Working off the clock

Posted on Sat Jun 7th, 2025 @ 11:25am by Captain Lukas Fredricks & Lieutenant Amelia Fox

866 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: R&R
Location: Officers Lounge, Deck 6

With the ship en route to Deep Space 9, it had come to the end of Amelia's shift at the helm and while maintaining course, she had been running diagnostics on the manoeuvring thrusters. She had noticed the ship had been sluggish manoeuvring and was trying to remember the configuration of the upgrades that had been quite successful in improving the handling of the Merlin... or would be successful. Melody hadn't come up with them yet.

She sighed. She missed being able to call her friend up and ask for advice and just chat like she used to, but she wouldn't be able to do that for another 20 years at least. Not until she arrived at the point at which she arrived back at the point where she would have had left her present and arrived in this.... where she was now.

She was tired of trying to keep her tenses straight.

Continuing to work on the Thurster diagnosis on a PADD she had found one of the officers' lounges on deck 6 that was deserted, and was sitting engrossed, a pot of tea on the table that she had replicated when she came in.

"Amelia, mind if we have a little chat?" Lukas asked after it took him a few minutes to track her down after she left the bridge.

At the sound of his voice, Amelia looked up and immediately stood, coming to attention. "Captain. I'm sorry I didn't hear you come in. I was just working on improving the output of the manoeuvring thrusters. I think this new configuration could improve our thruster output by up to 70%"

Lukas raised his hand. "At ease." He smiled. "I'm sure your efforts will be just. I actually wanted to speak to you, find out how you were settling in? I understand the Department of Temporal Investigations gave you a hard time."

Amelia gestured to the chair opposite her before sitting herself. "You could say that. I've been given an extensive document that lists what I can and can't do, who I can talk to about what, and so on..." she sighed. "I never liked temporal mechanics at the academy and I still don't like them. To be honest, I'm still getting used to being here. I've been investigating what could have caused this, but I'm still drawing a blank. And after what happened on the planet...." her voice trailed off,

Lukas smiled as he sat down and listened to the Lieutenant. "I understand. I've always tried to avoid anything to do with time travel, it gives me a headache.

"Although I wasn't able to physically be there for you, I was still fighting your case. DTI wanted to lock you up and throw away the key due to your knowledge of the future. What you told them got them very nervous about your possible intentions."

Amelia rolled her eyes slightly. "Great that's just what I need.... The DTI breathing down my neck for the next 15 years just in case I let slip to someone about the Hobus incident...... Oh, Shitake mushrooms!" Her face went pale as she realised what she had said.

"Hobus?" Lukas questioned before shaking his head. "Never mind.

"DTI won't be breathing down your neck, I requested you stay aboard Britannic. Commander Mercy and myself know your circumstances; no one else needs to get involved. We are your family now."

She smiled. Amelia was grateful for the support and also the fact he didn't press her for any more information. "I'm looking forward to visiting Deep Space 9. It's actually one place I've never visited before. Do you know how long we'll have before our next mission?"

"It's a lovely place to visit, as is Bajor. It has retirement prospects." Lukas added with a smile. "It'll probably be a week, maybe less. Depends on what pops up while we're there. Hopefully, you'll have time to do some exploring."

Amelia nodded. "Let's just hope I don't bump into someone I know. I don't want to go and create any predestination paradoxes."

"If you do, keep things as vague and brief as possible. Make sure it's a forgettable encounter for them." Lukas explained. "If you do run into any difficulties, then please do come and talk to me so we can sort it out before it escalates."

Amelia nodded. "I'll do that, Captain. I've heard that Bajor is quite beautiful. I'll see if Syvar wants to find some remote part of the planet where we can relax for a while. That might minimise the risk of running into anyone.

"Sounds like an excellent idea. I've heard great things about Bajor. Will try and get down there myself during this leave, if my duties allow." Lukas replied.

Amelia nodded and stifled a yawn. "I just hope I don't run into any of those.... Pah Wraiths is it?" She glanced at the Chromonitor on her PADD. "Is that the time? I got lost in my work. If you'll excuse me..." She added as she stood.

"As long as you behave yourself, I'm sure both will leave you be." Lukas replied with a small wink. "It is getting late. I'll let you finish up. Good night, Lieutenant."

"Good Night Captain."

OFF:

 

RSS Feed