Fresh Beginnings

Posted on 11/30/2023 @ 1:42am by Captain Cornelius Harrington & Colonel Jack Patton & Lieutenant Benjamin Woods
Edited on on 02/24/2024 @ 3:11pm

1,798 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Pages...
Location: Ops

Ben felt the shoving of his knee by a fellow lieutenant that was being transferred to the station as he gently went to rouse Woods. He had fallen asleep in the back of the shuttle they were on ever since they came through the wormhole. It took Ben a few moments to realize where he was, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He had non-stop transfers since he left the Hood, and he was exhausted. Knowing this was the final shuttle to his destination, he couldn’t fight off the sleep that overcame him on the last leg of the journey.

Ben gave a soft thank you to the operations officer as he sat up in his seat and adjusted his uniform. Running his hand through his hair, he took in the sight of the station, his new home. He felt a twitch of nervous excitement as his stomach was twisting into knots. He was always comfortable being alone, but out here he was truly alone. His family’s reputation likely would never follow him this far out of Federation space and away from most of Starfleet. It excited him but also made him nervous at the daunting prospect of building a life from essentially nothing. He looked at his PaDD that he was reviewing when he fell asleep. He was looking over the details of the assignment but also reading up on his commanding officer and his first officer.

It wouldn’t surprise him if the sector admiral had at least heard of either of his parents. The man had a long and illustrious career. Captain Harrington and Lieutenant Colonel Patton were a different matter. Both were relatively young compared to most captains Ben was used to. Patton was himself only a few years older than Ben. Both men had served illustrious careers so far. He wondered what it would be like to serve with a marine as a superior officer.

The helmsman announced they were approaching the station and Ben was in awe. He had seen space stations, of course, but none quite like Poseidon Station. Feeling that nervous energy running through his bloodstream, the young doctor was both eager and reluctant to get out of his seat once the docking procedure was complete. Grabbing his duffle, Benjamin made his way to the airlock and took in the sight and energy of the station. Watching all the people, noticing how easily he blended in, Ben let out a held breath. He knew he had made the right decision. Slowly making his way through the people, he headed first to steal a quick view from the promenade of the infirmary, his work, before heading to the turbolift for the captain’s office. The nerves that were calm a moment ago when he first stepped first on the station came rushing back as as he snuck a peek at the infirmary from the entrance before he made his way to a nearby turbolift and he called out the destination for the computer. “Ops.” Ben instructed with a soft-spoken voice that had the faintest of quiver to it.

Jack rarely found himself at Ops. However, Admiral Rice had ordered that he take a regular rotation as he was one of the Executive Officers of the station. Since he began these rotations, he had found that he would do little to nothing. It was for that reason that he wished he was in The Throneroom training or writing mission profiles. "Well Captain seems like it is just another day in paradise. Nothing new to report save for these orders from command. It seems that the Herodotus is to be permanently garrisoned here."

Neil grinned, "Jack, I hate to admit it, my friend, but you seem rather uncomfortable." He took a leisurely sip of his coffee, savoring the flavor. "I find it rather enjoyable." He let out a small sigh. "As for the Herodotus, it's hardly surprising that Thorrin pulled strings to have that ship stationed here," Neil motioned towards the window, "something to do with the newly established rift."

The Captain let out an exasperated sigh, "Mark my words, both of us will rue the day the DTI set up shop in our neck of the woods." Neil caught sight of the lift opening from the corner of his eye as an unfamiliar face stepped into Operations. "Looks like our new Chief Medical Officer just made it," Neil gestured towards the newcomer. "Do try not to scare this one, Colonel." He raised his coffee cup, anticipating the forthcoming exchange of pleasantries.

"I would rather be with my men then staring at the empty viewscreen. I will never know how you survive up here. As for the CMO it is not my fault that they are afraid to get their hands bloody." Jack said with a smirk and sipped his own rachtijino as the new CMO made their way over.

Ben stepped off the turbolift and glanced around Ops. It was bigger than he expected. He wasn’t sure why, it made sense to be bigger than most starship bridges but it still was unexpected. Spotting the captain and lieutenant colonel, he took a breath and held it for a moment before letting it out to muster his courage before approaching. “Captain, Colonel, Lieutenant Woods reporting for duty.” He said in his soft voice as he stood at attention with as much confidence as he could muster.

