Oh the Places You'll Go

Posted on Wed Nov 12th, 2025 @ 2:53am by Commander Craig Braxton & Lieutenant Cadence Tyree
Edited on on Wed Nov 12th, 2025 @ 2:58am

1,988 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: A Day In The Life
Location: Executive Officer's Office

Standing in his new quarters, Cade looked around and decided he’d done as much damage as he cared to for the day. Already clean enough, he’d wiped the walls down again before unpacking. He’d spent his free morning getting the lighting adjusted to his liking and testing furniture. It would do, mostly.

The one thing he accomplished was mounting the guitar shaped LP player to a wall in the small seating area, getting it level. He kept a small rack of vinyl records of various music in assorted colors and mounted some of the more colorful album covers staggered around the wall nearby.

Satisfied, he checked the time and decided he was due to make his compliments. He’d beamed over to the Majestic last evening and knew the ship was due to get underway soon. After the obligatory check in with the Officer of the Day, he’d found his assigned quarters and set to getting things sorted, mostly getting the small closet area inspected and his wardrobe stored.

Since most people replicated a new uniform as needed and disposed of old ones, Cade was something in a bind. He liked good, clothing. So he’d accumulated clothing. Including a small handful of tailored uniforms. By necessity, Cade had to hand wash all of it, by soaking the uniform with cleaning pellets and hydrosonic transducer to agitate the water and detergent through the fibers of the clothing, then dry the garments in the sonic shower.

The method worked, but took time and he wondered not for the first time if it all wasn’t just on the healthy side of foppishness. Shrugging, he checked his uniform over one last time, using a clothing brush to chase away some imagined motes dust. Then he glanced at his boots, checking the shine and popped a breath mint as he headed for the hatch.

The ship was busy. Crew rushed hither and yon as he made his way through the decks, stopping only twice to keep from getting lost by checking wall panel follow me prompts that he’d programmed. A given touch on a wall panel display would react with ghosting arrows that flared for just seconds that were hardly embarrassing at all.

Much.

Smiling at himself, he checked the time again as he approached the Chief counselor’s office and touched the annunciator, “Cadence Tyree for Lieutenant Keading,” he stated simply. He’d pulled the manifest of course and knew they were the same rank. What he didn’t know is how that mattered to his new boss and the tone. She should know, for instance, he was coming so he didn’t really think he needed to state his rank while he absolutely needed to use hers till told different.

After leaning on the annunciator for nearly an annoying minute, Cade decided his boss wasn't in. Or in enough to bother with him just yet. Stepping across to a panel, he punched up and refined who had open office hours and redirected the follow me toward the XO's office.

Minutes later he activated the annunciator at the XO's office and said, "Commander Braxton? Lieutenant Tyree. Thought I'd say hello if you have a moment?"

" ENTER!! " Came the command as the door slid open to the XO's office. A single light Illuminated the desk with a couple dozen PaDD's scattered about the desk. " What can I do or you Lieutenant Tyree? " He stood up and moved to the replicator. " I was about to get some coffee, would you care for anything to drink? "

"Coffee is fine, sir. Thank you," Cade replied as he stepped in and found a seat, deciding that went along with a beverage offer. "Just making rounds, meeting the crew and such, Commander. I trust I'm not interrupting?"

" Oh good heavens no, your not interrupting at all. I'm going through the quarterly crew evals and could use a break. In fact I would say that the distraction is more then welcome."

"I've been told I can be distracting," Cade said with a smile. "And if I can help keep the never ending bureaucracy that keeps a starship afloat at bay for at least a few moments, well then I've been successful today." Glancing about he said, "I was looking to catch up with Lieutenant Keading but they appear occupied or out, so my feet led me here. I'm sort of trying to find a footing aboard. Any bears or traps I should look out for?"

Craig chuckled. " The only bears I've seen since I've come aboard was in a holonet documentary, And the only traps I've encountered have been from Romulans, Ferengi, Starfleet red tape and lawyers. " Stated Craig. He picked up a PaDD And brief over it for a moment. " I see here that it says that your Betazed, Then I have a favor to ask of you. I have two children, Samuel age twelve and Amanda Age eight. They are half Betazoid and need to be trained to use their telepathy as would any normal Betazoid. Their mother is no longer in the scene and unable to train them. May I ask you to teach them how to control it? They know the basics but that's about it. you may refuse if you wish to with no worries."

