USS Wakefield, S01E01 Act I - The Promotion (Part 2)

“Officers on deck!” Announced the Wakefield’s transporter chief as the four officers rematerialized on the transporter pad. He stood to attention and saluted crisply at them and they, after taking a moment to get their bearings, saluted back.

“At ease, Mr R’raak,” said Lt Zhivkov as they all stepped down from the pad. Adm. T’Las, Capt. Drake, Cdr Tarsi, this is TO R’raak. You would normally find him on the gamma shift but, as I’m sure you can imagine, the shifts are a little non-standard while we finish the refit.”

“Indeed. Thank you for getting us aboard in one piece and without cloning us, Mr R’raak” said Drake, smiling jovially.

“Quite welcome, sir. And welcome to the Wakefield.” The Caitian grinned broadly, and Drake nodded in acknowledgement of the welcome.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, sirs, I just need to check in with my crew,” Zhivkov said.

“Of course, Lieutenant.” Drake started to look around the Wakefield’s transporter room as Zhivkov went over to speak to R’raak. “A promotion and a shiny new ship in the same day,” he mused. “I know it’s a little unprofessional, but I feel like a kid in a candy shop right now.” He turned his head as a hand fell on his shoulder.

“I quite understand, Capt. Drake,” said T’Las, smiling kindly. “I felt just as giddy when I was given my first Dhelan warbird. It was such a step-up from the T’varo and T’liss classes I was used to commanding… I think I spent most of my first week aboard wandering around in a daze, grinning like a fool.”

“Ha! Oh, that reminds me, Admiral, how should I address you now?”

“Well, if you’re introducing me to someone then my full title would be ‘Ambassador T’Las, Admiral of the Romulan Republican Force’. But you can just call me T’Las, or ‘Zig’.”

“Zig?” queried Drake, a curious smile on his face and his eyebrows raised in amusement.

“Old nickname from my days on the Virinat farming colony. Get to know me well enough and I might even tell you what it means.” She smiled, then shrugged and continued, “In the meantime, just Ambassador or Ma’am will do for everyone else. It might be a diplomatic mission, but we don’t need to be on full protocol all the time. And you and Commander Tarsi certainly don’t need to address me as a superior.”

“That works for me, and you can just call me Drake. I have always preferred a slightly less formal approach with my crew. Naturally, formality and protocol have a place, especially during combat, but I find the day-to-day life of flying through the void in a tin can to be a lot easier if everyone’s relaxed.”

“We still expect full uniform on-shift, however,” Tarsi interjected. “We’re not one of those super informal ships where half the bridge crew are in their off-duty wear.”

“Shame,” replied T’Las, smirking playfully at Tarsi. The Andorian flushed a little and mumbled something about needing to check with Lt Zhivkov about the transfer, and promptly hurried off. Drake and T’Las watched her retreat, the Romulan still smiling.

“Coolest head I’ve ever seen in a firefight,” commented Drake, “But have a strong, dominant woman flirt with her and she turns to jelly.”

T’Las laughed. “I’m sorry, I can’t help it. It’s like an automatic reflex.”

“Oh, it’s fine, she’ll get used to it and be trying to turn the tables of you before long.”

“I look forward to it. Well, I have a shuttle at the Earth Spacedock loaded with my personal effects and ready to go; permission to come aboard, Captain?”

“Permission granted, Ambassador,” Drake replied with a smile.

“Splendid. If anyone needs me, I will be in my quarters. Drake.”

“Zig.”

Tarsi looked up as the Romulan ambassador headed off to the turbolifts. She said something to Lt Zhivkov, and then they both walked over to where Drake was standing.

“Seems everything is in order, sir. Lt Zhivkov has had things well-prepared for our arrival.”

“Thank you, sir,” Zhivkov said modestly. “I have Adm. Syva’s list of recommendations here,” she indicated the PADD she had picked up from the ship’s transporter chief, “and we should probably also go over your staff officer choices before I introduce you both to the rest of the senior staff.”

