A Working Vacation
Posted on Wed Apr 23rd, 2025 @ 7:53pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Ensign Emilynn Dove & Petty Officer 3rd Class Keith Potter
2,359 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Shore Leave 1
Location: Earth, San Francisco, Starfleet Academy, Scott Power and Propulsion Center
[ON]
Keith couldn't believe his bad luck. They finally get back to Earth and get shore leave, and he's tagged for some kind of continuing training related to the new power systems upgrade. He walked into the shuttlebay, carrying a bag with enough clothing and personal belongings for the two week course.
"Two weeks out of a four week shore leave? Unbelievable!" He sighed. The Little Bird was on the launch pad, waiting for him. He saw Ensign Nusien checking out the shuttle. Keith decided to just wait until he was done.
Emilynn couldn’t believe her good luck. When Lieutenant Woodhouse had informed her she had been selected for an exclusive two-week course on power system upgrades, she could hardly contain her excitement. Despite her initial unease about her performance during the Jem'Hadar attack, this opportunity boosted her confidence.
She planned to read the preliminary materials that had been given to her on their journey to Starfleet headquarters, but the real draw lay in the opportunity to learn directly from some of Starfleet's most esteemed power systems engineers. This was more than just a course; it was a chance to elevate her skills and contribute meaningfully to her ship. The possibilities seemed endless, and she couldn’t wait to begin.
Entering the shuttle bay, she saw Potter and another officer. She walked up to Potter, smiling brightly. “You ready for this? It should be fun. I can’t wait!”
It was nice to be with someone who was just as sarcastic as he was. Potter made an exaggerated, excited face. "Oh yeah. So. Much. Fun," he said.
"You two." Ensign Nusien called. "Your ride is ready." He gestured for them to follow and slipped inside the Little Bird. The Runabout had undergone a thorough check of all systems after its trip into the past. It was scheduled for a complete overhaul next week.
Potter sighed and followed the Ensign onto the ship. "So Woodhouse put you on this assignment, too, huh? I thought I was going to be the only one. What do you think we're going to be doing?" Potter said as he slipped into one of the seats at a console behind the pilot. He could have sat in the co-pilot seat but he didn't want to have to help with the takeoff checklist.
Emilynn flinched at the edge in Potter's tone, but before she could respond, the call to board the ship rang out. Once aboard, she settled into the co-pilot's seat.
Turning to Potter, she revisited his earlier question. “I haven’t fully reviewed the outline, but I noticed some interesting topics, especially on antimatter storage. Also, Lieutenant Commander Josh Billings is presenting on fusion reactor technology, and I can’t wait to hear him; he has an impressive reputation.”
Her enthusiasm bubbled over as she added, “Did you read his latest journal article on warp field manipulation? It could revolutionize faster-than-light travel! If I had even a fraction of that man’s knowledge, think of the things I could do!” Emilynn’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
Potter blinked. He blinked again. "No, I didn't. I'm a transporter technician. I didn't go to the academy, so some of that stuff is just over my head. Also, I like to spend my free time goofing off and sleeping as much as I can."
Emilynn stared at Potter, puzzled. At first, she thought he was joking, but his demeanor suggested otherwise. "Oh," she said, nodding slowly. An awkward silence fell between them, broken only by the rhythmic beeping of the pilot's console, signaling the preflight sequence. "I see," she finally said with an awkward smile before directing her attention to the console before her. "All systems are ready, Ensign. We’ve been cleared for departure."
"And we're off," Ensign Nusien said. The Little Bird lifted off the deck and accelerated smoothly, shooting out into space. The wove through the spacedock that encased the Firebird. It was clearly used to handling much larger ships, and theirs looked tiny in comparison to a Sovereign-class ship that was in another spacedock nearby. They pivoted, bringing Earth into view, and dove down towards their destination.
This is going to be a long two weeks Potter thought.
By the time they landed, grabbed their gear, and began walking, an hour had passed. Potter couldn't help but stare at the cadets who swirled around them as they crossed the Academy grounds.
"So, you went to school here?" Potter asked.
“Looking back, those years were what you’d expect: rigorous academics and physical training. It wasn’t all that bad,” she smiled. It helped shape her, though she sometimes wished she’d focused more on making friends. “I really grew up here. With most of my family in Starfleet, I spent a lot of my childhood visiting this place,” she added, smiling at Potter.
“So you never aspired to be an officer?” she asked, her curiosity evident. “Your comment about being just a transporter technician surprised me. You could achieve so much more if you wanted to. What’s holding you back?” The boldness of her questions startled her, making her wonder if she’d overstepped.
Potter walked on for a moment, thinking about what the young Operations Ensign had said. After his conversation with Lieutenant Woodhouse, he was suspicious of his reasons for putting the transporter chief on assignment to Starfleet Academy.
"What's the point?" Potter said as they wove through the river of students. They wore the gray cadet uniforms with colors at the collar. He'd seen more than a few cadets come and go on the Firebird. They were all the same. They talked a LOT, and they apparently had endless energy. Just looking at them made him tired.
"I've got my own reasons for staying in Starfleet. Mostly, I just want to do my job and wait for the away mission that is probably going to get me killed." He realized how that could be interpreted, so he added. "Not that I'm trying to die. It's just inevitable with as many away missions, crashes, time warps... all of that. It will get us all eventually."
Emilynn's eyes widened, and her expression softened as she processed Potter's unsettling words. While he wasn’t entirely wrong — death was indeed a part of life, as her family history showed many ancestors who made sacrifices for Starfleet — she felt a deep curiosity about him. Could there be a hidden pain in his past that was shaping his somber perspective? The idea tugged at her heart, intensifying her desire to understand the truth behind the emotions reflected in his eyes.