"I'd be happy to help, Commander," Cade said, making notes. "We'll schedule in some play dates to get to know each other at your convenience and we'll see how we get along. If you'll release their records for my reading, I'll get caught up and we can start later on in the week. I assume they're in a school program, but with your permission I'll also give them the light version of Betezoid customs and culture."

" I have no problem with you teaching them about the Betezoid half of they're genetic makeup. They know plenty about they're human half and their education should be well rounded. I'll release their files to you so you can get a better feel for them and yes they are enrolled in the education system on the ship. Samuel is twelve and is normal for his age and acts it. Amanda is eight but acts more like an adult. She is a musical savant, by the time she was three she learned not only the piano but learned her first Mozart concerto in full. when she was younger I almost had to force her at times to go out and play instead of sitting at the piano. "


"I will try not to feel inadequate when musical aptitudes are compared, "Cade smiled. "I'll also send you the syllabus of what I expose them to, along with summaries so you're in the loop and ensure them that you have them under proper parental surveillance." Cade kept his tone light, indicating he was only partially serious, "I know how busy your job keeps you, so let me know if I can be of any help."

Craig nodded. " I thank you for the offer of assistance with the kids now and in the future Lieutenant. " Craig paused. " When I'm in an informal setting like this one and I'm asking for assistance, how would you like to addressed as? You may refer to me as Craig in this type of setting. "

"Cade is fine, Craig. Or however you see fit, really. When it comes to things like that the general counseling consensus is whatever makes people feel the most comfortable. I tend to carry that over whenever I'm called to take a turn in the medical bay as well, though the staff needs to keep professionalism in mind of course. But I'm rambling...Cade will do.

Craig Smiled. " A little rambling is acceptable, and I find it normal when I converse with most people, especially those who are passionate about what they do professionally or about hobbies in general. " Craig paused briefly. " I guess that being a councilor on a ship and Being an X.O. isn't really to different in some aspects. We both have to deal with people on a daily basis and communicate well with them. "

"I imagine," Cade said, glancing around the room, "That the flow of information tends to be a bit different. I get to listen. Suggest lightly and try to get to the heart of what might be bothering someone, then apply the best methodology to help someone. You on the other hand must have to do that with people: issue guidance to the crew on what you want done, then trust they get on with it while you turn to the next matter. It must get frustrating to be mostly hands off." Smiling slightly at himself, Cade said, "Like suggesting to a patient a clear way they can feel better and having to trust they might listen."

Then the counselor spread his hands and chuckled, "Though that's different too. You can expect them to do what you tell them."

Craig thought a moment. " Your partially correct. As the Executive Officer I can instruct the crew to an assigned task and expect it to be done. I know they will carry out the task to the best of their ability because they are highly trained and dedicated Starfleet personal. If there is someone who is below par for they're assigned duties, Then I will personally work with them or assign someone to them to bring them up to speed to where they need to be. Part of being in command is to help people better themselves and be more useful to the ship and their career. "

Craig paused for a moment. " Part of my job is to see to the safety of the ship and crew first, and then to the personal needs of the individual. If there is someone who can go in and take care of a task to save the ship, then you send that person in. I may have to send someone in and knowing they'll never come out alive. But it is better to lose one person then to lose a ship and an entire crew. Do I have regrets about actions I've done in the past? Your damn right I do. But that is part of being in command. "

Listening to the chapter and verse answer he'd expect from a Fleet Executive Officer, Cade nodded and said. "As would be expected. But do any of those moments intrude too often. You do have too a ton on your plate as mentioned. If. you like and don't necessarily want to have on the book sessions, when I visit with your family over Betezoidian matters, I can always block off extra time Commander. Not knowing the ships dynamics, just yet I'd like to be of help."

Craig nodded at Cade. " Trust me if I have any issues I will book some time with you Cade. I consider my mental health to be just as important as my physical health, and for me to do my job properly I need both to do my job to the ship and crew effectively."

Smiling, Cade came to his feet and said, "A healthy attitude, sir. I'm happy to hear the crew has a good example. I don't want to compound on your workload and take myself hither. By your leave, sir?"

Craig Smiled. " By all means Cade, I'm almost done here will need to rest my eyes for awhile, I'll take a break and hit the Gym for a half hour before returning to my duties again. I thank you for your time and I feel much better knowing that my children will be learning more of their mothers culture as well. It would be unfair of me to deny them of knowing the other half of their heritage. We'll talk more later Cade.


END

Lieutenant Cadence Tyree
Counselor
USS Orcrist.

Commander Craig Braxton
Exec. Officer
USS Orcrist.

 

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