Meeting the Captain

Posted on Sun Jul 12th, 2020 @ 12:44am by Captain Kelly O'Connor & Lieutenant Commander Archibald (Archie) Gates
Edited on on Mon Aug 17th, 2020 @ 10:53am

1,492 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 8 - A Blast from the Past
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: 2296/03/02 0800

Once the America had docked at Deep Space Five, Commander Gates took no time at all to report on board. Having found his quarters and chucked his bag in, he headed straight for the bridge. He was originally gutted that his previous Captain had shipped him off for this assignment but once he found out the America was a Constitution Class, Gates was very keen to see how one was to pilot.

Once on the bridge, Commander Gates headed straight for the Captain’s ready room and rung the door chime before waiting for permission to enter.

O'Connor was annoyed. It was bad enough that her previous Executive Officer was an academic but then to find him, the CMO, and the Chief Science Officer in some sort of menage e troi was more surprising and disappointing. Having them sent off her ship was the least that she could do. She was not going to ruin any of their careers but the fact that they were so...so...what was the word she wanted...unprofessional? sent her temper going. Now she was going to have to break in a brand new crew, again.

She sighed when she heard the chime. "What is it?" she asked in a growl.

Archie stepped into Ready Room and approached the Captain’s deck. He stood to attention and gently cleared his throat. “Lieutenant Commander Archie Gates, reporting as ordered, Ma’am.”

O'Connor furrowed her brows and then stood up to her mere five feet in height, practically daring Archie to make fun of her. The redhead complained, "Assigned another XO. The only time that I had a brief say was when I had Jessie as my XO and she left. So, what do you have to say for yourself?"

“Say, sir?” He asked with a confused look on his face. He didn’t think he’d been greeted in such a way by a Commanding Officer before.

"Yes. Which Admiral sent you here and exactly why are you on this assignment. I'm sure that you are aware that this is not the most desirable assignment in the fleet." She approached Gates dangerously. "And I am growing very tired of games and people on my ship that have no business being here."

“Erm, none, sir.” Archie replied still confused with this line of questioning. “Captain Colburn of the Sargon recommended me for the position when it came up.” The Commander explained.

"Captain Colburn, huh?" O'Connor considered. "Well, that's very different and somewhat refreshing. Though, why anyone would recommend someone to this rust bucket is unknown. Do you know why you were recommended or why you wanted this position, Gates?"

Archie’s shoulders dropped a little as he relaxed ever so slightly. “I was happy on the Sargon, Captain Colburn took me under his wing years earlier to help me through a difficult patch in my career.” ’and my life’ He thought to himself but didn’t reveal it to Captain O’Connor. “If you’ve read my file, I was a less than perfect officer. Captain Colburn got me back on track with my career and had taught me a lot. He even took me on as Second Officer on the Sargon, getting me on the command track which I’ve desperately wanted. He felt the time was right for me to move on with my career. If. I’m honest, sir, I wasn’t happy about the transfer, but being able to serve on a Constitution Class vessel is a great honour. I hope I serve you well, Captain.”

"I haven't read your file, Commander. I didn't even expect you." She paused as she walked closer to him. Though Gates may have towered over the petite Captain, her stature loomed much larger than herself. Her demeanor made it clear that she was afraid of nothing and nobody. "And this rust bucket should have been retired years ago. That's why I am here. That's why you are here. This is a dead end, Commander."

She turned away from him and walked a few steps before pointing a finger at him. "At least that's what they want it to be. I won't let that happen, Commander. I've never walked away from a fight in my life and I'm not walking away now. Can you handle that?"

“I’ve never walked away from a fight either. In my younger years my knuckles were generally red from fighting.” Archie replied. “I can handle anything you throw at me and more.”

O'Connor gave Gates a hint of a smile. "I might get to like you." She backed up and propped herself up on her desk. "So, why don't you tell me what makes you tick and tell me about this less than perfect past?"

“I’ve got two reprimands on my record, one for lateness and one for fighting with a senior officer, who just happened to be my brother.” Archie explained. “I then decided to straighten my life out. At first it was difficult, no CO would touch me with two reprimands but then Captain Lewis Colburn took me on and took me under his wing. Apparently, he had a iffy start to his Starfleet career and wanted to put me onto the right track. He saw something in me that I didn’t know was there. I’m grateful for his help and tutelage to get to where I am now.”

"Really?" O'Connor asked, furrowing her eyebrows. "That's all you got your reprimands for?" She shook her head sadly. "God, Starfleet is really becoming too soft. What do you know about me, Gates?"

Gates smirked at the Captain’s comment about Starfleet becoming soft. “I know nothing about you, sir, I didn’t even know I was being transferred to the America until two days ago!”

"Well, let's start then with you telling me about yourself and then I might answer some of your questions that you have about me. Fair?"

Archie nodded, “Well, I grew up in New Berlin on Luna. I’ve got two older brothers, who used to get me in a lot of trouble but as they grew up and left for Starfleet I found my own trouble which pretty much continued until my assignment to the Bellerophon almost ten years ago. That’s when I decided to pick my act up and start conducting myself like the adult I should be, not the idiot I was.”

O'Connor snickered and asked, "Please tell me that at least some of the trouble involved a woman."

“I got a freshman pregnant at the academy. Does that count?” Archie asked with raised eyebrow.

"That does! And good for you! At least I know you're not a prude. What happened with the pregnancy?" she asked directly.

“The young lady asked to bring up the child by herself and that I have no contact.” Archie replied as his tone lowered along with his head. “I’ve never seen my son.”

"Women can be bitches," O'Connor replied with an apologetic shrug. "Ask half of the Admiralty and they will tell you that about me."

“I wouldn’t go that far, Captain. I did ruin her career in Starfleet, she worked harder to get there so I’m probably the one to blame.” Gates replied. “Perhaps it’s a good thing I don’t know anything about you.” He smirked.

"Unless you raped her, she made a choice and understood the consequences of sleeping with you. She also understood what it meant to omit you from her life. These were choices that she made. She could have still had a career if she wanted it. She chose differently. If you blame yourself for someone else's action again, I will box your ears. Understand?"

“I regret my actions more than hers. Of course, you’re right on all counts, but if I didn’t have my youthful head up my ass I might have seen it. However, hindsight is a wonderful thing.” Gates replied in a respectful tone.

"Not always," O'Connor informed Gates, remembering the loss of Frankson. "Trust me. It is a no-win game."

Archie shrugged, “Maybe.”

"Well, is there anything else that you wish to tell me before taking up your duties?"

“I don’t think so, Captain. I’m just eager to get started.” Archie replied, “oh, actually, there is one thing. Do we know our next mission yet?”

"Not yet," O'Connor admitted. "Hopefully it isn't diplomatic again. I'm getting rather tired of politics."

“I can imagine it does. Perhaps it’s for the best of its not diplomatic as I wasn’t born with a diplomatic bone in my body.” Archie replied with a cheeky grin.

"We're going to get along just fine," O'Connor replied with a crooked grin. "Go about your business now, Gates."

“Thank you, Captain.” Archie said giving his new commanding officer a smile before quickly turning on his heels and exited the ready room.

 

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