Back In The Game

Posted on 09 Sep 2019 @ 8:22am by

Mission: Mission 1 - In the pale moonlight ...
Location: Runabout en route to USS Andromeda
Timeline: Mission Day 8 - 0700 Hours
813 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Richardson sat in the co-pilot's chair next to the young helmsman piloting the runabout. They had departed from Starbase 308 and were en-route to the U.S.S. Andromeda. Alex was to transfer aboard as the ship's new Chief Medical Officer, and the runabout to return to starbase with a sample of something the Andromeda had found on its current assignment. He had no idea what it was specifically as he wasn't briefed on the matter, and while he often does love a good mystery and digging for clues, the origin of the sample in question wasn't the focus of his thoughts as he stared out at the star field streaming by the front view window of the small craft. Instead, he found himself wondering what his new assignment would have in store for him.

"What will you be doing aboard the Andromeda, sir?" questioned the Ensign who was piloting.

"Hmm..." sounded Richardson, snapping from his own internal thoughts and returning his attention to the reality around him as he glanced over to his left at the slim figured human woman, seemingly fresh out of the Academy, who posed the question. He noticed her view remained fixed on the console in front of her as she was made to repeat her question by the lack of his answer.

"On board the Andromeda, sir? What's your assignment? Science?" she probed again. Her gaze then turned from her console's readouts towards the doctor.

Richardson smiled politely before replying, his English accent ringing clearly, "I'll be their new Chief Medical Officer." He waved the PADD containing his orders for reassignment in his hand slightly as he spoke, as though to show them off to the young officer like it was a little prize of sorts.

"I see," she remarked. "Is this your first posting as the CMO of a starship?" the young woman then asked.

The Lieutenant (jg) found himself falling back into the recollection of his memories for a moment from his tour of duty aboard the USS Ranger. "No, I've served before on a starship in this capacity," he answered once more concisely.

Firing off yet another question, the young woman asked, "Where was that?"

Richardson's left brow arched for a second at the apparent volley of inquiries. He couldn't tell if her interest in this knowledge was genuine or if she simply hated riding in silence and was just trying to make small talk, which Alex had always regarded as the most insincere form of communication-- a sentiment he acquired from his father. It wouldn't have been an understatement to say that he deplored small talk, whether it meant engaging in it or listening to it. However, because he couldn't be sure whether that's what she was doing or not, he decided to err on the side of caution and give her the benefit of the doubt. Assuming she was sincere in the interest of her questions, he replied, "It was aboard the USS Ranger, an Intrepid Class starship that was assigned to deep space exploration."

The young woman's face lit up. "Now, that sounds exciting," she remarked. Her smile then faded as she added, "Well, I wish I was being transferred to a Galaxy Class starship," the Ensign hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Truth be told, I imagined my service would be piloting ships... not hanging around on a starbase doing a shuttle run every now and then."

The disappointment in her tone was not at all difficult for Richardson to pick up on, and arguably, because she made little effort to conceal it. "I can understand how that might be frustrating, especially for a pilot. I mean, I'm only a doctor and the eight months on interim duty aboard a starbase nearly drove me mad." His view then turned to the forward view port for a moment as he contemplated the meaning of service and duty, and he paused before adding, "Then again, we all serve where we are needed... whether or not it is our dream assignment."

The young helmsman didn't say anything. She simply offered a slight nod and returned her gaze to her console. He had thought about his words in the silence between them that soon followed. Alex wasn't sure it would've been possible for him to be anymore ecstatic at the news of his transfer to an actual starship; although, no one would have ever guessed it by his usual calm demeanor. Being a doctor was only half of what he truly wanted from life right now. The other half was being out and traveling among the stars. That is where the real adventure lay. He hoped the Andromeda, like the Ranger had been, would not only be his new home but offer a new array of companions with which to explore the cosmos.

OFF:

Lieutenant Junior Grade Alexander Richardson
Chief Medical Officer
USS Andromeda