A Little Lost

Posted on Tue Feb 9th, 2021 @ 5:01pm by Captain Abigail Laurens & Lieutenant Roxa Onaix

Turning the corner, Abigail stopped and looked around uncertainly. This absolutely was not where she expected to be, yet she had followed the directions that the crewman near the turbolift had given her precisely, at least she thought she had. Though, where sickbay should have been, she instead found herself standing at the start of a slew of crew quarters instead.

Seeing an officer with a red collar walking toward her, Abigail sighed and shook her head. "Do you know what junction I'm at?" she asked, the confusion clear in her voice. "I think I've taken a wrong turn somewhere."

Lieutenant Onaix looked up from the PADD she had in her hand "Eight B" she replied before realizing it was the Captain. "I'm sorry ma'am I" she almost stammered on her words and instantly repeated "ma'am."

"Sorry?" Abigail asked, clearly confused. "It certainly isn't your fault I am so geographically challenged I can't find my way around my own ship," she laughed and shook her head. "So if this is Eight B, I'm definitely in the wrong place." She paused momentarily, casting another quick glance over the woman in front of her who appeared very uneasy. "You must be one of the newer crew members," she said, offering a warm smile. "How are you enjoying the ship so far?"

"The ship is great Captain" Lieutenant Onaix smiled and let out a slight laugh at what her superior was saying. "I am new to the Astraea, actually your Chief Intelligence Officer" she still wore a smile on her face.

"Oh!" There was a hint of colour in Abigail's cheeks. "My apologies, I haven't had a chance to properly review the new crew rosters, every time I get to sit down at my desk something else comes up and my attention gets diverted. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant...?" her voice trailed off with the realisation that she had no idea of the officer's name.

It was then that Roxa realized she hadn't bothered to introduce herself to her new Commanding Officer "Lieutenant Onaix" she offered a smile and her right hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Lieutenant Onaix," Abigail replied brightly as she took the other woman's hand and shook. "Now, any chance you can map me to the nearest turbolift?" she asked with a laugh. "I think I'm on the wrong deck."

"This way Captain" Onaix pointed down the corridor "I was actually headed to the lift myself" she smiled politely.

"It's moments like these I miss my little Akira class," Abigail smirked. "She may not have been as impressive or fancy, but I knew every inch of her." She sighed and shook her head. "I don't want to even think of how long it's going to take to learn my way around a ship this size."

"The Akira is an impressive class" the Lieutenant smiled as they entered the lift and it started moving. "Nothing like the Astraea, but not bad."

"I'll always be partial to the Akira," Abigail confessed as they walked. "It was my Cadet ship, my first assignment and my first command."

"Good reason" Roxa looked over at her Commanding Officer.

"She was a good ship, I miss her." Abigail sighed as they reached the turbolift. "Now, remind me, what deck am I on again? Not sure if I need to go up or down. You know, I'm really starting to think a site to site transport might just be easier."

Roxa laughed and gave the information again "it won't take you long Captain" she reassured the Captain.

Abigail laughed. "We'll see. Trust me, there's a reason I'm not a pilot. I have no navigational sense whatsoever. Maybe that's why I'm so comfortable with the Akira class vessels. I know them." She paused, giving her destination for the turbolift. "But we'll see how it goes."

As the turbolift stopped again, two decks up, Abigail waited until the doors parted and then took a step forward. "Thank you, Lieutenant, for your navigational advice and your company. I'm sure our paths will cross again soon."

"I'm looking forward to it Captain" Roxa said with a nod, watching the Commanding Officer exit the turbolift.