Pulling the wool

Posted on Mon Oct 13th, 2025 @ 1:18pm by Captain Daegan Baas & Petty Officer 2nd Class Sizia Sh'velihr [Baas] & Lieutenant Niami Troga
Edited on on Mon Oct 13th, 2025 @ 1:21pm

1,327 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: What was Lost is Found
Location: Conference Room
Timeline: MD 5 - Immediately following the briefing

As the meeting broke Sizia stepped up to the Captain's side handing him the padd with the meeting notes while she locked eyes with the Counselor. It had been only a day since his wife had left under orders and the Captain, he was acting as if nothing had changed.

In the short time she had know her, the Julianna...Jules...had been very friendly to her and together they had schemed and even teased the Captain. She had tried to follow her earlier promise this morning and had a plate of fruit for him in the ready room this morning but when she had gone there prior to the meeting it had been pushed to the side...untouched.

Word of her departure was spreading through the ship, not that she had said anything, but the staff, to their credit, hadn't mentioned anything. Yet anyway.

Niami gave a silent nod towards Sizia, she will be speaking to the Captain.

Stepping up to the command chair, Niami leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"I'd like to speak with you in the Ready Room if you please, Captain." there was a tone in her voice that gave no room for him to deny her request, then a half beat later she changed her request. "Actually Captain, how about we get a meal instead."

Sizia came around behind the pair and took the padds off the conference room table and cut through the observation lounge to the ready room were she placed them on his desk before head off to see t her other duties.

Meanwhile Daegan looked up to the Counselor, her tone told indicated that whatever it was was important. "Sounds serious.. If so the mess hall or lounge would not be appropriate for such a talk. There is a replicator behind you, order what you like and I will secure the room."

"That will be sufficient, and you also get yourself something to eat too." Niami's eyes were steady and also firm in what she said. "I don't particularly like to eat and another person isn't."

After motioning to the replicator, he got up from his chair and followed her.

Her order was a simple potato soup with bacon and cheese upon the top with green onions and a roll, she included tea.

Once she had ordered he stood there for a moment "qul DIr and a bowl of pineapple." His order appeared on a tray that he took the table. Taking a seat he spoke to the counselor as he lit the small fire pot. "What seems to be the issue counselor?"

"There is some concern about you." Niami not wanting to dance around the subject, stirring the toppings into her soup. "I do know that Juliianna has left the ship, I was informed via my records." she lifted her eyes meeting his.

Daegan grinned slightly as his fork pulled a piece of meat from the larger bowl, "Haha, is this what that is about?" Passing the meat over the flame, igniting it. "Hardly the first time spouses have been separated by orders from Starfleet." Placing the flaming morsel in his mouth.

"That maybe so, still." Niami paused to blow on her spoonful of soup to cool it off, before taking a bite. "It must be rough for you, in that initial separation. It, I presume, happened all of a sudden?" lowering her spoon back to the soup.

Skewering another piece of meat, "It was a....sudden departure yes. The nature of the game from time to time."

"And with her being gone on her new assignment, you will most definitely compartmentalize and bottle it up." she picked up her glass to take a drink from it. "I had been asked just how you are able to remain calm and cool under pressure after all that has happened so far. My answer to said someone, you compartmentalize things. And perhaps sometime you'll look at it and decide just how you will deal with it."

Laying the two pronged skewer on the tray Daegan laced his fingers across his stomach. "Compartmentalize...That Counselor, comes with the job. As Captain I have to, or at least try to, separate my personal feelings and desires from what is required. Be it with you, any other member of my crew, or even my own wife.

"I may not like it ... I hate it in fact, I may worry ... as any husband would. But I am not just any husband. I am also the Captain of this ship, and as Captain my first priority has to be this ship and her crew. That, requires a degree of 'compartmentalization'. Or do you disagree? Should I wear my heart on my sleeve in front of the crew for all to see?"

"I do not disagree, and I am not asking that you wear your heart on your sleeve. My purpose right now is to check your status, and where your mind is at. I already know that your heart is with your wife, and even a corner of your mind. The rest of it, is out there on this ship as you command this vessel. Just don't forget to take care of yourself, Captain, make certain you do things on a personal level." she paused for a moment to take a drink and to let her words linger in the air.

"I appreciate your and other people's concern", having a fairly good idea who else was keeping an eye on him, "but both of you forget that I have four other lifetimes of experience in how to deal with difficulties." Shrugging slightly as he admitted, "Not that is anything full proof. But you have my word to ensure I will occupy my time and will not sit pining in my quarters."

"I haven't forgotten, but it is still my duty to check on you and see how you are doing. And I do hope that you will make certain to do things with the friends you have on the ship." Niami paused, giving him a scrutinizing look. "When was the last time you have engaged with others on a social level? Besides having that sort of connection with your wife?"

Daegan had a reply ready but stopped when she added the caveat. "Well...that would be the night Commander Maguire was killed. Though we have been a little busy lately." He cut off her retort before she could voice it. "I will set something up at our first opportunity."

Niami pressed her lips together, Baas having interjected his consideration as per something social, though there was a slight curve upwards to them. "That sounds lovely, thank you." She scooped up the last bite of her soup, dabbing at her lips to make certain they were clean. "I appreciate the fact you didn't toss me out the door when I waylaid you earlier." giving him a teasing smile.

Another piece of meat burst into flame. "Ohhh...I was temped." Popping it into his mouth smiling as he chewed.

That caused Niami to burst out laughing, her laughter was warm, and pleasant. it filling the room, when it died down. She wiped away the tears from her laughing. "I could tell."

She placed her dishes together to take them to the recycler. "Shall I indulge myself in having some dessert." Niami mused as she took them to the recycler.

Stabbing some of the pineapple to change things up and to cool his mouth a bit, he wasn't a Klingon after all. "Maybe next time. Dismissed."

Turning to leave at his dismissal it wasn't until she left the conference room to step onto the bridge Niami paused, "Wait what? Maybe next time?" perplexed she looked behind her at the now closed door. What the heck? shaking her head she continued on her way.

---

Captain Daegan Baas
CO

Lieutenant Niami Troga
Chief Counselor
USS Valkyrie

PO 2nd Class Sizia Sh'velihr
Yeoman/Science trainee

 

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