“Good idea, Lieutenant,” Drake replied. “I take it my new ready room will be just off the bridge, as normal?”

“Yes, sir.” She indicated the turbolift, “Shall we?” Drake and Tarsi both nodded, and the three of them walked over.

“Bridge please,” Zhivkov said as they boarded the lift.

“I’m assuming Skavrin and Ekish will be joining us, sir?” asked Tarsi while the lift ascended.

“Wouldn’t dream of leaving them behind. While engineering might be a bit larger and more advanced than Skavrin’s used to, I’ve never known him to find a problem he can’t fix. Likewise, I’m confident that Ekish can handle the challenge of a larger operations department.” He paused to consider this, then turned to Zhivkov, “How large is Operations here, Lieutenant?”

“Eighty-three personnel, sir. Myself included. According to Adm. Syva’s briefing we will also be taking on five cadets in Operations, sir.”

Drake nodded, “Ekish will be fine. Though that reminds me, Lieutenant – the Admiral said you would ‘explain’ the deputy head of operations. Lt Dillon, I think it was.”

“He goes by D’Lan at the moment, sir.” Drake raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “Lt Dillon is a photonic lifeform, a hologram, sir. However, his programme is a little… eccentric. Not in a way that affects his capacity to carry out his role aboard the ship, I hasten to add, but he has a somewhat flexible persona.”

“We have a schizophrenic hologram in Operations?” asked Tarsi, starting to look alarmed.

“No, no. Nothing like that, sir. Lt Dillon just likes to reinvent himself. For instance, he is currently a Klingon by the name of D’Lan, whereas a few months ago he was an alien species of his own devising and had a name that was quite unpronounceable to ninety percent of the crew, and before that he was a Vulcan, also called D’Lan. It doesn’t affect his work, and his core personality remains much the same, but it can take some getting used to.” There was silence for several seconds, until Tarsi spoke just as the lift came to a stop.

“That’s uh… that’s different.”

“We’re a pretty ‘different’ crew, sir,” replied Zhivkov, smiling slightly. The doors opened, and they walked out onto the bridge, with both Drake and Tarsi taking a few moments to appreciate the sight

“Wow, this makes the Trent look like a mining vessel,” said Tarsi as she started walking around. “Everything is so sleek and pristine! And ooh, a triumvirate seating plan.”

“This is a very impressive bridge, Lt Zhivkov,” said Drake. The lieutenant smiled in acknowledgement as she allowed her new commanding officers to familiarise themselves with the bridge. “I think we’ll need a new security officer, Tarsi.” He paused in his wandering to inspect the mission operations display, tapping through screens as he carried on talking to Tarsi. “I like Amos, but I’m not convinced he’s got what it takes to run a department. He seems to be a little in over his head on the Trent as it was, and the Wakefield’s security department is going to be larger.”

“Thirty-six personnel, sir. With five cadets and six new recruits expected to join us before we leave Spacedock," said Zhivkov, before adding almost as an afterthought, "and one Reman pirate.” Drake and Tarsi both stopped dead and turned to look at her.

“A Re-…,” Drake started, then stopped. Then he said, “Lt Zhivkov, I would appreciate it if, right now, you would list and explain to me all the, ah, ‘non-standard’ crew we have aboard the Wakefield, because otherwise I’m liable to injure myself from whipping my head around in disbelief each time.”

“My apologies, sir. Lt Janiek is a senior security officer on loan from the KDF as part of that exchange programme and was formerly the captain of a Nausicaan pirate vessel. Prior to that, he was a slave on a Romulan mining colony.” She paused, as both Tarsi and Drake stared at her.

“Sorry, did I just hear that we have a Reman slave-turned-pirate in our security team?”

“Yes, Cdr Tarsi,” replied Zhivkov. “We also have Lt Obisik in Intelligence. She is a Reman, sir, but I do not believe she is a former slave.”

“Well this is going to be a very interesting mission, with eleven Romulans on board as well.”

“On the bright side, Tarsi, it’s an excellent opportunity to make great strides in burying past grievances and moving forward together.” Drake smiled at her in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.

