Imeasurable Setbacks

Posted on 2024, Mon Dec 30th, @ 10:22am by Commodore Emily Janeway & Commander Cormac Situs

4,026 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: E1 "Shadows of the Empire"
Location: USS Voyager A Ready Room, the crew lounge
Timeline: an hour after the Evacuation mission Of the Gorn planet
Tags: USS Voyager, casual meeting of newcrew member

As the afternoon sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the vastness of space, Commodore Janeway and her newly assembled crew returned to the USS Voyager after a harrowing evacuation from the Gorn Planet's surface. The remnants of the fallen Resolute lay behind them, a stark reminder of the dangers they faced. Those brave souls who chose to leave their destroyed vessel for a second chance at hope aboard Voyager stepped forward, each carrying their own stories and dreams.

After successfully docking the shuttle, Janeway led her new crew member towards her ready room, eager to introduce them to their fresh home. Today, she was incredibly excited to meet her newly appointed Chief Science Officer, Lieutenant Commander Cormac Situs. With a warm smile, she welcomed him aboard, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I’m thrilled to have you join us, Commander. Let’s make this journey together unforgettable!" It was a moment filled with promise, setting the stage for new adventures among the stars.

His hands were shaking, and his vision was blurry—from one eye only. It was alright for one minute and worse the next, almost like it was holding a cadence. That really shouldn't be the case. Starfleet medical care is arguably second to none when treating humans, and Resolute's doctor knew his craft well, though not human himself.

There it was again. His thoughts were still on the Resolute. He even forgot he was sitting in the ready room of a completely different ship with someone else waiting for his response.

''I'm sorry, commodore. I didn't quite catch that.''

Janeway glanced from her chair at the man seated across her desk. She said, "Oh, no need to apologize, Situs. Welcome aboard Voyager. I am Commodore Emily Janeway." She reassured Situs that there was no need to worry about his fears of our enemy anymore, as our starship notably still considered the hero of our Starfleet Federation. Janeway also told Situs, "It could take a while to acclimate to being on a starship and familiarize yourself with the Voyager A, including you, the new head of Our ship's science department. Since I have already authorized it, She added, “I have been looking over your service records and personnel profile, and I must say, they are impressive with promising potential.”

Science Department? Right. Out of habit, he thought he should give a report. He instinctively reached for a PADD that was not there. Of course, there wasn't one. He didn't have one prepared. He was stranded on the Gorn homeworld with whatever was left of the Resolute. What a gaffe. With no PADD to rely on, he turned his tired eyes to the commodore. Manners and pleasantries were second nature to some humans, even more so to Situs.

''It is a pleasure, ma'am; I am familiar with your name, though I can't say I've closely followed your career. You have me at a disadvantage here.''

To Situs, that was the understatement of the century. In the few moments of total clarity he had after the evacuation, destroying years' worth of work was the only thing on his mind. How many projects were lost forever? How many years behind on others? How many decades of work lost? Since he relied mainly on capable subordinates to deliver results. His performance on his new post would be anyone's guess for now on. He had to know more, both of the ship and the woman he would be serving under.

''I'm curious as to what research goals you have for the ship. And I'm eager to meet the team. The last thing I want is for you to regret picking me for the position''

Janeway settled into her chair, signaling to Situs. "At this point, we don't have a dedicated science division ship or crew. Since you're heading the department, explore your new areas on the deck. Our vessel is designed for fast response and equipped with cutting-edge science technology for how. We're top fighters across the board. Once we receive our mission directives from Starfleet Command, maybe today, since we’re both off duty now, we can get to know each other. the perfect opportunity for you to get to know me in particular."Janeway pours some hot cup of green tea.

The tea’s herbal scent, earthly and fragrant. A stark contrast to the sterilised bulkheads of a ship. It put his mind at ease for a moment. There was no need to worry about a ship that no longer was for now. And there would be plenty of time to start up Voyager's science division. He tried to focus more on Janeway. Besides what he could observe in the moment he really knew nothing about her. Just from the firm mannerisms of the way she poured tea he could tell a lot. In a lot of ways she reminded him of many officers he served under. And yet, she seemed different.''I'd like that, commodore.''

Janeway’s eyes sparkled with delight as she turned around to face Situs as she handed him a small cup of tea that she had already made for herself with a separate cup of tea just for herself “ At ease Situs we’re actually off duty for this moment.” Janeway relaxed as she then gave him a small smile.

Situs hesitated momentarily before taking the warm ceramic cup in his hands. The commodore's tone and demeanor switched, yet he remained naturally cautious. With a nod and a smile, he accepted the cup. He studied Janeway as he took a long sip.

