New Color, New Station

Posted on Wed Aug 12th, 2020 @ 1:55am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Paul Michael
Edited on on Wed Aug 12th, 2020 @ 2:05am

1,149 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: Bridge - Deck 1 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD007 1000 hrs

The USS Pioneer was en route back to Sirius, The test of the QSD was almost a total disaster. It seemed that in the rush to complete the installation some short cuts were made. If it were not for the quick thinking of Elen and Paul who knows what would have happened to the Pioneer and her crew.

Tyler leaned on his hand which rested on the arm rest of the chair. He was lost in thought. The chime of the command console next to him brought him to the realization that Lieutenant Tam had been reassigned and for the time being he was his own pilot. He made a minor course correction and the chime stopped. The bridge ran on a skeleton crew due to the repairs that were needed. the sight of the empty seat at the helm angered Tyler and he decided to act on something that he and Quinn had talked about recently.

He rose and turned toward the rear of the command pit. The Pioneer's Chief of Ops manned her station silently. "Ameri, what do you make of Paul Michael?" Tyler asked suddenly as he walked to the Ops station and leaned on her console.

“What do I make of him?” Ameri repeated his words and thought for a moment. “He is hard working, dedicated and an excellent assistant.” She paused for a moment. “To be honest I have wondered why he hasn’t been snapped up for a Chief position, he is too valuable to be held back in this position.”

"That good huh... It just so happens that we have an opening at the helm. So the question is would you trust him to fly us safely." Tyler asked in reply. He had never really had a conversation with Paul and so relied on Ameri's advice here.

“Definitely,” Ameri answered him without reservation. “Paul has displayed quick thinking and a calmness that is essential for someone at that station. The Pioneer will be well suited to put him there.” She paused. “And though it pains me to lose him as my assistant I am more happy he will finally get the recognition he deserves.”

"That is what I thought you would say. I just wanted to make sure. I always like to hear what the crew thinks of each other's performance. I am inclined to give him the job especially after all of the work that he has done on the QSD. Thank you Ameri..." Tyler smiled as he wrapped his hand on the Ops console. He returned to the center chair with a little extra bounce in his step.

Ameri smiled as she watched him walk away. Malbrooke was a good Captain and he rewarded his crew for their hard work. She couldn’t be happier for Michael. She knew he wanted to move up and probably had been frustrated when she had been promoted and not him. She wished him well in his new position.

Satisfied that he was making the right decision. Tyler tapped his comm badge. =/\=Lieutenant Michael please report to the bridge.=/\=

"=/\= On my way, captain." Paul left his quarters and took a turbolift to the bridge. When he arrived, he walked over to the captain. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Michael, reporting as ordered, captain."

Tyler smiled at the new arrival, and he pointed toward the Ready Room. "Join me in the Ready Room. Lieutenant O Flannagain you have the Bridge." He led the way in to his office. "Have a seat Paul."

“Yes Captain,” Ameri replied as she moved to his chair and took over command duties. She was happy for Paul and couldn’t wait to congratulate him.

"Yes sir." He sat in a chair on the other side of the captain's desk. He was starting to become concerned.....usually when a person is summoned to the captain's office, it's not usually good news.

"Lieutenant you have served on the Pioneer for some time. As I look over your crew evaluations it seems that you have had nothing but stellar reports. But I would like to know how do you feel about serving aboard the Pioneer?" Tyler wanted to see if Paul was going to stick around or if he looked at the Pioneer as a stepping stone to something larger.

"It's a great ship, sir, and I'm happy to be here. I've learned a lot, and I've met many people who I now think of as friends. I'm engaged to someone, and we want to get married. But as far as children go, we haven't discussed it yet. But I would l like to spend my career here, sir."

Tyler nodded in agreement, happy to hear Paul say that. He smirked before he started speaking. "You know an Intrepid Class is not that large. It is hard to keep anything a secret around these parts. I have learned that Calhoun and Masters is not the only wedding coming down the pike on this ship. Soon the Pioneer will be filled with little Pioneers and Enya will have her hand full babysitting."

"Hard to imagine a ship with children, sir." Paul nodded.

"It was hard for me at a time as well. But now I can see it, in fact I am welcome to it. " Tyler leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee. When he set his cup down he slid a small wooden box across his desk. The box contained a small gold pip. "Paul you have been serving here for quite some time. I think now it is a good time for this, and you deserve it."

Paul looked at the pip, then back at the captain. "I'm sorry sir, I don't understand."

Tyler smirked it seemed that he would have to spell it out. "Rather than go hunting through the fleet for a pilot. Commander O Flannagain and I thought it best to get one right here at home. Who better than the man who prevented a mass catastrophe with the QSD installation. Paul I am promoting you to the rank of Lieutenant and appointing you as Chief Flight Control Officer of the USS Pioneer. So along with that pip comes a new uniform. That is of course if you want the job."

"Chief Flight Control Officer?" Paul was taken aback, for a moment. "Yes sir, I want the job!"

"Very well, Lieutenant that being the case my suggestion is to get yourself a new uniform and take the helm." Tyler smiled as he shook his hand.

A Joint Post By,

Lieutenant Ameri Ó Flannagáin
Chief Operations Officer, USS Pioneer

Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer

Lieutenant Paul Michael
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Pioneer

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