One Last Milk Run

Posted on Thu Nov 26th, 2020 @ 9:42pm by Lieutenant Commander Peg Davies & Lieutenant Charlie Caspian

Mission: 28 Days
Location: Main Bridge
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 0745

Peg tugged her uniform down and contemplated her long Starfleet career. At fifty-two, she was old for a Lieutenant Commander though she had long resigned herself to the fact that she wouldn't be advancing any further. A grimace crossed her face as she recalled the accident ten years prior that put a hard stop on any ambitions she previously had. Peg had been on the Ulysses since she put to space and was saddened to leave, but it was time to move on. She trusted her hand-picked replacement, the soon to be full Lieutenant Caspian. A part of her looked forward to going home to Ganymede after the end of this one last milk run.

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as the lift shuddered to a stop, doors hissing open. Stepping out, she spotted Caspian and wandered over, "Good Morning, Lieutenant, anything to report from overnight?"

Caspian gave a business-like nod of greeting. "Good morning ma'am."
She passed the senior officer a PADD. "We've completed the update to the torpedo registry with the new units and that loading problem on tube three has now been resolved. The tactical simulations I ran overnight highlighted a targeting delay on the dorsal forward beam phaser bank, however. Looks like the targeting clock has been jolted out of alignment... Commander Schaefer's team are currently working on it. I've been given an estimated completion time of 0945."

She pursed her lips. "And there was a... difference of opinion between two crewmen in the Seven-Eleven. Over comic books. The Master-at-Arms was able to defuse the situation satisfactorily before the disagreement escalated..."

The security chief raised an eyebrow in surprise, and after such a long career, she rarely found herself in the position, "Over comic books?" Chuckling, she took the empty science officer's chair, they were most likely still in their briefing, and the station wasn't always staffed anyway. She busied herself with the PADD for a few moments before signing off on the report and bringing her eyes back to the Lieutenant junior grade before her, "So, it seems we are sprinting across the galaxy to ferry a group of scientists and media types to a dead rock. Most certainly a prime use of resources, right Lieutenant?"

Caspian gave a smile which stopped short of a full grin. "Well ma'am, as I believe Lord Tennyson said - "Ours not to reason why". I guess if Starfleet has a reason to assign courier duties to a newly-refitted frigate, then they have a reason. I'm just making the most of the fact that I have some time to settle in aboard Ulysses before we're ordered into action somewhere...more challenging"

The security chief nodded in agreement, "Apparent cakewalks have a way of turning into something more. However, if the newies are coming along, I imagine there isn't much of a need for concern. Still, we shouldn't let our guard down. Complacency leads to mistakes, and you know how I feel about mistakes." Peg gave a slight reassuring smile to the young officer as she fished out something shiny and copper-colored from a pocket. She placed the full Lieutenant combadge on Caspian's console and grinned, "It just wouldn't do for the ship's newest Lieutenant to stumble."

The restrained smile now became a full-blown grin. "No Ma'am," Caspian agreed. "And thank you." Lifting the badge from the console, she attached it to her tunic in place of the existing one. Caspian cocked her head to one side, her eyes twinkling mischeviously. "Next stop, lieutenant commander?"

Davies smirked at the ambitious young officer, "Now, don't get too cocky, Lieutenant. Our Chief Engineer is cocky enough for all of us." She allowed herself a chuckle as she rose from the science station's chair. She tucked a corner of her mouth into her cheek in thought, "The Captain is going to make the announcement soon enough, but this will be my final tour in Starfleet. So, if you keep doing what you are doing and learn everything, you can you be moving out of that residence in a few months."

Caspian's expression became serious once more, supplemented by a sad smile. "I'm in no rush to move into bigger quarters," she said. "You've made your mind up? If so - is there anything I can do to change it?"

Peg waved the Lieutenant off and smiled, "Oh, don't feel sad. I'm quite looking forward to seeing Jupiter out of my window in the mornings. After all, I've given the Service over thirty years." She grasped Caspian's shoulder for a brief moment, "Now, I think it's close enough to shift change, Lieutenant. I relive you."

"Aye, ma'am," Caspian nodded briskly. "I stand relieved."

Turning, she headed towards the turbolift, Davies' words still ringing in her ears. If the Chief Security Officer was planning to retire after this tour, would the captain actually consider appointing her to the billet? And more importantly, did she feel ready to step up?

A post by

Lieutenant Commander Peg Davies
Chief Security Officer
USS Ulysses

Lieutenant Charlotte Caspian
Security Officer
USS Ulysses