Many superiors have promised him his lab before. Few have delivered. Even fewer even promised him his team. But no one offered him an entire department to build from the ground up. This is an Exciting moment. Only after his sip was over did he notice his hands had stopped shaking. And that his vision became clear again. Whatever his body seemed to be worrying about, it was gone.''You know, I've been in my share of ready rooms. But none that were so quiet, so serene,'' he said to Janeway while comfortably holding his teacup and enjoying the conversation with the Commodore.

Janeway arched an eyebrow as she nonchalantly sipped her tea. 'Oh really?' she inquired.

"Yes I-'' he replied wearing a grin before looking back into his cup ''I don't think its the room. It's definitely not the room'' Ha paused. ''I think its the ship''.

The commodore must have surely known where he was going with this. The ship. It felt empty, too empty. As if missing most of its crew. As if it was not fully staffed when it was sent to assist the Resolute. It was the only explanation he could think of for the quiet corridors, the lack of interruptions during the conversation and the non-existent science department.

Janeway listened carefully to his response during a brief pause in their conversation. "I understand," she said, "It's very challenging on this side of the ship. The admiral has been quite difficult, making it hard to gather a certain crew to operate the vessel and handle any situations.

Situs nodded in acknowledgement. It seemed his instincts were correct. Voyager was not operating at full capacity. Voyager and Resolute. A ship without a full crew and a crew without a ship. An odd situation reminiscent of the ship, and the commodore's namesake.

''I still don't know my way around the Voyager. I don't suppose you could show me to the officers mess and continue this conversation over dinner?''

Commodore Janeway nodded happily as she looked at him with saying that she would be glad to show him around the Voyager “ I love to show you the way to the crew mess lounge where we can continue to talk over dinner with each other.” Then she turned to head over to the door to walking with Situs behind her to go to crew lounge.

Crew mess hall deck dining area

The doors opened with a soft hiss. The mess hall was clean and spacious with only a handful of officers occupying distant tables at this late hour. Their conversations barely audible over the humming of the ship's engines. His eyes focused back to the commodore who seemed to be heading for a table with a view. For a brief moment he wondered of Voyager was one of the few ships that still had a chef on duty. Though with the staffing situation that seemed unlikely. Still that was a good thought. A thought not related to what he had already lost.

As they reached the table his manners instinctively kicked in and he gestured the commodore to take a seat first.

The Commodore sat down graciously as the waiters served their own Commodore her dinner and her guest they’re hot meal careful not to make any mishaps unlike three months ago “ Thank you for pulling me out chair. “ the Commodore said. He sat down, his gaze lingering on the Commodore a moment longer than he intended. Only interrupted by the waiters putting the finishing touches on the cutlery. He picked them up and joined the commodore as she started to take a few bites of her meal.

''I've been asking about about the ship and the mission too much. I realise now I should have been asking more about its Captain. Do you have any family, Commodore?''

Emily spoke about her family while nibbling on her food. She mentioned that she had some adoptive relatives living on Earth, specifically in Texas. Her late adoptive grandmother was from the famous Gretchen Janeway family, and her adoptive mother holds the title of Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway. As she continued to chat with Situs, she noted that she hadn’t had many close relatives, mainly due to the distance that kept them apart. It made her wish that the head of Fleet Admiral would be kind enough to maintain contact with them.

Emily said “that four years ago, I reconnected with an old Vulcan man, who was both the chief of security and the chief tactical officer on board Voyager. To her surprise, he turned out to be her uncle.” since I was age of five, I had embarked on her journey of adoptive life aboard the old Intrepid-class ship, Voyager, my adoptive family a big magnificent equestrian Ranch with her own majestic black stallion steed, Midnight.” She continues to enjoy her own plate of delicious steak with delicious green beans and southwestern rice.

Situs listened intently. There was something grounding in the way she described her life aboard Voyager. And what could be more grounding than an actual ranch. He found himself absorbed. The only sounds were her voice and the miniscule clacks of the cutlery. Peaceful. Nearly enough for him to forget he was on a starship. He didn't like starships. And his luck when it came to planets was not the best either.

''A ranch huh, that's quite a different life from being aboard a starship. It sounds peaceful. You know, when I was younger I was quite restless. It's really only places like that, that are able to give you a sense of balance.''

Janeway experienced a growing sense of ease as she participated in amicable discussions with Situs. The process had evolved into an enjoyable exchange, reminiscent from their earlier conversations in her office on the bridge. It seemed as though the atmosphere was becoming increasingly positive for Janeway in her interactions with Situs.

Janeway paused for a moment, placing her cutlery down gently before continuing. “It's my late adoptive grandmother's equestrian farm in Texas. I joined the Academy of Starfleet when I was about 12, and I would often visit the farm during my semester breaks. I loved riding my black Friesian stallion to explore the beautiful, expansive prairie landscape that surrounded the farmstead.”