“Of course not,” she replied softly, her voice laced with a hint of uncertainty. Sensing the heaviness of the moment, she decided to lighten the mood. “So, do you have family in Starfleet? Is that what sparked your interest in becoming a transporter technician?”
Potter laughed. "My family lives on a planet far from here, and they do traditional farming. It's hard labor, and you have to start contributing at about nine years old. I grew up working on equipment because I understood it more than anyone else. But as soon as I could, I left. I don't see my family much," he said as they approached the door of the building.
"And I never wanted to be a transporter tech. I got a bad review a few years ago, and they moved me down to the transporter, taking over from Jacque, who turned out to be a traitor and a spy. I've managed to stay out of too much trouble comparatively. I'm guessing your entire family is Starfleet, right?" The wide door opened in front of them, revealing a massive atrium. Above them, the ceiling was made of transparent aluminum, and a large replica of a Constitution-class starship hung there, sunlight streaming around it. Even though it wasn't full size, the sight of the name made him stop and stare.
NCC 1701 USS Enterprise
“Well, you’re not alone, Keith. I can relate. I’m sure my next review won’t be perfect either. My performance during the Jem’Hadar attack left much to be desired. When it comes to a career in Starfleet, my family's expectations are incredibly high—perfection is not just encouraged; it’s expected. If my father were to discover my shortcomings, he would undoubtedly advocate for additional training to eliminate any flaws I have. I understand where he’s coming from; that’s how he was raised. Still, it can feel overwhelming at times, trying to measure up to those standards.”
She cast a sidelong glance at Potter, searching for any hint of his reaction to her candid admission before continuing. “I must admit, I was quite surprised when Lieutenant Woodhouse assigned me to this intensive two-week course. Don’t get me wrong—I’m truly thankful he did. For me, this is absolute paradise. I would much rather immerse myself in this wealth of knowledge than try to fill my days with leisurely activities that hold no appeal to me.”
As she crossed the threshold, her gaze was instantly drawn upward to the stunning replica of the iconic ship gracefully suspended from the ceiling. Its intricate details shimmered in the light, and she felt a surge of wonder wash over her. "Wow, isn't that breathtaking?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. "I've never been in this building before. This is absolutely incredible!" With quickened steps, she ventured forward to take it all in.
Potter and Emilynn had spent the last two weeks learning the new plasma particle injection system that would soon be coming to the Firebird. Potter had learned how the new system would affect transporter range and efficiency, and at the same time had learned a lot from Emilynn about how other Ops systems would be affected.
They'd been part of a group of forty teams of two, all from different ships. In the beginning, it had been a lot of classwork, which Potter had somehow managed to stay awake in, and then they'd moved on to the lab portion, which was all hands-on. And now they were at the last stage. The simulation exercise.
They were in a mockup ops control center, just the two of them. Each team was getting a turn to show off their skills. They were the seventeenth team, and none of the teams who'd finished had given anything away. Potter had asked.
They were standing together, waiting for the scenario to begin. He turned to Emilynn.
"So this is basically the Ops version of the Kobayashi Maru test, right?"
Emilynn nervously twisted her hands together, glancing around the simulation room as if searching for answers hidden within its sterile walls. “Yeah, that would be my guess, too,” she said, mustering a faint smile that barely concealed the tension coiling in her stomach.
A full minute passed as they each spent time reviewing their own consoles.
“Hey Potter, I don’t know about you,” she began, her voice unwavering as her eyes sparked with a flicker of determination, “but I’m not ready to give in to a no-win scenario.” She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their situation. “I have to believe they want to see how innovative we can be under pressure.” Her resolve filled the room with a sense of possibility.
Her eyes darted back to her console, checking it for the third time. “You know,” she said steadily, “my grandfather always said to find a way or make one. Perhaps we should do the latter and carve our own path.”
She looked across the room at Potter to read his reaction to her uncharacteristic remark. “Besides,” she continued, her voice laced with a playful undertone, a lighthearted smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, “isn’t carving your own path what your specialty?” The sparkle in her eyes radiated a delightful mix of mischief and warmth, a silent invitation for him to share in her enthusiasm. “What do you think? Should we kill this and show them what the Firebird crew is truly capable of?”
Potter grinned. "I think you're rubbing off on me, Emilynn," He said and then remembered what Lieutenant Woodhouse said. You want to save lives? Then do all of it.. He nodded. "Ok, let's do it."
<=>Candidates prepare for program initiation<=> The computer said, and the entire Ops center lit up. A klaxon began wailing, and Potter could see priority alerts from three different parts of the Sovereign Class ship they were apparently on.
"Let's get to work!"
As the exercise progressed, time raced ahead like stars streaking past at warp speed. Any feelings of anxiety were set aside. Each challenge was met with a natural synergy as commands resonated between them like a well-rehearsed duet, with each person expertly responding to the other's cues. Their collaboration transformed obstacles into opportunities, creating a captivating rhythm of cooperation that allowed them to exceed the parameters of the exercise.
“Excellent work, you two! That was truly impressive!” A voice called from the control booth. Potter and Dove turned to each other, their faces glowing with pride. Their smiles reflected not only their success but also a renewed sense of partnership forged through shared challenges.
On the final day, as the sun set, awards were presented, allowing everyone to reflect on their experiences. After the ceremony, Potter and Dove joined Nusien on the Little Bird to return to their daily lives, grateful for their shared accomplishment and the connections made. The trophy didn't hurt either.
[OFF]
Petty Officer 3rd Class Keith Potter (NPC by Llwyedd)
Transporter Specialist
USS Firebird NCC-88298
Ensign Emilynn Dove
Operations Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298
Ensign Nusien (NPC by Rees)
Flight Control Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298
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