"Executive Return"
Previous Post: "Broken Bones and Shattered Dreams"
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Standing at the back of the bridge right behind the
First Officer's station, the Romulan/Terran hybrid
remembered better days which in reality had not been
all that distant away yet felt like they had been
experienced several lifetimes ago. Supervising the
repairs on the HATHOR from the ANUBIS' bridge, the
hybrid had wanted to take this opportunity to touch
base with Capt. Rikar on subjects concerning both the
mission and other personal matters.
Having confirmed that Lt. Fairborn and several other engineers had safely beamed over to the HATHOR to assist Lt. Dawson with the repairs, the Romulan/Terran hybrid moved around the line of stations covering the back of the command pit and approached the ANUBIS' CO. Greeting her XO with a smile, the CO invited the hybrid to speak her mind with a nod of her head, a gesture which Serenna responded with by glancing at the door leading to the CO's Ready Room.
Understanding that this conversation would be of a more private nature the ANUBIS' CO made sure that everything was under control on her bridge before leading the Romulan/Terran hybrid to the room that she had indicated. Thinking both as a former CNS and a CO, Rikar mentally prepared for what she anticipated to be said by the hybrid having known her long enough to have a general idea of what to expect.
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Waiting for the precise moment the door hissed shut behind the Romulan/Terran hybrid, the ANUBIS' CO turned on her heels and faced her XO, offering the hybrid a reassuring and supportive smile. Thinking it best to clear the air and make it easier for Serenna to say what she had wanted, Rikar spoke first. "You should not blame yourself for what happened. It was unfortunate that some didn't make it, but given that we know so little about the Imperians, we should instead consider ourselves lucky."
Looking at the ANUBIS' CO as only the Intel trained hybrid could, the HATHRO's CO stood motionless in front of Rikar for a few seconds before responding to what had been said. "I am not blaming myself for what happened. Our need to learn more about these Imperians is essential for our success in dealing with them in the future. What I am concerned though is the impact this will have on the rest of my crew. Although we have emerged from this first real confrontation victorious, the price we paid was hefty."
Feeling a little foolish in her having expected the Romulan/Terran hybrid to have any sort of emotional reaction to what had happened, the ANUBIS' CO quickly changed her footing on who to deal with the hybrid. Moving around her desk Rikar invited Serenna to sit thinking that the discussion would likely be easier on them both if they took on a more relaxed posture.
Accepting the invitation, the Romulan/Terran hybrid eased into one of the chairs set in front of the CO's desk, speaking the moment the two of them had settled down. "Being on a new ship under the command of a new CO is hard enough, but to add to this a confrontation against a new adversary only makes the situation worse."
Finding it extremely difficult to read the emotional state of the Romulan/Terran hybrid who had long ago learned to not give any external hints as to how she felt, Rikar could not help but see an odd similarity between Serenna and Enaii. Thinking of the two women whom she had known for a long time the ANUBIS' CO was forced to admit that she knew less than she should have on both.
Leaning forward over her desk, Rikar tried to understand what the Romulan/Terran hybrid had meant with what she had said. "Please tell me that you are not thinking of stepping down? Neither David nor Maya are ready to take full command, also last time I checked I was still not all that good at being in two places at once."
Appearing almost shocked that the ANUBIS' CO would even suggest that she would abandon her post as the HATHOR's CO because of what had happened thus far, the Romulan/Terran hybrid shook her head and reassured Rikar. "I have no intentions of forsaking my responsibilities to the HATHOR, her crew or to you. What I am saying though is that I feel it best if the HATHOR and ANUBIS stay together for the remainder of this mission and that we should focus on reaching SURIAL III. As bad as the Imperian threat may be, it is simply too large for us to try and deal with at this time, and we should attempt to retrieve Lt. Cmdr. Enaii before they make it impossible for us to do at a later time."
Feeling comforted by the Romulan/Terran hybrid's words, Rikar leaned back in her chair and tried to sort out her own emotional state following what had been said. Getting Enaii back, or at least trying to, had been what the ANUBIS' CO had wanted all along, and to now have the full support of her XO had meant a great deal.
Standing from behind her desk, Rikar smiled. "Let's get your ship back up and running. The ANUBIS can take care of finding the safest way to reach SURIAL III and I am sure that with David and Elan working on the repairs, the HATHOR will be more than ready to clear us a path if we run into anything unexpected."
Joining Rikar, the Romulan/Terran hybrid nodded her understanding, glad to see that the conversation had left them both feeling more optimistic about the trials that still waited for them.
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Lieutenant Commander Serenna 2006 post #090
Stardate: 60341.1750
Setting: USS ANUBIS, CO's Ready Room
Stardate: 60341.1752
Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Commanding Officer
USS HATHOR
