Infinity's End - Part Thirteen

Posted on Mon Feb 28th, 2022 @ 7:21pm by Captain Travis Yeager & Commodore T'Shaamet 'Runt' Antilles
Edited on on Fri Apr 1st, 2022 @ 3:02am

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard / USS Infinity
Timeline: 1530Hrs - October 28th, 2393

Captain Travis Yeager walked down the hallway, one step behind the Vrykul woman before him. "Commander, how are the crew taking recent events?"

"Well. Most of the crew are still stuck in this transition phase. We lost seven of the senior staff. Three to their own command, three more as Executive officers for various commands and Tressa Brislan ended up as Chief of Clinic on the USS Valhalla. That's not all, almost sixty per cent of the crew have been reassigned due to promotions and the like." she explained. "Also, I was asked to be the Executive officer for T'Shaamet. Will you be making changes?"

"No," Yeager answered quietly. "I have no need to come in and start making changes right away." he regarded the larger woman before him. "I realize that this is a somewhat unusual turn of events... For us both I mean. Most prefer to handpick their own senior staff and I got offered a ship with a crew that was undergoing a massive change. I've worked with T'Shaamet before." he added.

"Will you be wanting a new Executive officer?" Stormstout inquired rather bluntly.

"No. Not at this time." Yeager answered, a gentle smile on his lips. "Commodore T'Shaamet and I discussed the matter and she recommended that I keep you as my Exec. I don't have anyone better and since we've just met. I see no need to cause issues where none exist."

"Ahh... I see..." Stormstout answered with a nod of her head.

Yeager regarded her in silence for a moment. "Do you think there is an issue we should address?" he asked of the massive woman before him.

"I do sir," Stormstout answered bluntly. "I am not sure I would make a good Executive officer for you sir. I would for T'Shaamet. She and I have worked together for a long time now... She was the one who encouraged me, who pushed for me and prodded me until I said yes... and now she hands me off to you... With respect sir. I do not know you."

"That's true Morae... Mind if I call you Morae?" Yeager answered.

Stormstout nodded her head in silence. Indicating he had her permission.

"I can't speak to the point of your former skipper courting you until you sat down in the Exec's chair but she must have seen something in ou she really liked... But before you deny me a chance, let me explain a little something first..." Yeager paused to breathe out, as he hadn't expected to expend so much energy in saying that. "I've worked with T'Shaamet before and she and I did actually discuss your situation. Three days ago to be exact."

"The Commodore never told me any of this..." Stormstout responded quietly.

"Oh. I was operating under the assumption that you knew all of this already." Yeager sighed. "Commander. If you do stick in for reassignment. Then that's fine. I won't argue with you. I'll be disappointed but I won't fight with you on the matter before us." he explained.

Stormstout found she didn't know of what to say to that as the two entered a turbolift. "Captain's quarters," she spoke softly to the turbolift as Yeager held his silence. The turbolift started moving. The doors opened a moment later as Stormstout stepped out of the lift. Yeager followed her and within moments, the two were standing outside of T'Shaamet's old quarters. "This is your new home Captain. T'Shaamet finished moving everything of hers out two days ago and the Operations guys gave it the once over."

Yeager nodded his head as he tapped the door controls once, he then input his code. The doors parted as the system accepted his code. Yeager stepped into the quarters as he looked around the place, there were no traces of anyone ever having lived here, other than some of the pictures on the walls. He decided he would leave things alone for now.

Yeager walked over to the bedroom but he opted instead to head into the den where he found a small picture on the desk. Yeager smiled as he gently picked it up. It was a picture of T'Shaamet herself, wearing a slinky tank top. "Of course. T'Shaamet couldn't resist leaving me a little note... Or this case. Two of them..." as he opened the desk drawer, it opened and he produced a PADD. "She's sending me a message on one... and a reminder on the other."

Stormstout paused. "I apologize. I'll-" she responded.

"No," Yeager answered quietly. "I did not think she would be quite so obvious..." he commented. "Besides, she looks so good out of uniform," he added.

Stormstout raised an eyebrow. "Yes... She does," she answered before she looked at Yeager. "Why did she go to such lengths with all of this... I don't understand?" Stormstout sighed. "We Vrykul do not go to such lengths to send messages... We simply tell them directly."

Yeager smiled softly. "Because the first was a reminder... The legacy of this ship and her crew is only as good as the intentions and desires of her Captain... If I fail this crew then we all fail... T'Shaamet is reminding me to watch the crew, to look after them and help them when needed. This is a crew that's experiencing a lot of drama in a short space of time and they will require time to adjust, to get to know the new arrivals and time to get to know me... I am not their Captain until they say otherwise. Oh, sure, the regs appointed me to this place... But the crew are the ones with the final say... I must be worthy of that respect Morae... Or I am truly lost."

"Fair enough..." Stormstount answered quietly.