Considerations

Posted on Sat Feb 22nd, 2025 by Lieutenant Commander Samuel Bancroft & Captain James Cohen

1,116 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: M01 - The Hooke
Location: Captain's Ready Room, USS Hooke
Timeline: Present

James found himself drinking his cup of coffee while looking out the window as the stars streaked past his office. It was early the next morning, and the ship had been traveling for at least eight hours so far. The first part of James' morning routine seemed to remain the same. He woke up Paige so she could get around for school. Satisfied that she wouldn't go back to bed, James left the twelve-year-old to get breakfast and go to class.

He crossed the bridge as delta shift was preparing to get off watch and be replaced by alpha shift. That meant James and his Exec would be needed on the bridge soon enough. James hadn't slept that great, however, he had expected that. It was the first day on the ship and he wasn't used to it, and James was expecting something to happen all night.

Sam stood outside the Captain's Ready Room just as his temporary replacement took the console from him. He reached up and activated the chime so the Captain knew he had a visitor.

James didn't look toward the doo, "Come in." He remarked.

Sam stepped through the office door just as soon as he'd heard the Captain say it was okay. "Do you have a moment sir?" Sam asked.

James turned to see his Chief Operations Officer standing there and grinned, "Certainly," He told the Lieutenant while pointing at the sofa nearby. "Please take a seat."

Sam said nothing right away as he crossed the ready room and sat down across from the Captain. "Can this be an off the record private conversation Captain?" He asked.

James raised a brow, "I suppose that's possible Lieutenant." James sat down on the other end of his ready room. "What's on your mind?"

Sam nodded and took a deep breath. He wasn't quite sure what the best way to say what he needed to say was, "So I had debated saying something to you yesterday before the meeting between the senior officers, but chose to wait on it. Captain, I want you to know I do appreciate your consideration for the Executive Officer spot."

James frowned as he recalled offering the position to the Lieutenant before selecting Commander Preston for the role, "Certainly Lieutenant." He answered, "What's this about?"

Sam found it easier to start, "I would really prefer it if that stays between us. I don't think anyone else on board knows you offered it to me, or that I turned it down in the first place. I think it would potentially impact Commander Preston and I don't want my wife knowing either honestly."

James sat his mug of coffee on the table between them. "I certainly understand where you're coming from. Both of you had excellent profiles and roughly the same amount of experience. I won't go into how I came to my decision, however, I don't want you to feel like you owe me an explanation or anything like that."

Sam breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the Captain say that, "Thanks for that sir." He answered, "You make it sound almost as if it were a statistical tie between the two of us?"

James shrugged, "That's for me to know Lieutenant," He answered with a slight grin on his face. "I'm glad you chose to come aboard as the Chief Operations Officer. I feel pretty lucky having gotten the two of you together. But, dare I ask why you chose operations over command?"

Sam didn't know if he had a quick answer for his decision, "I like my position and I like being an engineer as well. The gold still suits me sir," He answered. It was as plain as he could possibly make it, "I turned down Executive Officer on board the Eisenhower too."

Sam thought about that for a moment, "The ship was entirely too small for my family to continue living there and I didn't want to separate my family either." He shook his head, "I don't know how single parents do it sir."

James leaned back in the seat and folded his hands in his lap, "Well it's not exactly a walk in the park I can tell you that. And be grateful that you have Allyson to help you. Paige is a good kid, but there have been some milestones in her life that I was very ill equipped for."

Sam frowned, "I'm sure her Mom would think you were doing well."

James shook his head, "I doubt that very much." He admitted, "Paige and I get along really well for it being just the two of us. I know she was very little when her mother passed away and Paige probably barely remembers her. However, there are times when I have to play both parents and it makes things that much more complicated. Besides, I wish I could give Paige the option instead of having only one choice."

Sam found that rather tough, "Luckily I haven't had to experience that. Kate lived on Earth for a very short time with Allyson, but they've lived on starships with me ever since. Now we're just hoping she gets along with others her age on board instead of just adults."

James thought about his last ship, the Galaxy-class starship. It was larger and so there were more kids the same age as Paige. That part had helped him a lot more than he probably had realized at the time. "She'll adjust, and there are only three of them on board. Besides, if Paige gives her any trouble I'll put my foot down."

Sam smiled warmly, "I know you will sir." He answered. Sam looked out the window for a moment before he continued to speak, "I think Commander Preston is probably a better fit for command here than I am anyway if I were being honest."

James looked at the stars for a moment, "I think you both would have been a good fit," He told the Lieutenant. "When you're ready for command I think you'll do an excellent job."

"Thank you sir," Sam replied. He stood up and smoothed the front of his uniform, "We probably should get to the bridge."

James nodded, "Right." He said and stood up while grabbing his coffee. "Let me know if your family or you need anything while you're assigned here."

"Certainly," Sam answered. The conversation had gone better than he thought it would. Sam stepped out onto the bridge to see much of alpha shift already occupying their posts. He stepped across the bridge and stopped behind his station. It had been a good conversation and he would eventually tell Allyson, just not yet.

 

RSS Feed