Indecent Proposal

Posted on Sun Nov 1st, 2020 @ 8:42pm by

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Starfleet Headquarters, Earth
Timeline: Current
802 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Petty Officer Rita Harris didn't have to wait long. The door to Fleet Captain Cromwell opened into a large sitting room. She loved the decor of old books and the view of San Fransisco Bay was spectacular.

“Rita, so glad to see you again. How's your folk's doing?” The captain gave her a hug.

“Oh you know, Dad will never stop working and Mom just follows him around fussing. What's going on? I get very few calls to this floor unless something big is going on.” Harris poured some fresh coffee from the silver urn on the server.

The Captain started to fidget a bit as he hustled behind his desk and sat down. He waved Rita to a close overstuffed chair. “Yes, It seems we are experiencing a bit of a staff shortage of late. I'm sure your aware of it and you may have some suggestions we can use.”

Rita crossed her legs and leaned back into the chair holding her mug with both hands. “Well sir the Academy requires sixteen blocks of training for Encryption Techs. Roughly a whole year. And the background checks sometimes take even longer. That could be streamlined to serve us much better.”

“What are you proposing?”

“I wouldn't change the screening process at all. These selectee's need to be of high knowledge skills. But the classwork on these systems burn them out quickly and they leave training and transfer out. Let's toss most of the book work out and get them assigned to the fleet. Their gonna learn more out in the fleet than there going to get here.”

The old Captain smiled. “I see. I may be able to do that on a limited basis as we're so shorthanded. And we are testing new systems as we speak in the field. I've been assured that progress with new intel gathering is moving at a pace faster that we are able to train techs to run them correctly.”

Harris nodded in agreement. “Exactly why we need to get these trainee's out in the fleet to start using it. Some of them are very smart and willing to get at it.” Rita had a feeling the Captain was fishing for something. And the hook seemed to be getting closer.

“Right now we have a vessel on station that's equipped with the new Intel Blister. Very high performance stuff too. But we have very few skilled people that can operate the damn thing. Hell we're not even certain of it's overall capabilities yet till we get it going. That being said we need you out there pushing that system and training new techs how to get the most out of it.”

Harris wasn't opposed to returning to the fleet at all she had served most of her career in the field. But she knew the Ely was the only vessel out there with the new Blister... And she knew Issac Drake was there with it. That was a major issue.

Her hands in her lap gripping the mug. Head down. Was this really going to happen? How could this be happening again.

The Captain moved from behind his desk an sat beside her. “Look I know this is asking a lot of you. I didn't want this to happen this way at all for anyone. But the facts are the facts Rita. If that system is going to work it stands the best chance with you running it.”

Rita looked up. “Was this your Idea or his?”
“I don't see that it matters, but for the sake of any argument it was Issac's idea. And I agree with him. We need you out there, if it gets bad I'll pull you back here. But I need you to give it a chance.”

Harris stood up. Clearly the issue had been decided and there was little she could do about it. “How much time do I have?”

“I can give you a few days max. The Ely has a mission posted and will be getting under way very soon.”

“Ok.” Rita didn't know what to say to him. Her face was a few shades paler than when she entered the office and she needed to get out of there as quick as possible before she blew up on her old friend and made a complete fool of herself. “I'll get cleared here right away. I want to take two of my most promising students with me.”

“Absolutely. Just let us know who they are and I'll get their orders cut with yours.”

She left the office and was soon standing in the restroom staring at the mirror. Her face twisted in near total confusion. “Why does this happen to me?” She had no answers. She calmly pulled her long Red hair back and vomited in the sink...