After the bell
Posted on Sun Aug 4th, 2024 @ 6:47am by Commander Rovak & Lieutenant Commander Alex Flynn & Lieutenant Atna & Lieutenant Alph & Lieutenant T'Vath & Lieutenant JG Frak & Lieutenant JG Eudlo & Lieutenant JG Ga-Tirothai & Ensign Abra Akzhouri
1,381 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Startup Sequence [0]
Location: Rovak's quarters, Deck 11
Timeline: 0904 MD15
Rovak realised as he awoke that he was already four minutes late for his duty shift. In more than seven decades in Starfleet he had been late exactly three times, all three because he had accepted one of Oriath Velt’s social invitations.
He managed to dress and shower in less than three minutes, applying his rank pips to a fresh uniform as he stepped out the door.
By 0910, he had arrived on the command level, and moved in a way he assumed was unremarkable as he entered his office. His head hurt.
To his surprise, he found Commander Flynn and what passed for DS13’s operational senior staff assembled around the long table in his office.
“Commander, I’m glad you could make it. I hope you don’t mind that we got started in anticipation that more pressing duties might have held you up. I’ve brought everyone up to speed on your and the Ambassador’s efforts monitoring the developing situation in the Alpha Quadrant this morning, anything we should know about?” Alex asked.
“Things are stable, currently,” Rovak responded automatically, realising that she had been covering for him. “Please continue.” Rovak said, stopping by the replicator for a strong raktajino before sitting at his desk, bringing up Flynn’s presentation on a padd.
“As I was saying, the Faraday has been cleared for launch by Admiral Singh, so Navigation and Engineering, I’ll need updates at the end of every duty shift, but I’m hoping that with help from the docked crews, two days is enough.
“Two days Commander, aye.” Lieutenant Ga-Tirothai said with a nod to Ensign Akzhouri, representing Navigation.
“Tactical and security, I want tests on every weapon in stock by end of delta shift tomorrow.”
Lieutenants Eudlo and T’Vath both nodded.
“Ops, nothing’s new, Science same. Comms, any progress with the slipstream radio?”
“We, uh – ahem. There’s some kind of local subspace interference we’re still trying to isolate. The Qaraqorum’s engineers are stumped, they can’t tell if it’s somewhere in the system or within a hundred lightyears.” Lietuenant Frak was flustered, but found her confidence as her explanation went on.
"Lieutenant, can Science spare anyone?" Alex asked Atna.
"I will see to it personally, Commander." Atna said.
“Okay, well we’ve only got the Qaraqorum until 1400 tomorrow, so make the most of it. Ops, once you’ve got first-stage testing done, feel free to push out some of those targets out by a couple of days if it means you can lend some people to Comms until Admiral Singh’s people have to pull up stumps.” Alex instructed.
“Anyone not know what they’re doing?” She asked to a confident silence. “Alright then, be about it.” The department heads all went about their day, with T’Vath, Alph and Frak all returning to their CIC stations in the command centre’s upper mezzanine level.
Once everyone was gone, Alex replicated a cigarette from Rovak’s alcove and lit it with her old zippo lighter, taking a seat. From her pocket she removed a small rectangular mechanical device. She pressed a button and it flew out of her hand, powered by small repulsors, it floated above the cigarette, above the height of her head, releasing a small forcefield that was invisible until flashed brightly as it touched the smoke, guiding it back into the device, filtering it away so it was like it was never there.
“So you boys got pretty fucked up last night, hmm?” Alex asked with a big grin on her face, she was always happy to see Rovak let loose.
“Celebrations were had. I had only intended to give the Ambassador a tour, but... well, I imagine you experienced much the same on your way here.”
“Oh I know, I went to bed shortly after I saw you yesterday and only woke up half an hour ago. He wasn’t on the hard stuff was he? Mahone will be stroppy if he falls of the wagon.”
“No, I seem to recall him sticking to synthehol after the first round.”
“What’s the deal there, hierarchically? Are we responsible for him? Do we have a duty of care? Or does he outrank us?” Alex asked, having not recently worked closely with a diplomatic department.
"I was under the impression that you spent a portion of your early career with Diplomatic Security." Rovak said in response, surprised by the question.
"Yeah. We focus on keeping the VIP's alive, not their position in the command structure. They were always our bosses." She said in response.
“He is a civilian and a member of the Federation Department of State, his appointment is made at the suggestion of diplomatic corps directors. We are encouraged to consider his requests as being on behalf of the President, but he can’t overrule us unless Starfleet puts him in operational command of any given mission. We’re responsible for his safety like anyone else, but if he decides to eat or drink himself to death, he is as responsible as any other adult for their own fate.” Rovak explained.
“Well, let’s hope he doesn’t.” Alex said, exhaling a cloud of smoke that the device scrambled to contain and filter, before returning to its rested floating position above the cigarette. “How’s your head? Don’t forget we’ve got the big dinner tonight.”
“I will be fine.” Rovak said, tapping at his desk to bring up a holographic display of his schedule for the first time that morning.
“I had Frak put something together for you even before I knew you were intending to paint the town red.” Alex flicked a file from her own display she accessed on the surface to Rovak’s.
Rovak felt a swell of pride and appreciation that he quickly walled off with almost subconscious kolinahr techniques. “Thank you, Commander.” He said simply, reviewing what Frak had written for him to say this evening. It was concise and appropriately pithy. “This will be quite adequate, but do we know how much longer Comms will need Ayol?”
“He's working on the slipstream radio, so not until they figure that out. Frak says he hasn't slept in a couple of days. Unrelated but Ambassador Creon reports the last of the Romulans who haven’t requested relocation have completed their registrations. Did you want to pencil in a citizenship ceremony? Onda has been on me about it.”
“Put it to the Ambassador, I’m sure he will approve enthusiastically, without ceremonies to master he may quickly find himself without much to do.” Rovak said, taking another sip of his Klingon coffee. It eased the thundering in his head. “Are there any other foreign missions on schedule?”
“The Klingons have committed but there’s no date yet for arrival. The Cardassians have requested space but haven’t appointed anyone to lead their mission. Breen said no.” Alex explained.
“Very well.” Rovak said, finishing his coffee with a somewhat indecorous gulp. “Any thoughts on the security department?” Rovak asked, for no reason other than his and Alex’s shared heritage as security chiefs.
“They’re looking good. Eudlo’s got a level head and a sharp eye. Some good talent in the junior officers, and some very capable enlisted. One of your Jem’Hadar came aboard the T’Pol, I expect you’ll want to say hi, he’ll want to say something weird and swear a blood oath, I imagine.” Alex said in her least affected deadpan.
“Umet’Okan. Yes, I will go past the armory later on my inspection with Grey Horse. Death oaths.” Rovak said without elaboration.
“Come again?” Alex asked.
“Jem’hadar don’t generally draw their own blood, they swear death oaths. I am not certain if it is a tradition they have kept up since joining Starfleet.”
“Knowing these important details is why you’re the boss.” Alex said in a way that sounded insincere, even if it wasn’t. “Anyway, if you need me, I’ll be on the Faraday.”
“Thank you, Commander. Dismissed.” Rovak said with a nod, bringing up the notes his Yeoman had put together for him, and slipping a pair of spectacles out of his desk.
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