The New Yeoman

Posted on Fri Mar 28th, 2025 by Captain James Cohen & Petty Officer 3rd Class Rayne Martinez

1,162 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: M02 - The Sixteenth Rule
Location: Captain's Ready Room, USS Hooke
Timeline: Present

James had returned to his office after the Hooke came alongside the Cutter. There were a number of new personnel coming aboard the ship including a new helmsman. They had also not received their orders yet, just that they were supposed to be making their way toward the Nehru System. He felt as if Admiral Beckett wasn't telling him something, James just wasn't sure what it was. He sighed and tried to find some busy work to do while he waited for word from Starfleet about their next set of orders.

Rayne had been anxiously waiting to meet her new Captain, the combination of being nervous and excited made it difficult for her to enjoy being aboard the Cutter. She'd probably studied the layout of the new ship a thousand times before feeling confident in her ability to get around it. So when she came aboard, finally, she felt as if she'd been aboard the ship all this time. Rayne made her way to the bridge then across it before stopping at the Captain's ready room. She pressed the chime and waited.

James looked up from the PADD he was reading, "Enter please."

Rayne entered as soon as she'd been given permission to do so, "Captain sir." She said with a slight stutter. It was then that Rayne realized she didn't know what she wanted to say to this man. Her nervousness had suddenly overtaken her, and she hesitated because of it.

James smiled warmly, "Ah," He said almost immediately realizing who this was. "You must be Petty Officer Martinez," He stood up from behind his desk and come around so that he was standing a little closer to her. He stuck out his hand slightly so that she could shake it.

Rayne looked at the Captain's hand for a moment and wondered if this was normal for him. She presumed it had to be, he clearly introduced himself this politely to everyone. "Yes sir," She said and took his hand before giving it one gentle shake and releasing it. "I'm your new Yeoman."

James nodded and took a single step back before indicating the set of sofas over in the corner by the window that looked out into space. "Please take a seat Ms. Martinez." He said and sidestepped so that she could get past him.

Rayne stepped around the Captain and sat down, she'd not expected for them to actually talk. She didn't know what she was supposed to talk to him about. This was all just so strange to her, "I have a thousand different questions," She mumbled as she fell back into the soft sofa. "This is my first time being the direct yeoman to a Captain."

James had read her personnel file and already knew this, however, he didn't mention that. "This is the first ship I've ever been the Captain of," He told her while sitting down in his usual spot on the sofa opposite from where she was sitting. "I don't expect much and I'm not super picky. You're going to be the only yeoman on board I'm afraid." He informed her softly, "You'll have your own office though. It's one deck down from the bridge."

Rayne had served on the Rutledge prior to this and she had become accustomed to there being more than one yeoman, "I work directly for you though correct sir?"

James nodded, "That's correct Ms. Martinez." He told her, James had already picked up just how nervous she was and he chose to let that part pass. There wasn't a reason to address the elephant in the room so to speak, just like the rest of his crew they all had to get used to each other. "At the moment there's really no pressing matters that I need you to attend to, I've handled most of the work that would have piled up before you got here."

Rayne found herself breathing a sigh of relief when he told her that. She really needed to get acclimated to the ship and her crew, but most importantly she needed to get acclimated to her Captain. "I appreciate that sir." She said to the Captain, "So my own office eh?"

James grinned, "Like that part?"

Rayne nodded her head once, "Oh yes sir." She was looking forward to decorating it, "How big is it?"

"It's not that large, but it's across the corridor from the Executive Officer's Office. If you need anything at all Commander Preston will be there to help you," He told her. "I'll send you a list of all the things and paperwork I've completed in your absence, and if anything needs correcting or isn't up to your standards then feel free to make amends."

Rayne found his personality to be quite up front and different. Her last Captain was a bit different though she didn't work directly for her last Captain. Rayne could get really quite used to this guy, "I'll check it out after I've had time to settle in." She said. Rayne didn't know who she'd be sharing quarters with, being enlisted instead of an officer meant she didn't get her own.

She had accepted this a long time ago, but now that she was at the bottom end of being a non-commissioned officer it would probably be a little different. "Was there any specific requirements from Starfleet that I need to address?"

James thought about it before shaking his head, "Not at the moment, just make yourself comfortable aboard the ship. There are a number of different activities that the crew have been working on putting together. I understand you used to play violin?"

Rayne felt her cheeks turn a slight shade of pink at the mention of that, "Um yes Captain. I still play, but I've not played in front of another person in quite a while. I typically practice in the holodeck, I'm sure there is a music hall program or something for me to use?"

James didn't have an answer, "I'm not sure if there is. But, that doesn't mean we can't get some if that is what you would like."

"I would like that Captain," Rayne told him.

James nodded once more, "Well, I think that about covers it. I'll get your orders signed," He leaned forward and took the PADD she'd been holding before signing them and returning them once again. "Welcome aboard Ms. Martinez." He told her.

She grinned and took the PADD before standing up, "Thank you sir." She nodded once and left the office.

James watched her go before standing up, "She's interesting." He said under his breath, and left it at that. James went over to his desk and sat down behind it once more. He found himself wondering how much longer Starfleet was going to leave them without orders before finally letting them in on something. James leaned back, he was growing kind of bored which was strange he supposed.

 

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