Looking forwards

Posted on Thursday 28 July 2016 @ 19:52 by Lieutenant Commander David Tan
Edited on on Thursday 28 July 2016 @ 19:53

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Tan's quarters & School
Timeline: MD7 Afternoon
927 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure

David hadn't realised how long he had actually slept after returning to his quarters in the early hours of the morning, ships time of course ...

He entered the living area to find Lana, Mackenzie, and Mia all playing Mia's favourite game around the table.

"Sleepy head is up." Mia said, giggling at his sleeping in. He sat on the sofa and watched the game proceed, then realised he was actually hungry. He asked if they had eaten and Lana said they had had lunch about an hour earlier, but she could prepare him something if he wished.

"Why, you loosing ?" he said with a grin as he got up and walked over to the replicator, "Chicken sandwich, with mayo. Coffee, black." he requested, waiting while the food appeared. Taking it back he dropped into the seat and began to eat, happy that Commander Barstow had gone above requirements to get his Family here so quickly. He hadn't expected to see them until the end of the current mission, and only then if the Merlin had been able to get back to Earth, and not assigned another mission en-route.

"When do you plan to begin setting up the school ?" he asked Lana between goes.

"I've been to see the space assigned, I was shocked, I was honestly only expecting one, maybe two rooms, but I have 'FOUR' can you believe it, Commander Barstow must have faith in my abilities ! .... I'll likely use one for the main classroom, another could be a study room or personal tutoring, one for Botany and Science possibly, with the smallest serving as my office."

"I'll have to take a look, before it's full of students of course." he said, thoroughly enjoying the sandwich, "..... and yes, he did seem very keen when he heard that you were the Head of a School in San Francisco. I have the feeling he had the school in mind 'before' I actually mentioned your vocation to be honest. He certainly doesn't strike me as someone who would miss up an opportunity when it's presenting itself."

"Well I hope I can live up to expectations." she said, rolling the dice and dropping onto one of Kenzi's quadrants.

"HA ! ... Pay up." his six year old Daughter demanded, hand outstretched. Lana rolled her eye in mock disappointment then handed over the plastic credits. David noticed that she passed several of them over to her younger Sister when she though no-one was looking. Mia grinned, and it suddenly occurred to him that they were working together. Almost unable to keep from laughing he concentrated on the second half of his snack ...... Once done, he returned the plate to the replicator and asked for a second coffee, knowing Lana wouldn't be happy at his second cup, but he felt he needed it this time around. seated, he picked up one of the PADD's and accessed the information before reading:

It was crew compliment data, Department personnel numbers, Civilian personnel, current visiting Scientists or researchers who were conducting a myriad of tests and programs. It also contained more detailed information on Department Heads and their Deputies, it would help him better acclimatise to those he could work closely with throughout his time aboard the Merlin. Taking a second PADD he made some notes, there were people he wanted to introduce himself to as the mission progressed ...... Unfortunately, it seemed that no matter how much he tried to concentrate, the game was pulling at him, or rather, not the game itself, but the chance to spend some quality time with his little girls, before Duties took over, and they were in school every weekday. Putting the PADD's aside he slid off the chair and down to the table.

"Room for a Champion ?" he asked, a devious grin forming .....

~~~~~~~~~~

At sixteen hundred hours they decided to go look at the space newly allocated for the ships's school ...

The Commander had allocated four of the adjoining rooms, formally conference rooms, on Deck Eight to be the school. They were almost never used, preference being given to the larger conference facilities on the deck below. When they arrived, Chloe Valente, one of the Tutors, was already there. She was clearing out the old furniture and having it moved into one of the lower cargo bays, while desks, complete with individual computer terminals, were being brought up and placed in the two main school rooms. A desk and various other items had been placed in the middle of the room Lana had allocated as her office. The girls ran around from room to room, loving their new surroundings, while David helped Lana to move the flotsam of equipment and stationary until the the room actually resembled an office. Within the hour they had the school looking something like it should, and while Lana seemed very happy, he knew that once left to her own devices she would rearrange the rooms until she had them just how she wanted them ...

Taking a break, Lana introduced Carmen and the three adults, along with David's two Children, sat down to enjoy refreshments.

"To the USS Merlin's inaugural School" David said, raising his glass.

Everyone repeated the toast, and Carmen turned to Mia, who seemed to be frowning a little:

"Mia, something the matter ?"

"Do we have to start school, today ?" the four year old asked.

"No sweetheart. Monday though, maybe." Carmen reassured the little girl.

"I'm actually looking forwards to my first day." Lana whispered to David. He turned and kissed her on the cheek, smiling.

"Yuck." Mia said, making everyone laugh ..........