He could almost picture her as a young cadet as she reminisced about her days of peace and freedom. It is a feeling he missed. A part of him truly wished he could live like that again.

“It sounds like you truly miss those days," Situs remarked quietly. His gaze filled with a mixture of empathy and intrigue. ''The farm, the freedom. Do you ever wish you could go back to those days? It is very different than commanding a starship, is it not?''

Janeway smiles warmly at Situs and says, "Oh, I totally agree! I really miss those fun adventures from my childhood at my grandma's farm. I would spend hours exploring the beautiful prairies while her farmhands took care of things for Grandma Gretchen. They were always looking out for me, especially when I went off riding my own horse. Those were such special times!"

Situs couldn’t help but smile as he listened. He envied the idea of a home that remained constant, of a place unbound by the starships and star systems he’d known. He hated ships. There was something powerful in the quiet simplicity of her words.

''The way you talk about it, it sounds like heaven. I think that not many people on the fleet has a place like that to call home''

However Janeway emotions were very different than she thought since she felt a bit sad about her own life, especially since the beginning of the months leading up to the Gorn battle.

Due to an urgent order from an admiral, she needed to be fully cleared by Federation medical staff. The healing process took time, and there were complications even after her heart transplant surgery. The admiral had to authorize her medical clearance to return to work after two months of absence caused by poisoning, which had nearly derailed her career. During that time, she often wondered if the poisoning was related to others trying to target her; it could have been a ploy against her Starfleet adoptive mother, a high-ranking admiral. Janeway’s response simply said “I agree strongly with you.” She said she was scratching the side of her wounds where the bandages are not healing well enough.

He noticed the passing flicker of discomfort on her face as she scratched the area around her bandages. Though he knew nothing about her injuries, he knew enough about discomfort to notice when someone was feeling unwell. This was definitely not a gesture the calm and collected Commodore would normally make willingly in polite company. The wine that arrived at the table was the perfect segway into the subject. He gestured towards it as it was being poured.

''Are you well enough to drink? I know it has been a long day''

Janeway's eyes sparkled with delight as she watched the rich, deep red liquid flow into the small, ornate goblets, catching the light effortlessly. The aroma of the Greek red wine filled the air, enveloping the table in an inviting warmth. She turned to the commodore and Situs, her expression eager, and inquired whether they would like to indulge in dessert alongside their drinks.

With a small smile, Janeway leaned forward slightly, her enthusiasm palpable as she said, "Yes, we would love to have some baklava for dessert, please It would pairing wonderfully with this delightful wine." She then gestured gracefully towards Situs, who sat directly across from her.

Having decided to respond to his earlier question, she continued, "I believe I'm well enough to enjoy some fine red wine with you as we talk about my injuries. It's quite a story." Janeway paused to make sure he was still listening. "Well, I was poisoned back in late April, two months ago, just before our mission to the Gorn homeworld, and I had during April to transported to sent back to Starfleet medical on earth .” she says

Poisoned? Sipping his wine slowly, Situs felt the weight of her words. They revealed another layer to an already complex person. Who could be behind the attempt? Was the federation currently at war? Was the matter being investigated by security? He had a ton of questions, very few of them appropriate for dinner.

''I must admit, its really remarkable that you're here right now. A lesser officer would take at least a year of leave. Or at the very least reconsider their career on the fleet.'' He paused, then murmured toward his glass. ''Some lose their health, others their home, yet still here we are. The fleet keeps bringing us back, it collects us all in one place. To do what, exactly, Emily? To fix us? Or to use what's left of us?''

What did he just call her? This wine is dangerous.

Janeway took a measured sip from her wine glass before proceeding with the following: “A celestial architect of power has presented us with significant opportunities to uncover our true purpose, emphasizing the profound importance of our destiny within the vast universe.”
Janeway continued, “The trauma from that event was immense; I was on the edge of death last January. My recovery was grueling and spanned two months, involving multiple complex surgeries to repair the extensive damage inflicted by the poisoning and to replace my old cybernetic heart with this version of the new cybernetic heart and long-lasting healing process that has taken over my life since January. The corrosive and unregulated industrial chemically altered me —identified as Quantum-X 13 and others—tore through my physiology, threatening not only my health but also my career as a commanding officer. However, fate smiled upon me, giving me a chance to reclaim my duties and to continue on my journey as a protector of Starfleet to protect my crew from any threats—whether from the enemy or dangers facing our fleet and our Starfleet mission to maintain with also our mission orders from the higher ranking officers for us to go voyage to space as it’s our Job that we were assigned to become Starfleet officers were to endowed to get opportunity to have a rescued from dangerous off the Gron planet to be able to for fulfillment of destiny once again on board Voyager.”
Lastly,Situs don't worry, today is a new day for both of us. I’m very happy to have you on board my starship. I understand the nervousness you may have by accidentally calling me by my first name instead of command structure formalities.”

