Coming from the shadows
Posted on Wed Feb 26th, 2025 @ 9:58am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen
Edited on on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 @ 5:21am
1,094 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Ready Room - Deck 1 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 1000 hrs
Rowena made herself presentable again for her duty. She listened to the humming of the lift as it took her to her shift. She wasn't nearly ready in her mind, but she couldn't remain in her quarters forever. She sighed and straightened her uniform as the doors swished open revealing the bridge. Carefully she looked around. Finally she was able to confront her past without restrained so she no longer had flashbacks of her time on the USS Malificus. She stood outside the lift a few moments taking in the bridge.
Tyler sat in the center chair and looked over some readouts as the ship continued on course to Empok Nor. There was a strange phenomena that Tyler developed. He was told it was a skill that all commanders of Intrepid Class ships developed and that was a sense of who walked onto the Bridge. The turbolift was behind the command area and most Captains just knew. Without turning around Tyler smiled. "Welcome back Commander. The Bridge has not been the same without you."
Rowena smiled wry. "If I remember it right, it is still a bit hazy, I avoided the bridge like the plague." She walked to the command area and sat down next to him. "But thank you for the sentiment."
"The Second Officer cannot avoid the Bridge forever." Tyler said as he stood up and motioned toward the XO seat. Niel was not on the Bridge, and he thought it would allow them with some privacy to talk. "Hey pull up a chair."
Rowena reluctantly took a seat in the XO seat. "I guess I can't keep avoiding the bridge. Even if it is quite easy to hide on the SCIF." She smiled nervously and looked around the bridge once more from her position. The last time she was here she had a hard time focusing. She was so much calmer now without Malificus inside her. Even if it was a bit uneasy.
"No you can't. In fact you are going to start taking a watch in the big chair. That should allow you to get a feel for the ship, and how the crew operates. Things up here are a lot different than down in the SCIF." Tyler knew better than most what went on in Rowena's head. He had some of the same things going on in his head. However, Vura and Starfleet both agreed that they both should return to duty. So, he would not treat Rowena any different. Despite the notion that Starfleet Intel felt she needed an eye kept on her.
Rowena nodded as she listened to him speak and then replied, "Yes, I accepted the role as second officer and it's been long overdue, but I need to be on the bridge, I need to feel the ship." She sighed. It has been so hard on her. It was still hard on her. Now sitting next to her commanding officer, and she clearly remembered what happened. She put that on herself a lot.
Tyler's visage softened as he realized that there was a lot going on for both of them. "I know how you feel. I feel the same after having one of those things in my head as well. One of the keys to leadership is image. You have to let those under your command see that although you are hurting, you are still there for them, for this ship. Gamma shift is yours from this point on. You will have command of the Bridge during that shift. If you need anything Colonel Tremble and myself are a mere phone call away. But, rely on those that are there with you. They can teach you more than you realize. Together we will show this crew that we can pick ourselves up and move on."
Rowena looked around the bridge, looking at everyone at their station and some of them gave a short glance back. Finally she took a deep breath and said. "Gamma shift it is. It's going to be hard. But I think we will get through this."
"I know we will. Just make sure you don't scuff the paint." Tyler laughed. "There is an old saying that we had on the farm. It said that if you fell off the horse you had to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back on. If you didn't you would never get on a horse again. It is the same with commanding a Starship I feel. At the Academy they tell you that the hardest thing you will ever do in command is send someone to their death. However, I disagree, I believe the hardest thing you can do is continue after it was your butt on the chopping block. So, with all that said. Do you have any new intel for me?" It was his way of getting her back on the horse.
Rowena looked around. "To be honest, sir, I haven't checked in on my department yet. But I have a capable team. Miss Masters left me a quite the department. Everyone knows their job. I tell what I want, and they all know what to do. It's truly amazing."
"Right then. I will let you get to it. Go check in with your team. There was an old saying back on the family ranch in Oklahoma. If you don't get back in the saddle you never will." Tyler chuckled. "Miss Masters? Somehow I think if Jen heard you call her that she would have some choice words for you."
Rowena chuckled too. "She probably would, I don't care. I am not going to call her misses Masters-Calhoun, that's really a mouth full." She sighed softly and then nodded. "You are right, should get to it. I can't push this forward any longer."
Tyler watched as Rowena left the Ready Room. In truth he had never felt like they had bonded before, not like he had bonded with others on the crew. Now, after this experience it is quite possible that they were closer than they ever knew possible. He never pretended to know what the future would hold. However, he knew that whatever was in their future he would help Rowena get through it, and they would do it together.
A Joint Post By
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen
Chief Intelligence Officer/Second Officer, USS Pioneer
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