Back in the Saddle

Posted on Thu Apr 10th, 2025 @ 10:16pm by Captain T’Kal & Lieutenant JG Renata Novotná

1,346 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X01: Bound for Cold Frontier
Location: Earth Spacedock, Lounge
Timeline: Before departure

There were a lot of science officers available for the chief position on the Ark Royal. Science had always been a field that Starfleet Academy strongly prioritized. Unfortunately, it was also a field that had been sidelined by many Captains in this more militarized era of Starfleet. Ships needed science officers to watch sensor feeds but many no longer had science labs or conducted exploration missions or planetary surveys, needing fewer crewmembers overall.

This would not be true of T’Kal’s ship. Sure her primary mission was militaristic, but she needed the technical and scientific expertise that only came from a fully staff science department, led by someone with a breadth of experience and good management skills.

The Assistant Chief on the Zhukov stood out for her. Half Vulcan. Astrophysics major. Good variety of practical skills. A solid manager. And the Zhukov was already in system.

She summoned the recently promoted Lieutenant junior grade Novotná to meet her at the officer’s lounge aboard Spacedock and waited with a glass of herbal tea for her to arrive.

Renata still wasn't sure why she took this job. Being chief science officer and a department head was obviously a great career leap and something she longed for. But if she'd have waited a few months, she might've got a similar offer on another ship. Another ship, without a Vulcan in the captain's chair. The thought of serving under a Vulcan captain made her uneasy. She studied Captain T'Kal's bio, and knew she was a decent, upright commanding officer, but she still felt their backgrounds might create a rift between them. And it's never a good thing to get into trouble with your boss.

Renata packed her belongings and told the quartermaster to have them transported over to the Ark Royal. While waiting for the things to get sorted out, she visited the starbase to meet her new commanding officer. She was summoned to meet her at the officers lounge. A large space for people to talk and have drinks and stuff, break up with each other or promise to write every other day, only to forget about it by the following week.

She took a deep breath and straightened her uniform before entering the lounge. As always, she let her long dark hair loose and had it cover her ears, hiding her half-Vulcan heritage. She immediately spotted Captain T'Kal sitting at a table with a glass of tea.

"Lieutenant Renata Novotná reporting for duty, sir." she said firmly as she walked to the table and stood in front of her new CO.

“It is good to meet you, Lieutenant,” T’Kal said directly. She gestured to the empty seat across the table, between which there was a second, empty teacup and a pot. “Please sit. There is more tea in the pot, if you would like some. It is an infusion of ginger and ginseng, and is very calming.”

Renata took the empty seat and tried to ease up a little. "Ginger and ginseng. Great combination, sir." And she was an awful liar. She's never been much of a tea person, she preferred coffee or a nice pint of beer, but when in Rome... She picked up the pot and poured herself a cup of tea. She looked out the large cafeteria windows and gestured towards the Ark Royal at the spacedock. "She's such a fancy-looking ship. I like her already."

“She will serve us well,” T’Kal agreed. “I read your survey reports from your time on the Lexington. You did some good work near the Klingon border at a time when survey ships were being harassed. Have you any views from your time along that frontier?”

"Thank you, sir." Renata said with a proud smile. "It was definately an exciting period, so to say. We never knew when we would bump into their battle cruisers. Made life a bit uneasy. Sometimes we'd have border patrols twice a day, sometimes we haven't seen anyone for weeks. We even made a lottery with some crewmates." she elaborated. "Anyway, I definately had my fair share of border adventures. Diplomacy there can be a tricky beast."

“And it is only getting more complicated,” T’Kal said. “More and more Starfleet vessels are being assigned border duties as the threat of war looms larger.” She took another sip of her tea. Soothing. “I am taking USS Ark Royal to Sector 262. The Klingons are operating in that sector, and we believe they are engaging in some kind of experiments which some in Starfleet Command fear may represent a threat to Federation security. I need a Chief Science Officer, and I would like it to be you.”

"Sounds like exciting times, alright. Back in the saddle." the science officer nodded while taking a sip from her tea. It was awfully hot. "If they're developing some kind of weapon or biological threat, we have to stop them." she then said, a bit more seriously. "I'm honored, Captain." she added.

The Captain showed no outward sign of being bothered by the more emotional terminology this younger half-Vulcan used. Many of her comrades disagreed with the choices of some such people to embrace their human sides over their Vulcans ones.

T’Kal, for her part, was not one such person.

“I shall finalize the transfer orders by day’s end. We are scheduled to launch in four days. Report to your duty station by then.” She finished her tea and collected the now empty pot. “I must return to the ship, Lieutenant. But perhaps we might speak further after we are underway?”

"Alright, sir." Renata nodded in agreement. Four days to enjoy some sunbathing in the solarium, reading a book, lift some weights, and get her belongings transferred to her new ship. She then took a deep breath and asked: "Sir... can I ask you something...? Can I speak freely?"

“You may,” T’Kal said, now very curious.

"As you probably know, sir, I'm half-Vulcan." the science officer explained. "I was raised by my human family and I've never had much contact with my father's people or culture. And with all due respect, I've never really longed for it either." She took a breath and then added, "I hope you understand that."

For all her usual insights, and even having recognized that this young woman had been raised differently than most half-Vulcans…the Captain had been caught unawares by what the new science chief had said. She raised both eyebrows and considered it a moment. “I believe I understand,” she said levelly. “I will not press my beliefs or my culture onto you, Ms. Novotná. If you ever find your own way to them you will find yourself welcome, but it is not logical to impose strict suppression of emotion on someone who does not want it. If you do not wish to speak with me outside of your duties I would understand that as well.” She would be disappointed, but Novotná need not know that.

"No, no, of course not!" Renata snapped. She felt awful now that she probably insulted her commanding officer, at the very first meeting. Great... you go, girl... Then, she realized Vulcans don't have emotions. At least, not like humans do. "In fact, I'd be honoured to converse with you from time to time, sir." she said with genuine honesty.

"Very well," T'Kal said with a nod. "Excuse me, I am needed back on the bridge. I shall see you aboard the ship then, Lieutenant." The empty teapot and her own cup in hand, she walked to the recycler, dropped off the dishes, and left her new officer in the lounge.

"Captain." Renata nodded with a gentle smile. "See you on board, sir." When T'Kal walked away, she buried her face in her palms, not sure if she just made the biggest mistake of her career or not.

END


Captain T'Kal
Commanding Officer, USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant jg Renata Novotná
Chief Science Officer, USS Ark Royal

 

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