Replacement.

Posted on Thu Jan 25th, 2024 @ 11:32am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Jennifer Baldric

Mission: The Beginning of the End
Location: Ready Room

Captain Kaylen Rhenora kicked off her boots underneath her desk and reached for the mug long empty as if it would refill by sheer willpower alone. Most of the crew had already left, leaving a handful on board to keep things in order. For the first 12 hours she was one of them, opting to remain behind to ensure the Engineering teams from the station got going on the right foot. She'd organised to join Remal down at their cabin at the end of the shift, looking forward to some quiet time.

She was surprised when her door chimed, reaching again for the coffee cup that still hadn't refilled by magic.

“Come in” she called, curious as to who would be wanting to speak with her. The Engineers generally called her over the comm if they had questions. Her curious smile dropped from her face like a lead balloon when the doors parted to reveal who was on the other side.

“What the hell are you doing here?” The words were like poison.

Commander Jennifer Baldric sauntered into the room as though she already owned it.

“Now now Captain, that's hardly the way to greet your new part time job sharing fellow commanding officer” Baldric oozed as she ordered herself a drink from the replicator. “Computer, replicate Baldric number 5, two serves, hot”

Rhenora was still dumbfounded, trying to wrap her head around what was actually going on.

“What do you mean ‘part time job sharing commanding officer'?” The Captain asked when she finally found her voice. Damn she needed a coffee.

“Try it, you might like it” Jen deposited a mug in front of the Bajoran and sat down in the chair opposite the Captain’s. “And as for what I said, I take it you haven't gotten to the message from Admiral Clarkson yet. Let me save you the drama. I'm your replacement. When the time comes of course. Until then I'm here to ‘assist you and learn from you’, or at least that's what Clarkson said.” The grin was that of the Cheshire cat who got the mouse and the cheese.

“You can't be serious” Rhenora had risen to her feet and was learning on her desk. “Clarkson wouldn't dare…”

“He can and he did. Let's face it, you're on light duties already, you're on reduced hours, sooner rather than later you WILL go on leave to have your child, and I will be in place to take over, already briefed and ready to go” Baldric countered just as quickly.

Kaylen was silent, taking a seat and mulling over her options. She could call Clarkson herself, but he'd already signed off on it, and she fundamentally couldn't argue with Baldric's logic. It wasn't the principle of taking leave and someone else being in charge, it was no one having the balls to ask her about it, or even tell her about it.

“So, hand over those pads and get out of here. Enjoy your time off” Jen reached over the desk and took the pile of padds before Rhenora could protest. “Go, sign off, scoot!”

“But I…” Kaylen stammered, reaching for the padds.

“You are no longer the only commanding officer, I have as much authority as you do. So as your fellow CO, go.” Baldric rose and leant over the table herself as though to make herself more imposing.

Rhenora wasn't used to being spoken to as though she wasn't in charge. Emotions chased each other across her features as she struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Wordlessly she rose and stalked towards the door.

“You might want to put your boots on” Jen reached under the desk and picked up the discarded footwear and offered them. Kaylen turned, infuriated and took the shoes, continuing out the door without looking back.

Baldric watched the doors close behind the rounded Bajoran, asking the computer to announce when she had left the bridge.

“Captain Kaylen is in turbolift 1”

“Finally” Baldric turned and surveyed the domain that would soon be hers. The Bajoran artifacts would be the first to go, as would the shrine in the corner. This would be her space, and it would reflect her taste. With a smug look on her face the newly commissioned acting Captain reached for the first in the pile of padds and got to work.