After-Action Report

Posted on 12 Oct 2021 @ 7:52pm by Commander Kristiana Petrova & Captain Easton Lawe

1,428 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Home
Location: Starfleet Academy, Main Campus, Earth

By the end of the week, everyone was ready to be done and gone from this little excursion.

They had achieved their objective, at least, and Captain Lawe felt that the cadets had all learned from the mentors they'd been assigned to. He wasn't sure if it had helped the officers of the Odin like Starfleet Command had thought it would, but still, it was something to do.

Once they all rematerialized back at Earth, the students were debriefed and dismissed. The Odin's staff was as well, as well as being informed that they were on shore leave now so their choice of destinations or activities were theirs. They were also allowed to return to the ship now as well.

"Commander Petrova," Easton said before the ship's exec could leave. "A moment?"

"Yeah. Sure. Ofcourse," Kris had hoped to be able to get away without exactly this happening, but no such luck. Realizing how unprofessional she was acting through she snapped at attention and quickly added "Captain." During the week's hike she'd done her best not to interact too much with the man, knowing he'd be leaving again and just wanting to avoid awkward situations with this handsome slab of manliness. "What can I do for you, Sir?"

With an easy smile, he gestured at a pair of chairs around one of the large hall's many tables. He sat down, settling in easily. "I'm curious as to your thoughts on how the Odin officers did, and how you think they'll settle back here in your own timeline, as it were."

"I wasn't there for all of it," Kris mused as she sat down, resting her messer on her dirty, dusty lap. She hadn't had a chance to shower or change out of her sweat and mud stained outfit just yet. A layer of fine dust covered her every feature. The only thing keeping her from looking a complete mess was that she never really cultivated a look using makeup and strict grooming to begin with. "Like some other crew and officers, the original transfer to the other universe knocked me out for a while. Only when the ship had been there for some time did I wake up and resume duties, so I wasn't witness to how the crew settled in directly post jump."

"There was some discomfort, complaints, people missing home. But for the most part everyone did their job. Probably found some solace in doing just that," she continued, gaze unfocused, staring right past him, voice quiet. "We were the only representatives of the Federation there. That weighs on shoulders. We did our jobs, tried our best to hold true to and represent core Federation values, and made the best out of a bad situation."

"How will they settle in now we're back? Some might need some counseling. Been keeping an eye on them this past week. It's not a small or easy thing we did. Had to do. We're not the same crew, same people now as we were when we jumped. But - " she paused a moment, returning to the room, eyes focusing again. "They'll be fine. Might take some work for some, but they'll be fine. They're good people."

Easton listened attentively, nodding to show such and encourage her to continue. When she was done, he smiled. "I'm glad to hear it. Is there anything that you can think of that might help make the transition easier from here on?"

Kris looked at him with a measure of suspicion now. "Why are you asking me this? Shouldn't Captain Thorne be having this conversation with me, being the See-Oh of the ship?"

"I'm asking you, Commander," Easton said levelly. "As the exec, you are the point of contact from crew to command, so you are empowered to answer Starfleet's concerns about how to help the crew of the Odin. Are you not?"

"Yeah, I am. I meant - " She paused a brief moment, rubbing her temples, eyes closed, quickly gathering her thoughts. "Why you, not Captain Thorne, is asking me this. Wouldn't this normally go through the captain of the affected ship? I'm just surprised Starfleet is bypassing her this way, is all."

"But, to answer your question," she continued, idly resting her hand on the hilt of her messer, almost as if subconsciously on the defensive. "I'd recommend shore leave, with additional optional counseling provided. Some of the things we went through were - " Pause. "Well, some of the crew are still dealing with the after effects. Nightmares and the like. Including me."

"I can only imagine," Easton said with genuine sympathy, although it might have been noticed that he didn't answer anything about Thorne. "Counseling will be fully available to the crew and shore leave will continue for some time yet. There's still lots of time for adjustment."

"Huh," Kris quirked a brow, running his reply through her mind for a moment before giving a tired smirk. "From the lack of surprise or curiosity in your answer and the ease with which you not only agreed but promised me both counseling and shore leave are coming one might believe you've read at least my report and that shore leave was already in the planning. Who are you really? There's more going on than you just being assigned to oversee a one week hike through the Kenian nature, isn't there."

Easton chuckled, amused by the...somewhat suspicious edge to the words but also the insight--even after days in the heat and wilderness. "They would hardly send someone to oversee a task like this with a group that's been through what you all have without informing them properly," he said easily but carefully as well.

"Hm. Right," Kris wasn't convinced. "You're not SFIA are you? Am I under investigation for what happened? For ordering experiments done on my crew?" There was a slight crack in her voice, in her exterior, shoulders slumped, a thousand mile stare.

"No," the captain said, his expression quickly serious and a little surprised, a little curious. "I am not internal affairs and as far as anyone has told me, no one under the command of Captain Thorne is under internal investigation." Which was the truth, although perhaps a bit obliquely when it came to the AI situation. They weren't being investigated by internal affairs, though, just...in general.

"Hm. So, Captain Thorne is?" Beat. "I know, I know. You can't tell me, so you're going to give some vague, non-commital answer. It's fine," Kris sighed. "Sorry. Tired, stressed, not sleeping great, nightmares. This hike - it was nice, but - " she trailed off, not completing the thought.

He waved one hand slightly. "It wasn't meant to be a pleasure hike, or a casual outing," he pointed out. "You're allowed to admit that the goal was achieved." He paused. He knew he'd been vague and skirted a lot of topics, so he decided to offer some earnestness where he could just then. "Especially to me, given that it wasn't my idea and not the plan I'd have gone with. I was assigned to be here but no architect of it."

"That's not - " She sighed, frustrated, closing her eyes and rubbing her cheeks. Taking a deep breath then slowly letting it out before opening her eyes again, not quite looking at him. "One thing you need to know about me, is I hold myself to standards. Very high ones. And since returning, I've felt completely unable to live up to them," beat. "Since that whole shit show with the space ghosts, really. Maybe I should take my own advise and go bother the shrink."

"Commander, I don't think there's a person on the Odin who shouldn't be getting counseling," Easton pointed out. His tone was firm, but it was still kind.

"Yeah yeah, I'll go get some meetings arranged. When I get back to the ship. And showered. A good, long, hot shower," she sighed, closing her eyes again, shoulders deflating some.

Easton chuckled. "I think that sounds like a reasonable plan. I won't keep you any longer, Commander, and you can see about that shower. Just don't delay arranging for the counseling meeting too long."

"So, what're you gonna do next?" Kris asked, glancing over. "Now that the hike is over and done with?"

"Oh..." he said with a cagey smile. "I'm sure Starfleet will find something for me to do..."

"Right. See you around, Captain," Kris stood up, holding her messer at her side and offered a tired salute, before heading to the beam out spot.

 

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