Farewell to the Lenox Hill

Posted on Thu Oct 24th, 2024 @ 7:33pm by Lieutenant Kaelen Voss

1,787 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Interlude 1 Gamma Quadrant
Location: USS Lenox Hill

[ON]

The corridor outside Lieutenant Kaelen Voss’s quarters felt quieter than usual, as if the ship itself knew he was leaving. A faint hum of the warp core reverberated through the walls, a constant reminder of the heart that powered the Lenox Hill, the ship that had been his home for the last three years.

Kaelen leaned against the doorframe of his quarters, arms folded, staring at the packed duffle at his feet. His uniform was crisp, the yellow trim freshly pressed, but the ache in his ribs from fight night with Radek lingered beneath the fabric. He rolled his shoulder once, trying to shake off the stiffness, but the weight of leaving was heavier than any injury.

This was it. His transfer to DS18 had been processed, and his orders were clear: Await the arrival of the U.S.S. Firebird. It was a new start, a new challenge, but saying goodbye wasn’t going to be easy.

Kaelen hoisted the duffle over his shoulder and stepped into the corridor, making his way toward the lower decks. The Lenox Hill wasn’t a large ship, but it was big enough to be a maze of memories—late nights in engineering, long shifts on the deck, and the camaraderie of friends forged through crises and boredom alike.

He stopped at the engineering deck, where a handful of the crew had gathered to see him off. Jax Renar, his closest friend on the ship, leaned casually against the bulkhead with a lopsided grin.

“Thought you were sneaking out without saying goodbye,” Jax said, pushing off the wall and clapping Kaelen on the shoulder.

Kaelen chuckled. “You know me better than that.”

Jax’s grin softened, a flicker of something unspoken passing between them. They’d seen each other through a lot—malfunctions, hostile encounters, and even a fight or two on and off the books. This goodbye wasn’t just the end of a tour. It was the end of a chapter.

“You’ll do great on the Firebird,” Jax said, his voice quieter now. “They’re lucky to have you.”

Kaelen gave a small nod. “Take care of things here, yeah?”

Jax smirked. “Don’t worry about us. Just try not to blow up the new ship.”

The two clasped hands, a firm, final grip. “No promises,” Kaelen said as they both smiled at each other.

After saying goodbye to the rest of the crew on the engineering deck, Kaelen made his way to the Commander’s office. He stood outside for a moment, adjusting the duffle on his shoulder. Sovan had been more than just his XO. In her own way, she’d been a mentor—quietly shaping him with her relentless adherence to Starfleet principles, even as she occasionally hinted at the value of bending rules when necessary.

He tapped the panel beside the door, and it slid open with a soft hiss. Commander Liora Sovan stood behind her desk, as composed as ever, her hands clasped neatly behind her back.

“Lieutenant Voss,” she greeted, her sharp gaze meeting his as he stepped inside.

Kaelen gave her a small nod. “I wanted to thank you, Commander. For everything.”

Sovan tilted her head slightly, her Vulcan features inscrutable. “You performed your duties with commendable dedication, Lieutenant. Other than a ruffle here and there, your transfer to the Firebird is well deserved.”

There was a brief pause, the kind of silence that could have easily passed unnoticed by most, but Kaelen knew better. This was her version of a farewell.

“Stay sharp, Lieutenant,” Sovan said, her voice even. “The Firebird will challenge you in ways you have not yet encountered.”

Kaelen allowed himself a small smile. “I’ll keep that in mind, Commander. And… thank you again.”

She gave him a slight nod, the closest thing to a personal gesture he was likely to receive. It was enough.

Not long after, Kaelen made one last stop.

The cafeteria aboard the U.S.S. Lenox Hill was unusually quiet for the midday cycle. Only a handful of crew members dotted the space, most of them focused on their meals or lost in quiet conversations. Kaelen walked in and noticed Ensign Brill at a corner table, his tray of replicated food barely touched. Brill shifted nervously in his seat, poking at his sandwich as if it might come alive.

“You okay, Brill?” Voss asked, his tone easy but direct.

Brill glanced up, guilt flickering across his face. “Yeah… just, y’know… thinking.”

Voss sat down opposite of him and placed his bag down on the floor. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “You ever hear about the first time I stood up to a bully?”

Brill blinked, looking up from his food. “No, sir.”

Voss leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “I was about ten years old. Lived on a colony world in the outer systems—one of those places where the community was tight, and kids had to make their own fun.” He gave a small chuckle. “You know, the kind of place where you either got along with everyone or… well, you didn’t.”

