Epilogues

Posted on Sat Sep 30th, 2023 @ 6:44pm by Commodore Jacob Kane & Commander Amaya Lance

Mission: Wrath of the People
Location: Starbase One
Timeline: 24 Hours after "Prepare for Ramming Speed!"
707 words - 1.4 OF Standard Post Measure

"Commander Lance." Kane noted the slightly smaller woman's arrival by rising from the temporary desk he'd been assigned by a random administrative Ensign whose name he didn't recall. Being around an office on a starbase still didn't feel comfortable, and he was still getting used to the slight uniform alteration on top of it.

"Commodore." Amaya approached with a smile and extended a hand. "I hear congratulations are in order."

"Some would call it a punishment rather than something to celebrate, but I suppose it's better than a penal colony," he replied, shaking her hand. His eyes fell on a stack of PADDs on the desk. "But not by a great deal, depending on your perspective."

Neither of them sat. He prowled the office space, and she simply watched.

"I can't promise the Athena is being returned to you complete scratch-free, but she's still in working order, sir. I have a feeling you're attached?" she noted.

"From what I hear, thanks in no small part to her stand-in commander," Kane responded. He tapped the PADD that was still in his hand. "I read your report. And Commander Zora's remarks. It looks like things got hairy out there."

"I see." Amaya's brow furrowed slightly. "Commodore, I honestly don't think I was the right person to command a ship such as Athena. My past history with dealing with crisis situations...well, I'm far from a role model when it comes to acts of bold leadership."

"Indeed." Kane nodded. "What happened on Obsidian Command was...unfortunate." He glanced over to clock her reaction. She straightened at the mention, but her eyes remained steady.

"And events the past few days could have been easily avoided if led by a competent commander who would have been able to account for-"

"Those events were led by a competent commander, Ms Lance." Kane interrupted before she could even start to justify herself. "I've been around long enough to see good officers crumble, Commander. The Dominion War dimmed the light of some of our best and brightest. Many never recovered. What you endured-"

"Wasn't a war, Commodore. It was an accident. A natural disaster."

"Something out of your control," Kane continued, undisturbed by the interruption. "Not something you could account for." He reflected her own reasoning back at her sharply. "Anyone can anticipate. But a good leader reacts in the right way. And that's what I read in this report. And the commentaries of several crewmembers that were present." He inclined his head. "Even Lieutenant Ryan seemed to be impressed."

"She's a good officer," Amaya said quietly. "Just needed a chance..."

"Quite." Kane smiled just slightly at the irony. He swapped the PADD in his hand with the one on his desk, and offered it to her.

"What's this?"

"A chance." He leaned against the edge of the desk and let her absorb the contents. "I've got a task group to populate, and that'll require a group of commanders that I can trust. Competent officers, who can react in the right way to anything unforeseen." He crossed his arms. "The USS Edison could use an experienced hand on her bridge."

"This is...for me?" Amaya's heart skipped a beat. She looked inquiringly back at him. "Why?"

"You came highly recommended by some influential people, but that wasn't the reason." He gazed at her for a second. "I'd like to think I have a good eye for talent. Particularly talent that needs an opportunity to flourish. What do you think, Commander?"

Amaya looked down at the reassignment order and then back up at him. "I'd be kicking myself later if I turned this down. Thank you, Commodore. I...I didn't think I would get a chance like this again."

"Richly deserved," he nodded. "Promise you won't squander it?"

With no sense of a tremor, nor a dizzying moment of confusion, Amaya's eyes lit up as brightly as her smile. "You can count on me."

"Good luck, Commander. I'll see you out there."

Kane watched the woman leave with a tinge of pride. He wished that all of the conversations he was about to have would wind up so heartwarming. If only wishes would all come true...