Old Friends, New Ship
Posted on Wed Feb 8th, 2023 @ 5:53am by Lieutenant Akira Kogami & Commander Patricia Cooke
Edited on on Wed Jun 7th, 2023 @ 10:29am
1,158 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Auld Lang Syne
Location: Camp Khitomer
Timeline: December 31, 2399
Patricia had been wandering around New Year's party looking for the rumored captains' bar she had heard about, and she figured it might be easier to get herself a drink there than at the main bar, which, to be expected, had a steady stream of people flowing past it. Though she hadn't had much luck in finding the captains' bar, and frankly she was beginning to hope that the bar was located in a separate captains lounge which would inevitably be a quieter space than the main ballroom.
"Son of a bitch!" a familiar voice called out from amongst the casual din of party-goers. "Is that you, Patty?"
The crowds parted just long enough for Patricia to catch a glimpse of a short, pink-haired Lieutenant waving to her from across the way.
Patricia blinked twice at the sight of the Lieutenant before making her way over.
"Akira Kogami, is that you?" She said once she was within earshot. "Hot damn, I haven't seen you since I was still a Lieutenant aboard the Fort Wayne!"
"God, that must've been... what, five or six years now?" the pinkette remarked, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "Time flies when you're busy!"
"Wow, I guess it really has been that long now, hasn't it?" Patricia said. "I mean, it seems like Ron and Marion's wedding was only yesterday, and that was almost four years ago now."
"Well, now that you mention it, how are Mary and Ronnie getting along?" Akira replied. "Last I heard, the two of them were saving up for a new house out in... Barrington, was it? It's been such a long time since I last visited Chicagoland."
"Oh, they were;" Patricia said. "But then Grandma's old house in Algonquin popped up for sale, and they had a long hard talk, but they ultimately decided to buy it. As you can imagine, Marion's pretty over the moon to be living in Grandma's old house, as we all thought the house would be lost forever when Grandma sold it, but it turned out the folks that bought it way back in the day were selling to move to Florida."
"No kidding," Akira remarked with wide-eyed astonishment. "They bought the house back?"
"I know, right?" Patricia agreed. "We were all pretty shocked when Marion sent us the first pictures."
"Well, I'll be damned," Akira muttered. "Send them my belated congrats, when you get the chance."
"I sure will; I mean there will be plenty of opportunities for me to do so." Patricia giggled. "Anyhow, how goes things back in your neck of the woods?"
"Ah, just reporting in for my latest posting," Akira explained as she leaned back against the wall. "I received my transfer orders to the Missouri a few days ago, and I was instructed to report in to the CO at Camp Khitomer; Though, they could've been a little clearer as to who the hell I'm supposed to be looking for here..."
"Oh, you mean the new Bellerophon class ship?" Patricia asked. "Well, funny you bring that up, because a couple weeks ago, Captain Carson called me to her ready room and surprised me that she had recommended me for a command chair, and would you believe it? Starfleet had actually come back with an offer for command of the Missouri. I mean, what are the odds? That I'd be picked to command the next Mighty MO, and thus carry on the tradition and be third in my family to serve aboard a Missouri."
Akira blinked in surprise as she put two and two together. "You? In the command seat?"
"I know, right??" Patricia squealed. "I mean, I feel like I've been dream walking these past couple weeks. I just know Grandma would be so proud if she could see me now..."
"I'm sure she'd honored, Patty," Akira smiled, though there was a certain... sadness in her eyes that betrayed how she really felt about it.
"Aw, thanks, Akira." Patricia said.
"So... looks like we'll be assigned to the same posting, for once?" Akira remarked, quickly changing the subject matter.
"The same posting?" Patricia asked, initially confused by Akira's question before putting one and two together. "Wait, you're telling me you've been assigned to the Missouri too?"
Akira threw her head back and laughed. "Were you even paying attention, Patty?"
"No, I guess I haven't. I'm so sorry." Patricia said. "Like I said, I've been on cloud 9 as of late, so you'd forgive me if that went over my head."
"I've found it's just your way," Akira chuckled. "Anyhow, it's a pleasure to be working with you again, Patty; and it's about damn time, as well."
"I'd say," Patricia replied. "So, still on the security track? Or have you transferred to another department?"
"Same old song and dance," Akira sighed. "Wait; on second thought, that's not entirely true. Gimme a sec here..."
Unclipping her PADD, Akira pulled up her personnel record and handed it over to Patty to read over.
Patricia took the PADD and looked over Akira's file. Suddenly her eyes went wide went she saw in the file "Currently assigned as Chief of Security - USS Missouri"
"Lieutenant Akira Kogami, Chief Of Security, reporting for duty, Commander," Akira pronounced with an evident swell of pride.
"Well, congratulations, Lieutenant;" Patricia said, handing the PADD back to Akira. "You finally made it to the Big Leagues. You think you can handle the extra responsibility?"
"Dude- I've been slaving my ass off for ten years for this position!" Akira laughed. "I was ready for the responsibility six years ago!"
"Cocky officers always say stuff like that when they get the job, and then the added paperwork chews them up and spits them out." Patricia said. "I suppose time will be the ultimate judge of your abilities, won't it, Akira?"
"Mmm... tell me about it," Akria mumbled. "But I suppose on the plus side, working as Lieutenant Hull's glorified secretary for the past two years has all but dulled my aversion to filing paperwork... but anyhow, that was then, this is now; what's say you and I grab a few drinks and spend some time catching up on things? I mean, since we're going to be working to be working together and all..."
"Akira?" someone called out.
"Ah, shit," Akira sighed. "Looks like we'll have to catch up later tonight, Patty. Give me about... an hour or two?"
"Sounds good to me;" Patricia said, spotting a sign pointing out where the Commanders lounge was located. "I think I'll be able to keep busy until then..."
Posting by (In Order Of Appearance):
Commander Patricia Cooke
Commanding Officer, USS Missouri (NCC-78316)
Lieutenant Akira Kogami
Chief Security Officer, USS Missouri (NCC-78316)
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