Brill tilted his head slightly, his interest piqued. “What happened?”

Voss gathered the memory like a coil of thread unraveling. “There was this kid named Derren—big kid, older than me by a few years. Used to make everyone’s life miserable, but for some reason, he had it out for me the most.” Voss smiled faintly, though there was no humor in it. “Every day after school, like clockwork, he’d wait by the old transport station. Push me around, call me names, and—sometimes—he’d get rough.”

Brill winced, shifting in his seat. “What’d you do?”

“At first? Nothing.” Voss shook his head. “I tried to avoid him. Kept quiet. Did all the things you’re supposed to do to stay out of trouble.” He glanced at Brill meaningfully. “But the thing about bullies is, if they think they can get away with it, they never stop.”

Brill looked down at his hands, nodding slightly. He knew that truth all too well.

“One day, though…” Voss trailed off, a small smirk playing at the edge of his mouth. “I decided I wasn’t going to take it anymore. Derren knocked me down—same as always—but this time, I got back up. And I hit him. Right in the nose.” Voss laughed softly. “Didn’t think about it, didn’t plan it—just let my instincts take over.”

Brill’s eyes widened slightly. “What happened after that?”

“Oh, he kicked my ass,” Voss said with a chuckle, shrugging. “Derren was bigger, stronger, and knew how to throw a punch. But that wasn’t the point.” Voss leaned forward again, locking eyes with Brill. “The point is, I got back up. And I kept getting back up.”

Brill furrowed his brow. “But… if you still lost, what did that change?”

Voss smiled knowingly. “It changed everything. Derren never touched me again after that. He realized I wasn’t going to make it easy for him anymore. And bullies? They hate resistance.” He tapped the table with his index finger, emphasizing the point. “It’s not about winning. It’s about showing them you won’t let them walk over you—or anyone else.”

Brill sat in thoughtful silence for a moment, processing the story. “So… even if it’s hard, even if you’re scared, you have to stand up?”

“Exactly,” Voss said with a nod. “It doesn’t matter if you’re afraid. Everyone gets scared. What matters is what you do with that fear.” He gave Brill a reassuring look. “You push back. Even if you don’t win, even if it’s messy, you show them you won’t be broken.”

Brill glanced down at his tray again, a new expression settling on his face—something closer to determination. It wasn’t going to be easy for him to change how he saw himself, but Voss could see that the gears were beginning to turn.

“Thanks, Lieutenant,” Brill murmured, his voice sincere.

Voss gave him a small, easy smile. “Anytime, Brill.” He leaned back and finally took a bite of his food. “Besides, life’s a lot easier when you don’t let bullies win.”

Brill nodded, his posture a little straighter than before. For the first time in a while, he looked like he wasn’t just trying to disappear into the background. He looked like he was ready to stand his ground.

As they sat together in comfortable silence, the hum of the ship’s engines thrumming softly beneath their feet, Kaelen knew he’d done his job.

With his farewells complete, Kaelen made his way to Transporter Room 2. The familiar hum of the transporter platform greeted him as he stepped onto the pad, duffle slung over his shoulder. The transport officer at the console gave him a polite nod as he keyed in the destination: an awaiting passenger transport bound for DS18 off the port bow.

Kaelen glanced around the room one last time. This was it. His time on the Lenox Hill had come to an end, and ahead of him lay DS18—and eventually, the Firebird.

“Energize,” Kaelen said quietly.

The transporter whined to life, and the familiar shimmer of blue light enveloped him. As the Lenox Hill dissolved around him, Kaelen felt the weight of the past lift from his shoulders. The next chapter was waiting.

Kaelen rematerialized on the transport vessel, greeted by the hum of its engines and the sterile scent of the passenger lounge. A crewman gestured toward an open seat by the viewport, where Kaelen dropped his duffle and settled in. The USS Lenox Hill having did its job meeting up with the shuttle, it veered off going on its merry way.

Outside the window, stars streaked past in endless trails, a reminder of the vastness of space and the endless possibilities it offered. DS18 was a few hours away, but Kaelen found himself relaxed for the first time in days.

He leaned back in the seat, the hum of the engines a soothing constant. The Firebird was waiting for him, and with it, new challenges, new allies, and—undoubtedly—new problems to solve.

But for now, Kaelen Voss allowed himself a rare luxury: peace.

As the stars streaked by, he closed his eyes and let the transport carry him forward. The past was behind him. The future lay ahead.

And Kaelen Voss was ready for it.

[OFF]

Lieutenant Kaelen Voss
Damage Control Specialist
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

RSS Feed

Comments (2)