The Night Watcher
Posted on 19 Oct 2020 @ 12:30am by Commander Calliope Zahn & Ensign Marcello Wiser
Edited on on 17 Sep 2022 @ 11:25am
Mission:
M1 - Emergence
Location: Command Center
Timeline: MD05 0600
1289 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure
Calliope spent some time in her office retying a printed red and black band to hold back her wild hair. Without access to showers she couldn't properly style it so restraining it was the only solution. Her forearm throbbed from reaching up above the back of her head. Calliope smirked at her own reflection in the dim light— She hadn't iced the arm, nor been particularly gentle to it the past couple of nights and she was too scared to go back and admit anything to Doctor Mazur. She'd suffer the throbbing silently.
The XO strode out into the Command Center and had a look around. Corvus didn't seem to have come in yet. There was an officer at the science station and two at the comms. Where the Flight Controller would be, instead there was an Ensign managing the flight updates and accounting for the shuttles and runabouts. Marine guards now stood around the room at intervals, and she was aware there were more posted in all of the hallways approaching the command center. Their stoic presence was reassuring, but she felt a little odd with their eyes tracking her.
Calliope looked at her padd and checked the name signature from the Flight Controller's badge.
"Ensign Marcello Wiser?"
"Yes ma'am." He answered before she'd finished his name. "That's me. I'm Ensign Wiser."
"Alright, what's the word from the night watch?"
"USS Wasp still en route with the 7th Fighter squadron and a Ranger Vessel they lent aid to."
Rangers. Right. Corvus had seemed especially interested in hearing of the Ranger ship, but Calliope hadn't discussed it with her. Likely she would see more in reports when the details were examined by Intel. "I thought they were supposed to have arrived hours ago."
"Apologies, Commander," Ensign Wiser said, as if he'd disappointed her. "USS Wasp reported the Ranger ship had engine trouble and the flight plans were adjusted. Something about damage bypass, an intake malfunction, and a nacelle back-flush procedure. I updated it in the system. Did you want to be personally alerted? Because I can call you if they change it again. I can call you for any updates you want."
"No, nope. That's fine. Just tell the Fighter CO to meet me in my office when they land."
"Yes ma'am."
Calliope sat down across from Ensign Wiser and began reading through some progress updates from Engineering. She felt pleased that there was progress being logged by the team leads she'd rearranged and the Marines had really filled out the numbers, animating the entire endeavor. Her eyebrows raised with approval. The Marine Techs seemed to know how to tackle a damage control to-do list. She reviewed the roster of people she'd hand selected to put in the more direct hierarchy with Lance. She'd made sure they were all people who had at least some education or experience with formal theory and more extensive technical backgrounds, and kept those persons with more practical maintenance skills or less formal education several steps away in the chain of operations. If possible, Calliope wanted to shield Lance from ensigns, and ensigns from Lance.
After a few minutes, she felt strange, like someone was staring at her expectantly, and when she looked up, caught Ensign Wiser glancing back away from her and down to his workstation again.
The clatter and chatter of some work crews could be heard at the main entrance to the Command Center, checking in with marine security as they brought tools and materials in. Calliope watched as they located various controller panels and began scanning the processing hubs. She walked over to the team lead.
"Should we expect this to affect operations?" She asked a marine engineer.
The way he snapped to attention startled Calliope. "No ma'am! We'll be working with redundancy and the switching will be seamless."
"Very good." She retreated back to her seat, but found Ensign Wiser to be staring at her as she returned.
"Ma'am." Wiser greeted her again.
Calliope thought he looked like he had something he needed to say. "What is it?"
"Is there anything I can do for you?" He blurted. "I mean, I can help you with anything else, Commander. Anything you need."
She tapped a stylus for a few beats in thought. Wiser really needed a task, it seemed. And she did have something he could take off her plate, particularly as he was filling in for Flight Controller. "Yes, actually. I'm going to need a runabout to the planet this afternoon."
"Oh, I can pilot." He offered. "I passed a level four piloting certification and I've flown several away missions. My last XO said I've got a future in flight control and the forward thinking skills that could even put me on Command track later. I've already received three commendations. A lot of command officers advance up through flight control. I could pilot for you. Not that you couldn't pilot for yourself. You're very experienced, just that you shouldn't need to pilot for yourself. Red really suits you, I mean, any color would suit you, I mean, but have you always worn red? Did you come up through flight, is what I'm trying to say. Are you a pilot?"
Calliope could tell the Ensign knew he was flustering. She felt embarrassed for him, but decided acting natural and letting him re-balance on his own was the best approach, rather than to draw additional attention to it. "No, just basic piloting skills. Operations was my track. Please, assign Lieutenant Cavendish to the runabout for me this afternoon. I'll update the manifest myself when I know who else is accompanying."
"*I* can accompany you, Commander. I don't *just* pilot. I could be your escort."
Calliope smiled at him, not wanting to seem disapproving. Maybe his eager responses could be chalked up to his limited experience and his desire to make a good impression with his new commanding officers. Maybe he'd be just as off center if he'd met Corvus this morning. Yes, she told herself, toying absentmindedly with the vials in her pocket again. New assignment jitters. That was all it was and no more. "You can rest. Your relief should be here in a minute. You've had a double shift already and you're scheduled to man the station again tonight. We need you fresh for your next shift, Mr. Wiser."
Ensign Wiser nodded, looking back to his station to manage his disappointment. "I've logged your preliminary flight plan with Kalara City's port for thirteen hundred hours, Commander Zahn."
"Very Good. Thank you Ensign," And before he could offer, she quickly added. "That will be all for now."
A few minutes later, a Denobulan CPO came and relieved the ensign. Calliope looked on as Ensign Wiser appraised the next watchman of everything from the night shift. The Denobulan grinned at Calliope like the Cheshire cat as Wiser left, Wiser glancing over his shoulder as two marines parted for him and then blocked his return.
"Good morning Commander. Chief Petty Officer Kuvat, at your service."
"Just keep your eyes on the skies, Chief."
A Bajoran Marine holding a spanner cleared his throat behind her. "Commander Zahn. Your legs—"
"What!" She snapped, glaring at him. Daring him. "What about my legs?"
"Ma'am. Excuse me. Your legs are in the way of a controller hub. I only need to access it for about fifteen minutes. If it's not too much trouble."
Calliope picked up her working materials. "No, no, uh, not at all." Now she was blushing, embarrassed. "I'll be in my office."
The Denobulan and the Bajoran exchanged curious looks with one another before the marine knelt to open the panel along the central display table and proceed with his work.
