Drama and Regrets - Part Two

Posted on Fri Sep 30th, 2022 @ 5:12am by Captain Jordal Hunt & Commander Kurt Bishop & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 108: Grains of Sand
Location: Various Locations - USS Heart of the Tiger
Timeline: 0940Hrs - December 3rd, 2393

Captain Jordal Hunt rose to his feet, he tapped his combadge. "Hunt to Yamaguchi-Cullen. Rachael. Would you join us in here please and thanks?" Hunt was starting to hate today but he wanted the issue resolved once and for all.

"Right away sir." came the response. Rachael Yamaguchi-Cullen was sitting in the command chair of the watch. She raised an eyebrow as she wondered why she was wanted. She knew it was connected to her husband. "John. The bridge is yours," she commented.

Yamaguchi-Cullen went over to the ready room door before she knocked. She was then permitted entry. She entered after a moment before she went over to where the skipper was standing behind his desk. "What can I do for you skipper?" Yamaguchi-Cullen inquired. It may be formal but then it may not be and she also did not know why she wanted either.

Hunt regarded her. "I'll come right to the point Rachael. We need to reassign both you and your husband due to the fact that you both have children," he commented. "I assume that neither you nor he wishes to be parted from the other if this can be prevented?" He paused. "Is this accurate?"

"It is." Yamaguchi-Cullen nodded her head in agreement.

Bishop indicated the chair across from him. "Take a seat, Racheal. We need your help to select your successor. It'll make my life easier and it'll tell me you know what you want."

"You'll always be welcome here Rachael..." Hunt smiled across at the younger female before him. "but all of that said... I need your assistance with your replacement." he commented as the dark-complected woman sat back and made herself comfortable. "I've been looking through the pilot's database for someone who would jump off the page at me but for some reason... I didn't select anyone."

"Mmm... Well, we can't have that, now... Okay. let me take a look." Yamaguchi-Cullen answered as she simply turned the chair she was now sitting in, to face her commanding officer. "Let's see..." she paused. "You will want someone with a lower rank... So they can't be poached from you by some asshole wanting to nail you on the procedures of things," she commented before she realized her double-entendre. Yamaguchi-Cullen decided to ignore it and press ahead. "Also avoid higher ranked people as they tend to not stick around because of Starbases and their own commands," Yamaguchi-Cullen added. "Computer, interface with Starfleet mainframe and display all tactical officers of Lieutenant rank seeing transfers in the last two weeks." she commented, "It'll probably be a few, due to recent events around the Federation..."

"Working." the computer answered in its usual flat female voice.

"Display on-screen when ready." Yamaguchi-Cullen quipped.

The list appeared as requested and it was over a thousand names long. Yamaguchi-Cullen sighed softly. "Alright... Now remove anyone below the age of twenty-four years old relative to their species." With that, a third of the list vanished. "You want someone who is stable and mild-mannered, you do not need a hothead or a malcontent," she added.

Hunt nodded. "I want a successor to you. They seem to be hard to find."

Yamaguchi-Cullen looked almost pained. "I'm sorry skipper. But we almost don't exist," Yamaguchi-Cullen answered. "My next assignment is on Starbase Vanguard. Oh, I already knew that weeks ago, the same as Ennis did," she added. Yamaguchi-Cullen smiled. She liked her issues to be as cut and dried as possible but she also understood when they weren't. "Computer, remove anyone with a bad review or physic evaluation." and with that, almost half the remaining list disappeared. "Three hundred or so names remaining." she paused. "Now, computer remove anyone above the age of thirty-six and all of the mustangs..." Yamaguchi-Cullen paused. "People too old won't stay either... and it'll also remove the officers who still think like they are enlisted men."

Two hundred and eighty-eight names vanished, this left twelve names. "Alright, I can work with this," Hunt answered.

"Computer, highlight anyone who had their last assignment on a Starbase, Deep space station or Federation outpost." six names were suddenly highlighted. "Let's start with these ones first... They are often wanting to get away from bases with massive populations and want the small village feel of a Starfleet ship rather than the cities in space that Starbases often feel like."

Hunt tapped the first name, it was an officer who was an Andorian Shen. He went through her request and it said a colony or a ground base, so he removed her, the elimination process was quick and shortly the three officers were down to two candidates. "What about this one. 1st Lieutenant Jong-suk Lee. Callsign of Athena."

"Mmm..." Bishop paused as he regarded the female before him. He smiled as he admired the young woman's picture. "Mmmm... She's a looker, I might have to take this girl to bed and fuck her myself."

Yamaguchi-Cullen smiled. "Not unless I get to her first. I used to fly with her. She's a little young but I think she'll do well. You took a chance on me, you could try again with her." she explained.

Hunt raised an eyebrow as she opted not to press further. "She's skilled... She has over a half a dozen degrees from Starfleet tactical school," he commented. "Maybe this is the one..."

"Let's call her, and ask her directly," Yamaguchi-Cullen answered.

Hunt went about the arrangements.