Posted by Captain Alex Becket (Commanding Officer) in The Arrival: USS Ark Angel (NCC-98729)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Dr. Charlotte Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr (Medical Officer) in The Arrival: USS Ark Angel (NCC-98729)

Posted by Captain Alex Becket (Commanding Officer) in The Arrival: USS Ark Angel (NCC-98729)
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
[Snip]

Alex looked right back at Charlotte again and nodded. “Yeah I am a very straightforward guy. I can be as thoughtful as anyone could ask. Besides, I prefer to be with someone who likes those traits too.” He said. “Welcome to deck 44. Deck 44 has Junior Officers Quarters. More Non-commissioned officers Quarters. Shuttlebay 4 cargo bays 3 and 4 and tertiary docking hatch.” He started to tell her what the deck has.

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

Charlotte stepped out onto Deck 44 beside him, listening as he described the layout with the familiarity of someone who truly knew every section of his ship.
“That’s because most people spend too much time hiding what they actually mean,” she replied as they walked. “Straightforward can be rare in Starfleet. Everyone learns diplomacy, protocol, politics…” She glanced sideways at him. “Not everyone keeps honesty.”
As he pointed out the cargo bays and docking hatch, her attention shifted naturally toward the surrounding architecture—the wider cargo corridor access points, reinforced bulkheads, and the increased industrial traffic compared to the previous deck.
“This section probably gets busy during resupply operations,” she observed. “Cargo routing this close to Shuttle Bay Four keeps turnaround efficient. Less cross-deck congestion.”
She looked genuinely impressed.
“The Ark Angel feels less like a ceremonial flagship and more like a working vessel.” Her tone carried approval. “I like that.”
As they continued down the corridor, she slowed briefly near a viewport overlooking part of the docking support structure. The distant glow of station lights reflected faintly across the glass.
“And for the record,” she added more quietly, returning to the earlier part of the conversation, “thoughtful isn’t a trait I’d ever consider a weakness.”
Her eyes shifted back toward him.
“Especially from someone confident enough to actually mean what he says.”
Lieutenant Jr. Grade
Dr. Charlotte Fliehr- Medical
USS ARK ANGEL

Alex chuckled. “Well of course. It’s something that most Starfleet officers don’t usually carry is the confidence. Besides a ships captain should know the layout of his ship. I’ve been here on the Ark Angel well over a year now. I was actually the Chief engineer, then executive officer then commanding officer. So I pretty much know this ship from the back of my head.” He started to explain his knowledge of the ship. As they were walking down the corridor, he thought about holding her hand but he knew that it wouldn’t be the wisest thing an officer should do.

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

Charlotte listened closely, clearly interested now not only in the ship itself, but in the path that had brought him to command it.
“You came up through engineering?” she asked, sounding genuinely intrigued. “That explains a lot, actually.”
She gestured lightly toward the surrounding corridor.
“Most captains learn a ship from reports and bridge rotations. Engineers learn a ship by tearing into its systems until they understand how every part breathes.” A faint smile appeared. “That tends to create commanders who pay attention to details other people overlook.”
As he mentioned moving from chief engineer to executive officer and finally captain, there was unmistakable respect in her expression.
“That’s not a small climb in just over a year,” she said. “It means this crew trusted you long before you wore four pips.”
The corridor around them quieted somewhat as they moved further from the busier cargo junctions. Charlotte noticed his brief hesitation—the almost unconscious thought crossing his mind before discipline pulled it back. She didn’t comment on it directly, but the softness in her expression suggested she understood anyway.
“Honestly,” she continued after a moment, “I think confidence gets misunderstood in Starfleet. People confuse it with arrogance.”
She looked over at him calmly.
“But real confidence is usually quieter than that. It’s knowing who you are without needing everyone else to confirm it.”
A small smile tugged at her lips again.
“Though in your case, I suspect a little cockiness survived the Academy after all.”
Lieutenant Jr. Grade
Dr. Charlotte Fliehr- Medical
USS ARK ANGEL

“Heh. Yeah. Some of that cockiness did survive through the academy. But yeah. As the Chief Engineer here, I scrubbed through all the Jefferies tubes to the bridge and back down here. Never have I thought I’d go through the chain so quickly.” He started to explain with a moment of a pause he then continued. “Funny thing to know is that I went from being an Ensign on another ship, to Lieutenant J.G. here on board. Skipped the rank of Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander. Skipped the rank of Commander to captain. Somehow, I believe command saw how much of an asset I am to the ship. I had to find some better crew to make sure this ship ran smoothly.” As he took another moment of a pause and then looked back at her. “Let’s just say my hard work had paid off. My previous commanding officer had went AWOL and so I stood up and took command. Suddenly once command found out about it they had promoted me to captain and my own command here.” He took a slight breath to catch and then continued. “However, I am not sure about most people and how they feel about someone at my age becoming captain at a young age still. But everyone here has came to accept it. Which of course is the best thing that has happened to me.” He continued. Taking a moment to allow her to say something to him before he ends up chewing her ear off.

