Copernicus' Requiem

Posted on Sun Jan 15th, 2023 @ 7:32pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Junjie Han

1,166 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 5 - Objects In Motion
Location: Operations - Commanders Office

ON

With the gathering mountain of things that he needed to oversee or do, Keiben had finally reached the point of realisation. He was only one man and he was now commanding a sector rather than a station. Part of this workload had already been redirected and he even thought that her new rank suited her, Captain Tamaska Holt. The next thing he needed to sort out was redistributing his scientific responsibilities and to that end, he and Captain Holt were now sitting, waiting for Lieutenant Junjie Han to arrive.
"How does the extra pip feel?"

"Well a little heavier Keiben, it will take some getting used tol" Tam giving a laugh.

Junjie Chimed the door at the Commodores office and entered when he heard permission to enter. As he entered he heard a comment about the extra pip and saw Tamaska standing there. His eyes went to her collar. " Congrats on the promotion to Captain, Tam. " He turned to Keiben. " Reporting as ordered Commodore, Is there something that you require of me or did you call here so that I could be here for my wife's promotion? " He asked with a curious note to his question.

"That would be for another reason!" he motioned for Junjie to take a seat across the desk from him at the same moment he realised that this office would no longer be his own.
"With my promotion it has pressed me to delegate a lot of my command duties to the station to others, hence Captain Holt here... It also means that I will be unable to over see the scientific endeavours throughout the sector because I'm going to be to busy commanding it... How do you feel about taking over that aspect of my responsibilities?"

Junjie seemed surprised by the request. " Take over the science aspect for the entire sector? " He asked. He thought about it for a moment or three. " That sounds like a challenge that I'd be up for Commodore Keiben. I know that your going to be crazy busy running the command and administration aspect of the sector, So yes Commodore I will accept those responsibilities that you've entrusted me with. "

"In that case, congratulations Lieutenant Commander. I will ensure that the command code on Copernicus are transferred over to you..." he could see the confusion mounting on the Asian mans features. "Oh... I'm getting ahead of myself! You will have over sight of the Copernicus as well."

" Wait... What? " He blinked his eyes several times. " Lieutenant Commander? ....Copernicus? " The Commodores words sunk in as he realized what was going on. Wow! ... Umm... Thank you Sir! A promotion and command of a science vessel in the same day, I don't know what to say. I shall do my best in my duties to uphold the honor of the federation science council and to further the knowledge that may benefit us all. "

"You were actually my first choice to take on the mantle of first officer but with you being married to the Commanding Officer it would have been a breach of protocol so the next best ting is just to give you your own command!"
Keiben had moved around the table, extending a hand to his newest commanding officer. "Station business you will answer to Captain Holt. Copernicus related business you will report to me!"

" Aye Commodore! I understand completely. Station matters are referred to Captain Holt and all Copernicus and science matters reported directly to you Sir. " Stated Junjie confirming the order. " It shall be as sir. So I take it that when I'm not out doing investigations on the Copernicus, I'll be here on the station doing my regular science duties? "

Tam was very pleased and also proud of her husband's rank raise, "That is my understanding, a ship for you to make some science discoveries and well back to main science labs." she then looked at Keiben, raising an eyebrow towards him.

"Correct. Now... Commander Han, we do have your first assignment... There are a number of star systems in the vicinity that have yet to have a federation science survey vessel explore their planetary bodies, and who knows, one of them could even be the T'Kon homeworld given what we now know happened. I would like you to take Copernicus out to this system and begin the survey!"
Keiben slipped a PADD across the table to Junjie, the details they had about the system contained within. Simply six planet system. One in the habitable zone, two gas giants on the exterior of the system and three other rocky worlds between the orbits of the fourth planet the the star.

Tam looked at Junjie then back to Keiben, "Well that sounds like a lovely thing to do. And it won't be all at once either." she remarked.

" I guess I'll need a few days to get the crew boarded and the ship supplied and ready to go, after that we'll begin mapping the system and exploring the planets and see what we can find. " Stated Junjie...

"Well, I shall leave you two to organise the crew assignments... We will arrange for a permenant crew to be assigned in time!"
Keiben nodded at both before standing and moving towards the exit. Just as he reached the door however he stopped and turned back to them both. "Just keep her safe for me Junjie... Copernicus was my first command and she holds a special place in my heart!"

" Then we have that in common Commodore, The Copernicus will also be my first command. But I have other reasons that she'll holds a place in my heart as well. That is where I first meet you Keiben and became friends with you. It is also where I met the love of my life and my soulmate. " Said Junjie smiling as he touched Tamaska's hand. " I have also made many friends while I've been here and I hope they will be around for many years to come. Regardless where we've gone in the past or what the mission was, The Copernicus has always brought us home. I promise you Keiben I shall take good care of her. "

"It will be difficult watching the Copernicus go somewhere without me though, I am going to be truthful about this. I have to learn a new way of thinking now." giving a deep seated sigh. "And I blame you." giving Keiben a bit of a teasing scowl, then she laughed.

Keiben smiled at the pair, allowing Junjie this one moment at calling the Commodore by his first name, before turning and striding from the room. His strides seemed to be the requiem, his moving on from what his life had been. He had wider responsibilities now and as much as it pained him to be letting go on Copernicus, the station... all of it. He knew this would be the start of the next chapter of his life. He had a family now and needed to consider them.

OFF

 

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