You Changed My Settings...

Posted on Thu May 20th, 2021 @ 11:14pm by Executive Officer Jake Ford & Micheal Robertson

Mission: Elsewhere
Location: SS Mary Rose, XO's office
Timeline: (A week or two following Micheal's recovery)
1290 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Micheal was walking through the corridors of the Mary Rose, refamiliarizing himself with her specific feel and sound. He hadn't realized just how much he had missed being here. Of all the places he had been during his life, she had become the one place tgat he felt was home. He never wanted to leave her corridors again. As long as Reuben allowed him to, he would remain here.

Of course, there were a few things that he needed to do before he officially reclaimed his former position. He had to get to know the person who had filled in while he had been lost

Reaching the door to the Rosie's Executive Officer, he pressed the door chime, then waited.

Jake called him to enter. He didn't like spending time in an office. Eden and Gregnol had both expressed that he should use it more often, to get his own space and some quiet time if he needed it. Jake was more of a hands-on sort of person, though, and so the spartan office had little in the way of decoration. He'd not put down so many roots before, and although Rosie was starting to feel like home, habitually he'd always feel those cold feet.

"Micheal." He nodded at the armoury chief. The man he'd replaced and then vacated the position back to. "What can I do for you?"

Micheal stepped inside the sparsely decorated office, well, bare would actually be a better description for it. "Sir," he nodded respectfully. "I was hoping that we could have a sit down, get to know each other and ask you for any updates of what you may have changed in the Armory department while you ran it, before I officially put in my request, to both you and the Boss, to reclaim my former position as Armory Chief for the Mary Rose, Sir."

"This isn't a Starfleet ship, and you don't have to go around making those sorts of formal requests, you know." Jake motioned to a chair. "It's really much the same as you left it, though. Leiddem can be a pain in the you-know-what, and the new guy Angel seems to be a little casual with authority. I'm sure you'll love him. What else did you want to know?"

Micheal nodded thanks, then sat in the offered chair. "Yeah," he replied with a grin. "The Boss tells me the same thing. What can I say? Hard to beat new tricks into an old dog." He chuckled freely. "It all comes to me as naturally as breathing, Sir." He paused and then continued. "The other thing I wanted to ask you was, the things that were in my old, now current, office? Do you know what happened to them? Leiddem suggested I come see you, as he didn't do anything with them."

"No idea I'm afraid," Jake shook his head. "At a guess they're probably in the Grotto. Dixoho might know better." He smiled slightly, remembering back. "She definitely missed you - I remember her accidentally walking into my quarters at one point thinking they were still yours."

Hearing yet another example of how his departure had affected Di, Micheal felt a renewed wave of shame. He mostly kept it from his features. Mostly. Nodding to Jake, he swallowed his grief and replied. "Understood, Sir. Thank you for filling the void that my absence created. Is, um, is there anything that you'd like to know about or ask me?"

Filling the void? Not at all... Jake refrained from saying it out loud. Micheal probably felt a little unhappy about that situation anyway. "Nothing that I need to know other than folks around here seem to trust you and the Captain was happy to have you back. That's good enough for me. I prefer action to words anyway - you prove trust and worth by showing it."

Micheal nodded thoughtfully. "I'm glad to be back, Sir. I was lost for a long time, and I don't mean just the two yimes that I was trapped in the Andromeda Galaxy either. Ever since my wife and children were murdered back in our home on Earth, I've felt alone." He lowered his head a d pinched the bridge on his nose, trying to lock a painful memory back in its box. Looking back up, he looked like he was struggling to hold back his emotions.

"When I came here, the Cap'n took me in, gave me a home and a purpose. He must've seen where I was and there was simething worth saving." Inhaling a deep breath, then letting it out slowly, he continued. "I owe him a debt that I can never repay. Rosie and her crew are more than just a job. Their my home and my family."

"Well." Jake paused, not having expected a long explanation, nor one filled with such openness. "I think I agree with you there. Rosie does feel like home. And folks are starting to feel like family to me too." He gave a short nod. "I'm sorry it took so long for you to find your way back here."

Micheal nodded silently. Then, "Thank you, Sir. Both for protecting my home and family while I was lost, to allowing me to resume my old post when I did finally make my way back."

"Far as I'm concerned, just keeping the seat warm for you," Jake shrugged amicably. "You're absolutely welcome to it."

"Well, thank you anyway, Sir." Micheal then paused briefly before asking, "Is there anything that you need me to do after I get my shop squared away?"

"Double check the duty roster? I think we've been a bit thin on the ground with regards to security lately. Between Leiddem, Angel and I it doesn't leave a lot of capacity. You might think about scheduling some drills for the more competent crew?" Jake suggested.

Micheal nodded. "Ill take of that after i speak to Angel, Sir. Ill have a preliminary readiness report to you by tomorrow morning, first thing." He paused briefly before asking, "Anything else, Sir?"

"Tomorrow morning? We're not a military ship, Micheal. As much as you might want it to be, we're just simple folks. Leiddem might be former Corps and all, but there's no need to be quite so...strict?"

Micheal tilted his head slightly. "Well, Sir, if I may, we do live on a machine, surrounded by a vacuum rhat will devour us at the first mistake, alien races all aroubd us, some not quite so friendly and a ship, lovely as sve us, us an old girl. Each one one of us from the Boss, all the way down to Dozer, the Waste Recycle Technician, have a vital job that, if done properly, keeps us all breathing another day. Are we a top of the line Starfleet starship? No, we're not. But, if each one of us goes that little step further, does a little bit more than is required, then we will be doing just fine. So, all due respect, Sir, so long as I'm not abusing my people or treating them less than, I'll kibdly ask that you allow me to run my department as I see fit. Sir."

Realizing that tge meeting had taken an odd turn, Micheal stood and clasped his hands behibd his back. "Will there be anything else, Sir?"

Jake shook his head wryly. It didn't seem like this Armoury officer was going to be as gentle as the old one. "Not for the moment."

"Very well, Sir." Micheal said politely. "Then, have a good day, and you'll have ny preliminary report in the morning." He nodded, then turned and left. He had alot of work to do before tomorrow morning.