Reporting For Duty

Posted on 14 Apr 2025 @ 2:42pm by Lieutenant JG Cajag Lagnas & Captain Bane Plase

1,414 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave and Reassignment
Location: Captains Ready Room
Timeline: Current

Caj straightened his uniform for the umpteenth time as the familiar swoosh noise alerted him to the opening of the turbo lift doors. He stepped in and asked the computer politely for the upper decks of the space station. The Cygnus was in space dock, So Caj was reporting to the captain on the star base. Caj could still feel the familiar humming vibration of powered up Space station through the deck plating. The sensation eased him a little. Having grown up on Starships, their was a sense of familiarity to being on a station again that Caj found re-assuring.

Caj shuffled again adjusting his uniform. Though it felt good to be back in said starfleet uniform again, he was sure that the replicator had not done an adequate job in replicating a well fitting uniform. Though Caj did reflect to himself that perhaps using his ten year old uniform specifications probably had something to do with it.

The turbo lift came to halt and the doors opened. Holding a data PaDD in one hand, it's LCARS display showing his transfer orders. Caj crossed the threshold onto the upper decks and made his way to the Captains ready room to report for duty. He shuffled a little nervously from side to side as he pressed the entry alert and awaited to be admitted by the Captain.

Plase, for his part, was leaned forward on his desk, eyes close to the computer screen image projected before him. He had been studying the requisition forms, repairs and maintenance logs and about a hundred messages from people of all ranks, from Chief Petty Officer to Vice Admiral. When the chime sounded, he looked up with a jolt, the sound wholly unexpected in his current level of concentration. He quickly looked at the clock. He had been here either for an hour, or for thirteen. He wasn't sure which. "Come," he stated, leaning back. His shoulder and back muscles screamed in protest at the new position, and he groaned in pain as the doors opened.

Caj crossed the threhold again into the Captain's ready room, after hearing the summons. Caj walked in, looking about the room a little as he did so. Caj then stepped in front of the Captains desk and as per Starfleet Regulations handed over his LCARS PaDD with his transfer orders and said "Ensign Cajag Lagnas reporting for duty Captain."

Plase's brows moved closer together in confusion. He took the PADD but didn't look at it yet. "Are you sure you need to be reporting to me, Ensign, and not someone in Operations to this base," he asked, then looked at the orders. "Ope...nope, you're supposed to be reporting to me. Very odd they are assigning you here now. You may have noticed we aren't exactly on a ship." He gestured to the room, and to a larger extent, the Starbase.

"That urrrmmmm does seem a little evident Sir. I saw the Cygnus when coming into th docking bay on the USS Concord. The Cygnus looks like it took a heck of beating sir. If i may ask, what happened?"

The Captain sat back in his chair and surveyed the young man for a moment before responding. "We got caught with our pants down, Ensign." Plase knew he would ask around. It would serve to allow him to get aquainted with the crew. Well, what was left of them. "Please, relax before you sprain something in me. Tell me about you, something this report here," he gestured to the PADD on the desk that had just been handed to him, "Cannot tell me."

Cajag relaxed a little, his shoulders visibly slumping and his sucked in gut popping out a little. His Feet moved from attention to at ease. "Not much to say really sir. I have almost spent the last decade in lab" he shrugged a little.

Plase leaned forward. "You've been in Starfleet for more than ten years? Or you were a scientist before, and only just joined Starfleet?"

"Urmmmmmm" Cajag shuffled a little nervously from foot to foot. "When I graduated from Starfleet Academy I was seconded straight the Department of Temporal Investigations. There I worked in the applied & theoretical Temporal labs."

Bane groaned and leaned back, or better, collapsed back, into his chair. "Ug, why me," the Captain asked, not to the Ensign standing before him, but to the Prophets, and any other diety that may have been listening in on their conversations. Pinching his nose ridges, eyes closed, Bane said, "I hate time travel."

Cajag gave a small lopsided smile and shrugged. "I get that a lot." He relaxed himself a little. "But thats why I requested a transfer back to star fleet and a starship sir. So i can put all that time stuff behind me."

The Captain nodded in understanding. He had never personally traveled in time, but he did remember the temporal mechanics classes he took, both at the Academy and again in the Command Courses and the Bridge Officer courses. He developed a headache each time. "Glad to hear that." He shifted in his chair as well as the direction of the conversation. "So why the Science division?"

"I mean, not to toot my own trumpet as the humans say, but but i am pretty good at it. Not amazing. But i can hold my own, and i guess do what you know, you know?"

Bane understood the words, but not the whole meaning behind it. Then again, Humans has a way of saying things that meant one thing but had a contextualizion that meant a whole other thing, depending on the manner, inflection and circumstances in which they were being said. Humans, as a species, were still very young. Among Bajorans, Humans were considered toddlers in terms of the age of the race. "Whatever the reason, I tell you, I'm super glad to have you. We've been through a number of Science Officers during my tenure aboard the Cygnus." He thought about Lisald and Ziyal, then continued. "We don't have an officer currently in charge of the division. Since you've been in Starfleet for a good number of years and have experience, would that be something you'd be open to? Commanding the division?"

The offer took Caj back a little bit. It was certainly a hell of an opportunity and it was everything Caj wanted to kick start his career and get him back on track in terms of his place in Starfleet. I department Chief position would be brilliant. But Caj had his doubts as well. Though he had been starfleet for over a decade most, if not all, of his career had been spent in temporal investigations. So yes he certainly had the experience of the sciences, but the rest….well he was flummoxed. “Urmmmm yes sir thank you sir….i don’t know what to say." Which was not usual one of Cajags usual traits. “I’m flabbergasted sir.”

"Excellent! I will put in the orders here shortly, Ensign. It'll be an "Acting" position for now in the system, but you'll be in command with all the authority that carries. We will get you up to speed on the reports and the day-to-day running of the department, and the Executive Officer will help you with how to manage your people. You're in good hands. We won't let you fail."

"Thank you sir" replied the Ensign beaming with self pride, but also having a minor panic attack as the realisation of what had just happened began to sink in. "and thank you for the opportunity. I wont let you down."

"I am positive you won't, Mr. Lagnas. Oh," Bane exclaimed, snapping his fingers. "I almost forgot. The whole crew, or better, what is remaining, are getting together on Calisto, on the beach of Elysia, to have a party. Sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun. I'd like it very much if you attended. I can send the details to you later, if you're interested."

"Count me in Sir" responded the Trill with a thumbs up and a big smile. "It will be an excellent opportunity to get to know the rest of the crew."

Bane nodded once. "My thoughts exactly. Plus, it'll be fun! If there is nothing else, welcome to the Cygnus, and dismissed," the Captain said, smiling warmly.

OFF

A JP by

Ensign Cajag Lagnas
USS Cygnus, Science Officer

and

Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commanding

 

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