A New Assignment

Posted on Sun Sep 1st, 2024 @ 1:03am by Commander Elias Maxwell

Maxwell sat on the promenade of Starbase 48. He watched the people coming and going. Watched as life bustled.

The service for Captain Holbrook had been a touching one. Admiral Haftell had said a kind, and fitting send-off. It had also been a kind gesture of the Endurance senior staff to attend. He would have won a sizeable amount, had he put money on Harding choosing not to attend.

It wasn't the sort of thing one bet on, but he was gratified to know he could still predict her. Even now, all these years later. He could still remember the last time their paths had crossed. Even if she hadn't known it.

****

2389, Starfleet Command

“Well? What do you think?”

The holographic wall panel had the effect of a two-way mirror when activated. The observation room looked into the conference room.

Lieutenant Commander Harding sat at the table, having been ripped to pieces by the examiner. The Command Oral Exam was a hellish experience reserved for those seeking to transfer straight from a service department into Command.

The four years of gruelling coursework, and hypothetical situational questions were enough to make anyone think twice about it. Yet, Harding had taken it well.

Not that she had had much choice. Declared medically unfit to be a pilot, she didn't have much else to do.

As far as Max was concerned, she had gone through fire, and been forged by the flames. “Give her an.XO billet. I bet she'll surprise you.”

The Captain looked at him, confused. “Didn't you flunk her once?”

Max actually laughed at that. “‘Once’, Jed.” There weren't many Commanders who could address a superior officer so informally. Maxwell could get away with it. “And only the once.” He sighed, and decided the story needed to be told in full.

“She was 18. Freshmen year at the Academy. Headstrong. Thought she knew the world. They all did. Decides my topic assignment was dumb, writes her own. I gave her an F. She came to my office about it. I tore her a new one. Wanna know what she did?”

“She re-wrote it.” It wasn't exactly a question.

“Overnight.” Max clarified. “Literally. By 0700 hours, she was already waiting for me outside my office door. Looked like hell, but she did it. I graded it, replaced the grade in her permanent record. She never set a foot wrong in my class again.”

Jed sighed in resignation. He knew when Max had won. Hell, the man almost always won. “Alright. We’ll put her on Ark Royal.”

****

Seven years since, and Tempe had done well for herself. Made full Captain, had pulled off some crazy things. Been arrested for murder.

He still felt awful about that. Being the one to do it had hurt. Yet, he was glad she had been proven innocent. Tough luck for Hendricks. Those were the breaks, though, when you frame someone for murder.

Now, he was looking ahead at a whole new journey. Executive Officer. It wouldn't be quite as stressful as his numerous staff jobs. Yet, it would prove to be interesting.

The Endurance had gotten itself into some interesting trouble. Pirates, mirror universes, rescuing a freighter.

Then there was the crew. Tempe herself, he had known her since she had joined the Academy. Valentine, a competent, if aesthetically eccentric engineer. Harper was professional, if a little too business-like. Ashev seemed a good doctor, though they hadn't worked together much.

Then there were the new additions. Lieutenant Commander Anar looked to be interesting. Certainly seemed qualified, though the proof of the pudding is always in the eating.