The Pulse of a Captain
Posted on Sat Jul 25th, 2026 @ 6:22am by Lieutenant Niami Troga & Captain Daegan Baas
1,775 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Monsters are real
Location: Arboretum
Timeline: MD 3 - 2100
Once the ceremony and the brief reception that had followed was over Daegan was strolling through the corridors and had considered a trip to his ready room to finish up some paperwork but decided that it could wait. As he stepped of the lift on deck 3 he had intended to just go back to his quarters but instead continued his stroll.
[Arboretum]
Even before entering he had removed his dress jacket and was carrying it over his arm as he stepped onto the path through the multideck green space. As he did there was a little brother and sister trying to get some apples from one of the trees. He watched them for a moment grinning and they were so focused they didn't notice the Captain approaching.
Daegan reached up plucking one, then another and handing them to the kids. The youngsters stood agape. They were probably embarrassed, surprised, or shocked that the Captain himself was the one helping them...probably all of the above. "Kinda late for you two to be out roaming the ship isn't it?"
"Yes sir..."
Mussing the little boys hair, "Well...you both have your snacks now. Head on home and I won't call security," he said smiling.
"Yes Sir," the pair said together before rush off.
He watched them leave chuckling a bit. After they were gone he grabbed an apple for himself and took a seat on the bench. Buffing it on his shirt a bit before taking a bite.
The ceremony was a difficult one. So many emotions, sadness things filled with regret.
Niami went to change out of her uniform, slipping into something more comfortable to wear. It was a simple sky blue sleeveless dress which hit just above her knees.
A simple set of sandals, easy to slip off when she felt the need. Niami made her way to the Arboretum, a place to where she felt she could refresh herself mentally. A place of greenery.
The doors opened, to the aroboretum, her nose catching the scent of fresh grass, trees and some blossoms.
Her senses also caught the presence of, Baas.
Niami's mind immediately jumped to earlier when she had just walked into his quarters. Her cheeks turning pink once more from that memory.
Walking to where he was at, Niami gave a gentle clearing of the throat.
"Hello, Captain." her voice quiet, her cheeks still glowing pink.
Daegan had seen her enter the arboretum as he had taken another bite, but took a breath as he returned to watching the water flow in the brook that had been created to connect the larger central pond to the smaller pools. He looked up at her greeting and smiled at her, seeing her blushing. Not able to resist baiting her, "Evening counselor, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Surely that wasn't he first time, you walked into someone else's quarters?" He took another bite of his apple to conceal his laughter.
"Well yes that is true but, not in the fashion I had done." Niami giving a soft chuckle.
She walked over to where there was a low bench, where she could take off her sandals and place her feet into the water.
Wriggling her toes and enjoying the coolness of the water against her feet. This was something she loved about the Valkyrie, the set up of the arboretum. Watching as the water made its way in its channel, not looking towards Baas.
"The past few days have been rather filled with--changes." Niami commented quietly.
Getting the impression she was going somewhere with that he leaned back in his bench, "It has. Is there something that concerns you? Have you detected anything from the crew?"
"With Rogers taking his leave, or rather... I am not quite certain what happened there. The loss of others as well. Captain, there is one person I am in particular worried about and that is--You." Niami turning her gaze towards him.
"Much has happened, and yet you have been keeping the course. You're elusive when it comes to speaking these types of matters." a smile of knowing reaching to her eyes.
And there it is, well if this was to be an official discussion... He looked up at the balconies and fortunately no one was there. "Computer, lock down the arboretum, all levels."
Looking back at the Counselor, "Well 'keeping the course' as you say...is part of the job. It would be very reassuring for the crew if their Captain threw in the towel every time there was some difficulty. Life isn't easy or even fair for that matter; having lived four other lifetimes... Well, it doesn't necessarily make things any easier but it can offer experiences to fall back on.
"As to my 'elusiveness'... If you had concerns, my door is always open. Then again you don't seem to have any issues walking through doors now do you." He finished with a smile.
"Honestly a confession of mine, I don't like doing counseling sessions in my office. I tend to run away from the enclosed nature of it. Talking to someone in a more natural setting works best. And besides you are actually sitting down as we converse." a radiant smile appearing, Niami's eyes twinkling with amusement.
