"Executive Reflection"
Previous Post: "Some Espionage of her Own..."
/\/\/\
Setting: USS HATHOR, Bridge
Enjoying the tranquility that surrounded her, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid imagined that the rest of her
crew were busy with either planning for the CMO's
surprise party or their upcoming test mission of the
HATHOR, or maybe even both. Thinking about how their
mission would turn out had been more than enough for
the HATHOR's CO who tried to visualize what unexpected
mayhem the Enaran Marine would unleash as per her own
request.
Taking the decision to test the crew on this mission
had not been an easy one, but the Intel trained
Romulan/Terran hybrid knew that it needed to be done.
Following their last mission and the hardships that
they had all endured in one form or another meant that
the crew, as a whole and as individuals needed to be
re-evaluated. Not counting herself out of this
requirement, the HATHOR's CO once again validated her
decision to have the MCO bring an unknown element to
the mission testing her own ability to adapt.
Sending the crew of the ANUBIS on this routine
mission had likely been Commodore Simmons' idea of
giving them a well deserved break, but the
Romulan/Terran hybrid had not seen it this way.
Having extensively studied the training methods of the
Tal'Shiar had made Serenna realize that this period of
uncertainty was the best time to put the crew to the
test. Coming out of this mission after having dealt
with whatever Pravat had in store for them would
either make them stronger or prove beyond a shadow of
a doubt that they did not belong here.
Thinking the captain weak for her decision to step
down and be nothing more than an observer at this
time, the Romulan/Terran hybrid had to remind herself
of the lose the woman had endured and the new
responsibilities she now shouldered alone.
Understanding the burden of being a CO, the ANUBIS' XO
could only guess as to the full extent of demands and
responsibilities in suddenly becoming the only parent
of a child as gifted and unique as Talia. Maybe
acting as she had chosen to had shown the child a side
of Starfleet that she would learn to despise over
time, but Serenna doubted it remembering the coldness
and sometimes absolute strictness her other parent had
displayed more than once.
Debating on the possible outcomes of their upcoming
mission had been unimportant at this time as nothing
could be done other than wait and see. Scanning the
bridge of her ship the Romulan/Terran hybrid smiled
thinking that the ship would be put through its paces
in more ways than one, and that the crew including
herself would be likely challenge like they had never
been.
Walking off the HATHOR's bridge, its CO ordered
herself to stop thinking about things that she no
longer controlled, instead telling herself to prepare
as best she could for what was to come.
/\/\/\
Stepping onto the small cylindrical corridor
connecting the ship to its base of operations, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid notice a large figure standing
at the other end, his arms crossed over his massive
chest, the man looking as if he had been waiting for
the CO's arrival for a while. Waiting for the hybrid
to be closer, the ANUBIS' CEO greeted Serenna with an
unusual smile. "Burning the midnight oil are we?"
Sensing a calmness coming from her friend and Academy
classmate the likes of which she had never before
felt, the Romulan/Terran hybrid found her own posture
relax. "It would have to be midnight or later for
that statement to be accurate."
Grinning David shook his head and glanced with ease
over the hybrid to look at the ship attached at the
end of the umbilical connection. "She's a good little
ship and she'll have a good captain on the bridge for
its first voyage."
Never having expected to hear such words be spoken by
David Dawson, the Romulan/Terran hybrid actually found
herself displaying surprise for a short time, but long
enough for the engineer to see it and respond with a
heart-felt laugh.
Raising an eyebrow of suspicion at her Academy
classmate, the Romulan/Terran hybrid tried to figure
out if what the CEO had said had been meant as a
mean-spirited joke or if he had been serious. Looking
at the tall and muscular dark-skinned man, the hybrid
could not imagine David having spoken out of malice
leaving her with the only conclusion that he had been
sincere. "Thank you, but when did you turn into this
kind and considerate individual? Did Susan do or said
something to you that has made you turn into this new
person?"
Smiling at the ANUBIS' XO, the CEO smiled and shook
his head. "No, the person you see and hear is the
same one as before with one exception..."
Nodding her head the hybrid finished the man's
sentence for him knowing that this had to be the only
variable that could account for the change in the
ANUBIS' CEO. "Richard."
Looking thought the protective glass of the umbilical
connection; the CEO cast his gaze on the ANUBIS which
hung in the vacuum of the NEW ALEXANDRIA's docking
area. "I can't explain it. I feel completely
different and yet I know that I am the same person
that I was. Yet when I think back at some of the
things I did, I can't image why I reacted the way I
did. Now if only Pravat could cut me some slack and
give me even for a moment the benefit of the doubt I
might not feel so down on myself."
Wrapping her arms around one of the engineer's much
larger arms, the Romulan/Terran hybrid pulled David
out of the umbilical connection and back into the
base, the two of them walking at a very slow pace.
"Give him time. Give us all time to adjust. We all
know what you went through even though many of us are
still at a loss to explain it. In time everyone will
see you for the person that you really are and they
will come to accept that this David Dawson and the one
they knew before were different and need to be dealt
as such."
Following the hybrid without offering any sort of
resistance, the CEO seemed to enjoy this one-on-one
talk with his former classmate. "Maybe so, but I
think that it will take longer for some, longer than I
might have unless Lea can discover a way to extend
life by a factor of ten."
Looking up at David, Serenna appeared more human than
she had ever done since the two of them had met. "I
don't know about Lea and her medical discoveries, but
what I can offer you at this time is a drink before we
head back to our quarters. The next few days are
going to be busy ones, so it may be wise to get some
rest."
Not arguing in any way, the ANUBIS' CEO followed the
Romulan/Terran hybrid as they headed for the NEW
ALEXANDRIA's cafeteria
/\/\/\
Lieutenant Commander Serenna
Acting Commanding Officer 2005 post #534
Stardate: 60329.2100
Setting: USS HATHOR, Umbilical connection to NEW ALEXANDRIA
Stardate: 60329.2115
/\/\/\
Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Executive Officer
USS ANUBIS
USS HATHOR
