Back unto the Breach

Posted on 25 Apr 2020 @ 3:47pm by Captain Mallory Thorne & Lieutenant Sovok

903 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Changing Faces
Timeline: MD 05 - 1300 hours

After receiving the report about the surprising qualifications of their one and only civilian aboard, Mallory determined to find him and speak with him, given the sudden absence of their lead helm officer. There were few left in that department in general, after they return from Hell and all, so options were thin on the ground and this... Well, hopefully it would work.

Mal asked the computer and was told that Sovok was in the lounge, where many crew took their meals. So, she headed down to deck ten and sought out what turned out to be the only Vulcan in the room. (There weren't many aboard.) Being captain and all, she didn't hesitate to walk over. "Mr. Sovok?" she asked politely.

Sovok sat quietly at a table by himself in the far part of the lounge. He was clad in plain grey attire, but for a man who worked on a repair crew, he was remarkably clean. The middle-aged Vulcan sat with near perfect posture eating a bowl of plomeek soup when he noticed the captain enter the room. The trained observer always noticed when a senior officer was in his vicinity, especially the Captain.

Sovok stood as the Captain addressed him. His hands clasped behind his back and his gaze averted. Reflex from years of service under a strict Vulcan captain, it seemed. Sovok did take the briefest of moments to observe the Captain. It was always good to know about those you served under, even the tiniest of details. You never know when the smallest minutiae would be of the utmost importance.

"Captain." He said in a even tone. "To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"

Mal gestured for him to sit back down and then she sat as well. "Well, I won't beat around the bush, as it were," she said with a half-smile. "But your Starfleet record has recently been brought to my attention, though you are now retired." Of course he knew that but she had to predicate with what she knew to explain what she was about to ask. "To put it simply, the Odin is suddenly in need of a pilot."

Sovok sat back down as he was gestured to do. He pressed his grey outfit down as he did to make sure there were no wrinkles as he and the Captain spoke. He nodded once in understanding of her words, and as he spoke, it was in a cool, tempered tone. "Indeed. I believe, then, it is time for me to ascend from the shadows. Logic would dictate that my time of civilian service must come to an end. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, after all."

"The crew of the Odin, as well as myself, would be most grateful," Mal said with a small smile. "I'm afraid the department you would inherit is...very thin. We lost several of them in all the recent mayhem that brought us here."

"I am comfortable with a small team or even being alone with my duties. The amount of staff does not concern me so long as there are enough to complete our duties. If not, more will need to be trained to fill vacant slots." He said without a trace of emotion on his lips.

If we can find enough crew to spare, Mal thought wryly, but she didn't voice it aloud. "I understand from your personnel file that you attained the rank of lieutenant before retiring?"

"Indeed. I served as Chief Helmsman aboard the T'Kumbra before she was decommissioned. The rank of Lieutenant was granted to me there and I held on to it till I took my leave of absence."

"Then that's the rank you'll be recommissioned at," she said simply. "With the position of chief helm officer. At present, there are now only two other officers in your department. There may be some in the fighter pilot numbers who would be willing to train in helm as potential backup when they aren't needed for air group matters."

"That would be fine, and if need be, I can lend aid at tactical or even command. Having a well diversified crew is a logical advantage, Captain." He said. No pride in his voice as he listed his skill set. It was as if he was reading the ingredients to a meal and not the skills that took years to master.

Yep, pretty standard Vulcan, Mal thought wryly but there was something of a relief to it. "Wonderful. I'll log it into the computer and you can begin tomorrow. I will forward you a briefing on the department as it is." She nodded once. Do you have any questions?"

"I am sure my specific questions will be fully answered with access to the main computer, personnel files, and performance records of the crew and the ship. I look forward to this, Captain." He said with just the tiniest amount of enthusiasm.

"Good, then," she said, getting to her feet. "I'll leave you to finish your meal, then, and I'll see you on the bridge, alpha shift tomorrow. G'day, Lieutenant."

"Good day, Captain." He said with a nod and went back to his meal with as little reaction to this life changing conversation as he would have if they put too much spice in his plomeek soup.

=/\= End Log =/\=

Captain Mallory Thorne & Lieutenant Sovok

 

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