“Ha!” barked the Andorian. “Syva would be proud of that answer!”

“We also have a Kazon shuttle pilot,” continued Zhivkov, “a Suliban and a liberated Borg drone in engineering, a Lethean cook, and a Gorn biochemist, sir.”

“I got on well with the few Gorn I’ve met,” mused Drake, “but the idea of a Lethean cook wavers somewhere between disturbing and outright horrifying.” He shook his head and turned to face his first officer, “Right, well, back on topic – Tarsi, what are your thoughts on Amos Seaholm?”

“He’s a capable officer and leader, sir, but as you say his administrative abilities let him down. I think he would take the beta shift as relief security officer without any complaints. Probably thank you for it.”

Drake nodded before continuing, “We’ll need a new chief science officer, too – Vani let me know a few months ago that he was looking to retire and had an open offer of a permanent teaching position at the Academy.” He opened the door to the ready room and walked into the surprisingly plush and spacious chamber.

“Good for him,” said Tarsi, “he’s earned it. Yao would seem the obvious successor.” She followed Drake and stopped in the doorway, staring with her mouth open. “That’s the ready room? It’s bigger than the conference room was on the Trent!”

“Room for seven plus one,” said Drake in agreement.

“It has a couch,” added Tarsi.

“Replicator, too,” said Drake as they continued to explore. “Regarding Yao, he might be the senior officer but If xenology is going to be our focus going-forward then it makes sense to have the department run by someone with a stronger background in the discipline. Yao certainly knows his astrophysics, but he can’t tell a Klingon from a Nausicaan. On the other hand, passing him up for the position could be seen as a snub, though I suppose I could always formally recommend him as the Trent’s new head of science.” Tarsi nodded in agreement and thought for a moment.

“Well, Lt Osennkca is our most experienced and qualified xenologist. Tends to have his head in the clouds half the time though so I’m not sure he could run a department.”

“Yes, Lt Vani has spoken highly of him in the past. Hmm,” Drake drummed his fingers on his ready room’s desk while he considered the problem., then wandered back over to the door and called out, “Lieutenant, who or what are the extra specialists that Adm. Syva mentioned?”

“According to the Admiral’s recommendations, sir,” Zhivkov quickly scrolled through a list on her PADD, “we should look to have specialists in: xenoanthropology, xenoarchaeology, xenobiology, xenoecology, xeno-,” she paused, noticing the ‘get to the point’ hand gesture her new captain was making, “Um, we’re going to be taking on about thirty extra xeno studies personnel, not including cadets.”

“Thirty crew? That’s a department in itself!” Drake’s eyebrows raised in surprise.

“It is,” replied Tarsi, poking her head out from the doorway of a side room to the ready room. “So, let’s make it one.”

“Ah, make Osennkca our ‘Chief Xenologist’, and promote Yao from deputy to chief science officer?” The Andorian nodded. “Good thinking, Tarsi. So long as we get Osennkca a level-headed deputy to help him stay on track, he should be fine running a small department.”

“Or perhaps an assistant,” suggested Tarsi.

“Another good option.”

“We currently have two xenologists posted to the Wakefield, sirs,” Zhivkov informed them. “Of the two, the senior is Lt Mei Lee; she has a reputation for being very methodical and driven.”

“That does sound like a good balance to Osennkca,” observed Tarsi.

“Agreed. Book her in to sit down with me please, Lieutenant. After my meetings with Yao and Osennkca, of course.” The lieutenant nodded and tapped away on her PADD. Drake paused, and then looked over to where Tarsi had vanished. “What have you found in there?”

“Your head has a shower!”

“Really? Well, I guess a captain always has to be refreshed and presentable.” He smiled at the Andorian as she re-joined him in the main part of the ready room. “Now, regarding medical, I’m thinking about bringing T’Met over as our CMO.”

“Not Muldaur?” asked Tarsi, somewhat surprised.

“Dr Muldaur’s a brilliant surgeon but he’s not getting any younger and, honestly, I think he’d be happier on a patrol vessel like the Trent than on a diplomatic mission. Especially one with our, ah, parameters.” Drake started to walk back onto the bridge, with his second following him.

