People Puzzle [2/3]

Posted on Sat Apr 18th, 2026 @ 8:52pm by Captain Jaro & Lieutenant Noxe (Cogenitor 125) Tome

847 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 0: 48 Hours and Counting
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: T -30 hours

The question she asked, the guilt she fought with, it had all been neatly explained to him by people with more qualifications than he had personally cared to count. It all made sense on paper. Survivor's guilt they called it. And while he understood it academically, it was different living through it. So he had focussed on his work, his new assignment, his crew. But it all felt a bit disingenuous at the end of the day. He took a deep breath, but instead of sitting back down, he squatted down next to Noxe.

"Lieut... Noxe, we all make mistakes. I have made more than most people. But you did what you thought was right to do, what your training and operating procedures told you to do, when you hooked up the systems of the Amazônia to those of the Lòrien. Nobody else said stop. Not the Captain, not me, not anybody else. How could you have known? And if you hadn't, then that AI, whatever it was, probably would have found another way. Who knows, they might have taken us at the first second. Maybe your actions bought us time on board the Lòrien that we needed to find out what was actually happening. You cannot blame yourself for that."

"And why you're here now with a second pip on your collar? Well, when you were all alone in Lòrien's shuttlebay with that probe, you managed to blow it up with the Pegnitz' weapons. And you not only did you manage to that, you did so without the help of sensors AND without blowing out the primary plasma flow to the port warp nacelle that sat on the other side of that wall - which might have blown up the Lòrien in the process. If that does not show bravery and competency under pressure, then I don't know what does."

He looked down for a moment, clearly unhappy about what it was he had to say next "I tried to keep the crew together as much as possible, but we were stuck in debriefing limbo for a while there, and even among those who had not gotten snatched up by other postings in the interim, few wanted to venture out into the unknown again right away, let alone on a long shot across the galaxy. I was happy when you signed up. But... you shouldn't feel like you don't have other options. You can always request political asylum in the Federation, become a citizen, live a normal life without uniforms and danger. Nobody can touch you after that. One of my cousins is very good lawyer, he'd find 12 ways to get you into the Federation before lunch, especially given your service record. It is your own choice. Always was."

He straightened out again, two vertebrae in his lower back creaking as he did. "But that choice is yours, Lieutenant. And yours alone. So as much as I'd hate to lose my Ops officer this shortly before setting out, I will not force you to stay on this ship if you don't want to."

Noxe nearly flinched as the man knelt down next to her. She didn't know why, exactly; Captain Jaro had never done anything to cause her to fear him nor to distrust him.

"I suppose you're right about the Pengitz," she said. They had managed to not kill anyone else, blow up the engine maintaining the evil AI captain, and get everyone back home. Still. It seemed like a one time thing-something any Ops officer would've done in the same situation.

"And I know. I think for most of them, leaving was a fresh start. I was offered another posting, at a starbase. I...haven't served on one before and they seem...big," she said. Overwhelming in the worst way. And maybe boring...the same people day in and day out, very few newcomers or new experiences happening. Just running a console all day. At least out here, she got to DO things.

"I won't leave. Not yet...I need more experience. This is the best place to get it; I know the Amazônia and I know her systems. She won't work with anyone else," she said. "Besides, only I know your override codes for the food replicators when I run out of credits," she joked.

He gave her a lopsided grin back "If you'd like some pointers on the favorites from my personal replicator menu, I'm happy to tell you that Chunky Citrus Eel Swril ice cream is still very high on my list. By the way, do you think we should bring back the night shift privileges? You know, lounge wear, holographic barista, ice cream buffet. Like we had it on the old Amazônia. Part of me thinks it is the culture of our ship."

"Maybe I should see the counselor. Do you think I could before we officially launch?" She asked.

[TBC]

Captain Jaro
Captain
USS Amazonia

Lieutenant Noxe Tome
Chief Operations Officer
USS Amazônia

 

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