Not sure if she was baiting him or nor but his reply fired back in line with her own playful comment. "And I'd be in another position?"
"Lets see, constantly pacing around, refusing to sit to down and... just have a conversation." Niami giving out a laugh as she remembered a certain conversation when she was made a lieutenant instead of an Ensign.
"Ahhh, I see. Well not to worry, I haven't frustratingly paced around in quite a while. So we are here now. What was it you wanted to address?" Taking another bite of the apple he had picked earlier.
"When was the last time you spoke to your wife? And how are you doing without her being here?" Yes Niami went there, it was part of her own checking the pulse of the captain so to speak.
Daegan swallowed, the carefree banter obviously over. "Straight to the point. Not since she left. It's not the first time we've been separated by conflicting orders. And she was never once one to sit still very long." He let out a breath, "I wouldn't be surprised if she requested her current assignment. After all, there isn't much for an operative to do exploring the unknown."
"It depends on a persons perspective, and I'm sure you'd... be told if something happened to her." Niami looking down at the water. Her thought perhaps a little bit erratic for the moment. "I really hope that nothing happens to her." she added softly.
"As do we," referring to himself and his children, "but like I said, this isn't the first time she has gone undercover. "I hope she wasn't caught up in all that mess prior to the Frontier Day disaster."
A sudden look from Niami then she gave a nod. "I hope they weren't involved in that either. That certainly wasn't something pleasant to be involved in."
"You know I do worry about our mission going after the Defiled, what if, we find the source and no one is willing to listen to the warnings about someone continuing on in its experiment. That disease taking away others from us. I hope that Juli doesn't run into something like that. And that you lose her." Niami paused, as what she had just said, ended up opening a recent loss of her own. One she'd not spoken to anyone of, not even to Baas.
Perhaps, she should end this strange conversation and go meditate.
"Perhaps I should leave you be to enjoy the surroundings. Count your blessings as this being a rather short check in." Niami giving a wry smile.
He didn't bring up the fact that his daughter had been in the middle of the whole thing and that she was having to face those scar without hear parents being able be be there. Daegan nodded, "No need. Enjoy the quite of the evening." He rose from his seat, laying his jacket over his arm. "Goodnight Miss Troga and I will ensure I'm ready to endure our next meeting."
"Captain, don't leave yet." Niami called out after him, having caught something from him at the last moment. "How is your daughter?"
Assuming she picked up his thoughts, he turned but his good natured replies from only moments ago were now gone. "She's...recovering. Esme was on the Ganymede when everything took place. She was assimilated and now blames herself for the death of her Captain, and other shipmate, as well as for her part in the destruction of Sol Station. Of course I told her that it wasn't her, that it was the Borg that did those things. The counselors working with the victims are telling them all the same thing, but hopefully a father's words to his little girl carried enough weight for her to actually believe it."
"A father's words do indeed help out and it counts. I speak from experience, Daegan." Niami now dropping all formal ranks. "Though my father had told me from time to time, he had wondered if his words actually settled within my mind. I did assure him that they had."
An honest expression of compassion was evident. "I can't imagine the horror that those who went through that experience except for, having ones body being hijacked. It from what I can surmise was very violating. But, when words of comfort from a person they dearly love, and trust like a father to his daughter, it helps, a lot."
She locked gaze with Baas, "My father also expressed a feeling of helplessness that he experienced, when he lost contact with me, and couldn't be there to, save his daughter."
Thinking to himself, ~Helplessness... Well when until he had gotten confirmation she was alive... And nothing but silence from Jules... ~ "Must be a universal trait, well in both his case and mine the daughters survived. Thank you for the reassurance...," tossing his uniform jacket over his shoulder, "...goodnight. Niami."
His quick departure left Niami, a bit bemused and perhaps saddened as well. She had realized that he hadn't answered all of her questions. Then again, perhaps it is a good thing as well. It might have opened the doors to him questioning her about things. Especially her own recent loss. Drawing in a breathe of her own. Niami went to slip on her shoes and left the Arboretum.
Captain Daegan Baas
CO
Lieutenant Niami Troga
Chiel Counselor
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