumuamua, including him. Roger had spent the
better part of their trip dealing with the aftermath of the entire
situation. Commodore’s Kells’ kidnapping, his rescue, and his
request for a leave of absence had all come one right after the
other. Processing the situation with the thor, too, had been a
headache, but a necessary one. There had been a debriefing, and
Roger was under no illusions that there weren’t to be more.
Likely he’d be swept into meetings as soon as they got there. But
there were multiple reasons that was the case.
He had spent the day filling out many such reports, the PADDwork a
mountain considering the entirety of what had transpired. He was
tired. He didn’t have the patience for such things that he once
had. He was ready to be done with it. So when the afternoon
stretched into evening and finally into night time, such as it was
on a Starship, he’d tossed the PADDs aside and escaped his
quarters. His sanctuary? The lounge.
It was late enough that the next shift had taken over, but not so
late that the place was completely deserted. There werewas a
scattering of people, clustered around tables in conversations
that, if he went by the expressions, ranged from serious to
lighthearted. He avoided those and instead turned to the bar
which, save for the tender who was in the middle of making a set
of drinks for one of the clusters of people, remained empty. No
longer. Roger took up a stool and sat on it. The tender nodded
to him politepolitely, a Pygorian from the looks of him, his five
eyes so dark that only when the stood just so in the light could
one tell they were actually a deep, deep blue. , A Kazleti, his
main hue that of violet which seemed to shift in an ombre to
purple, at least to the tips of his fingers as well as the fleshy
protrusions his kind had rather than hair.
Koryan: Be with you in a moment.
Roger waved his hand in acknowledgement and watched as the
colourful man made colourful drinks. He was done momentarily and
left briefly in order to deliver them to the proper table. Upon
his return, he smiled to Roger who sat, leaning heavily upon the
bar.
Koryan: How may I help you?
Hartmann: Chech'tluth, neat.
That was how it was *supposed* to be consumed. Roger could never
understand why anyone would want to change it, but to each his
own. Koryan nodded and produced a glass as well as a bottle and
filled it for him. The first officer lifted it, downed it in one
fell swoop, then clapped it against the surface of the bar.
Hartmann: Another.
Koryan: That kind of day?
Hartmann: That kind of life.
Koryan didn’t ask any more questions, simply nodded and refilled
the glass. That time, however, Roger elected to savour it a bit
more. He’d barely taken a sip of the second when the doors
parted. Most people wouldn’t have even bothered to look, but Roger
was far too on edge for that - he at least cast a glance at the
doors. Friend or foe? The answer was obvious since he was on the
Oumuamua, but it was one thing he’d picked up over the years that
he’d never shaken off. When he saw who it was, he lowered his
glass and motioned to the man.
Hartmann: Greaves.
Greaves: Response
As the other first officer approached, Roger made a brief motion
to the stool next to him.
Hartmann: Have a seat. And a drink.
It wasn’t exactly an invitation from a friend to a friend, but
more a colleague to another. Once the marine turned XO settled
down, Koryan inclined his head toward the second second in
command.
Koryan: What would you like?
Greaves: Response
As Koryan fulfilled the request, Roger lifted his glass. Just
before it reached his lips he offered -
Hartmann: Congratulations.
Greaves: Response
His answer didn’t come right away. Instead, Roger sipped slowly
at the drink, letting it burn in his mouth, then slowly down his
throat before speaking again.
Hartmann: On your new assignment as First Officer of Oumuamua. Oh
it’s not official yet, but I have no doubt in my mind it will be.
As soon as we get to Earth, I’m handing in my resignation, and
I’ve written up a recommendation for you to replace me.
Greaves: Response
-- -- Lt. Cmdr. Roger Hartmann Acting First Officer USS Oumuamua M239008AD0