A Good a Day as Any
Posted on Wed Nov 17th, 2021 @ 2:58pm by
Edited on on Thu Nov 18th, 2021 @ 4:36am
763 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Episode 12 - Risin' To Risa
Location: Shuttle Bay - Deck 10 & Bridge - Deck 1 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 1100 hrs
Shuttle Bay | USS Pioneer | Onboard the Shuttle Roosevelt
..."Ensign Auberin Jaxson, reporting in....Ensign Auberin Jaxson reporting in, sir" the young officer sighed in his seat. "Sir, Ensing Auberin Jaxson reporting in for duty". Auberin wondered if that perhaps would be better. "Mighty Captain, author of all zeal and vigor, he whom which all things reside upon the vessel -- I dare to report in, sir", Jaxson smirked as he spoke.
"That one seems like it might be a bit much there, sir", spoke the Petty Officer seated across from him. Auberin appreciated the attempt to calm his nerves. The Shuttle had dock on board the Pioneer, what seemed like, 15 minutes earlier. The pilot was gracious enough to allow him to stay on board. The nameless Petty Officer before him was afflicted with the same nerves as he.
"Well..I guess I cannot start my tenure on board if I do not actually get -- well -- on board. Let us muster the courage and get about reporting in. It's as good a day as any to do this. What do you say?". The Petty Officer smiled and nodded slowly. The two men stood up from their seats and began the slow descent towards the deck of the shuttle bay. As Auberin exited the Roosevelt, he looked around at the Pioneer's Bay. He had, as all academy graduates had, previously studied the schematics of all Federation vessels; he was familiar with what the Shuttle Bay of the ship should be. Actually being there in person, and no less on his first duty assignment out of the academy.
Jaxson had always dreamed of serving as a Science Officer on a vessel. The fact that he was able to start out as the Assistant Chief was a dream come true. He was not always the most social at the academy -- he would prefer to remain on his own rather than join others to study. He vaguely recognized that this would eventually put a damper on his social life and potentially harm his relations with his fellow officers; 'something to work on' he always told himself.
His walk to the turblift, continuing his generally surreal experience, was a generally inconsequential one. The officers and crew he passed were all generally focused on their work, and none took the time to greet him. Most of the new arrivals had exited the shuttle fifteen minutes earlier, as they should have, and thus most of the people around him assumed him not new. Jaxson wanted to take everything in, or at least as much as he could. This, of course, meant that he was going to hold up the turbolift longer than needed. He boarded by himself and breathed deeply. The entire sensory experience was magnificent. The sight of the lights, the smell of the lift, the sound of the ship around him. Even though the Pioneer was in space dock, it felt so alive and vibrant; the feeling he had been longing for.
"Bridge..." finally came out of his mouth. In what felt like a nanosecond, the turbolife began to transport him up to the first deck -- the mighty bridge. A new set of nervousness began to overtake his body. Who would be on the bridge? Would the Captain be in his seat? Most likely not....The First Officer perhaps? No. Should he try the Captain's Ready Room?
Finally -- the doors to the turbolife opened and, as fully expected, he was upon the bridge. It seemed like a limited crew compliment -- understandable given where they were. Auberin was thankful that the pilot of his shuttle to the ship had clued him in as to the general disposition of the Pioneer. Auberin had earlier decided that he would try his best to display a mixture of confidence and humility; opposites, perhaps, but both important. He stepped forward, noticing that no one seemed to be seated in the command chairs. He took a few more steps in the direction of the Ready Room. He noticed the door was left open and he approached. He entered and stood before what seemed to be the Captain. He was a handsome man with dark hair and piercing eyes. His four pips made it rather clear of his rank. Auberin stood at attention before him...
"Captain, Ensign Auberin Jaxson reporting in for duty, sir"
Ensign Auberin Jaxson
Assistant Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
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