Debrief

Posted on Sunday 11 September 2016 @ 00:57 by Commander Cale Llewellyn DSci & Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D.

Mission: Old, New Ship
Timeline: MD 7
1192 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

After finishing up with the new tactical and security chief John had left Melody in charge of the bridge so he could go talk to the exec about what happened. The Vulcans had ordered Merlin to fall back while they spoke to the Romulans, whom John was figuring to be one of the unendorsed factions. So, pull back they did and he'd had Melody find a place to lay low while they figured out just what was going on. As the Commander rounded the corner and entered the shuttlebay he moved over to Cale and smiled, "good job, ex," he said as he came to a stop.

"Thank you, Sir. I was just coming to see you about that. I figured you might want to read me my rights and demote me," Cale said. He looked extremely contrite and ready for the lecture might not come. He looked befuddled at the captain's statement.

"Demote you? " Barstow asked with a confused tilt of his head, " why would I do that?"

"I don't feel like I'm serving you well in my new capacity. My command style is nearly non-existent. I don't know how to delegate...Need I go on, Sir?" Cale felt a rush of emotion but not from the captain but from elsewhere on the ship. Grasping his head, he backpeddled and nearly fell over a bale of optical cable.

The CO reached out quickly and grabbed Cale's arm to steady him, "are you alright?" Barstow asked.

"Yes Sir. I'm just tired," Cale said to his captain despite the massive headache that was ravaging him at this time.

John nodded, "as to what you listed, it's called learning, Commander, none of us started out knowing how to command, and I'm even still learning," he said with a smile.

"You Sir? It seems to me that your knowledge of command comes from within you," Cale said before his countenance changed greatly. "Sir, I have something to confess to you. Something that may end my short-lived wading into command."

John chuckled, " ninety-nine point nine percent of command is convincing everyone you're perfect even though mistakes are part of life, " he said then raised an eyebrow, "what's that?"

"I have been experiencing sudden flashes of emotions..." Cale looked into Barstow's eyes and locked gazes with him, and said, "and said flashes have not been coming from within me but from the crew. It has been maddening to me. I have been receiving help from a Vulcan nurse named T'Lar in the form of mind melds."

"Do you know what's causing it? Have you seen Doctor Miller?" he as, concern in his voice.

"Not sure and not yet. I think it was my possession by the Niga years ago and so does Ensign T'Lar. I only see Doctor Miller when the pain becomes unbearable and I think she's starting to become suspicious. I don't want this getting out and since there are two other people on the ship who know about this, I would appreciate it going no further than the four of us for now, Sir."

John nodded, "as long as it won't interfere with your duties," he replied and put a hand on the young officers shoulder, "I'm not being callous, but, the first time it starts to overwhelm you we're going to Miller and the counselor, can't be loosing my first officer this fast," he said with a smile.

"I promise you won't Sir," Cale said firm in his convictions. Cale had no intentions of going anywhere for any reason.

"Good, " John replied and gave the Commanders shoulder an encouraging squeeze before looking back at the shuttle, " now, what happened down there?" he asked as the pods started being off loaded.

Well everything was 5 by 5 and then Walker alerted me to the fact of Romulan shock troops attacking their positions. Caro...Dr. Miller let me know that she and her team had discovered our friends over there," Cale said nodding to the pods being offloaded from the runabout. "Dr. Miller informed me that the 'sleepers' might be able to be revived so I gave my permission for them to be loaded. My team and I were able to reach the bridge and after gaining access to it, we were able to access the computer files that told us why this ship was doing this close to Earth. The only problem was that the files and logs were encrypted. I will try to have them decrypted by tomorrow morning, if that's alright with you, Sir.

"Other than that, it was a cake walk. I would like to put all the members of the away team up for commendations for meritorious service," Cale said with pride.

Barstow nodded and smiled, "sounds good and I'll let you note their files," he replied then tilted his head, "I thought there were four pods?" he asked.

"As did I, Captain," Cale said. "Perhaps Dr. Miller decided that only this one was viable for some reason," Cale replied confused as Barstow was.

"Alright," the CO replied with a nod, "I want you to conduct a debrief then you can brief me," Barstow said, "you're doing great, Cale," he added with a smile, wanting to make sure his XO knew he really thought so.

"A debrief Sir? with the away team members? Somewhat an after action report? I can do that, Sir. Do you want the entire team or just the major players?"

"With the leads, they should have done a debrief of their own with their officers by the time they come to you," Barstow replied, deciding to use it as a chance at Cale getting more comfortable in his role and letting him get a bit more experience. Something he had learned while teaching at the Academy was to use teachable moment to help boost confidence in addition to conducting training, and he hoped letting Cale handle the debrief would help boost his confidence.

"Aye Sir, I'll call all the senior members of the away team in for a debriefing and then I'll come and give you a briefing," Cale said with confidence in his voice. "How does that sound to you?"

"Sounds good to me, Commander," Barstow replied with a smile, "I'll leave you it then, just bring it by tomorrow morning. We've pulled back and are heading for a place to lay low, but once the Romulan and Vulcan ships send an away team they're going to want to know about these pods."

"Thank you Captain."

"And Cale, how about a drink later in the lounge?" Barstow asked with a smile, "we haven't really had a chance to talk and we should outside of our duty shifts, at least every once in awhile," he added, genuinly wanting to get to know his XO better.

"A drink, Captain? With me? OK that works for me. How about 2000 hours?"

John gave a nod, "sounds good, I'll see you then," the CO replied with a nod then turned and headed for for the door.

"Sounds like a plan," Cale said upbeat.


Commander John "Apollo" Barstow
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin

Lieutenant Commander Cale Jason Llewellyn
Executive Officer
USS Merlin