JBacklog | "Congrats" | XO, CSO | Cmdr Landon Neyes, LtJG Saia Roswell

Posted on Wed May 22nd, 2013 @ 9:45pm by Captain Landon Neyes & Lieutenant JG Saia Roswell

643 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Secret Meetings
Location: First Officer's Office
Timeline: Soon After Landon's Promotion

=/\= First Officer's Office =/\=

After their short meeting, it belatedly occurred to Saia that there was a promotion. She made a request for a short meeting with the new XO. She didn't plan to even take a full minute, but assumed it was best to schedule something. Also, so she could compose herself. She seemed inches away from a meltdown and she didn't quite have a meeting with Saul's new wife yet.

Neyes heard a chime at his office door, a sound he'd been all too unfamiliar with until a few weeks earlier. Now it seemed the damned thing couldn't be silenced by even his most vigorous attempts. A naked circuit panel hung out with thin wires and isolinear chips, a mocking testament to his failure to shut off the chime.

"Enter", he bemoaned, standing up to make his way to the replicator at the far side of the large room.

Saia came inside and looked at the panel beside the door, "I guess Engineering should be here soon."

"Saia. I mean, Lieutenant. Good to see ya." The custom of professionalism still felt tattered against his vivid personality.

She beamed a bright smile to him, "Hello Commander. I realized I never offered my congratulations."

He looked over to her, a little confused at first. It took him a quick second to realize she mean the First Officer position. The position left vacant by his closest friend a colleague. The space still felt empty, despite how he filled it. "Oh right, of course. Thank you, Lieutenant."

"How is your department taking the change?" He asked.

"They are still as efficient and brilliant as ever." She smiled and held out her hand, "You deserve this. I've seen you in action and you're brave and strong and we are all in good hands." She realized her hand was shaking and quickly brought it up for a salute, "I had better follow protocol, hadn't I?"

For a moment, Neyes simply looked on at the Lieutenant's display. Never before had he encountered so many people on one ship who seemed so wildly uncomfortable in their own skin. This young woman was a perfect example. He quickly caught himself and smiled, "Don't worry about it. And thank you. I don't really think salutes are my type of thing.

He sighed, "I wasn't even really sure if Starfleet was the right choice for me if we're being honest. But now here we are. Too late to turn back now I suppose." Behind the pleasant laughter he fronted next, the idea of taking Rob's place was still at the forefront of his mind. The pressures of being in command were many, not anything new or devastating to Neyes of course, but still more than Landon had expected to come of his career. Now that many years ago he had been demoted for disobeying orders.

Saia lowered her hand and shrugged, "Sort of sucks you in doesn't it?"

"Raktajino, sweet." Neyes ordered the computer. It materialized on his replicator. "Would you like anything? On the house." He flashed a charming grin.

She shook her head, smiling back at him, "No thank you." The smile faded as she looked toward the door, "I need to get back to work." She gave him another smile, "Again, congratulations."

Neyes nodded and smiled as he watched her leave. The doors slid shit behind her as she continued on about her day. She had always been such a reluctant young woman, a common sensibility for a young Trill scientist. Still, she was right.

Landon sipped on his coffee, thinking about command and resposibilty, and how they were two things he'd always hated with a deep and burning passion. He understood them, but she was right.

"Damn right it sucks you in..."

=/\= END LOG =/\=

Commander Landon Neyes
First Officer
USS VINDICATOR

LtJG Saia Roswell
Chief Science Officer
USS VINDICATOR

 

RSS Feed