JDL | Com Ivanova, Cmdr Dahe'el, Cmdr Archer - "All The Queen's Horses"

Posted on Sat Jun 13th, 2015 @ 6:51pm by Admiral Rochelle Ivanova & Commander Almar Dahe'el & Commander James Archer

1,108 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Agua Mala

Tiredly, Rochelle sat behind the raw edged desk that the rest of the Ready Room seemed to build itself around. The high polished piece of agatized wood was, without a doubt, the foundation of the room and ever so telling of the nature of the woman that had picked it and used it. No matter how much time had passed, or how heavy the storms were that had lashed out at it over the years, the piece had only hardened and turned to steel-like stone. It had fortified itself against the elements instead of crumbling and rotting... If anything, adversity had made it all the more beautiful and complex -- not unlike the heart and soul of the young Commodore herself.

"I'm sorry to have called you all in here on such short notice like this, but there are matters that need to be tended to in a quick fashion." She began, peeling off her old world style reading glasses and setting them in a drawer. It was rare that she let them grace her face, ever more so that she allowed people to see her in them. The strain of a long sleepless night, however, had demanded and dictated their need with shameless abandonment of her sense of self. "Commander Waterhouse has been recalled to another mission. I'm sure the details are able to be looked up, but that's neither here nor there at this point." She sighed, "The point is that you two are my most seasoned and senior officers currently commissioned by Starfleet. I need you now more than ever and as such I have no choice but to promote you both to new roles." Her lips pursed for a moment and she reached to pinch the bridge of her nose, willing the throbbing in her skull to rid itself of her presence. "Commander Dahe'el will now assume the role of Executive Officer, which means that you, James, will step in as Second Officer. I'm sure you both are well aware of what these roles demand of you."

"What about Engineering?" Almar asked nervously as he sat with his hands clasped in his lap, this would be the first time that he was not based in the bowels of the huge ship, "Who will be taking up my position until you find someone to replace me? I'm hoping this is just temporary?"

James leaned forward turning, Rochelle's desktop display so he could interact with it. "I have the perfect man for the job, " he said as he tapped away at the screen, "There he is and he's in between assignments." The Intel officer turned the screen back towards Rochelle, "Commander Chattham Fuller. He's a little... odd, but he knows his shit."

The Commodore nodded as Archer answered the Cardassian's question. "Fuller?" She questioned, narrowing her eyes in thought as the screen was twisted back around in her favor. She'd only heard the name in passing a time or two, and knew nothing more of the man's history or capabilities. What she did know was that she trusted Archer implicitly and knew he'd never place a culpable threat aboard the ship. "There's your answer." Rochelle gestured from Almar to the screen, "You can still keep an eye on things, I'm not going to just tether you to the bridge." The woman's nonplussed smile spoke volumes about her present mood and the bewilderment that had come to sprinkle itself across the Vindicator's upper echelon. At least she had a head clear enough to sort out the playing field with the talents she had afforded to her -- and more -- with people she could trust.

"I'll be sure to brief Commander Fuller in full on the warp core configuration we have, there are only a handful of engineers in Starfleet who have had practical experience of this set up, he'll need a bit of practice." Almar replied with the slightest of smiles and a brief nod to Rochelle.

"Perfect." She nodded in kind, "and if he screws up..." Her eyes quickly darted back to Archer's face, boring into the eyes she found there, "Feed him to Helsa."

"I'm glad to say that the little fox in question has so far managed to avoid burrowing into my conduits and jefferies tubes again, they're actually looking quite tidy considering she is still on board," Almar replied, a light chuckle pushing it's way past his lips as he finished.

For a short moment there was silence on behalf of the young Commodore before she sniffed and said; "That can change at any moment. She's been occupied by food for the most part, but I could enforce a diet if I so choose."

"Just keep it out of the SCIF and I will let you feed whomever you wish to it." James chuckled shaking his head. "I honestly forgot that thing was on board."

"Deal." The redhead agreed with a grin most mischievous in nature. "Here's to hoping that sacrifices won't need to be made to Helsa in the name of Vindicator." She added, sweeping a small speck of dust off the desk's otherwise flawless top. "That all being said... We meet with the Enterprise crew in just a few short hours... It's about to get real interesting with the Stenellians, I'm sure. Let's hope we come away successful and Commander Fuller is able to make it through the badlands with the same good fortune we had."

"Smaller ships generally find it easier to navigate the Badlands," Almar stated as a matter of fact, "we've had to prepare the Vindicator for some time to make sure she can handle it."

"This is true, but even small ships have disappeared in those parts. The only reason we made it through is because of the help in charting the Stenellis gave us." Rochelle countered with a small grimace, "Here's hoping Fuller knows how to follow directions."

"As for Fuller. You're going to have to ask Pops," James shrugged. "I never really met the guy, but I remember my father speaking highly about him, and someone else named Lance Violator, on several occasions."

Looking up, Rochelle's eyebrow lifted by a decent margin at the mention of Violator, "That one is as much a relic as your father. I've heard mixed messages about him, but trust your father's judgment enough to reserve my own until I've had a proper meeting." She mused, "But for now... We wait for Fuller's arrival and prepare for Apsha."


---

Commodore Rochelle Ivanova
Commanding Officer
USS VINDICATOR, NCC 78213-E

Commander Almar Dahe'el
Executive Officer
USS VINDICATOR, NCC 78213-E

Commander James Archer
Chief Intelligence Officer, Second Officer
USS VINDICATOR, NCC 78213-E

 

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