Secure Arrival

Posted on Sat May 1st, 2021 @ 1:31am by Captain Elijah Rutherford

Mission: A Day In The Life
1980 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

It was time to get back to the USS Majestic, thankful that they haven't been sent out on a mission yet. There had been a few more things to take care of, mainly it was his father's birthday and it was important to be there. When the celebration was over, he sent his wife and kids ahead to the Majestic, while he finished up some other paperwork. Waiting in a cafe' for the next appointed shuttle to get to he had a cinnamon roll in front of him along with a pot of tea and reading over the PADD of those who were arriving and would be leaving the Majestic.

Being done with that, he checked the time, and it was time for him to catch the next transport to get back to the ship. He made his way there, along with several others nodding in greeting. One person stood out to him, looking slightly familiar. He couldn't quite put a finger on the memory just yet and where he could have seen him before. (not realizing he had just seen the image of said person on his PADD looking over arrivals and departures Besides, the images don't really do a person justice. )

"Excuse me sorry to trouble you, but, you look familiar. However, I am unable to figure out just where I've seen you before." Elijah started walking up to the man with red hair (Callaghan).

Andy looked up, "Captain Rutherford," he extended a hand, "Andrew Callaghan, Sir. I would assume you've seen my face on the data padd, once we get to the Majestic, I will be taking over as your Chief of Security." He smiled, "I would assume a man in your position has a lot of new faces to attempt to memorize, so we can let this one slide. This time," he chuckled. He wasn't sure how much small talk one could make with their Commanding Officer. He'd crossed that line a few times in the past and it wasn't pretty.

Rutherford firmly shook Callaghan's hand, and chuckled, " I am glad you will let my momentary lapse of memory slide. Pleasure to meet you. And yes I have quite a few faces to memorize." releasing his hand, "How fortuitous that we're traveling the same way. I do like to get to know the people I will be working with."

The ship they would be catching a ride on, to get to the station, arrived and soon those who will be passengers start to file in. "Let's go to ten forward and we can continue to talk," Rutherford said to Callaghan, leading the way there.

The ship got underway, and it would just be a few hours flight to where they were going. Once in ten forward Rutherford got some tea, to drink while he and Callaghan conversed.

"I must it will be nice to get back on a normal routine," Andy admitted, "not what I don't like the station, but there is something to be said for going out there, and traveling." He walked over to the replicator as he ordered a coffee, "things will definitely be a bit different. A new assignment, a new ship, and a child on the way; Andy wasn't really referring to the Majestic. He sipped his coffee, "I promised Megan I wouldn't drink the stuff around her. Apparently, the smell makes her nauseous."

"My wife was completely opposite, she couldn't get enough of the smell. It kept her from heaving up her dinner if she was around another strong odor. Which meant, I was making a bit of coffee, or she was carrying a small cup which had coffee grounds. Or even freshly ground coffee. Will Meghan be coming with you on the ship?" Elijah asked.

"She will be working in the medical department, Starfleet and their red tape transferred us there on separate shuttles," Andrew replied.
"She didn't really want to travel alone, but it is what it is," he laughed, "I suppose one would call this an extra benefit." He sipped his drink, "if I am honestly not sure which scares me more, a new assignment or pending fatherhood."

"Well both of them can be a bit daunting. Luckily, I don't have to worry about the pending fatherhood. I'm already in the role of being a father. And I am slightly nervous being newly assigned to a much larger ship than what I'm used to commanding. You see, the ship was under command of a friend of mine, Commodore Jane Saulitis. And she passed the torch to me and felt that I am a good fit to take over command. And my being slightly nervous, you will keep it to yourself." giving a bit of a chuckle " My wife will be a counselor on the ship as well. My wife and my two kids, I sent them on ahead, as I needed to get some additional things done."

Elijah took a drink of his tea, then continued. "Looks like we'll be having some other people with family onboard."

Andrew laughed, "I think it will be some time before," he paused, "I don't even know what we are having yet. Well, it will be a while none on the less. But, you are correct it will be nice to have another family here on the ship.

"How old are you children, Sir?" he asked.

"My son and daughter will be, I think, getting close to 4 years old. I will have to check with my wife to find out for certain. She seems to be better at keeping track of the ages than I am. At least I haven't forgotten our anniversary... yet. Thankfully she is the sort that doesn't get upset if I am not able to do something right on that day. I know that is strange but it's been nice for her not to get into a hissy fit if the anniversary dinner/date isn't right exactly on that day. I had asked her one time why she didn't get upset.