"At ease Lieutenant..." Jack began and he was actually happy to see that the Doctor had a sense of rank propriety. It impressed a Marine when someone came to proper attention before addressing a superior officer. "Please allow me to welcome you aboard Poseidon Station. I hope your journey here was uneventful."

Ben stood relaxed and nodded in gratitude to the marine. “Yes, Sir. In my experience that tends to be a good trip.” He said with a nervous smile, trying to make small talk. “I um…I must say I’ve never been on a station quite like this.”

Jack chuckled and sipped his rachtijino as he looked at the swirling rift on the viewscreen. "I don't believe anyone has Doctor. I don't believe anyone has..."

Ben gave a shy smile as he nodded. He glanced around looking for the captain. "This is my first time in the Gamma quadrant. So far it seems the same as any other post, but still thrilling. It's still virtually unknown, isn't it?" Ben couldn't keep the awe and eagerness out of his voice. He wouldn't make a spectacle of it, but he was the first of his family to be in the Gamma quadrant and it filled him with a pride he kept to himself.

"Welcome to the station, Doctor," the Captain nodded, "this is the first time many of our crew have served in the Gamma quadrant. Come back here in a month, and let me know if that feeling of awe is still here." He smirked, hinting that the station did have it challenges. "Why don't we move into my office and chat for a bit?" He gestured to the Ready Room.

Jack knew the feeling of awe that could wain quick with the events that went on at the station. He followed the group into the Ready Room. "You know Doc don't let us jaded fools deter you. You keep that awe and remember the magic that the unknown could hold for a person."

Ben gave a shy smile and nodded at Jack as he followed the Captain into his ready room. "I do apologize for the delay in my arrival, Sir. I thought it best I feel check out Medical before coming here." He said, slightly nervous. He never liked meeting with the commanding officers alone. It reminded him too much of when he and his brothers would get into trouble with their father.

"No need to apologize, Doctor," Neil reassured the newest arrival. "Transfers are anything but smooth. Starfleet tends to have a way with transferring to a new assignment," he paused, "and checking out medical is probably a good start to the position. So tell us a little bit about yourself: previous assignments, ships, family?"

Ben gave a slightly nervous laugh as he took his seat. Already they wanted to talk about his two least favorite subjects: himself and his family. He paused for a moment as he considered. "Well, I'm a Starfleet brat. Both of my parents served, as did their parents and theirs before them." He explained. "Naturally, my brothers and I were also expected to serve. They both are bridge officers. One is the chief tactical officer on the Geronimo, the other is first officer on the Williamsburg."

Woods looked at both officers as he started about his own career. "My decision to pursue medicine while at the Academy was not expected but I was strongly pushed to do so in my second year by a lieutenant commander when I volunteered to help the survivors of the attack on the Utopia Planitia shipyards." He explained, though his voice drifted off as he thought back on those memories for a moment. Taking a breath he continued. "After that, I suppose you would consider my time at the Academy and Starfleet medical, average and not particularly extraordinary. I focused my studies on emergency medicine and triage and I served on two starships upon graduation, the Spokane and Montgomery."

"Well your expertise is something we are both glad for and hope that we will never have use for." Jack began with a smile. "Around these parts there can be rather long sprints of nothing and then suddenly the Breen attack and everyone is injured. With that we don't want to keep you from getting settled into Sick Bay. Just in case something decides to jump out at us." Jack laughed at his own joke. But the fact was he felt that they should be prepared for everything given all that has happened.

Ben did his best to control his face and keep his thoughts to himself. With a placid face, he nodded to both men. "Well, I'm glad to be apart of the team and help in any way, Colonel. With your permission, gentleman, I'd like to get to work at once and get to know the staff in medical."

Jack could see that Harrington's attention was taken elsewhere. "Dismissed Lieutenant. And welcome aboard."

Ben could see captain's attention was drawn to more important matters so he simply nodded to the marine. "Aye, Sir." He said curtly before making his way to the turbolift to head to the infirmary.


Lieutenant Colonel Jack 'BlackJack' Patton
Commanding Officer, The Kingsmen
Poseidon Strategic Operational Command
Poseidon Station

Captain Cornelius Harrington
Commanding Officer
Poseidon Station

Lieutenant Benjamin Woods
Chief Medical Officer
Poseidon Station

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