Coming To Grips

Posted on Fri Nov 10th, 2017 @ 8:37am by Commodore Jason Myers & Ensign Andrew Gervais

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Ship's Lounge
Timeline: June 18, 2399 @ 0945

Andrew stood quietly in the lounge, looking outwards into space. The drama of the last few days was now over. The Klingons had been vanquished, the First Officer who wasn't really the First Officer transferred to another ship and was in jail along with Lo'Mah... But that did nothing to make him feel any better. It should have, but it didn't.

Paul Copeland and him had been posted aboard during their cadet cruise. They both wanted to go to the Delta Quadrant. Captain Ross liked Paul so much that he authorized the both of them for posting out here. They had been practically inseperable since high school. He talked Paul into joining Starfleet. And now he was dead. Killed for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He knew the Commodore needed his assistance, but right now he just needed some time. He raised his synthale glass, as though to toast Paul. He then put his glass down at the table, took a deep breath and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry." he said, wiping another tear away and looking blankly at the window. "I just... This was supposed to be our poker night with Lieutenant Holt and Lieutenant Martin and... I'm sorry. I got you into this."

Jason had entered the lounge, looking for Gervais. He knew that he had been told about Ensign Copeland, and he had accessed the records. He knew exactly where Andrew was and he knew all too well from his own experience what and why he needed to be alone. It would probably look and seem odd that a Commodore was worried about some Ensign he'd known for two days but he also knew that he would have done anything for someone to just be there. He would forgo that stiff and rigid distance this time. He saw Gervais standing, and he saw the empty glass. Gervais caught Jason's reflection and turned around, coming to attention. Before he could anything, Jason put his hand up.

"As you were. Please." Jason said. "I came to make sure you were going to be okay to continue today. You don't have to assist further if you have too much on your mind."

"It's... It's fine, sir." Andrew said rather unconvincingly. "I mean...I guess this can happen right? This was always a possibility. I just have to move on. But... This is on me." he said, his voice breaking a bit. "I got him into this. And now... This is just part of the glory of going into space we overlooked. I guess it was something that could happen. There's no point in getting so worked up--"

Jason nodded sympathetically, and motioned for Gervais to sit down. "I know they drill into you that sometimes a person you become close to will be killed in action. And I know sometimes they make it seem like you just have to coldly move on and accept it. Can I tell you something?"

"Of course, sir." Andrew replied.

"It's straight up bullshit." Jason said. "It's okay for you to respond this way. And it's more than valid that you feel the way you are right now. But you also need to remember that you weren't the one who blew up that shuttle. And you weren't the one who told him to be where he was. None of what happened is your fault. He couldn't have possibly expected someone in the same uniform as him to shoot him."

"I begged him to apply to the Academy." Andrew said

"And he was the one who chose to accept it." Jason replied. "I know what's on your mind right now. Because I've been there." he said as Gervais looked confused.

"You had a friend that got posted with you too?" Gervais asked.

"I did. I knew him from childhood. We entered the Academy together and did our cadet cruise together. Right towards the tail end of the Dominion War." Jason said. "3 hours before the Treaty of Bajor came into effect, we were attacked by a Breen ship. We had to evacuate, and my friend never made it off the ship. If we'd just run a different course, or stuck to safer territory, we'd have been fine.

Gervais looked at the Commodore... "A damn shame nobody slept in. Did his family forgive you?"

Jason shook his head. "To this day, they still refuse to talk to me. As far as they're concerned, I might as well have given our location to the Breen. Probably not what you want to hear but... I don't think you fully understand what happened. There was no wartime casualty here. You couldn't have saved him... He jumped in front of Major Lo'mah's weapons fire to try and save Commander Meru."

Gervais looked up in shock. "Wait... he what?"

"It's hard to say what was going through his mind, but... He saw that Meru was about to be shot, according to the security report. He had no chance against Lo'Mah, especially if he missed. He tried to deny the Major a victim."

Andrew took all of what the Commodore said in... It made it better, and yet it didn't. "It still seems needless to me. I mean... That sounds exactly like the kind of person Paul was, but this was just all so unnecessary."

"I agree. Ensign, once this mission is over, I was wondering... Have you ever considered anything other than piloting?" Jason asked.

"How so?" Gervais asked

"I'm going to need a new adjutant, and you did rather well assisting on this Dalacari file." Jason said. "If you'll consider it, I'd like you to take that role on."

Gervais pondered a moment. It was something he also enjoyed and he did enjoy it far more than being in charge of the support pilots. He thought he had a chance at FCO but he didn't quite feel right taking that on all because someone died. It just wasnt a decision he could make today.

"If Commander Bartlett doesnt need me elsewhere, then I'd be delighted, sir. But with all due respect, I've got a lot on my mind right now and I can't give you an answer today."

Jason nodded sympathetically. "Take all the time you need."

"Thank you, sir." Gervais said. "The memos I did on the station should be sent to you but... I think I need more of a day to take this all in than I thought."

"Of course." Jason replied. "Go easy on yourself, Ensign. You don't deserve to bear the weight of what's happened all by yourself."

"Yes, sir." Gervais said. "Thank you, sir."

END

Commodore Jason Myers
Task Force Commanding Officer
Starfleet Command

Ensign Andrew Gervais
Chief Support Craft Pilot
USS Wellington