Where It All Began...

Posted on Mon Oct 23rd, 2017 @ 1:59pm by Captain Michelle Bartlett

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Observation Lounge
Timeline: May 5, 2397 (Flashback)/June 17, 2399 @ 1330

Michelle stepped away from the bridge a moment.. The morning had gone far too fast. This day had gone far too fast. So had the last few. She'd dropped off a card and a bouquet she replicated at Captain Ross' quarters. The quarters of all the officers killed were becoming makeshift memorials and the Quartermaster indicated he wasn't going to reassign until the crew had a chance at a proper memorial. Not to mention that Bowman wasn't going to be in command long enough yet to designate department heads. They were all still just Acting Chiefs.

She saw the now-vacant chair at the head of the table. She sat, took her regular seat in the Observation Lounge, almost somehow expecting the senior staff to just magically appear and say this was all a horrendous prank. Except she knew it wasn't. She looked at Ross' vacant chair. "What are your orders now, Captain?" she asked the empty chair. "Just one more time I'd like you to walk onto the bridge and sort this all out. So you can get rid of... Whoever the hell is impersonating Commander Bowman, get her found, and get me back in the diplomatic suite where the fires that need putting out are somewhat less dramatic than this." she added before turning in the chair to look out the window, and then to face back at the Captain's seat, getting lost in her own thoughts again as she remembered meeting the Senior Staff. She'd only been aboard a few hours.

======May 5, 2397: Captain's Ready Room======

Michelle stood outside the ready room, waiting to be let in. She still looked down at the blue stripes on her uniform. Diplomatic colours. It was still a thing to get used to after so many years of wearing teal or red. But she did think it was a fitting colour for Diplomats, especially given that Blue is the colour of the Federation flag.

"Come in." she heard as the door opened and she walked through, coming to attention.

"Captain Ross?" She asked.

"Yes." Ross said.

"Commander Michelle Bartlett reporting for duty, sir."

"Commander. Welcome aboard." Ross said. "Captain Myers is already begging me to bring you back. Apparently things are a bit rough with your successor."

"Tell him he'll manage and to stop being such a crybaby.... Sir." she said, realizing she was on a different ship now where that might not fly. "And of course that was meant with all due respect to Captain Myers."

"I get it... Most XOs form a good working relationship with their CO. And it sounds like he worked well with you. He did note his disappointment at you leaving the command track to be a diplomat."

"I feel it's where I can do the most good, sir. I wanted a new challenge." Michelle said. "I could have been a Science Officer again but a lot of people don't want a Commander as chief."

"Well you should feel free to stop in to the science lab some time. I'm sure Lieutenant T'Pral would appreciate that." Ross replied. "I'd like to say you have some time to get acquainted and settle in to your role, but I need you to be briefed on some negotiations we're mediating within the next day or so. There'll be a full mission briefing at 1100 hours for all senior staff."

"I'll be there with bells on." Michelle said.

"Well, watch out for the bells... You might irritate Commander Bowman. She's only been First Officer for 8 months and is still a bit wound up. I'm sure it'll pass eventually."


======May 5, 2397: Observation Lounge=======

"We can deploy a team of Security officers to the details of both parties. We will of course also update Special Operations regarding any information we happen to hear. It is likely that one or both parties might act in bad faith to disrupt the talks." Movek said.

Michelle walked in a bit late, having just finished the briefing and coming up with a strategy for the talks.

"Damn. The diplomat walked in." Bowman said. "I was hoping to start a war today. Guess we're not doing that now, huh?" she said with a grin clearly indicating she was kidding.

"Apologies, everyone. I was getting caught up on the file." Michelle replied. "But yes... No war today. Captain, has Special Operations verified the intel we got pertaining to this?"

"Yes, ma'am." Del said. "The problem is, we're dealing with one party that's quite paranoid and doesn't trust the other. 200 years of war will plus the Kazon coming in and screwing them all up will do that."

"And are we on alert for any Kazon interference? I mean, this goes through and they lose one of their whipping boys out here." Michelle said.

"I am monitoring the situation as we speak, Commander." Movek replied.

"Thank you, Commander." Michelle said, before noticing Commander Bowman was giving her a look. "I am so sorry, ma'am. Here I am coming in late, and basically running the briefing."

"I'm fine with that." Bowman said. "I can go down to Engineering to check on Lieutenant Meru's work." she said before looking at Meru with a smirk. "Not that I need to. I trained her well. Though it was really between her and Cordale for chief."

"Commander, I understand before being the Yorkshire's First Officer, you were its Chief Science Officer, is that not correct?" T'Pral said.

"Yes, Lieutenant." Michelle said.

"Then I would invite you once time permits to come to the science lab. One of my junior officers can show you the things we are working on. I believe you might find them fascinating." she said. "I am certain Ensign Mordin can give you a tour."

"Thank you." Michelle replied. "I'll make a point to do that."

"Anyways... What I was saying before Commander Bartlett came in and took command of the ship was I don't think we can fully commit to mediation until we have a better idea of what both sides are after. We could end up sending down officers to get slaughtered by both factions."

"I don't get the impression of that from the memos I read." Michelle said. "Certainly we have to watch out for the True Path supporters... But I think we can get around the worst of them."

"I'll leave you to figure out how to do that." Ross said. "I think for now, that will be all. Dismissed." he said as the officers filed out of the room... "Commander..." Ross said.

"I'm sorry, sir. Old habits. Well, minus the being late part."