“You have a point,” conceded Tarsi, after a moment’s consideration. “So T’Met for medical, Skavrin for engineering, Ekish for ops, Yao for science with Osennkca to head the new xenology department, and then a new security officer to recruit. That’s all the department heads planned out.”

“Not quite,” Drake stopped browsing over the bridge’s mission ops display and looked at Tarsi. “Our crew is going to increase by a huge margin, and the Wakefield’s just a lot physically bigger than the Trent, with far more going on – including a whole new department, it seems. With all that additional administration, I’d like you to step down from running tactical and focus purely on being our executive officer.”

“Okay,” she replied, simply.

“Really? That’s it? I’d expected to have to persuade you. I’d even been working on a short speech.”

“I’m your second, boss. You need me to do it, it’s done. Besides, I’m not going to argue against you trying to save me paperwork!”

“Okay, good. Now, replacing you is going to be tricky – I’m not sure young Flores is up to running a department just yet. Though she has shown enough promise that I want to bring her along in some capacity, but we’re going to need someone new to take over from you.”

“Gorret Glihd,” said Tarsi.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Lieutenant and gunnery officer on the Springfield, sir,” Zhivkov clarified, having quickly brought up the officer’s record on her PADD. “Trained as a pilot, switched to gunnery when she discovered how much she liked shooting things. Proficient in Anbo-jyutsu, Suus Mahna, and Mok’bara.” She passed the PADD to Drake to read.

“Impressive,” said Drake as he looked over her profile. “She can beat people up in three languages. And this is one of Syva’s recommendations?”

“Um,” Tarsi’s cheeks started to turn purple with embarrassment. “No, she’s one of mine. I…,” she trailed off, a hand gesturing aimlessly.

“You assumed I would promote you someday and have been scouting out possible tac officer replacements since…,” he gestured for her to finish his sentence.

“Oh, only since we got the communique summoning us to meet Adm. Syva. Like you said earlier, the two of us being called to see an admiral out of the blue, it had to mean promotion. New and bigger ship was a surprise but I figured if they were promoting you to captain then we’d be getting a mission to go with it, and that mission would be more than just patrols, so it made sense that you’d need someone to take some of the crew administration off of your shoulders, and well…,” Tarsi trailed off again, then just shrugged.

“That kind of forethought is why you’re my first officer, Tarsi. Thank you.” He resumed looking at Glihd’s profile while Tarsi beamed with pride. “She looks good. Huh, a Bolian? Don’t see many of them in tac-sec.”

“That’s what caught my eye about her first. Everything about her screams pretty much the opposite of your typical Bolian. Made me look further and I saw her academy record was just as impressive as her career so far.”

Drake nodded absently as he read, “It really does. Alright, sound her out and invite her over for an interview, Lt Zhivkov.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Zhivkov as Drake handed her PADD back to her. “Would you like to conduct the interviews here or back on Spacedock?”

“Spacedock, I think. Temporary offices there are a bit basic but at least I won’t be distracted by sitting in my shiny new ship.”

“Okay, sir. I’ll book you a room and schedule Lt Glihd in after the others, so you have your own officers taken care of before interviewing new ones.”

“Perfect, thank you.”

“Will there be anything else, sir?”

“No, I think that concludes our business for the moment, Lieutenant. Thank you for your assistance.

“Not a problem, sir. I will book the interviews in for you and send the times over once they’re confirmed. Captain, Commander.” Zhivkov saluted them both, then about-turned and went back to the turbolift.

“She’s good,” observed Tarsi once Zhivkov was gone. “Slightly odd, but good.”

“’Slightly odd’ seems to be a common descriptor for our new crew. Between the Reman pirate, eccentric hologram, and all other ‘different’ crew we’ll have under us I am finding myself wondering just what we’ve agreed to by taking this ship on.”

“You’ll find a way to make it work, Drake. Always have,” she said, grinning broadly as she playfully punched his shoulder.

***