EXETERRPG: (-1, 2200) CO, Captain Trip Williams and FO, Commander Alex Jones

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: Space was cool before it mattered
Day: -1
Stardate: 2446.04.24

(USS Exeter -Ready Room-CO, Captain Trip Williams and FO, Commander Alex
Jones - 2200)


Trip was working late. Not that he wanted to burn the midnight oil, but he
needed to make sure that they got paperwork done before the research teams
arrived in the morning. Trip could have gotten it done earlier, but rather
than work through dinner he made sure to have family dinner and then
bedtime with Ronnie before going back to work to get finished. He preferred
it that way. He rather work later and have his free time with his kids,
then get done sooner but have his free time with his kids in bed.

His work was interrupted by the entry of the First Officer.

“AJ, perfect timing, I was hoping you might stop by.”

“Just passing.” He said pleasantly, waving a couple ot PADDs. “Leaving
these here for tomorrow you.” Placing the PADDs on the desk, he looked at
Trip as he sat down. “Hoping how so?”

“Listen, I wanted to talk to you before the first shuttle arrives tomorrow,
before Ailynn arrives.”

“Yeah, I saw the manifest. Girl gets around…” he observed.

“Yeah, listen….I just, I just wanted to give you my vote of confidence
here. I know….on Vandalos, I went ahead and consulted her without
consulting you. But I like to think that since then we have worked well
together and have grown in trust.”

Alex nodded, quietly pouring each of them a drink as they had so many late
evenings before. “I appreciate that, genuinely.” He passed over Trips
glass, sipping at his own.

“You’re my first officer, even with here, no matter what. You’re my number
one. She needed her time away, and made her choice. And its been good for
her, but right now, at this point in time. You’re my first officer and I
just want you to know that. That no matter what boring or absurd might
happen while we’re here, where she is here, I won’t let her step on your
toes.”

“There’s a part of me that thinks that it might be easier to stop the sun
rising tomorrow than that happening, but again, I appreciate it. I’m not
sure she would, doesn’t seem her style, but like you’ve said to me before,
she has a tendency to ignore certain…formalities.”

“It’s easier to stop the sun then to get Ailynn to not ignore formalities.
And I get that hesitation. She’s one of the five women in my life who can
understand what I’m thinking without speaking. The first three are my
mother, my sister Skyler, and my sister Sienna. But they also have the
benefit of telepathy. Then of course there is my wife and Ailynn. But the
thing is, right now, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve learned a lot from you.”

Alex smiled, “I don’t have much, just an older guy who’s been round the
block a few times.” He shrugged.

“Don’t sell yourself short. I’ve learned a lot about being an officer from
watching and working with you. It’s been like having a private tutor.”

Alex lifted his glass in receipt of the compliment. “Glad I could help in
some small way. You’re doing well.” he said, after another sip. “Better
than you let yourself feel.”

“Yeah. I just am afraid of being an egotistical monster.” Trip said with a
laugh.

Laughing gently, Alex paused for a moment, letting Trip speak.

“But thank you. I wasn’t sure what to expect when they sent you to the
Exeter, but I am grateful that it was you.”

“And you are far from the spoon-fed Fleet Brat that I’d pegged you as, the
Commander too.” He smiled, a smile that pulled away from his face after a
few moments. “You don’t need to answer this, but are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am, I mean, I’m getting better at juggling everything. But I feel
like I’ve hit my stride.”

"Good. Good to hear. I don’t know much…anything even about such things.
I’ve never had the blessing of a close family, or children, so I’m not the
best yardstick. You seem to have things in hand.”

“I think I might be getting a hang of this father of two and being the
youngest captain in the fleet duo thing.”

“It’s a burden sure, but you’re not alone, if you have a fault it’s that
you try to shoulder it all, but only you can figure that out. The rest you
know.”

“And it’s because I know I can trust you to pick up my slack.”

“Always, not just your slack, but like I said, that’s your balance to find,
but don’t feel you can’t offload or delegate, my shoulders are broad
enough, and I don’t have the added burden of ruining an entire evening if I
get the voice wrong in a bedtime story.” He smiled, genuinely amused.
“Forgive my teasing, I’ve spoken to your wife a few times, formidable
woman, she tells me how…particular your daughter is.”

