The pip and the blue

Posted on Tue Jan 7th, 2020 @ 2:33am by Commodore Jane Saulitis
Edited on on Tue Jan 7th, 2020 @ 2:33am

Mission: For Whom The Bell Tolls
Location: Arboretum
Timeline: Prior to Negotiations Ending
613 words - 1.2 OF Standard Post Measure

(BACKPOSTED)

Shev was in his quarters,just generally relaxing when his desk console beeped. On it was a message to report to the CO immediately. He sighed. Multiple thoughts ran through the Andorian mind as he got dressed. Well, zipping up his uniform really.

"Computer. Location of Captain Saulitus?"

Captain Saulitis is in the Arboretum The computer chirped back at him.

The captain had taken the opportunity to visit a place she didn't often get to go. She was standing in the middle of the room staring down at the chickens who clucked, pecked and scratched at the soil around her. "Chickens in an arboretum," she said to no one in particular. She thought it odd on a starship and yet she had allowed it. Hearing the doors open behind her she turned around and smiled at her XO who was making his way towards her.

"Better than on the bridge. May get messy." Shev couldn't help but say. "You sent for me, Captain?"

Jane blushed slightly, having been caught talking to herself about chickens. "Uh yes. I wanted to talk to you. You've been a bit quiet lately. Is everything all right?" Jane hadn't spent much time around Andorians but she considered Shev odd for his species from what she understood of them. He was calm, he had a sense of humor, he wasn't pushy and quick to anger.

"That planet took a toll I'll admit." He began. "But I'll be fine. What's up?"

"Do you want to talk about it with someone?" Jane was wondering if he'd spoken to one of the counselors, but she didn't mind listening.

"I may just take you up on that." Shev replied.

Jane looked around for some sort of patch of grass or a stump to sit on and finally settled for a spot that didn't look too dusty. "Well?" She said. "I'm all ears."

"Well. For one thing it was a serious departure from my comfort zone. I will say that. And loneliness set in early on." He began.

It probably would have been smart to ask if he'd seen a counselor but she resisted. Maybe he didn't like counselors, though there was nothing in his file about him ever having skipped appointments. "Understandable," she replied, hoping he'd go on.

"So there I was way out of my comfort zone. Needing shelter I used an empty cabin and started to try to farm. Operative word being "try." It wasn't fun to say the least." Shev replied.

"I imagine not, but you were helped by the locals." Jane said, trying to come up with a good side of things. "Some of you created friendships and relationships. Did you?" Jane was curious out her XO. He mostly kept to himself on this ship. "Don't you have a wife on Andoria? You know, there's room to have her here on Majestic if she so chose."

"I got my fair share of help, sure." He said. "I could?"

"Sure, why not? I'm not opposed to families being on board. Within reason. Anyway, I called you here for a specific reason. It's my pleasure to announce that you've been promoted." Jane took a little black box out of her pocket, opened it and took out the pip. Congratulations Commander." She approached him to put it on his collar.

"Wow. Thank you" the Andorian said.

"You're welcome." Jane replied with a small smile. She hoped he was okay. He'd seemed down since he had returned from the planet. Perhaps a vacation was what he needed. They would get that soon as they were docking with Starbase 50 shortly.

---

Captain Jane Saulitis
Commanding Officer

Commander Shev Th'aziavak
Executive Officer