Bridging the gap between alpha and gamma

Posted on Wed Jul 1st, 2020 @ 11:22am by Lieutenant Commander William Rogers & Lieutenant JG Haru Hernandez

Mission: Into The Delta Triangle
Location: Bridge
Timeline: 2 days out from Kessik system

{ON:}

Middle shift. The ship at warp.

Things were quiet on the bridge. Buck sat in the centre chair, watching the stars streaking past on the viewscreen. The bridge rustled with quiet chatter between the different postings. All run of the mill. All as expected. Buck did a round with the each in turn: asking first for an update and then engaging in some small talk; a catch up or shared joke with the ones he already knew, something slightly more general with the ones he did not.

"Security, anything to report?" He asked, turning slightly in his chair to look in the officers direction.

Haru had been happy to be given bridge duty. Second shift was perfect. It still allowed him to live a more normal life. "All is quiet. We've had a few noise complaints that have been dealt with but nothing since about twenty minutes ago in that respect." He checked his panel again. "All clear reporting for the moment. Tactical sweep outside the ship, all clear Sir."

"Glad to hear it." Buck was aware that the tactical officer was new on the ship: After the stunt pulled by the new Intel Officer Buck has been trying to make sure he knew who he was supposed to be sharing the bridge with. Especially when he was in charge. "Don't think I've seen you on the bridge before. First shift?"

Haru gave a nod. "Indeed. I just came on when we were on Earth and then there were some delays in getting my medical done and all the clearances. This is indeed my first day." He looked around. "Perhaps my first time in middle shift too if I can recall. Usually I do night shift." But he was Assistant Chief so he was on Beta shift."

"Settling in alright?" Buck asked. He grinned. "Beta and night shifts felt pretty similar to me. Always seems like stuff only goes down when there's more than one of the senior staff on duty."

"Pretty accurate assessment. But that's why they pay them the big credits." He smiled. "Yeah. So far so good. I have a few ore things to unpack but it is what it is." He shrugged. "At least I have my own quarters." He looked around. "Seems like a good ship."

"She is." The officer, an Lt JG from his pips, must have been newly promoted Buck reasoned. "Been down to the Deity yet?"

"Deity sir?" Haru tired to place the reference.

Buck reprimanded himself mentally: not everyone seeks out the nearest bar when entering a new environment. "The Raging Deity; it's the ship's lounge."

"Ah! No Sir. Not yet. I have just really settled into my quarters. I have not even had time to visit the gym either." He sighed. "Although to be fair I am not much of a bar person. I am more of a tea and book person." He grinned. "So I guess you could call me tactically inclined nerd."

Buck nodded and gave a small shrug. "To each their own. What're you reading at the moment?"

"Oh! The Autobiography of Captain Pike. Life on Thalos. It was penned by Ambassador Spock just re-issued. Limited edition with the final letter dictated by Captain Pike. A fascinating book..." Enthusiasm seemed to wash over him as he spoke.

"Pike, huh?" Buck scrabbled mentally to remember anything much about that particular steward of the Enterprise. "Back when I flew for the DTI there was a rumour going around that he'd known about the accident thanks to a time machine. Seemed a little far fetched to me."

"Oh he did! It was a time crystal. A fascinating book." He paused. "I could give you a copy. I have three copies. Pike is a personal hero." He looked a little chagrined. "I bought extra as I knew I would read I until it fell apart."

"Time crystal huh? Those things were above my pay grade." Buck rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, why not. Been a while since I read a book."

He looked at Rogers. "You are in the flight department, command track?"

Buck glanced down at the arms of the captain's chair for a moment before he answered. "Yeah." He said nodding slightly. "Never intended to, but you get far enough along in any department and you end up on the command track eventually, ya know?"

"That's my plan." He said. He studied the man. "Have you been with the ship long?" The security officer in him asked. Information was what he did.

"Came onboard for the shakedown after the refit." Buck told the Lieutenant. "So about a year."

"Indeed. What have your experiences been like here." Kaito was an information man. The more he had the better. He was also working on his social skills which had been slipping as of late.

"More ups than downs. Same as most ships I've served on." Buck replied, shrugging.

As he if he realized. "I apologise. Information is something necessary to my job. I tend to gather it everywhere." He thought for a moment. "Your are in the flight department sir. May I ask you something?"

"Sure thing." Another nod.

"I have always wanted to improve my flying. It is the only skill that may...hurt my chances of being on command track. May I enquire if you teach?"

Buck gave a thoughtful hum. "Got nothing scheduled, but if you let me know where you're at with certification figure I can come up with somethin' for you."

He gave a nod. "I would very much appreciate that." There was a moment of awkward silence. Before Kaito looked down. "Alert coming in from deck five sit...commotion in one of the halls....make that a fight." He looked up. "Dispatching a SEC/TACT team." He would monitor the situation from here even though he wished he were down there. It had been a long time since he broke up a fight. He looked at Rogers. This looked like a man who took his fights as serious as Kaito.

Buck's fingers tapped the arm of his chair. For all that he enjoyed a physical challenge, he wasn't much for seeking out a fight. While it was a boring shift, he was the one in charge of the bridge. "Alright. Keep me updated; hopefully it's not a symptom of a wider problem."

"Once I have completed my duties here I can have words with the individuals. I am sure it will be an isolated incident." He looked at Rogers. He seemed like a good man. "Are there any amenities on the ship you recommend sir? Is the gym well equipped?"

"Gym's great: fully stocked; variable gravity. The Deity's just been remodelled so there's that." Rogers offered up. "Holodecks; always a wonder."

"I shall try the Deity then." He paused. "Just getting data in. The fight was solved. We do however have a brig guest. I can forward all the information for your duty report sir."

Buck nodded. "Good work Lieutenant."

Kaito hurried to get everything sent over to the terminal as promised.


{OFF:}