When Command Meet

Posted on Fri Apr 11th, 2025 @ 10:02am by Captain Rex McCormick & Commander Simone Langford

1,286 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Into The Breach
Location: Guest Quarters, USS Kumari

Rex approached the drinks cabinet and poured two glasses of bourbon, adding ice to one glass before taking them back to his couch where his new first officer sat. "Drink?" He said offering the glass with ice in to her.

"Thank you," Simone said as she took the glass, studying the dark red liquid inside. "Your drink of choice?" she asked, looking back at the captain.

"Always have a bottle of bourbon within arms reach. A baf habit i got into during the Dominion War." Rex chuckled as he took the arm chair opposite.

"I became partial to Surayan wine while I was serving on Risa," Simone replied, looking at the bourbon. "But this will do nicely. I definitely need something a little stronger than wine today," she added with slight smile.

"This assignment is definitely not a wine one." He replied taking a sip. "How did you end up with this shitty assignment? Looking at your service record it's pretty good."

Simone took a small sip of the bourbon, letting the sharpness settle before responding. "That's a good question. Starfleet's been very secretive with issuing orders after Frontier Day. We had people being reassigned left and right on the Vespertine after that with not much explanation as to where and why they were going. In my case I assumed it had to do with my experience dealing with the Romulans. Command asked me for some names, which is why I recommended Stephen Jacobs, but beyond that I did not know what I was getting myself into." She chuckled and raised her glass, adding with a hint of irony, "Here's to boldly going."

Rex chuckled as he raised his own glass. "Going boldly in to a steaming pile of Vole dung." He commented before finishing the contents. "I get why I was assigned, being an engineer by trade and knowing Starfleet is short handed after the frontier day nonsense. But I was discretely told that I was being eyed up for some Admiral pips." He chuckled again. "Seems like I was lead up the garden path to give up my command."

Simone squinted slightly as she considered the theory that popped into her head. "Call me the eternal optimist, but maybe this could be a chance for you to prove yourself. I don't know what goes on in Starfleet Command as much as I used to, but if they're wanting to establish a base here, in the Azure Nebula, it only makes sense that they want to increase Starfleet's presence in the area. Maybe... just maybe... those pips aren't as far away as you think."

Standing again, Rex moved towards the bourbon bottle and poured himself another. "I've never been one to climb the ladder of command. Always been a loyal officer. I just was looking forward to a desk job rather than this." He shrugged. "Time will tell. Another?" He asked offering the bottle to the Commander.

Simone held up a hand in polite refusal, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "One is enough for me. I’d rather not start my first day as XO with a hangover." She leaned back slightly, watching him pour his drink.

"I get it, though," she continued, her voice quieter now. "After everything that’s happened, a quiet, stable assignment must have sounded appealing. Instead, we get an abandoned outpost, a flooded base, and a colony of Romulans who probably aren’t thrilled to see us. Hardly the easy transition to retirement." She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Still, I figure if we can make this work, there won't be any doubts about our capabilities. Whether we want that kind of attention or not."

"Indeed." Sighed Rex, glad his first officer was on the same page as him.

"So tell me about Moller. You've served with him before, I gather?" Simone inquired.

"Steffan was my CMO of the Sigma. He became a close friend, hence why I suggested a nice little Outpost assignment for him. He likes to do his own research so I assumed this would be the place to do it. To say he isn't happy is an understatement." Rex let out a small chuckle before returning to his seat. "I may need to get him a bottle of something nice to apologise at some point."

"Do you know any of the others that have been assigned?" The Captain asked as he sat.

Simone nodded, swirling the last of the bourbon in her glass as she considered her answer. "Stephen Jacobs," she said with a small smile, deciding to mention only their professional connection for now. "We've known each other for years. I attended his lectures at the Academy when I started and he recommended me for a position on the Heyerdahl-A when I graduated. He was also serving there at the time; we served together for about four years and after that kept in touch ever since. He’s one of the best counselors I’ve ever worked with... not just because he’s good at reading people, but because he actually cares. No pretense, no Starfleet posturing, just a genuine desire to help."

She took another sip before continuing. "When Command asked me for recommendations, his name was the first I gave. Of course, if I’d known exactly what we were walking into, I might’ve warned him first," she added with a dry chuckle. "I’m sure he’ll have plenty to say about this assignment once he gets a good look at it."

Her expression turned thoughtful. "Beyond Stephen, I know Vannon Dacour as well. Stephen and I served with his mother, Admiral Anra Dacour — back then she was still Commander and Vannon just a teenager." She shook her head in disbelief at how quickly time had passed, smiling to herself. "Hard to believe that's almost twenty years ago."

She leaned forward slightly, meeting Rex’s gaze. "But that’s about it. Everyone else? Fresh faces."

"I've heard of Admiral Dacour but never had the fortune of meeting her." Rex said before finishing what was in his glass. He considered a refill but decided against it.

"As for the everyone else, they're all fresh faces. They're good group on paper but I'm wondering if this is the assignment to get rid of a few problems."

Simone raised an eyebrow at that, crossing her arms loosely. "Wouldn’t be the first time Starfleet sent a few misfits to the edges of known space to see if they’d sink or swim," she said dryly. "Of course, sometimes those ‘problems’ turn out to be the best people for the job... provided they don’t mutiny first."

A notification chirped and Rex tapped the coffee table to bring up the holographic screen. "Seems like Lieutenant Chura has already started making requests for what he needs to get the outpost up and running."

She smirked slightly before nodding toward the notification on the holographic screen. "Either way, I should probably leave you to it. I’m sure Lieutenant Chura isn’t the only one with a list of requests. I should check my own messages before turning in for the night."

She met Rex’s gaze, her expression thoughtful. "We may not have asked for this assignment, but I'm confident we’ll make it work... one problem at a time."

Rex chuckled, "That's what I like to hear, taking the problem by the scruff of the neck and getting it sorted before moving on. I feel there will be plenty of that once we arrive.

"Well, I better let you get some rest."

With that, she gave him a small nod and headed for the door. "Good night, Captain."

"Good night, Commander."

 

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