Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Who Knows What the Future Holds
[snip]

As the tiny shuttle docked in the shuttle bay the landing was smooth. The trip had been anything but. There was constant turbulence, so much that Verity was forced to assess the situation. “Is everything okay?” She asked the shuttle pilot. The man turned and looked at her with a wide grin, “Yep. Everything is A-OK.” As Verity stared at him, he felt compelled to continue speaking, “Sorry about the rough trip. We hit some remnants of a solar storm. It’s clearing up though. I’ll have you on the Merrimack in no time.”
Verity nodded but she could help but think, Can you at least try not kill me on my first day back to work?

Now that she was safely back on the Merrimack she thanked the pilot as she hoisted her Starfleet duffle on her shoulder. It was heavier than when she left because she packed the five books in it.
After she exited the shuttle, she headed straight for the Captain’s office. When she arrived she rang the chime and waited to be invited in so she could give him an update on her brief departure.

V. Aphelion

Glen immediately invited Verity in. She wouldn’t have been aware, but shortly after her own shuttle had left, a second left with Joe Milligan and Stanley Wong, and now the Merrimack was left without a First Officer. Here, standing right in front of the Captain, was an officer with all the skills and professional experience that were relevant to the position of Number One. Not only that, but the Captain had already managed to fill the position of CSO while she had been gone, unaware that she would be coming straight back again.

“Apparently, you have a new nickname on the lower decks,” Glen told her. “In the Fantail Lounge, and amongst the crew in the Science Labs on Deck 10, they have started calling you ‘Boomerang’!” Glen laughed.

Verity laughed too. She appreciated the Captain’s humor and its one of the reasons she decided to come back to the Merrimack and not go anywhere else.

“I’m sorry to break this to you, but I’ve already filled the position of CSO while you were gone. I’m afraid that you no longer have a job!” Glen told Verity, then he laughed again.

Verity’s face showed a noticeable frown as Captain Glen told her she no longer had a job. How could he replace her so fast?

“However, I have found you to be a great team player, and I really feel like that’s one skill that really sets you apart from many other officers I’ve had aboard the Merrimack. So, I’d like to offer you the position of Number One instead. I appreciate that you lack experience in Command, but you more than make up for that in enthusiasm. Ask any officer here and I’ve always been a Captain who has given officers a chance. I’ve always found that an enthusiastic but inexperienced officer to be head and shoulders above someone who is qualified but carries a negative attitude. The job is really one of human resources, to which you are certainly well suited, and eventually I’d expect you to ensure higher efficiencies and employee performance. What do you say? Will you be my new second in command?”

• Glen, CO

Her eyes widened as she realized that he was promoting her to first officer on the Merrimack. “I …um…” she stammered her words, “Ye..yes. Of course sir!” The excitement of the promotion was apparent in her voice and her face as she showed a huge smile, however, she paused and a look of concern showed on her face as she asked, “But, what happened to Lieutenant Commander Milligan? Is he okay?”

V. Aphelion