Posted by Lieutenant Maria Beckett (Chief of Security) in Cargo Bay 1

Posted by Commander BJ Janzen (Chief Science Officer) in Cargo Bay 1

Posted by Lieutenant Maria Beckett (Chief of Security) in Cargo Bay 1
Posted by… suppressed (19) by the Post Ghost! 👻
BJ sat at the back of the crowd. As a department head he should be at the front. But today was not the type of day he wanted to be there. Today was the annual day of mourning. The list of names always seemed to get longer. Some he knew; some he didn’t. There was one name missing. Or at least to him it was missing. Someone in his past that meant something a little more than just the mention of a name.

He simply sat at the back waiting for ceremony to end. It was the typical ceremony. The playing of the last post; the remarks by the captain and counselors. All of it BJ disliked.

Janzen

Aza, with a heavy heart, observed BJ sitting at the back of the somber crowd during the annual day of mourning. She could sense the weight of his emotions, even from a distance. It wasn’t difficult to understand that today held significance for him.

As the ceremony continued, Aza decided quietly to approach BJ. She walked up to him, choosing her words carefully. “BJ,” she began, “I couldn’t help but notice that you seem preoccupied today. Is there something specific on your mind, or someone you were hoping to see honored here?”

Aza, Security

He didn’t know who this was. But BJ barely knew many of the crew outside his own department. But he did appreciate that she approached him. “Just seems the list gets larger every year no matter what ship you’re on. It’s worse when you’re the leader. You know them all.”

Janzen

Aza nodded solemnly, acknowledging the weight of BJ’s words. “It’s a heavy burden, remembering and leading,” she replied. “If you ever need someone to share that weight with, I’m here. We all carry it together in our own way.”

Aza

BJ nodded. He had someone. She was an excellent support. “I know. I have someone. She knows the whole story.”

Ciaran had heard there is something going on down in Cargo Bay 1. He had been sitting in his quarters after the last mission was over but needed to do some thing for the time being. It was too early to go to sleep and he had already eating. He got up from his couch and put his uniform back on. He then left his quarters and wondered down to Cargo Bay 1 to see what is going on. After a few minutes of walking and riding in the turbolift, he arrived at Cargo Bay 1. He noticed a large amount of activity here so he knew something was going on. He found a seat to sit down at and just watched.

Lt Cmdr Donoghuei
XO

KT had heard about something going on in cargo bay 1 but she wasn’t sure entirely what it was. So she had decided to head down. When she had reached the cargo bay, she slipped in silently to the back of the room and observed the room. It reminded her of her own peoples day of sorrow, where they celebrated their victory but also mourned and remembered all those who had died, organic and synthetic alike, in their quest for freedom.

While she could process something similar to KT had never really managed to emulate true sorrow or mourning, but she knew that it was a key part of the organic healing process.

Lieut KT-QT (CMO)

Another silent figure slipped in, dressed for the occasion. She said nothing, but immediately found an unobtrusive corner.

Tralla, as captain, of course had to be in the front and address the crew. “We were lucky this time,” she said, motioning to them. “We did not lose any of our own family. Because in a way, that’s what we all are. We are a family. However, no ship’s luck ever holds indefinitely. Space is vast and dangerous, and we all know what we signed up for. But that does not mean that it is not tragic when we lose members of our crew, or other crews. The important bit is how we move forward. We have to remember them fondly, pull ourselves up, and continue on. We know that’s what they would want.” She kept her speech short and simple before moving to sit with her husband for the rest of the service. Knowing that this was even more painful for him, she held his hand gently and lovingly throughout the day, trying to be supportive despite the fact that she had not exactly been the best wife so far.

Tralla

The feel of her hand made him a little more relaxed. She understood why he was the way he was today. And she didn’t hold it against him. Just knowing that she supported him was enough for him. “Good speech.”he commented. “Thank you, my captain.”

Janzen

Ciaran was always happy when the captain gave a speech. He was not sure he was happy about how short it was but he understood it could be important to keep it short and sweet. He was still not 100% sure what was going on but he knew he needed to be here.

Lt Cmdr Donoghuei
XO

Tyr stood with his Wingman near the cluster of junior Security Officers near the rear, he could see the interaction between the Chief Science Officer and the crew. He’d heard that ships often had different types of rituals and traditions so this hadn’t surprised him but he did find the experience discomforting, he’d only been there a few weeks now so the feeling of being an outsider was still there, they were all welcoming but this event was proof if he needed it, he didn’t feel in his heart the sadness or somberness of this moment, he hadn’t known those lost and although any loss of life was tragic, tragedy was oftentimes lessened the further away from it you were.

Ensign Tyr - Sec

Tralla smiled and leaned in kissing him on the cheek “I know what this day means to you of course I am going to do what i can to get you through it.” she said softly

Tralla

A small kiss; the breaking of the professionalism they tried to keep. They had always tried to keep thing low key. But, every now and then it would be seen. He never wanted her position to be compromised. She had worked too hard for that to happen. “Not very professional Captain. Not that I’m complaining.”

Janzen

“oh we are both off duty and its no secret that we are husband and wife so its natural not like we are hanging off each other and having deep make out sessions in the corridors” she chuckled soon it was time for everyone else to go back to what they had to do and the captain would walk with her husband back to their quarters

Tralla

Tyr being a relative newcomer had to physically restrain himself from ogling at the Captain and Science Chief kissing in such a public spaces, he’d sat through hours of lessons discussing relationships between officers especially those within the same command chain so he still held on the more rigid Earth Starfleet way of looking at things. But he also knew that they were married and if Command didn’t interfere he had no right to judge. Of course the entire time he was looking away so hard he might as well have been staring directly at them.

