First Step

Posted on Mon Mar 26th, 2018 @ 4:25am by Commodore Domingo Martinez & Lt Cdr Sarah Sanchez-Gillman

1,154 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: [USS Ottawa] S1, E1: Abducted
Location: BAFY Temporary Quarters
Timeline: MD + 1, 1000 Hours

Where do we go from here? The ship was now in ruin’s a lot of the panels and circuitry was dangling. Dom was finding it hard to believe anyone could survive on this ship for the past nine years. The old Ottawa was barely holding together.

It felt strange to him to be taking a tour and closing down the Ottawa. Ellie had asked for an early retirement from Starfleet. And Starfleet Command approved her request. So Domingo was asked to oversee the retirement of his new command. He felt like he was walking on a ghost ship.

He was a little grateful he was getting a new class to carry on the name Ottawa. This current version, felt like a ship of the dead. So many killed in the line of duty, so many killed senselessly as well. He could not blame Ellie for wanting to take an early retirement.

Dom was on his way down to engineering and every deck, had structural damage and conduit eruptions impact craters and jerry rigging patches, all over the place. There was not a single inch of space on the Ottawa that was not damaged. He kept walking and the more he did, the more impressed he was with Ellie and her crew for bringing her home mostly in one piece.

The journey and the hardship this crew faced was unfathomable to the mind of Dom. He was having a hard time scoping what this crew went through. His first thought, how did they survive this whole time? Most of the crew was on some well-earned shore leave.

Dom made it into main engineering and just as he expected the room was barely holding together, it matched the décor of the rest of the ship. Badly damaged and in need of desperate repairs.He completed his tour, when he noticed a young lady wearing a purple uniform. “It suits you,” he said with a small grin.

Quarters of Sarah Sanchez

Dom had walked over to check in on Sarah. He was worried about her. Sarah smiled as she looked to Dom, with a small grin. “It's a little tight.” She said trying to smile, but feeling a little overdressed. In the senate, she was allowed to wear fancy dresses, or suits not a starfleet uniform. But since she was heading back into starfleet, she needed to get use to the uniform again.

“You’ll get use it to Senator, umm, I mean Commander.” He said with a big grin.

“You mean Lieutenant, I believe Dom.” Said Sarah, she left starfleet as a Lieutenant.

“I spoke to Starfleet Command, because of your service in the senate they want to meritoriously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.” Said Dom as he revealed a third pip in his hand and helped her put it on her collar.

Sarah was not sure she liked Dom being this close to him. She still liked him, even after all of these years. But she was going through a divorce, and it was Dom and his team that discovered that her husband was a traitor. She allowed him to finish.

“Have you met with the Station commander, see if he has an opening for a Diplomatic Officer?” Asked Dom? He wanted her to succeed. She needed an assignment. And he had a feeling that the she would not take his offer to have her serve with him on the Ottawa.

“No need,” she said with a grin.

“Did a better off come along?” He asked a little confused.

“Yes, I am assigned to the Ottawa.” She said as she slapped him on the arm, and started to walk by him. And looked in her mirror, she grabbed the pip and had a big smile. “Thank you for the promotion, Captain.” She said playfully.

“You're welcome,” he said as he stood behind her, but still keeping his distance. He knew this was not his moment to make a move on her.

“I think Starfleet assumed I was on you're ship already, probably because of my promotion.” She said.

“Why didn’t you tell me, you were interested serving under me.” Asked Dom.

“I trust you, and right now I need people around me that I trust.” She said.

“Have you selected a first officer?” Asked Sarah.

“I have someone in mind.” He said.

“She needs you too, you can help her, like you're helping me.” Sarah said.

“I know, I have a feeling she is going to say no.” Said Dom, as he started to think of Lieutenant Colonel Ellie Sheppard.

“The Ottawa has been her home, she will best heal with her home her family. This crew is her family.” She said, trying to reassure Dom that he was making the right call.

“And what about you, as you're Captain and you're friend, I am going to ask if you want to return home?” Asked Dom.

“No he will be there, I want to get as far away as I can from him, its followed you out here to the remote area of space.” She said. She wanted to get as far away as possible from Paul. She trusted Dom, over all other starfleet personnel. She really had no choice in her eyes but to follow him, to his next assignment.

“Given our past, not sure this is wise.” He said, trying to be fair to her.

“We have a past, we may have a future or we may not, all I know at this moment is, I trust you.” Sarah said, as she looked at him in the mirror.

“I appreciate your trust in me, I care about you.” He said. He knew at this moment he still loved her, but she was still married and going through a divorce.

“I know, deep down I do too, but I am going to need time to filter out my feelings, important thing is we can serve together, I miss having you around.” She said, as he waited to hear what he said.

Dom wondered if he if was being lead on, he was not sure but this was an opportunity. He walked over and Sarah turned around, he reached out his hand. “Welcome aboard the Ottawa Commander.” He said, being all professional like in his mannerisms.

“Thank you, Captain.” She said, as she returned his handshake.

“You need to talk to her, there will be more chances for us to talk.” Said Sarah, knowing if he did not convince Ellie soon, she may leave Beta Antares Fleet Yards. As she continued to shake his hand. Neither of them were letting go.

“I will,” said Dom, as he let her hand go. He needed to be respectful. He promised himself do not make a move on a married woman. "I'll see you when you board the Ottawa, I need to stop Sheppard from leaving." He suggested Dom as the scene fades.

 

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