Posted by Commander Brad Walker (Chief Of Staff/Second Officer) in SB 157

Posted by Commander Daniel Hawthorne (Executive Officer) in SB 157

Posted by Commander Brad Walker (Chief Of Staff/Second Officer) in SB 157
Posted by… suppressed (15) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The attractive, platinum haired woman had been sitting at a cafe table waiting for her ship to finish docking properly before boarding. As Cypress lifted her cup of coffee to sip the hot liquid, her blue eyes travelled over the many bodies inhabiting the promenade. Many species and many ranks passed in front of her, some she’d had experience with and a few she’d never met before.

Reaching down to her duffle, she extracted a PaDD from a zippered flap and reread her transfer orders. Captain of the Ogawa! She was aware of what an honor it was to lead a medical ship at her younger age. She closed her eyes for a moment and sent up a silent ‘thanks’ to the powers that be for the opportunity.

When she opened them again she could see an Ensign from security heading her way. “Captain Elliot, the Ogawa has just finished docking and is cycling down for her stay. I told them you were waiting and they said everything was ready for the changeover and to grant you access as soon as you showed up. So, if you’d like to board now, I can take you to the gate.”

Cypress nodded, “Thank you, Ensign. I’d hoped to meet my First Officer here so we could board together, but I don’t see him.”

“Yes, Sir, what was his name again? I can check his whereabouts…”

She scanned the PaDD still in her hands. “Cmdr Daniel Hawthorne.”

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

It was at that moment Daniel arrived, as if summoned, he noticed Cypress straight away with that flowing platinum hair which reminded him of an ex he had at one time, He saw the Captain talking with a security officer from the station

“Captain”

Daniel said stopping at the appropriate distance

“Sorry I’m late”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

She’d seen the Cmdr approaching out of the corner of her eye, so when he’d spoken her rank, she turned without surprise. “On the contrary, Cmdr, you’re not late in the slightest. I was just getting ready to board the Ogawa and was asking where you were. I thought we might get our first look at her together. It would probably be good for the two of us to have a few moments with each other before we address the crew, also.”

Cypress gave a nod to the Ensign who offered to lead them to the gate. He turned immediately and began walking in the Ogawa’s direction.

She fell into step behind him with Hawthorne at her side. “I’m Cypress Elliot, and from what I’ve read, you are Daniel Hawthorne. Pleased to meet you.” She held out a hand in Terran fashion.

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

“Please Captain , when it’s just the two of us , call me Dan”

He said calmly walking beside Cypress

This was his first time as an XO and the Ogawa was his first time being a part of a dedicated medical ship, He himself wasn’t a Doctor, He had completed elective studies in emergency medicine, disaster response, medical logistics, and casualty management. While not qualified as a physician or surgeon, he became proficient in emergency triage, advanced first aid, and coordinating large-scale medical operations.

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

“Likewise, Dan. I have no issue with you calling me Cypress when protocol allows. I understand this is your initial assignment as a first officer. I’m not sure how well Starfleet thought this out, putting a new XO with a new CO, but let’s not tell anyone that we’re newbies. We wouldn’t want to incur any doubt for our lack of experience, would we?”

Daniel smiled

“Of course not, I won’t say anything”

The longer they walked, the closer the Ogawa appeared through the viewports. “She’s really beautiful, isn’t she?”

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

Daniel looked through the viewport

“So this is the Nightingale class , I saw pictures but they don’t do her justice......magnificent”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

The Ensign led them to a ramp that went from the walkway, up into the Ogawa, before he turned around and left, back to his duty station on the promenade. As they walked through the corridors, Cypress stayed engaged with Daniel. “So, tell me what kind of background you come from? Are your parents in the medical field?”

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

As the pair continued thier walk to the Ogawa, Danield smiled faintly at the CO’s question

“I was born in York, England. Beautiful city if you’ve never been—Roman walls, medieval streets, centuries of history around every corner. My parents were both Starfleet officers, so although York was always home, I spent a good part of my childhood moving between postings whenever circumstances allowed.”

