Late Introductions

Posted on Wed Jun 21st, 2023 @ 2:22pm by Captain Marc Kidd & Lieutenant Claire Fisher
Edited on on Wed Jun 28th, 2023 @ 9:36pm

1,409 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Sins of History
Location: USS Artemis - Ready Room
Timeline: MD004 1430

Claire was waiting for the turbolift to deposit her on the bridge so she could formally meet the Captain. She had only now finally caught her breath from dash to the airlock. Her first transport was running more than two hours behind and she nearly missed her transfer to one set for the wormhole and eventually Poseidon Station. She quite literally had to run half way across the station just to make it to the Artemis' airlock as the doors were being sealed to depart. She had to scramble to find her transfer order to give to the crewman to show she was assigned to the ship.

Inspecting the order, the crewman nodded in agreement that everything is in order. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Captain Kidd is already in a briefing with the senior staff on our orders. They should have just wrapped up. If you'd like, I can have someone take your things to your quarters while you head to meet the Captain in his ready room. I'm sure he would rather not be waiting any longer.", a certain amount of disapproval in the man's tone.

It was impossible to tell if the flush in Claire's cheeks was from running half a kilometer across the Promenade of the station, or the embarrassment she felt at the situation, but she nodded in agreement with the plan, slipping her duffle off her shoulder and handing it to the man. "That sounds like the best option, given the circumstances. Thank you for your understanding, Crewman." She said with as much authority as she could muster between uneven breaths and handed over her bag of belongings and followed the directions to the appropriate turbolift.

Having found her composure on the brief trip to the bridge, Fisher nodded to the bridge officers on duty and proceeded to collect herself, bracing for an impromptu reprimand for her tardiness and pressed the chime to the Captain's private office.

When the chime rang Kidd practically sighed the word come. He was in depth in thoughts about the crew, and about their orders. The first briefing did not anywhere near what he thought it would have been, and yet it was also better than he would have thought. He ran his hand through his hair and rubbed his temples. When Marc opened his eyes a woman, a Lieutenant by the looks of her stood in front of his desk. "Yes Lieutenant. What can I do for you?"

Claire could see the Captain was stressed and not in the best of moods. She was certain he wasn’t frustrated with her or her late arrival to the ship, judging by the fact he didn’t seem to know who she was. Standing tall with her hands behind her back, Fisher nodded to Kidd. “Excuse me, Captain. I am Lieutenant Claire Fisher, your chief counselor and profile. I apologize for my late arrival. My transport was late to the station and I only just caught the Artemis before departure.”

Figures Starfleet would try to send us out with perhaps the most important position to this mission filled. Marc thought. His demeanor changed and did not betray his thoughts. He smiled and pointed to a chair in front of his desk. "Welcome to the Artemis and I am glad that you made it aboard in time. Can I get you anything?"

Claire gave small smile, not commenting on the concerns she could see the Captain was carrying. “Coffee, two sugars, thank you.” She said to his offer as she moved to the offered chair and made herself as comfortable as she could, given the circumstances.

Marc retrieved a tray with a coffee for her and a rachtijino for himself. All of the trimmings were on the tray as needed. "Here you go." He said as he set the try on his desk within her reach. "Now tell me why the Artemis? Why this program? Most of the crew has been requested by either myself or Admiral Ford. But it says here that you requested to be here. Please do not give me the obvious answer that you are profiler so this is the best place for you." He did not mean to be short, but the battle with the Breen and the new mission tried his patience.

Claire gave a small smile and thanks as she prepared her coffee before sitting back in her chair. “The truth, Captain?” She asked rhetorically before taking a long sip of her coffee. “I had just left the Academy when the attack on Mars occurred. Like many counselors I wasn’t prepared for such an event and it proved too difficult to help the survivors and their families. I did my stint on the Mercury before focusing on my first love, behavioral science.” She shrugged at the thought before continuing. “While I believe in the cause of the criminal investigation department, I feared I was using it as a crutch in not overcoming my fears about being an effective counselor. I saw the Artemis as an opportunity to handle both.”

"Mars... Now that was something that no one was ready for. In fact I believe that is part of the reason that the SCIU was created. A unit that could find people who would make things like that Mars attack occur. So to some up I guess one can say that you are here to find yourself sort of speak. The position tthat you have on this ship is a tough one. Not only are you going to have to be a profiler of the criminal element. But, you are going to have to do the duties of any Counselor in the fleet and keep this crew stable. Lastly you are going to have to be a Diplomat and advise me when needed. You think you are up to the task?" Marc sipped his racktijino as he kept her gaze. She seemed like a formidable woman, but he had been fooled before.

Claire gave a bright smile as she nodded. “Yes, Sir. Where would you like me to begin?” Her tone was enthusiastic but hid her anxieties about the unknown.

"To start we are going to need some basic profile outlines on everyone on the Bajoran wanted list. I would like to try to get a jump on who we may be going after. The fact that Bajor is being very secretive about this strikes me as very odd." Marc paused to sip his drink and change tact. "I would also like you to know that the mental health of this crew comes before any case. Should that ever come in conflict the crew comes first. Is that understood?"

Claire nodded in understanding. “Yes, Sir. Though, if I may, are there concerns about the crew’s objectivity? You in particular seem…guarded with me.”

"What you are probably seeing is the residual of combat. This is not a combat vessel and yet we were forced into battle against the Breen. Thankfully out forces won the conflct. But as you are no doubt aware combat takes its toll on the pscyhe. That being said I have the uttmost confidence in the objectivity of this crew." Marc was proud of how the crew pulled throught the conflict. He knew that like him the crew was happy to get down to the mission that they had signed on for.

Fisher nodded in understanding. Any kind of conflict would be a struggle for anyone, Starfleet officers trained in combat but not used to it would certainly have difficulties coping. She placed the half drank coffee on the captain’s desk. “With your permission, I’ll get started on my assignment right away, Sir.”

"Granted and Lieutenant welcome aboard." Marc said with a smile. It seemed the more people that joined the crew the more he thought this program may actually succeed. Now he would have to get the best of Ford and make sure he got just what he deserved.

Fisher nodded as she put her coffee on his desk as she stood. “Aye, Sir.” Taking his permission to get work as permission to leave, Claire headed for the door.


Captain Marc Kidd
Commanding Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit



Lieutenant Claire Fisher
Chief Counselor & Profiler, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit

 

RSS Feed