Ensign Tyr Sec

BJ smiled from the picture his wife had just put in his head. “You and I would enjoy that too much.”

Janzen

KT saw Tyr trying to look away and smiled. She too had found it hard to adjust to seeing such public displays of attraction. While she could emulate Love or attraction, she could never truly experience it. It was one of the few things she envied about Organics.

Deciding to be a little adventurous KT decided to try and ‘break the ice’ as organics said. she walked over to Tyr “I guess you’re mot used to seeing such things between officers? she asked her tone calm but warm.

Lieut KT-QT (CMO)

Tyr nearly jumped out of his skin, he’d been so focused on not watching anything in particular that he’d completely missed the Doctor approaching him, he cursed his lack of situational awareness and hoped his boss hadn’t seen that “Uhm what?” He asked looking directly at her with the look of someone completely lost, it took him a moment to replay her words in his head and he felt his cheeks heat up out of embarrassment “Uhh no Ma’am, I mean well I’ve met married officers before and the dating scene at the Academy is always ongoing but no never on the same ship” He blurted out “Not that I’ve been on enough ships to make such an observation or had the experience to judge” He was dangerously close to babbling.

Ciaran does not believe he could ever have a romantic relationship with anyone on a ship as he was not sure how he would handle the chain of command and not upsetting the wrong people. He also liked keeping his professional and private light separated. He knew some folks could handle it, but it was not for him. He was curious what else was going to be discussed during this little get together but he sat quickly waiting on what was to come.

Lt Cmdr Donoghuei
XO

Aza, observing the interactions around her, sensed the mix of emotions in the room. The day of mourning had brought forth not just sorrow but also moments of connection and understanding among the crew. It was a reminder that even in the vastness of space, they formed a community even something like a family.
Turning her attention back to BJ, Aza spoke softly, “It’s moments like these that bring us together, isn’t it? The pain and the shared memories. It’s what makes us stronger as a crew.” She understood the delicate balance of leadership, being close to the crew, and the personal toll it took on each individual.

He couldn’t disagree with her. But these moments also bring up the what if questions he didn’t want to ask. “Yeah. You could say that.”

Aza also noticed the exchange between Tyr and KT. Aza admired KT’s attempt to bridge the gap but understood how Tyr could feel uncomfortable. “It just takes time to get used to the dynamics on a ship,” Aza remarked, addressing both Tyr and KT.

Aza, Security

Tyr gave Aza an appreciative nod, though they’d joined the ship at the same time and were technically peers she was the seniormost of the junior officers experience-wise “Aint that the truth” he said under his breath before remembering the presence of the department head “Uhh, well yeah time, need more time definitely” He felt a sudden urge to curse, he’d never been socially awkward before even around higher ranking officers bt now twice he’d been surprised by conversations with the ships senior staff and he felt like a child forced to sit at the adults table during Yule, perhaps he should speak with the counselor about this, he then remembered that the position was currently vacant making his conversational partner the go-to person for psychological aid, he briefly wondered what here views on his disorganised organic way of thinking, perhaps her perspective would be good for his problem.

Ensign Tyr, Sec

Blue eyes watched the crowd without seeing, or at least lingering on anyone element or aspect. It was all taken in with the passive scanning of a career security officer, investigator, intelligence operative. Recorded for playback later, but for now, her gaze was turned inward. This particular ceremony was perhaps most apt for The Memorial. A ship meant to embody the weight of all those who came before and paid the ultimate price, gave all they had. Some did it for the Federation and Starfleet. Others simply because they knew nothing else. Others, for their own reasons.

Like BJ, her thoughts reflected to all the names of those lost. Not just here. Memories of blood, fire, and smoke filled her mind. Alarms and kaxxons. The screams of the injured and dying ringing in her ears. All preventable.

Well, almost all.

How many more would there be?

Too many.

She rubbed her forehead as if to soothe away an unfelt ache. As much as somber reflection was sometimes good, it felt like on days like this, it was all she did. Best to put it out of her mind. Well, as much as she could. It was a moderate success at best. It did nothing to ease the deep-seated ache in her chest, but one she’d gotten used to over the decades.

turning her gaze outward, she noted two of her senior-most JO’s conversing among the crowd. Good. Her gaze fell on Tralla and BJ. Just for a moment a pang went through her. Another life perhaps and she could have had that. Or something similar to it. But at some point, she had to make peace with being alone. At least, that was what she told herself. It just wasn’t in the cards, it seemed.

Beckett
Janzen

((bump))

Aza took a deep breath, pushing aside the memories that threatened to overwhelm her. She needed to focus on the present, on the crew she was responsible for. Turning her attention back to the broader scene, she observed the crew mingling, forming connections that went beyond their duty stations. It was these bonds that strengthened them, making them more than just colleagues. Lieutenant Beckett’s stoic presence caught her eye. She seemed lost in her thoughts, perhaps wrestling with demons of her own. Aza decided to approach her, considering she was her superior.
Walking over, Aza spoke with genuine concern. “Lieutenant, how are you holding up? Today can be tough for all of us, but it seems like you’re carrying an extra weight.”

Aza, Security