“Yes. Bracken genes run strong in that one.”

“Strong family, glad they’re on our side.” He said whimsically, finishing
his drink. “Forgive my saying, you’re a lucky man.”

“I’m lucky, Ash is remarkable. And I’m not just saying that because she’s
the total package of brains and beauty. But she’s strong, like interiorly
strong, stronger than she is aware of.”

Alex smiled, seeing the glint in Trip’s eyes. “Sooo….remind me why you’re
here and not relaxing with a bourbon snuggled up on the couch?”

“Oh, at this hour, it wouldn’t be bourbon and the couch, it would be the
bed and….anyways…” Trip paused.

Alex knew that Trip was just ‘talking trash’ so took it in the spirit in
which it was intended, chuckling gently.

“I went home for dinner, played with Ronnie, helped tuck her and Drew in,
had a glass of wine and then came back to finish work. Does it mean less
alone time with Ash, yeah, but did it mean more family time. You bet,”

“There’s a balance to be had. Besides, I’m sure she likes the alone time
where the kids are in bed, and she can just sit in the bath with a glass of
wine without your arse cluttering up the place.” He winked amiably.

“I dunno, adding the two person tub with the bubble jets was her idea. So
maybe she wants the company.” Trip said with a laugh. He enjoyed being able
to cut loose with Alex. He could speak to him in a way he couldn’t with
Ailynn, especially given the fact that Ash was Ailynn’s aunt.

Laughing gently, Alex stood, and drew a breath. “I appreciate the
confidence, I do. You need to pass down some of this crap down though, to
all of us. Especially Kiera, she needs to start being passed some of the
bullshit, otherwise when she does make FO, it’ll blindside her.”

“Yeah, well, you’ll get a stack of paperwork tomorrow. Trust me. This is
just the stack that says, ‘CO signature required’. I’ve got a whole nother
stack that says, ‘I don’t want to mess with it, here ya go  AJ and Keira”

“It’s fine.” He smiled, “broad shoulders as they say.”

“What about you, were you blindsided when you became FO?”

Pausing for a moment, Alex collected his thoughts, “Not precisely, but the
situations aren’t the same. I’d been at HQ for a while, collecting desk
jobs, the assignment to the Exeter was a pleasant side effect of the promo
to full Commander. Sure, the daily life is very different, but I was used
to the constant paperwork. Kiera’s a hands-on kind of Officer, rather like
Ailynn, I’d foresee more of a problem with either of them manning a desk
for any extended period of time without really ending up wanting to
eviscerate someone.” He shrugged. “Hence the suggestion of delegating more,
helps you…helps us.”

“Yeah, I’ll be honest, Keira scares me.” Trip said, letting out a laugh.

“Me too a bit to be fair. No offense to the Commander of course, compliment
actually.” Alex said honestly with a simple shrug.

“I honestly don’t know how much longer we’ll have you with us. Could be
months, could be years, could be a month, but I am glad you’re here.”

“Me too, I’m not sure either, if I hear something you’ll know, but, yeah,
I’m glad to be here, glad to be part of the Exeter’s journey.”

“So, you think you have a command stint in you before you go. I mean, there
a lot of older ships out there, that as their captains get shiny new toys,
need someone to lead them. I’d be happy to give you a recommendation. I
hear the Nova class USS Birmingham might be needing a captain soon.”

Alex laughed gently, “Never say never, not sure I’ve been a First Officer
long enough, but let the Admirals have their jokes I suppose.”

“Hey, I wasn’t even an officer long enough. Now look at me.” Trip said
laughing.

“I appreciate the confidence nonetheless.” He sighed gently. “You should
rest, while you can I mean. It’s quiet enough.”

“Yeah, probably smart, I’m about done anyways.” Trip said standing up.

“I’m going to grab a beer or two anyway, with your permission?”

“Yup.” Trip paused. “Alex….thank you. For everything.”

“My pleasure Trip.” He nodded with a smile, then turned and left.

As soon as Alex had exited the ready room, Trip tapped his commbadge, “Ash
honey, on my way home. You want to pour some glasses of wine and start up
the tub?”

=/\= It’s funny you should say that…=/\= Ashlyn said gently as the sound of
bubbles came across the channel.

(reply none)
(posted by Will and Mark)
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