Decisions for the Future

Posted on 18 Jan 2023 @ 9:58am by Captain Bane Plase & Lieutenant JG Lisald Vaat

1,213 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Outbreak

ON:

The chime sounded in Captain Bane's office. Without looking up from his computer screen, he granted access to the person standing on the other side of it. He didn't know who it was until they stepped through the doorway. Recognizing the person, Bane sat back in his chair, his computer screen blinking out from existence. He had been expecting this meeting since Commander Larsen talked to him more than a week ago.

"Sir, Lieutenant Lisald reports," he said, full of military bearing. While Starfleet was not a military organization per se, there were some pomp and circumstance that Starfleet followed from the ancient days on Earth, which happened to follow pretty closely to the Bajoran military before it was absorbed into Starfleet. Lisald was wearing his best duty uniform, which he had pressed, and had clearly polished his commbadge to a high shine, as well as his pips, and from the looks of it, his boots, too. He was dressed to the nines.

Plase knew what the young man was going through, what he had been through, and what he was struggling with. Larsen had explained everything to him, the state of his quarters, and so on. According to the Executive Officer, he had handled it, and as far as Bane was concerned, that matter was closed. Still, there was the underlying question that was upon them, and the time had come for Mr. Lisald to ask it. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Please, be at ease," he commanded. Immediately, Lisald went from the position of attention to parade rest. "To what do I owe this very formal pleasure, Lieutenant?"

Vaat's composure never faltered, but inwardly, he had hoped that Lieutenant Commander Larsen would have alerted the Captain to why he was coming. He said he would, at least. It is possible that he got busy and forgot, but in Vaat's experience, that was not something the Commander was capable of. Could he have just...not said anything to the Captain? Again, that was not in the personality of the Executive Officer; if he said he was going to do something, then you could bank on it happening. In the end, Lisald decided the Captain was playing cat-and-mouse with him. If the Captain wanted to play that, then who was Lisald to argue? "Sir, I wanted to talk to you about my role aboard the Cygnus. I know during my recovery sustained during our encounter with the Crystalline Entity, you needed to fill my position as Chief of Operations..."

Bane interrupted. "Yes, about that," he said, "At the time, Dr. Elodin informed me that he was not sure you were going to survive, and if you did, was not sure if you would have full use of your body. There was a very real possibility that you would not have come back to duty. I am sorry that I doubted your recovery in such a miraculous fashion. The Prophets have shown you incredible mercy."

Lisald blinked rapidly for several moments. His recovery had nothing to do with the Prophets. From Lisald's perspective, it had everything to do with Drs. Elodin, Winters and Kin'Fuji's expert medical care, and Vaat's own will to fight. Not that the Captain wanted to hear that, so Lisald simply responded, "Yes sir. Seeing as Lieutenant Bast has now filled that position, that doesn't leave me anywhere to be. I took the opportunity to talk to my best friend, Lieutenant Spangler. He offered that I come back to Science. I am pretty keen on that, Captain. I also talked to the Executive Officer about what I should do. He recommended that I could stay on as well, and would talk to you about it, with me staying on as a civilian scientist."

Bane nodded, and finally revealed the cards he was holding close to his chest. "Yes, the Commander did speak to me about all of this. So too did Mr. Spangler. Interestingly enough, I had Dr. Dattek-Winters in here also pleading your case, and I can tell you from experience, she is a force to be reckoned with," he said, the memory of her literally knocking him off his feet and flat onto his back in the corridors shortly after she came aboard. "All three of them care about you deeply. Similarly, I care about you. You have made an incredible impression on this ship and her crew, present company included. As I told all three of them, however, I simply cannot allow you to stay aboard as a civilian. It would not be....proper," he said, after searching for the right word and coming up short.

Lisald sort of expected this, though he would be lying if his hopes hadn't been let down. He was thankful that he had the experience here, and the ability in his education to be able to pick up other forms of employment. He would head back to Bajor, and ask that Ravi come with him. He was sure she could get a position at the Central Medical Facility on Bajor with her impressive credentials. "I understand, sir," he said.

"No, I do not believe you do, Lieutenant," Bane said, catching the younger Bajoran off guard. "I will not have you as a civilian aboard this ship. You will report to Lieutenant Spangler as your department head, and be assigned as the the ships Alien Archeologist and Anthropologist. Correct me if I am wrong, but that is your field of expertise, right?"

Lisald was floored. He could scarcely believe what he was hearing. The Captain was offering to allow him to keep his role in Starfleet, and put him back into the position in which he was happiest, in the sciences, and in the field in which he labored for more than a decade to earn the right to be in. He made a mental note to thank Lieutenant Commander Larsen, Albert and Ravi. "Yes sir, that is correct," he responded.

Bane nodded curtly. "Good, then the matter is settled. As soon as I am able, I will put it into the records that your department and position have changed. Until then, get your uniform fixed and report to Lieutenant Spangler. You are a valued member of this crew, Vaat, and an exceptional officer. You have much to give to Starfleet, to the Federation, to your friends and crewmates, and to Bajor. I expect great things from you."

Buoyed beyond words, Vaat's chest swelled with pride. "Aye aye, sir," he said. Recognizing that he was also dismissed, he turned on his heel and made his way out of the Ready Room and onto the Bridge. Once out there, he looked around. He didn't have to perform duties up here anymore, not unless Albert needed him to. He didn't need to be taken away from his science anymore either. He didn't need to be taken away from his ship, which he now thought of as home. Most importantly, he didn't have to be taken away from his friends, which included Commander Larsen and Lieutenant Spangler, and the budding love interest he had in Ravi.

Today was a good day....to live.


OFF

A JP between:

Lieutenant (jg) Lisald Vaat
Alien Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Cygnus

and

Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commanding

 

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