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

Charlotte stayed quiet while he spoke, letting him tell the story uninterrupted. By the time he finished, there was no trace of surprise left in her expression—only understanding.
“That,” she said calmly, “isn’t luck.”
She slowed her pace slightly beside him, her voice thoughtful and steady.
“People don’t get handed a center seat because command feels generous one morning. Especially not skipping ranks.” She looked directly at him. “That only happens when someone proves they can carry responsibility faster than the system expected.”
The mention of his commanding officer going AWOL caused her expression to tighten slightly, more serious now.
“And stepping into command during a crisis tells me more than the promotions do.” She folded her arms lightly. “A lot of officers can follow procedure when everything is stable. Very few can hold a ship together when leadership collapses.”
Charlotte’s gaze drifted briefly around the corridor—the crewmen moving through the lower decks, the steady rhythm of the ship continuing around them.
“You know how I can tell this crew accepts you?” she asked quietly. “They’re relaxed around you.”
She gestured subtly toward a passing pair of officers who nodded respectfully to him without fear or stiffness.
“That doesn’t happen with captains people merely obey. It happens with captains people trust.”
A faint smile returned then.
“And honestly, Alex? Your age is probably the least interesting thing about you.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“You climbed from ensign to captain because when things went wrong, you stayed standing while everyone else waited for orders.” Her eyes held his steadily. “Starfleet notices officers like that.”
Then the teasing warmth returned, just enough to ease the seriousness.
“Though I imagine the Academy instructors are probably furious that the reckless pilot cadet turned out to be right about himself.”
Lieutenant Jr. Grade
Dr. Charlotte Fliehr- Medical
USS ARK ANGEL

Alex looked up. “I know. But I feel like that something that we did could’ve made us so much happier. But still me moving up has been the best thing that has happened.” He replied.

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

Charlotte’s expression softened again as she listened to him. The quieter admission carried more weight than the earlier teasing ever had.
“Maybe it would have,” she said honestly. “Or maybe we would’ve crashed and burned at nineteen because neither of us knew who we were yet.”
A faint smile touched her lips.
“Timing matters more than people like admitting.”
She slowed near another junction in the corridor, the hum of the ship surrounding them in the brief pause.
“You spent those years becoming this version of yourself,” she continued. “Not just a captain—someone capable of carrying an entire ship on his shoulders when things went sideways.” Her eyes met his steadily. “That doesn’t happen by accident.”
Charlotte looked at him carefully then, as though weighing the thought before speaking it aloud.
“And if I’m being truthful…” She exhaled softly. “I don’t think I would’ve appreciated who you were back then the same way I can now.”
There was no regret in her tone. No bitterness over missed chances. Just perspective.
“You earned what you became, Alex. Every promotion, every ounce of trust this crew gives you.” A small smile returned. “I’d rather meet the man who survived all of that than the overconfident Academy cadet my father kept trying to advertise to me.”
Then, with the slightest teasing edge returning:
“Even if apparently I wanted to kiss him.”
Lieutenant Jr. Grade
Dr. Charlotte Fliehr- Medical
USS ARK ANGEL

Alex took what she said in. “Well what do you see in me now? I’m guessing you’ve finally met the man who survived all of that than that overconfident Academy Cadet that your father kept trying to advertise to you?” He asked. “As in. Am I the man you would want to be with now or back then?” He asked with a slight nod.

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

Charlotte looked at him for a long moment before answering, clearly recognizing that the question carried more weight than casual flirtation.
When she finally spoke, her voice was calm and sincere.
“The cadet version of you probably would’ve been exciting,” she admitted. “Confident, reckless, ambitious… the kind of person who burns brightly enough that everyone notices when he walks into a room.”
A faint smile crossed her lips.
“But that’s not the part of you I’m paying attention to now.”
She stepped a little closer as they slowed near the corridor intersection, though her posture remained composed and professional.
“The man standing in front of me now knows responsibility. He knows restraint.” Her eyes stayed locked on his. “He knows what it costs to lead people.”
Charlotte folded her hands loosely in front of her.
“You listen when people speak. Your crew trusts you. You still walk the lower decks even after becoming captain. And despite everything you’ve accomplished, you still blush when you’re being honest with someone.” A softer smile appeared. “That tells me you haven’t let command turn you cold.”
She let the silence settle briefly before answering the second part directly.
“So to answer your question?” she said quietly. “No. I don’t think I would choose the Academy cadet over who you are now.”
There was warmth in her expression now, undeniable and steady.
“I think I’d choose the man who survived becoming Captain Alex Becket.”

Lieutenant Jr. Grade
Dr. Charlotte Fliehr- Medical
USS ARK ANGEL