Captain On The Bridge

Posted on Sat Mar 27th, 2021 @ 4:13pm by Captain Michelle Bartlett

Mission: Arriving
Location: Bridge
Timeline: After "The Grand Tour" posts

"Ready for the last bit?" Jason asked with a bit of a grin.

"The Bridge?" Michelle asked. "I think that's the one part of the ship I haven't seen yet." she responded. It had been a fairly lengthy walk through the ship, but she had seen the most of it. She was holding off for the Science lab yet as she wanted a bit more time there. The lab had always been her home even if she spent most of the past few years either in the diplomatic suite or on the bridge.

"Well, you know." Jason said. "Save the best for last, right?" he added as he punched in a code into the turbolift panel.

"I'd hoped to go up after the ceremony." Michelle replied. "I need to still get into dress uniform."

"There'll be plenty of time for that, don't you worry." Jason said. "Besides, it's just a quick trip, meet the crew on watch right now and then head down. You don't even have to really do a lot quite yet."

"I can tell they miss Reynolds." Michelle replied. "You don't have to be a Betazoid to sense the tension around here."

"Every member of the crew would have rather stood and fought." Jason said sympathetically. "The folks you talked to weren't lying about that. And I wish we could have let them. But it might have made things worse. The entire crew was a mess the first bit. They'd mostly served with Captain Reynolds for 7 years." He paused a moment as the turbolift stopped. He pressed a button before opening the door. "You ready?"

"Of course." Michelle replied. "You're more excited for this than I am."

"How often does one get to walk their former XO onto their first command?" Jason asked. "Besides... No matter how many times you walk onto the bridge of a starship... Nothing prepares you for seeing YOUR bridge for the first time."

"I'll bear that in mind." Michelle replied. "Right, then. Well... shall we?"

The door opened, and the crew on watch at this time was hard at work, almost undistractible. The hustle and bustle was obvious as she heard the vessel's background noise. The humming, the beeping... It did seem just a little different.

"Captain on the bridge!" Called out Jason. The entire crew immediately stopped and came to attention.

"Don't you mean Commander?" Michelle asked.

"We'll talk about that." Jason said. "Besides, regardless of rank, the CO is traditionally called 'Captain'. Old Earth naval custom."

Michelle was a little confused. Talk? She never was informed of any promotion when she left the Cape Town. She kept her confusion in her head, however and looked at the staff, and the Bajoran Lieutenant left in command.

"As you were." Michelle said, at which point everyone resumed their duties.

"Ma'am. I'm Lieutenant Ila Kravem." The officer said as she introduced herself. "Welcome aboard."

"Thank you, Lietuenant. Are you usually in command this watch?"

"Lieutenant Commander Tang is, ma'am. But, as I understand, she had to attend to some other duties and left me in command. Will you be assuming the watch?"

"No. And I have a feeling I was probably those other duties she was attending to." Michelle said. "You may remain at your post, I haven't officially assumed command. The Commodore and I will be in the observation lounge. The bridge is yours." she said.

"Well, I mean... It's right there." Jason said, gesturing to the chair. "Try it out before we go have our chat."

"I couldn't." Michelle replied. "It's not official yet." she added. Besides, in her own opinion, she didn't think it would be appropriate just yet for the crew to see another person in... well... his chair.

"Oh don't be like that!" Jason said. "It will be soon enough."

"Commander" Ila replied, "if I may speak freely?"

"Of course." Michelle said.

"We've all known the last two weeks we were getting a new Commanding Officer. And yeah... it's been difficult for us. But we know someone else was going to be sitting there. It's not going to bother us if you take your seat. Besides... Commander T'Prymm would be saying something right now about your hesitation being illogical."

"Well.. Who have I ever been to argue with Vulcan logic?" she said. "Very well." she said as she walked to the centre of the bridge, looking at the chair for a moment, and then taking a seat. Her seat.

"You're right." Michelle replied. "Nothing really prepares you for this." she paused for a moment, taking it all in. She remained conscious of the circumstances she was assuming her seat in, but... She was permitting herself to enjoy it, at least a little.

"The first time I sat down on the Yorkshire in the centre chair... I must have just sat there and been dazed for like... god, 10 minutes. Maybe a little terrified."

"Terrified?" Michelle asked. "Doesn't sound like you."

"It was one thing to have a superior above me... Quite another to be responsible for hundreds of lives." Jason added.

"850 of them, here." Michelle said, rattling off the crew complement for a Sovereign Class. "Right.. well." Michelle said as she stood up. "Shall we?"

"Of course."

"It's all yours, Lieutenant." she said as her and Jason walked into the observation lounge. "You said there was something that couldn't wait until after the reception?"

"I did!" Jason replied. "A couple things actually. Your shore leave is going to be a partial one, is the first thing. I'll get to the second in a moment."

"Partial?" Michelle asked. "Jason, you can't have possibly recieved orders to get us back out there. The crew doesn't seem emotionally ready to resume their duties yet. I haven't even picked a First Officer."

"Do you have anyone in mind?" Jason asked.