He drank a bit more and thought on what Emily- the commodore revealed. Even though he overstepped, her words carried no judgement. And on top of that she revealed some very personal information. He was no physician, but he was very aware what chemicals like that do to the human body.

''Would it be fair to say'' he said as he cut through his baklava ''that the Voyager is a ship of second chances?''

All this talk of fate and destiny seemed to move him beyond what was now lost to him.

''And if it is, would you say that it deserves a toast?'' He said as he raised his glass.

He didn't know where to begin if he was to rebuilt the research lost on the Resolute. He didn't even know if it was worth it. He didn't know what fate had in store for Voyager. But what he did know is that if there was someone worth finding out with, it was Emily Janeway.

Emily listened attentively to Cormac, her thoughts drifting back to their earlier encounter that afternoon. It had been a reflective moment for both of them. After Emily's shuttle had picked him up, Cormac found himself at a crossroads, faced with a difficult decision. He chose the Voyager-A, marking a significant new chapter in his journey, starting with their friendship.

As Emily savored a piece of baklava, she set her utensils aside and lifted her wine glass, which the attentive waitstaff had just filled. Their conversation about fate and destiny lingered in the air, inspiring her to raise her glass in a thoughtful toast. With a sincere and reassuring smile, she turned to Cormac and expressed her gratitude for his company.

“This marks the exciting beginning of our friendship as we embark on our adventures aboard the USS Voyager-A," Commodore Emily said with a warm smile, her dark brown eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I can hardly wait for the brighter new experiences that lie ahead for us as we travel together. As you step into your role as Lieutenant Commander and Chief Science Officer of the science division on board Voyager, I wanted to give you a little something to help capture the thoughts and ideas that will surely come to you. Here’s a notepad, along with a nice pencil, an eraser, and a sharpener. I hope these tools inspire you to jot down all your brilliant ideas as we explore the vastness of space together on my Federation starship, the USS Voyager-A.”

The commodore settled back into the comfy cushions of her dining chair, casually resting her hands on her wine glass. She glanced out at the crew dining room lounge viewport, taking in the streaks of stars blurring past as they zipped through space at warp speed.

He was silent for a moment, staring at the notepad in his hands. In an age of advanced haptics, writing by hand was a hobby at best and an inefficient anachronism at worst. Yet this gift carried weight and meaning beyond its practicality. A stark contrast to the advanced vessel, this notebook seemed tangible, grounding...human. After the chaos of losing the Resolute, having something solid to hold on to would help.

"Thank you, commodore," Cormac said, his voice filled with gratitude. "This means more to me than you know." He turned his gaze to the viewport, the stars slipping in and out of view like diamonds on velvet. The vast expanse of space stretched out before them, full of mystery and promise. Cormac smiled, feeling a sense of hope and renewal wash over him.

Cormac wondered when was the last time he actually held a pen. He turned his gaze to the viewport, no one gets tired of the starts slipping in and out of view as the ships moves through the warp.

The commode remained in her dining chair, and Emily's hands rested on her wine glass. With a comforting smile, Emily glanced back at Cormac’s face as she gazed back at the viewport.

Then Cormac's eyes lingered on the notepad, the weight of the commodore's gift sinking in. "Thank you, commodore," he said gratefully.

Emily's expression softened. "Consider it a welcome aboard, Cormac. I'm glad we met."

Cormac smiled, feeling a connection. "Me too, commodore."

Emily's eyes sparkled. "We'll get along fine, Chief Science Officer."

Cormac's heart swelled with appreciation. "I think you're right," he said as he gently took the new gift items from Emily, placing them in his uniform pocket for safekeeping.

Commodore and Cormac shared a warm smile as stars rushed by, a heavenly sign of their fresh alliance. In that instant, Cormac experienced profound convictions from Emily’s lectures earlier in the evening: He knew precisely where he was destined to be, seizing his opportunity to lead as the Voyager's chief science officer.

The two shared a warm smile, the stars streaming past the viewport like a celestial blessing on their newfound partnership.

Meanwhile into the evening hours of their dinner

Just as they clinked glasses, the lounge doors slid open and Lieutenant Commander Ryder burst in, a look of urgency on his face. "Commodore, we're entering Earth's orbit. Shore leave has been granted, and we have a meeting with Admiral Harlow at Starfleet Command."

Emily's gaze found Ryder's, a flicker of excitement dancing in her eyes. "Looks like our break is about to take a thrilling turn, Cormac. Let’s make the most of our shore leave, and afterward, we can dive into whatever the admiral has planned for us." With that, they exchanged nods, both energized by the possibilities ahead as Cormac settled into his new assignment aboard the USS Voyager, ready to embrace the adventure that awaited them.

 

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