Time To Fess Up

Posted on 02 May 2021 @ 12:53pm by Lieutenant Xu Chang Lau & Captain Jonathan Reynolds

Mission: Mission 5 - Season of the Witch?
851 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Bridge duty had been quiet, blessedly given the situation on the planet. Still it was comforting to be back in familiar surroundings even if she was still finding her feet with the new job. Operations in itself seemed simple enough, manage the ships operating system and other software, manage the sensors and who get to use them when and so forth, similar to the old earth job of I.T. support. She also found it interesting from her vantage point on the bridge, the main viewscreen directly ahead of her and she often found herself lost in the wash of warped stars that would pass by unnoticed and uncommented on.

Today however she was distracted, waiting for her opportunity to speak to the Captain. He had been through while heading for his ready room some time ago but she had still to pluck up the courage to actually go and speak to him and admit to her conduct on the surface. Perhaps in an attempt to delay the inevitable she had waited and waited but the nagging feeling really was starting to eat at her so she signalled for a relief officer before making her way over to the ready room door. She pressed the chime and when the doors parted after being bid entry she could see he was sat at his desk. She stepped through.

"Captain, please forgive the intrusion... I wondered if I could speak to you?"

“I think you ought to Lieutenant considering I have just read Lieutenant Belikov’s report that the traders she engaged with informed her you decided to break someone’s nose while obtaining a blood sample. I was just about to call you and security in to get to the bottom of things,” Jon said confused at this turn of events.

Xu instinctively turned her eyes to the floor but she made no move to come further in to the room. She knew he would be disappointed and it could even cost her the promotion she had gained herself onto the senior staff... perhaps its what she deserved.

"I have no excuse Captain... I don't know what came over me, it was like... I don't know. Something or someone just assumed control. It's happened a few times since. The Doctor is investigating but so far the best he and I can come up with is exhaustion or perhaps something on the planet affected me... It's all a bit vague!"

"Right I want you to apologise to the traders when we next encounter them otherwise this could become a problem. Word of mouth is powerful. I am hoping that some of the group trade at the crossroads as we will be back and forth there. But what's more important is your health. What you describe sounds very concerning," Jon said firmly.

"Has anything odd happened recently?"

"With the exception of the market place I can't think of anything... It just comes over as flashes of anger or immense frustration which I can't control" she felt more than ashamed and would make a point of speaking to the traders should she encounter them again... it was the very least she could do.

She finally looked at the Captain, pulling her eyes to look directly at him rather than examining every square centimetre of the carpet by the door.

"I'm sorry sir. I've let you down and I've let the Andromeda down".

"Well yes that's true," Jon said seriously. "But are you going to wallow at that fact or are you going to work at ensuring that doesn't happen again? Everyone makes mistakes Lieutenant and what your saying sounds like its a little more complicated.

So we focus on uncovering and if necessary treating that. You already are working with the doc. You have Oliver in your corner.

Now usually aggression I would say go see a counsellor if you had an inkling what was behind this. But as you don't I would personally suggest go get it out physically. In a holodec. Or a martial arts class. Actually maybe not real people seen as thought you broke this guys nose. Go holodec. Break as many noses in there as you need too. Just no more traders."

"Oliver did mention a few days ago about a Holodeck Program that he thought I might like... A Final Fantasy Fourteen Fully Heuristic Interactive Remake... Maybe I should take him up on it?"

But would 'breaking noses' help in the long run, she certainly couldn't feel any worse than she already did.

"Oh you should. Im the one introduced him to that. We have had many an adventure in that holoseries. Very physical. You will have to decide what class of warrior to be," Jon said.

"Yes sir!"

She said not really understanding what he meant and in some ways being a little concerned about what she had coming!

“Okay, ” Jon said, “Your dismissed but Lieutenant I don't wish to see a report of a nature like this again.”

END

Captain Jonathan Reynolds
CO, USS Andromeda

Lieutenant Xu Chang Lau
Chief Operations - USS Andromeda