"Of the senior staff I met?" Michelle asked. "I'm not sure. The helm officer is fairly low rank, Major Weston is needed where she is, I think. Cordale seems to be a hell of an Engineer but I think that's where he does well. The Fighter commander is a little too gung ho and I think I'd clash with him. What about Ms. Tang? In Strategic Operations?"

"Captain Reynolds always spoke highly of her." Jason replied. "Honestly, if you don't promote her, I'll make her my aide. Not that I'm interfering, just advising. Her reports were always fairly detailed and I guarantee you, she's probably already started a file on you. I think she was probably the one senior officer who got along with T'Prymm."

"Was she that bad?" Michelle asked.

"She was your stereotypical Vulcan. Very big on order and discipline." Jason said. "She wasn't unlikeable, just... strict. Her and Reynolds balanced each other out, although he was a very high-expectation man himself."

"But, back to this idea of yours of us being out in the field again, sir." Michelle said. "I don't think it's a good idea at all."

"Can I at least tell you what the mission is before you dismiss it?" Jason asked.

"Fine." Michelle said. "Let's hear it." she said, taking a seat.

"During the Wellington's failed first contact, we lost a fighter." Jason said. "We thought it had been destroyed in the attack when we were getting tarred and feathered away from that world. Turns out.... It's on the planet. Starfleet wants it recovered."

"And the people who attacked us?" Michelle asked.

"They were an isolationist movement that didn't want to ally or even have any kind of a relationship with the Federation." Jason said. "When we went running, it appeared there was a coup in place and there was an insurrection as best Starfleet Intelligence can determine, but it was put down."

"A little late for our diplomatic team." Michelle countered. "Far too late.'

"I mean... retrieving a shuttle won't bring Reynolds, T'Prymm and Edwards back." Jason replied. "But.. You said it yourself. Morale around here is in the metaphorical toilet, and it might give the crew some closure. But... there's a caveat."

"Always is." Michelle said. "What is it?"

"Under no circumstances are we to fire first." Jason said. "Only if provoked, and considering how utterly xenophobic they are, they're going to beat us to that anyway."

"Won't they know it's us? We'll be a hell of a target for them." Michelle responded, concerned what more deaths and captivities could do.

"We're not taking the Wellington. Starfleet Intelligence has arranged for a ship we can use to get our fighter back."

"I hope it's a Defiant Class or Saber Class?" Michelle asked.

"Oh, Captain... There are some things you are going to have to get used to in this quadrant. We don't have ships to spare. We don't even have a central starbase to meet at. Hence why we had to pick you up here. It's a skeleton crew out here and there's no ships to spare."

"So... what are we using?" Michelle asked, not having heard Jason refer to her by a different rank.

"There's an old mining facility with a ship nearby. The facility hasn't been used in years, but our source says there's a ship that will do the job. We just need to get it operational."

"Let's hope it doesn't need too much work." Michelle replied.

"Most of the crew will remain on shore leave. We only need a handful of crew to run it. It's not enormous. Likely Security and Marines will make up the bulk of it, plus a pilot that can fly the damaged fighter back. And some engineers."

"I'll have the department heads suggest names." Michelle said.

"Trust me, you'll have no problem finding volunteers among this crew. Might have to make sure they aren't so eager."

"An old mining ship?" Michelle said. "It really is a different world out here, isn't it?"

"Well, that and Federation starships are pretty obvious. For what we need? It's better this way. Our source checks out, and I don't think Intelligence is going to hand us a dud that barely starts. Hope not anyway."

"And despite us being ordered to retreat, we're now the best choice for the job?"

"Best? Probably not. Nearest? You still are. The Dover won't be hitting that sector for another 8 days at maximum warp. We can be there in 3 or 4."

"I see." Michelle said. "How many crew will we need?"

"Our contact says the specifications for that ship required at least 75 people to run, bare minimum." Jason replied. "I'd ideally like about 125."

"Can we find 125 crew here that won't get emotional and do something to make this worse?" Michelle asked.

"I'm sure you can figure something out... Captain." he added. "Guess I should actually get to the second bit before calling you that."

"That would be the second time you've done that." Michelle asked.

"Third, actually. You missed me saying it a moment ago." Jason replied. "I asked Captain Ross on the Cape Town not to say anything. Well, may have ordered him not to actually. But..." he paused before pulling out a box.

"Wait... am I...?" Michelle asked. "Are you...."

"Let me get the official part of this out of the way and then I'll answer your questions. Or get you to Sick Bay because you fainted." Jason said with a grin... "Commander Michelle Bartlett, it is my pleasure to inform you that by order of Starfleet Command, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Captain. With all the rights and privileges of the said rank thereof." he added as he opened the box to reveal a pip.

"I... I guess there is where I accept." she said, a little shocked but really no longer fighting anything that was going on.

"It... would speed things along, yes." Jason said as he pinned the fourth pip on the right side of her uniform by her chest. "Congratulations, Captain." Jason said. "You've earned it. Now... should we go get ready for the change of command?"

"Yes... of course." Michelle said. "As for the skeleton crew, once I can legally give orders, I'll start vetting volunteers. Will that be all?"

"For now." Jason said. "Thank you, Captain."

"Sir." Michelle nodded as she headed out the door.