She told me this. "Life is too short and who needs the drama if the anniversary celebration isn't right on that exact date. We can have it early or even later. We just don't need the drama, since it is supposed to be a happy remembrance of us getting married. I have cringed when I have seen men or women get really upset about the anniversary not happening right on that day. It's not right and if it continues, it makes that date more of a point of something to be hated. "

"I would agree with that, the important things is not the day it's the event," he nodded. "We don't have a date, yet, or at least I haven't been told a date. Knowing Megan, she's gonna come home someday and demand it happens,..." he laughed, "that's just the way she is, very spur of the moment." He sipped his drink, "I figured the close it gets to the arrival of the baby the more she will probably put some emphasis on the date and getting that ready. Till then, right now," he chuckled, "it's all baby, baby, baby."

Elijah laughed. "That does happen. Are you going to be having a single birth or twins? And just wait until the nesting urge comes in very strong." he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "My wife got quite the nesting urge, trying to do it all and I had to just put my foot down. She didn't need to strain herself." He opened his eyes, "One thing as the pregnancy progresses, make certain you do not get her really angry. My wife had such a look that brokered no-nonsense, It froze me in one spot. It is a rather scary look."

"Just one," Andrew smiled, "thank god. I mean I hope it's at least one." He suddenly had a brief moment of panic wash over him. "We haven't had our first exam, together at least. She was supposed to be seen by the Doctor, however, I am here on my way to the ship. She was supposed to call me sooner or later. And me putting my foot down with Megan wouldn't work too well, she's stomp all over and give it back to me."

"You'd have to meet her to understand that part," he smiled.

"She sounds like she'd get along with my wife. I may be the captain but...Jasmine is a force to be reckoned with, even if she is a counselor." Elijah laughed. He sipped at his tea, contemplating the possible future. "So much change has happened, who knows what the future will hold."

"My immediate future holds sleepless nights and diaper changes," Andrew laughed, "I know what's in my future."

Elijah laughed, truly understanding what Callaghan was talking about. "Yup that is a foreseeable future. Ahh family." raising his mug of tea towards the new security chief. "Gotta love it."

Andrew raised his glass with a slight smile, "ask me that in a few months after the kid comes." He smirked, "let's see if my opinion changes."

Elijah laughed, "Oh well, you will love it, as I don't take you to being a cold heartless man. That feeling you will feel when your baby grasps your finger for the first time, you will fall in love right then and there. Trust me. It happened to me. It will happen to you. And all the loss of sleep won't matter, as long you can look into the wee one's face especially when they sleep."

"I suppose you are right," Andrew wrinkled his nose, "just as long as this child comes out looking like his mother and not me," he laughed. "He," stopped, "or she doesn't need the Callaghan genes. Either way, knowing the baby's parents, this child is coming out very stubborn. This I will be able to guarantee." He sipped his drink. He was enjoying this, it was nice to be able to chat with his new CO, get a feel for the man before they arrived. New assignments were always so stressful, this small chat was very beneficial.

"Just don't let my wife hear you say something like that in her presence, I said something like that, and she was just scolding me something fierce. She said...." shaking his finger in an impersonation of his wife. "Now don't you ever call yourself ugly, our babies have a combination of our good looks. You talk like that in front of them, they will question their own looks. I do not want them to have a complex of thinking themselves ugly. And don't worry as they also will not be having a complex of thinking that they are the most beautiful people in the world either." Elijah lowered his hand. "You really do not want to be on the receiving end of that finger shake."

"Oh, you haven't met her yet. Her finger is the least of my concerns," Andrew laughed. "She's a pistol and definitely not afraid to speak her mind." Andrew finished his meal, and the last swallow of his drink as the two continued to talk and banter. Andrew actually was enjoying the time getting to know his new boss. It was a rare opportunity and one he was taking advantage of.

He finally smiled, "sadly however my other half is expecting a call. Daily updates," he smiled. "Thank you for the chat, you've given me a few things to remember... like a shaking finger," he smirked.

Elijah laughed, " And thank you for the reminder, I need to contact my wife as well, have to let Jasmine and the kids know that I am almost home." giving a nod and rising from the table. "and welcome aboard, when we arrive." grinning.

"Thank you, Sir," Andrew nodded as he turned to leave.

"You are welcome," Rutherford responded.