Meeting the new CO

Posted on Fri Feb 20th, 2026 @ 8:44pm by Captain William Abernathy & Lieutenant Lanna Alexander

1,712 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Forgotten Wounds
Location: Captain’s Quarters

With word having gotten out about the assignment of a new CO, Lanna had taken it upon herself to be the personal welcome wagon. Making her way to the CO’s quarters she hoped she wouldn’t be intruding especially as it was still shore leave time. Reaching the door she flattened out her dress, being on her own time she didn’t need to wear her uniform so she was hoping the Captain wouldn’t mind her being less formal. Pressing the chime she waited for an answer.

Captain Abernathy sat with his back back against the sofa cushions, one ankle resting over his knee as the soft glow of the PADD illuminated the otherwise dim quarters, his quarters. Starbase One hung beyond the viewport. It was just a latticework of lights and space traffic that never truly slept, but inside the room there was only the low hum of Arcadia’s systems were becoming familiar already, settling into his bones.

Beneath his thumb, Bill Abernathy was slowly scrolling through a specific personnel file:

Lieutenant Commander Sebastian Walker.
First Officer. Chief Engineer.

The dual assignment was nothing new. First Officers were administrative, took command when needed, but their primary ship responsibilities were what consumed most of their time. In the wake of a refit, Sabastian had been more needed than ever with Commander Kelly departing. Abernathy paused on the service record, eyes narrowing as commendations gave way to incident reports, then to the neatly worded casualty notice.

Lieutenant Zai Walker — KIA.

Abernathy exhaled through his nose and set the PADD down for a moment, staring at nothing. Kerrigan had briefed him on this, but reading and meeting the man were different than just hearing second hand. He’d seen grief do strange things to officers... drive them to brilliance or hollow them out until only protocol remained. Sebastian Walker’s leave record did little to reassure him. Mandatory bereavement. A handful of days then it was back on duty before the bulkheads had cooled.

Too soon thought Bill. He had been in Sabastian's boots himself, made the same mistakes. He had thrown himself back into work, and nearly tossed his marriage out the airlock.

He picked the PADD back up, reading between the lines of peer evaluations. Sure, Sabastian Walker was all these things: Capable. Relentless. Reliable. Unyielding under pressure. Not a single note on how Walker slept. Or didn’t sleep. Was he eating? What amount of leisure time did he spend in the recreational areas?

Abernathy rubbed at his temple. The Arcadia didn’t need a First Officer who could outwork everyone else; she needed one who could still see the crew as people, and an engineer carrying that kind of loss into the engine room… that was a fault line waiting for stress, and a landslide would take them down.

As the PADD dimmed, having locked the file, decisions were already forming in his mind. He’d need to speak with Walker again.... sooner rather than later, and not as an interrogation. He had pried enough upon their first meeting.

The quiet was broken by a sharp, polite chime at the door to the Captain’s quarters. Bill stood from the sofa, and approached the door. He knew the woman standing at the threshold of the doorway because he had studied personnel files thoroughly. "Were yours ears ringing?"

“No, actually” Lanna smiled warmly as she greeted Abernathy, she had to admit he appeared every bit the seasoned Starfleet Officer. She had looked over his personnel file, but was willing to bet he knew hers inside out. “I thought I would drop by and welcome you aboard Sir.”

Abernathy stepped aside and ushered her in with a gesture of invitation. "Lieutenant, please. I would value a conversation if you have a bit of time" he added politely. The Captain had given her a reassuring nod.

He would of course be a kind host as he was taking her free time captive. "Drink?"

“Please” Lanna nodded politely as she walked inside. “A hot chocolate would be lovely, thank you.” She took a seat giving him a curious look. “Am I right in thinking you have may questions regarding Commander Walker?”

Bill Abernathy returned with two mugs, a hot chocolate for Lanna, a mulled hot cider for himself. He handed her the mug of her beverage of choice and retreated to a nearby chair, close by and with a line of sight to her. "I'm not sure he's ready, Lieutenant. The man just lost his spouse, newlywed at that."

