Posted by Commander Riley O’Nell (Executive Officer/Number One) in A new day

Posted by Captain Alex Becket (Commanding Officer) in A new day

Posted by Commander Riley O’Nell (Executive Officer/Number One) in A new day
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
O’Nell woke up and was looking forward to the day ahead. He had a new color uniform and a new pip for his collar.

As he got dressed, he made his way to the bridge as he passed some of the crewman they are congratulated him on his promotion to Commander and the new XO.

O’Nell minutes away to the mass hall to grab a mug of coffee. He enjoyed a quick breakfast with his coffee.

Commander Riley O’Nell (XO)

Nala stepped out of the turbolift and into the corridor almost on autopilot.

The promotion still didn’t feel real.

Chief Science Officer.

Her ears flicked back and forth as the words replayed in her mind, each time carrying a slightly different weight. Responsibility. Expectation. A whole department looking to her now. The ship’s constant hum threaded through the bulkheads and into her bones, louder tonight than it had been earlier.

You just got here.
You were the junior officer this morning.

Her tail swayed behind her without discipline now, betraying the storm of calculations racing through her head. Staffing rotations. Lab allocations. Sensor priorities. What if the senior researchers didn’t respect her? What if she missed something critical? What if…

She turned the corner and nearly walked straight into someone.

Nala stopped short, ears snapping upright in alarm as her thoughts crashed back into the present.

“Oh!” she blurted, catching herself half a step too late.

Her amber eyes lifted and widened slightly when recognition followed.

“Commander sorry sir,” she said quickly, straightening out of reflex. Her tail curled in close as she tried to gather the scattered pieces of her composure.

“I didn’t see you there.”

Her ears flattened for just a moment in embarrassment before lifting again, the faint edge of anxiety still visible around the corners of her posture as she stood there in the corridor newly promoted, overwhelmed, and still trying to keep pace with a ship that never seemed to slow down.

LT.JG Nala

“It’s ok Lt. I guess the new line of promotions are still fresh in everyone’s mind ans people are still excited” he said with a thick Irish accent. He looks at her “ where are you heading?” He asked

Commander Riley O’Nell

The turbolift would come to a halt. He was about to step out while looking at his PaDD, and he would look up. “Oh, excuse me, Commander, Lieutenant. Am I interrupting?” He asked. He wasn’t so sure about anything.

Captain Alex Becket
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

I looked over to the captain and said “ no sir the lieutenant was a little too excited and bumped into me. The only thing you were interrupting was the uncomfortable silence.” He said stepping into the turbo lift

People have been treating him differently ever since he started to walk around with Commander pips on

Commander Riley O’Nell (XO)

“Oh of course.” He said with a smile. “Commander, if you don’t mind, I would like to speak to you about crew rotations, as you know, we could use another officer for different shifts.” He added with a smile as he stepped back in.

Captain Alex Becket
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Nala’s ears flattened slightly as Riley mentioned excitement.

She shifted her weight, tail tightening reflexively behind her before she forced it still. The word didn’t quite sit right with her.

“I think… that might be part of the misunderstanding,” she said carefully, glancing between the Commander and the Captain.

“I’m not really excited about it yet.”

Her voice was quick but quieter than usual, the honesty slipping out before she could polish it.

“It happened very fast,” Nala continued. “Yesterday I was a junior officer trying to prove I belonged on this ship. Today I’m expected to lead an entire science department.”

He would look at her. “You will be the best Chief science officer here on board Lieutenant. I believe in you and I know Commander O’Nell would agree with me.” He said smiling.

Her ears twitched again, betraying the tension she was trying to hide.

“I’m not celebrating yet,” she admitted. “I’m mostly trying to make sure I don’t let anyone down.”

She drew a small breath, straightening slightly as she regained her composure.

“I was actually heading to review the science shift rotations and lab assignments,” she added, nodding slightly toward the Captain and the XO. “If we’re short officers for different shifts, I should probably factor that into the science staffing as well.”

Her tail settled a little as purpose replaced anxiety.

“Whatever the ship needs, sir.”

LT.JG Nala

He again nodded back at her. “I’ll see about something if we don’t have much science officers or any other department in fact. I know that Commander O’Nell will check in with all the current department heads about duty shifts afterwards and what is needed for the crew. If anything, I’ll reach out to command about receiving some additional Junior Officers if and when I get the chance too.” He added making sure that Lieutenant Nala would be at ease.

Captain Alex Becket
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

“My engineering assistant is not aware of my recent promotion. I was thinking about calling him to XO office and tell him the good news from there that he has my old job and I also left a very in-depth instruction manual for engine room operations” he looks at the captain “ sir if you wanna have fun with this, you can sound mad at him tell him to report to XO office” he said with a little grin on his lips

Commander Riley O’Nell (XO)

He looked at Commander O’Nell. “Commander I don’t think it is my place or position to do any of that. I find my officers to be the best of the best. Hence the reason why I have promoted you to my First Officer, I don’t think it would be right for the ships Commanding Officer to “act mad” or “sound mad” to his and or her officers.” He explained. “I however, for instance don’t interfere. I remember being the Chief engineer myself. I was once serving as the Chief engineer to first officer and now my own command. So your following my foot steps.” He added.

Captain Alex Becket
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Riley smiled “So in away history is repeating itself on this vessel” he said as we left the Turbolift “so what’s on today’s agenda” he asked

Commander Riley O’Nell (XO)

He would stand there ponder. “We can head to my ready room and we can go over duty rosters.

Captain Alex Becket
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel