Back in the saddle

Posted on Sunday November 24, 2024 @ 8:46pm by Captain Vott Mrall & Master Chief Petty Officer Zack Patterson JR.

1,608 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Prologue: First Steps
Location: Starfleet medical

Zack was killing some time. He was still waiting for the all clear from starfleet medical. He had done all of the tests. He had even managed to run for ten minutes without a problem. He swam laps in the pool. Lifted boxes of different weights. When the doctor had seen him just an hour or so earlier, they had said nothing. It was starting to piss him off. He had taken to the new parts like a duck to water. But even the last few times in the past month, when he had seen the doctor, they never really talked about when he could go back to active duty. He hadn’t heard from the Chief’s board either, and he never had to wait three months to be denied before.

He didn’t want to retire. Sitting in a boat and fishing just did not sound fun yet. He also knew he still had some more good years for Starfleet left in him. He wasn’t an old dog. Not yet. But with a lack of anyone telling him anything and never getting an answer when he openly asked, he was feeling that hanging up his uniform may be the only option they were leaving for him. He also hadn't seen many of the old crew for a few weeks. He was getting tired of being lonely.

The big man was taking his aggression out on the punching bag in the gym that was in the apartment building he was using. He was wearing gym shorts and a copy of an old pull over USMC shirt. All of his belongings had gone up with the ship. So this shirt was currently the only piece of material that looked like an old Marine style of clothing from the early 2000’s. On the collar of his shirt he had his rank insignia. He still had his strength, though he was trying to avoid using his left hand to punch. He had learned boxing as a child and this had helped him keep his strength. Throughout his life and while he was injured, he was still lifting weights. Now he was able to add jogging back into the exercise. He had to. To feel useful again.

As he threw his punches, he kept those things in his mind. The borg had come from nowhere and ruined many lives. Not just his. But most of Starfleet were personally affected.

Vott walked out of the locker room wearing shorts and a tank top. He had a short time before his shuttle arrived to take him to the Mohawk, so he decided to get a quick workout in. Walking by the boxing area, he noticed a man that he recognized. Senior Chief Petty Officer Zack Patterson was the Chief of Boat on the Poseidon. Vott had pulled some strings to get him assigned as his COB on the Mohawk. There was also a surprise he had for the older man, but that was a later time.

Approaching the man who was hitting the bag, “Chief.” He said smiling.

Zack was in mid punch and it didn't hit that hard as he was turning to see who was there. “Captain Mrall!” Zack exclaimed. Happy to see anyone. “How in the heck are you?!” He was now happy someone was there. He held Out a hand to shake, forgetting he had boxing gloves On.

Looking at the boxing glove, "I am well Senior Chief. Good to see you too. I will shake your hand once I can see it." A smile crossed the blue face of the Bolian captain.

Zack looked at his hand and chuckled. Then he drew his hand back and used his teeth to loosen the strap. Once it was loose he used his other arm to hold the glove. Once the hand was free he offered it again. "Sir, it's great to see you."

The captain's blue hand grasped the human's hand, "It's great to see you as well Senior Chief. How have you been?" He asked setting his water bottle on the floor of the gym.

"I've been okay." Zack answered back. "Very bored and wishing someone would give me any kind of news."

"News? Like you have been cleared for duty?" Vott said with a smile, "Because I got those orders this morning. You are reporting to my ship this afternoon. Maybe the orders are waiting for you on your PADD."

"I just looked an hour ago. And like ten minutes before that and a few minutes before that." Zack shrugged. "I've actually been looking at it a lot lately. Fiogured I was going to get retired first before anything else happened." The big man walked over to a pad on his gear, where he had l;eft it. He had given up on looking at it, and decided to beat a punching bag to release his frustrations.

Zack chuckled. "Heh. Here it is. "Master at Arms and Chief of the Boat again?" He looked to the Captain. "I'll do you proud. Like before...those things."

"Yes." Vott said solemnly. "We need to remember those we lost, but also work on working to better ourselves and carry on their memory. Oh! That reminds me..." Vott reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, "Starfleet gave me something for you." Opening the box he revealed the Master Chief rank pip.

Zack stared at the rank for a moment. This almost felt like a dream. After all he had just gotten orders after months of no one saying anything. Now he was also getting a rank increase? "Really? They finally gave a decision?" He lifted his eyes upwards to the Captain, just making sure it was not a joke. "I mean they convened nearly four months ago. I figured they had said no...no one even talked to me...."

"They delivered it to me yesterday. The Admirals were tied up with other business. So here we are." He closed the box and handed it over to the new Master Chief. "I expect you to live up to that rank now. A lot rides on it. I will have the extra duties on your desk once we get to the ship."

"More than master at arms and Chief of the boat? Like what?" Zack asked. After all he had two positions.

"Paperwork mainly. You get higher clearance level now, which means you get to see more." Vott thought, "Plus we have a bunch of enlisted staff for you to review and fill in the spots. The ship is falling apart so we need to assign some staff to damage control and engineering to assist so that we can get underway."

"Falling apart? What kind of ship did they give us?" He had never been transferred to a new ship that was in disarray.

"Springfield. She is from the 2340s. The Chief Engineer and XO are working on getting her in working shape." The Bolian captain said shifting his weight, "It's going to be interesting, that is for sure."

Zack had been bored lately. And when not working out, or in therapy, he had been looking in on the new ships being made. Just dreaming about a nice posting. But this. This felt like a slap in the face. All of the enlisted he had spoken on oher ships that had been destroyed. Many were placed on a few new ones. There had even been three in the works with all sorts of new things. But an old ship. He wanted to ask why, but the captain was being stick with it too.

He pursed his lips for moment, then nodded. His mom didn't raise a quitter. "So all eyes will be on us and the old girl? And it's up to all of us to make her the best ship in the fleet?"

Chuckling, Vott shrugged.

"So sir? When do we board? I'm sure we have lots to do." Zack asked. "And how much of the remaining crew is coming with? Or are we going to be breaking in a whole new crew? Not cadets I hope."

"You can board now. I have already been aboard several times." The Bolian said, "We have some crew coming with us, but a lot of them are new."

"Well...wouldn't be the first time either one of us has been with a new crew. But we got this. I'll get up there and get the armory into shape and start meeting with the new enlisted."

"Sounds like a great plan." Vott said with a smile. "I have a few meetings here on Earth before I can head up. Once those are done I will be moving up there. Ren is already up there setting up the bar."

"Sounds good sir. I will see you up there." Zack said.

"Well I will let you finish your workout so that you can get up there." The Captain said, "Looking forward to serving with you again, Master Chief."

Zack smiled. "Likewise, bit I've been resting for a year, plus I've been working out for a while now. So no time better to get to work." Zack said, before adding "after a shower I mean."

"Probably a good idea." Vott said as he shook the man's hand, "See you soon Zack." The Bolian moved off to start his own workout before his meeting this afternoon. He was excited to get underway and get to have his own ship. Though... the anxiety of what happened on the last ship haunted him. Getting to weights, he picked up some and started lifting to get rid of the anxiety.

 

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