Abernathy took a sip of cider and placed his mug down on an end table with a coaster. "I know men like him. I've been men like him, oh hell, I may still be a man like him at my core, but to lose your partner, and just throw yourself back into uniform and report to duty like this?" Bill shook his head. "Your professional viewpoint, as Ship's Counselor?"

“My professional viewpoint is in total agreement with you Captain” Lanna sighed. “I’ve already spoken to Sebastian… Commander Walker, he’s currently angry, and he’s hurting. His Vulcan side is allowing him to hide from his true feelings, he’s trying to keep a total professional detachment from everybody and everything.”

"Detachment maybe, but from what I've gathered, he came aboard as a bit of an outsider. Commander Kerrigan stated to me that they were not fond of one another" said Abernathy. "I do not want to completely sideline him, but I do want to... force him to spend time with himself. He needs to face what happened, his feelings, and for the love of God, I cannot have my First Officer a tempest of emotions waiting to implode or explode. He needs counselling."

Lanna nodded in agreement. “That's exactly what he’ll be getting. When we spoke he was angry, and bottling every emotion he had, that's only going to last for so long. Half Vulcan or not Sebastian has to face this, but I don’t recommend taking him off duty. He needs routine, even if it’s less hours than normal he’ll need to keep things as normal as possible while he sorts out his feelings. My door is always open, and Zai….” She paused. “Would have wanted Sebastian to honour his sacrifice, not be angry about it.”

"I agree with you almost entirely, Counselor. What I am uncertain about is him as my First Officer during this difficult time. Whether he acknowledges that it is difficult or not, I know it is. You know it is, and as I said... I am not about to have my First Officer be a ticking time bomb; however, I do not want to remove him from his duties entirely. He is the Chief Engineer of this starship is he not?"

Lanna nodded. “He is, yes. I take it you're considering giving him a solo role to concentrate on?”

Abernathy gave the woman a small nod. "He's of more use right now as Chief Engineer than First Officer. He needs counselling. If he wants to remain as First Officer then he is going to have to prove himself man enough to accept his loss and embrace his vulnerability. I had to when my son died. He is going to need to now as well. If I were to relieve him as First Officer temporarily and retain him as Chief Engineer pending his counselling sessions, would you support that?"

As much as Lanna disliked it, and she knew Sebastian would too, she nodded. “I will. I know Sebastian will most likely hate me for this, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

"If he has anyone to hate or have anger directed towards, it should be me, and I will make him well aware that I came to you about this. We move in step together on this, Counselor. We both know thos is needed for him and is on the best interest of the crew."

Lanna nodded. “I know, but it’s a decision neither of us likes to make. Just when you make a friend, you lose them to distrust, but I’d rather that than see him lose his career.”

Bill nodded. "Thats exactly why I am doing this as well. I do not want to be spectator to a man unraveling his career, and be helpless to do anything. He will hate it, but our course of action is in his best interest. Thank you for being a voice of reason on this as well, Lieutenant. It has been enlightening to learn that we may be on the same page on various matters in the future." He was grateful for an ally.

Lanna nodded. “I don’t like it, but this is the best course of action I just wish Sebastian will see it that way.”

"Perhaps in time he will. For now, we will have to do what we know is best" replied Bill. "On a different note, I will need to find someone to assume his First Officer duties. I am sure that I will. Do you have anything else on your mind or that we need to address?"

“Not at present Sir” Lanna shook her head. “Though might I suggest if we have time that maybe we have a welcome aboard get together for the crew to get to know you, and each other. Especially as we have new crew arriving. I’m not suggesting a party, just a little gathering in the lounge perhaps.”

"It sounds like a good idea to me. We should have a few days barring nothing pressing comes up to push expedite our departure time. Take this over for me if you don't mind. I am not sure delegating a social gathering to Lieutenant Commander Walker would be... wise."

Lanna nodded. “Agreed, I don’t think he’ll feel much like attending a party once he’s received the news you’ve got for him anyway.” She tried to offer a smile but it didn’t quite come across as one.

"Agreed. If that's all, I will task that to you. Thank you, Lieutenant " Abernathy said before dismissing the counselor and carrying on about his work.

 

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