So Mathias, how did you spend your shore leave?

Posted on Wednesday 21 December 2022 @ 18:01 by Captain Melody Jones

Mission: Revelations
Location: Tempory Office, DS21
Timeline: MD20 1000
1501 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

After speaking with Anya, Melody felt like she needed to get back in touch with her crew. She tapped the comm button.

"Commander McPhee, could you join me in my office please? Room 113-A, Habitat ring level 21 section Baker?"

"Righto, Captain Jones." Mathias was a bit chipper, then recovered. "Yes Captain right away." he headed in that direction, arriving and stepping inside where Melody was. He looked rather well-rested and definitely upbeat.

"Hello Captain." Mathias greeted her.

Melody rose from behind her desk and headed over to the sofa. "Come have a seat Number one. It's good to see you again. You sound like married life is agreeing with you. How is your new bride? I must admit, I haven't spoken with Caroline yet since getting back from shore leave. I trust you're looking after her?"

"As best as I can do so, Captain Jones." At the moment he wasn't certain if he should be professional or ease up in the protocol. Mathias walked over to the sofa where he and Melody could chat. "I am still amazed that Caroline was wanting to be married to me." giving a warm smile. "On separate occasions, I've pinched myself just to make certain this isn't all a dream." the XO chuckled warmly.

Melody smiled "I'm sure you'll both be very happy together and I wish you all the happiness I can. I've tried knitting some booties for the baby but I haven't quite got the hang of it yet. I'm sure I'll get there before Carline gives birth. So what did you get up to on shore leave?"

"Oh mainly getting my new quarters ready for the arrival of the baby. I still can't believe I'm married to the woman of my dreams and we've got a child on the way. Other than that it's been lovely and nice to spend time with Caroline without either of us being kidnapped or being chased by someone." he chuckled.

Melody smiled "Sounds like you had a good time. Now, back to business. There are a couple of things I wanted to go over with you. First of all, I've got our new second officer doing an inspection of all the new systems on board the Merlin and she'll make a full report to us when she's finished. Second is the position of chief operations officer and I have someone in mind for the position."

"Oh? You mean I am fired from that position?" Mathias teased Melody just a small amount. "What will I do without that position." giving her a wink. "Truthfully though, who will be the new Chief of Operations? It better be someone who loves the Merlin as much as we do."

Melody chuckled as she picked up a PADD. "Don't you worry, as XO I've got all sorts of horrors... I mean delights in store for you. Anyway, I was thinking of Chief MacGyver. Did you know he attended the academy? Completed 2 years before he decided to join the marine corp. I've looked over his academy record. All his lecturers were very pleased with his studies. His work while he's been onboard the Merlin has also been very good. I think he deserves to be given the opportunity to advance and to test himself, don't you agree? I was also thinking of a field promotion to Lieutenant Junior grade."

Mathias gave a nod of confirmation. "I think that is a splendid idea. He hasn't been one to shirk his duties. And he did well when the ship was hit by the strand. I most certainly am in favour of his rank raise and him becoming Chief of Operations." having a rather brilliant smile as well.

Melody nodded, satisfied. "Good. I'll be seeing Chief MacGyver later today. With the work finished on the Merlin, I plan to be back onboard by the end of the day, hopefully sleeping in my own bed again. Lieutenant Nir’anyar should have finished her inspection and she's going to report to us tomorrow at 1800. I'm planning to ask our chief engineer to make his report to us after that. If everything is good, we should be leaving drydock the day after tomorrow at 0900. Sansa will be remaining here on the station for a couple more weeks."

Mathias gave a nod. "That sounds great. I am certain that there are those who are wanting to get back to our exploration and to seek out knowledge." giving a bit of a smile. "So much has happened to the Merlin, and hopefully we'll find that her refit and repairs are good to go. She certainly has taken a bit of a beating, but the ship has been showing a good amount of durability."

"I'd have to agree Number one," Melody replied. "The Merlin is a tough ship and she's proven her worth time and time again. Starfleet obviously thinks she's worth outfitting with the latest technology. I must admit, I'm looking forward to getting back out there, among the stars. We've been given pretty much carte blanch on our first mission, put the new systems through their paces. Test the new quantum slipstream drive. Get the new experimental shuttle working."

Melody smiled. "The new experimental shuttle sounds exciting, that's if our chief engineer lets me get my hands on it."

At the news of the experimental shuttle, Mathias gave a concerned look at Melody, "Captain are you certain you wish to get involved with this experiment? You have your two brand new babies, I think they are almost a month old now. I just don't feel good about you getting involved." Mathias said, pulling his XO card out now.

"Number one. I've had children. I'm not made of glass you know. Why is everyone suddenly overprotective of me? First, it was out Chief engineer and now you." Melody replied, slightly exasperated. "I express interest in having a go in an experimental shuttle once it's been built and verified it's safe and everyone wants to wrap me in cotton wool." She looked at Mathias and smiled "Yes, I know it's your job to look after the Captain. But I'm still the Captain at the end of the day."

"Yes you are the captain and that is my point. It's not treating you like a fragile piece of glass, it is more on the aspect of what if something happened to you. I particularly do not want to inherit the Merlin if something possibly happened. I also wanted to bring that aspect up where your babies are concerned too. Probably due to my going to be a father soon enough. I also thoroughly know about you chomping at the bit to go out and do something due to you having spent months carrying two babies, so now you are wanting to do something that will give you a possible connection to be yourself again." Mathias leaned back in his chair to regard Melody. "At times you need the need for speed as it is in your blood."

"Point taken Commander," Melody said with a smile. "But.... Let's just see how the engineering trails with the shuttlecraft go, shall we? And if you think just because you made an impressive speech that you're getting all the away missions to yourself, you've got another thing coming." she added with a devilish grin. "Is there anything else you want to discuss?"

"Actually I do have something else to discuss. And that is Anya, well and my cousin Matthew Teague. He's part of the Corps of Engineers and it seems..." Mathias leaned in forward and said quietly. "It seems that there has been a spark on the romance side between those two. Caroline and I ran into the two of them on the Promenade and both of them seemed to be sad and a little bit heartbroken at well, a separation. What do you think about us pulling some strings and getting Matthew assigned to the Merlin, maybe as a surprise for the two of them? And he can be in Engineering?"

Using her PADD, Melody quickly brought up Matthew Teague's records. She read through them before looking back to Mathias and nodded. "I don't see a problem with that Number one, transfer approved. Since you're in charge of personnel, I'll let you handle this. Will there be anything else?"

Mathias thought for a moment then shook his head, "I think that is all." Giving a smile. "I am looking forward to getting back on the ship."

"Me too Number One, Me too," Melody replied with a smile. "Then I won't keep you from your duties any longer. I'll see you tomorrow onboard the Merlin."

With a nod and a smile, Mathias rose from his chair and left. Things were going to be turning out rather interesting.

OFF:

●●●● Captain Melody Jones
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin


○●● Lieutenant Commander Mathias McPhee
Executive Officer
USS Merlin