"You read up on everything you needed in two hours, walked in here and your first day aboard basically took command of the room. Why the hell are you not a command officer?"

"If I may be honest, sir... Too much politics that does little for anyone else." Michelle said. "I loved the Yorkshire and I loved it's crew but I think I'm better suited to a diplomatic role."

"To avoid politics?" Ross said with a smirk on his face. "That's like walking through fire to avoid a sunburn, Commander." Ross said. "You just don't like taking centre stage unless it's necessary. I'm going to be relying on you as much as Movek and Commander Bowman. And Bowman needs someone to coach her on how not to be a total hardass as First Officer."

"She didn't seem that bad." Michelle said.

"She warmed up to you a bit." Ross said. "I think she fears the chair. Just as you do. Mind you, she's got a lot to live up to. Her family has been in Starfleet probably since before Khitomer. I think it intimidates her sometimes and she clams up."

"I'm sure we can get her to let her barriers down." Michelle replied. "She just needs to know she's not the only one to feel the pressure. It's an enormous responsibility."

"Does that mean you'll take her under your wing?" Ross asked.

Michelle crossed her arms for a moment, looked to her left and let out a small smile. Ross simply grinned and chuckled.

"Captain Myers told me your body language.... You're going to do it." Ross said.

"Well.. Uhhh... I... Okay, fine." Michelle said. "You've got me."

"I also want you to be the senior officer commanding Delta Shift at least two nights a week. Mission needs permitting of course.'

"No problem." Michelle said. "Will that be all?"

"For now." Ross said. "Thank you, Commander."

======Present Day=======

Michelle sat back, almost bitterly remembering the last part. After Admiral Bowman's death, the pet project only got worse. At least now she knew why and could forgive "Bowman" a little more. "We'll compromise, sir. How about that? I'll get us back to base." Michelle said. "Get us through the memorial, and then this is someone else's problem. All of it. I know it's not what you wanted but you're not here to try and twist my arm anymore. So you're just going to have to find a way to cope with that." She said, sitting in the chair, getting lost in her own thoughts and her own mind.

"No." Ross said standing behind Bartlett all of a sudden. "That's a goddamn copout and you know it. And it's something that's totally beneath you."

"This entire ship and crew are falling apart." Michelle said.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Ross asked. "Yeah... We died. It sucks. It's no fun for us either."

"There's two more who've died since." Michelle said.

"And a junior science officer who we both know is innocent." Ross replied. "So... you're having a little bit of a day. Does it suck? It does. But you'll have to excuse me if I don't really give a damn about how much it sucks for you personally because it's about to suck for a lot more people. And just putting in the time until you get to the starbase isn't good enough and you know it. The Cardassians and the Klingons could overrun most of the Darkstar Wormhole Sector before we've all got our pants on. If the Cardassians are in on this, you better believe they've got firepower that will seriously cripple the Dalacari. Shit, they could overrun 1/3 of Dalacar in 4 days before being blown apart by the Ts'usugi."

"You're not wrong on that." Michelle replied.

"What's our status, Commander?" Ross asked as he used to before assuming Alpha Shift.

"We're at Red Alert, continuing to assist in negotiations with the Dalacari and the Klingons. The Commodore reports that talks have been placed on hold pending outcome of Lieutenant Mordin's arrest and preferably her release, though they will have further discussions later this evening. Two senior officers are killed and Major Lo'Mah is the suspect. Him and Commander Bowman have hoodwinked the Organization into an act that will destroy Federation and Organization credibility in this sector and we're going to have to put up one hell of a fight to save our hard work. Because anything less is a disservice to everyone out here."

"And to...?" Ross asked.

"Everyone who's died out here trying to establish a foothold. We need to boot Bowman and get these thugs out of the quadrant. And we need to do it sooner rather than later." she added, returning a bit more to her old self.

"You know, Michelle... If you really don't think Command is something you want to pursue, I completely respect that if you've taken some time to think it over. But I think we both know if you didn't enjoy some of the stuff you claimed to hate, you'd have gone back to Science. But like I said.. If it's not something you truly want to pursue, that's fine. But if you're just wallowing in self pity over the loss of your colleagues and the difficulty you face and you think it'll be too hard? You don't deserve to be sitting in THAT chair, never mind mine. Pity party's over. Get back to work." Ross said.

"Aye, sir." Michelle said to what was suddenly an empty room. She blinked a little... She must have really overthought that one.

"Bridge to Commander Bartlett." a voice said through her commbadge.

"Bartlett here." Michelle said.

"Commander, Strategic Operations reports that the Klingons responsible for attacking the Dalacari have cloaked. ETA is 7 hours, 42 minutes assuming they're coming here." the officer replied.

"Inform Commander Mo'Bri to get the ship as ready as she can. I'm back on my way out." she said as she walked through the door towards the command chair. Placing herself in the "Big Chair" she turned to Operations. "Ms. Garcia, send a message to the Dalacari outpost to advise. Inform them to be ready for an incoming attack."

"Do you think they're coming here, Commander?" Garcia asked.

"Where else would they go? I just want to know what took them so long. Once you've sent that message Lieutenant, I need you to also contact Commodore Myers. We're going to need that blockade they just crept past."

"Aye, ma'am." she said.


Commander Michelle Bartlett
Acting Executive Officer/Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Wellington

Captain Owen Ross
Former Commanding Officer
Ghost Of Captains Past
USS Wellington

Comments (1)