Bridge Training: A Brief Briefing (Part II)

Posted on Tue Jan 16th, 2024 @ 7:45am by Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver & Cadet Junior Grade Shafin Todenhöfer
Edited on on Tue Jan 16th, 2024 @ 9:40am

1,287 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Cadet Cruise
Location: Bridge

[PREVIOUSLY]

Shafin smirked. "And for that you're welcome" added the Vulcanoid. "You can't let your father get under your skin. The more time you spend dwelling on his evaluating you, the more you will doubt yourself. We can't afford that right now, Sir." said Shafin. He did not like seeing Daniel like this. "We can solve this problem. My recommendation would be to have a seat Daniel" Shafin gestured to the chair.

[CONTINUED]

"Shafin... what would sitting down help?" Daniel said as he turned to looked at the seat behind the desk. "It's just a chair... it has no bearing on the mission."

"It has no bearing on the mission, but you do, and that chair is where the Commanding Officer would be seated talking to their First Officer and weighing options" said Shafin. "Perhaps if you were to sit there you would feel more in command?" suggested Shafin with a shrug.

The Vulcanoid looked at Daniel. "Entertain me," said Shafin. "You either sit in the chair and breathe or I start exploring options as Counselor, and I have a feeling you won't like Vulcan neuro-pressure."

"Vulcan neuro-pressure doesn't sound appealing because it would be you performing it." Daniel replied softly as he looked to the chair. He started to walk toward it before placing his hand on the head rest. He stood there for a minute because looking to Shafin again. "To be fair, you called me in here. I figured this would be a session of you berating me and telling me I'm no fit for leading the mission so, sitting down, was not a priority."

"Well then," Shafin scoffed. "Perhaps it would be logical for you not to make assumptions. I had no intentions on calling you in here to berate you nor relieve you of your command. I called you in here so that you did not make more of an ass out if yourself in front of the bridge crew."

Shafin smirked. "And for that you're welcome" added the Vulcanoid. "You can't let your father get under your skin. The more time you spend dwelling on his evaluating you, the more you will doubt yourself. We can't afford that right now, Sir." said Shafin. He did not like seeing Daniel like this. "We can solve this problem. My recommendation would be to have a seat Daniel" Shafin gestured to the chair.


Daniel let out a sigh before pulling the chair behind the best out. "Last chance to relieve me of Command and make sure this exercise goes off without a hitch."

"Last chance for some Vulcan neuro-pressure," countered Shafin. "I'm not relieving you unless I feel I have to. We are not there yet. Far from it. I suspect you have it in you to see this mission through, and there will be a hitch to everything we do. That's just the way."

Daniel smirked slightly before finally sitting down in the chair. It wasn't the same as the one on the Bridge, but it did feel like a slight weight was taken off his shoulder or, at least, the weight itself became lighter. He leaned back against the headrest, looking over to Shafin curiously, before finally speaking up. "Meghan is right. Pushing this mission to a conclusion is only going to cause problems. Letting her work, do her thing, is better than trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat and spitting out ideas like they are going out of style."

"Meghan knows what she is doing, and no offense to the prophets, but I have more faith in her than I do them" Shafin proclaimed. "Your best course of action is to be supportive and encouraging of her and the rest of the crew. Show confidence in them and in yourself."

"Shafin... I do have confidence in them. They worked their way up to where they are. They deserved their spot on this ship. I didn't. The lack of confidence is in myself." He placed his hands on the desk and let out a sigh. "But that isn't going to help things along. He looked up at the ceiling for a bit before looking back to Shafin. "Communications are bad. We can't share information to learn what they have already without it being corrupted. We can't go in without being trapped ourselves. What are we missing? What do we have that we can use to our advantage? The daisy chain idea with the probes will work but it requires more data. Data takes time."

"Plenty of time for you to find some more confidence in yourself," said Shafin. "You have confidence in the others. That is good. And of your First Officer?"

"Yes, i have full confidence in you, Shafin." Daniel replied before adding. "Even though you often make me want to punch you in the face and I will never allow you to give me any Vulcan Neuro-pressure so... stop asking. It's weird." He gave him a firm look before smiling, hoping the Vulcanoid would catch the joke.

Shafin sat the mug down on the desk. "The 'daisy chain' will take time but it will give Meghan more information to work with. It seems that the more information we can acquire, the better. I know we do not want to get to close as to not get swept in, but could we strengthen our bussard collectors to 'pull' some of this nebula to us?"

"Bussard Collectors would probably help minimize the particles, perhaps even improve Meghan's scans and communications, but there is also a chance those same particles may corrupt our systems, No?" Daniel replied, looking up to Shafin. "But... what if we found a way to filter the particles. Maybe even recycle it somehow?"

"It's something to consider and potentially run by Meghan and the others. Bussard collects are primarily used to collect gasses and particles, but they have been modified in the past to emit gasses as well. Your recycling idea may have merit" Shafin admitted.

Shafin walked over to an observation area in the Ready Room and looked outward. "Captain Weaver," said Shafin addressing Daniel. "In theory, what if we could emit something into the nebula...something to alter it somewhat, potentially something that would enhance communications signals?"

"You mean like firing a Torpedo with a certain compound to adjust it, even temporarily, to better our chances?" Daniel asked as he stood up and looked to Shafin, a slight smile. "You know, First Officer, it sounds like we need to call for a meeting of our senior staff and discuss this further. Would you not concur?"

"A torpedo potentially, with a modified warhead as to not cause further problems. Meghan will be able to know more or less what this nebula may be made of, but igniting something may not be a bad idea in some cases. Nevertheless, a meeting of the senior staff could generate more ideas and communication."

"Then... let's hold a meeting right here and now unless, you and I, have something further to discuss?" Daniel replied with a smile as he picked up the juice box from the best and walked over to the replicator. "And... for future reference... I hate fruit cocktail." He placed it in the replicator and recycled it before asking for a Deka Tea. "If you're going to get me a juice box... Kava Juice flavor is my preferred choice." He walked back to the desk and sat back down as he took another sip. "Call for the senior staff, Shafin. We have a ship to save."

(To be continued...)

Cadet Junior Grade Shafin Todenhöfer
Acting Chief Counselor

Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver
Acting Commanding Officer

 

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