“My father, James Hawthorne, was a Chief Engineer. He had an uncanny ability to look at a broken system and somehow know exactly what was wrong before he’d even picked up a scanner. Growing up, I learned that preparation and attention to detail could solve most problems before they became crises.”

“My mother, Elizabeth Hawthorne, commanded a starship later in her career. She was the one who taught me that command isn’t about giving orders—it’s about earning your crew’s trust every single day. Watching her lead, I realised the captain’s chair wasn’t about authority. It was about responsibility.”

He paused for a moment, a hint of nostalgia crossing his features.

“Having two Starfleet officers as parents certainly set a high bar, but they never expected me to follow in their footsteps. They simply encouraged me to find my own path. I considered engineering for a while—my father certainly tried to recruit me—but I found I was more interested in bringing people together than fixing warp cores.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Command just felt… right. Helping a crew work as a team, making difficult decisions when they matter most, and ensuring everyone gets home safely. That’s what drew me to Starfleet, and it’s what’s kept me here.”

“Now, serving as Executive Officer aboard a medical ship feels like a fitting place to be. We may not always be on the front lines of exploration or conflict, but if we can save lives, deliver aid, or give people hope on what might be their worst day, then I’d say we’re doing exactly what Starfleet was meant to do.”

It was at that moment the pair arrived at the airlock of the Ogawa

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

Standing inside the airlock was a man between the new captain and XO in height, noticeably older than both and with a slightly receding hairline.

He was wearing a medical uniform with three gold pips on the collar, and came noticeably to attention as Elliot and Hawthorne approached.

A muttered word to a crewman brought the traditional bosuns pipe up, whistling the traditional call announcing the arrival of a commanding officer.

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Elliot walked up to the man, thinking he was probably part of the crew sent to greet them. “Hello, Captain Cypress Elliot and Cmdr Daniel Hawthorne reporting for duty. Permission to come aboard?” The conversation between the commanding officers had paused for the brief interaction.

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

Daniel smiled and gave a slight nod to Brad , then he waited for some sort of introduction from the Chief Of Staff

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

“Permission granted, Captain, Commander. I’m Dr. Brad Walker, the Chief of Staff on the Ogawa and your Second Officer,” Brad said, extending a hand to first Cypress, then Daniel.

“Welcome aboard the Owie.”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

“Thankyou Commander”

Daniel said accepting the handshake

“Or would you prefer being addressed as Doctor?”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

Brad gave him a grin. “I can give you three answers, and you can pick whichever one makes you laugh the most,” he said

“My job’s mostly administrative, I didn’t spend six years in Evil medical school to be called Mister, and just don’t call me late for dinner.”

Ooc: bonus points if you can name the references
Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

OOC: I thought I reconised the references, they are Mostly administrative is a Bones line, The Evil medical school is from Kim Possible(I didn’t know this one) I’m too old for that one and Don’t call me late for dinner is a joke widely used in Pop culture , I think I’ve even said that one myself, you still didn’t give Daniel a choice of 3 things to call you though :-)

OOC: They must be more pervasive than I thought… Mostly administrative for me was from American Dad (“I can’t believe you’re an educator, Brian.” “My job’s mostly administrative.”), evil medical school is from Austin Powers, and yeah late for dinner is everywhere.

Each was an option to call Brad though: mostly administrative, I don’t do much doctoring, call me Commander; evil medical school, I may only operate on paperwork these days but damnit Jim I’m a doctor; and late for dinner, I’ll respond to either

IC: Daniel smiled when Brad said what he said, the fact the Commander made jokes he actually liked, he thought to himself that he and Brad were going to get on well with each other

“A sense of humour.....I like you”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

IC: “I am to please, Commander,” Brad replied. He probably should have said sir in deference to the younger man’s more senior role on the ship, but their ranks were equal and Brad had considerably more time in grade.

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Daniel smile and nodded , he didn’t mind at all that Brad didn’t call him Sir , afterall they were the same rank he thought.

He stood and waited to see if the CO was going to say anything.

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa