What Could Go Wrong?

Posted on Fri Dec 6th, 2019 @ 12:53pm by Captain Akiva ben-Avram & Lieutenant Commander Jonah Wilson MD & Ferrofax
Edited on on Fri Dec 27th, 2019 @ 1:24pm

936 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: S1E4: The Hills Have Eyes
Location: Administrator's Office | Overwatch Station
Timeline: MD 1

It had been a weird morning, and as the day progressed it hadn't let up. There was an uncategorized threat that the field team was going to investigate, and the area of operation was Venus of all places--as pinpointed by a clairvoyant of sorts, no less. Officially, Akiva had signed off on it as a professional favor to Mrazak, but secretly he had hopes the man would hang himself.

There was also the hope that he could slip away to Earth and surprise Laena at the Academy in San Francisco. Akiva knew to keep that to himself for the time being. His expectation of watching Mrazak fall flat on his face was explanation enough.

All that remained for him to do was to leave somebody in charge. Technically, the CMO was outside of the chain of command, but Akiva had a plan for that.

"Doctor Wilson, could you please come to my office?" Akiva cut the transmission before the doctor could respond, and contented himself to wait.

Jonah was a bit surprised at the transmission being cut before he could even respond. Though as he reflected on it as his hand moved away from the badge it went to tap in reflex maybe it wasn't odd for this command. Jonah had been a bit annoyed at his assignment getting drug back into areas of Starfleet that most never had the knowledge of let alone the chance to participate in the station and its mission had grown on him.

It wasn't long before Jonah arrived at the Captain's Office and hit the chime and once admitted he stepped in. Jonah knew the protocol but as he grew older and he became more senior in rank he cared less about it. "You needed to see me, sir?" he asked, after a couple of steps into the office.

"Yes, I did." Akiva stood up and walked around the desk to meet Jonah in the middle of the room. "Please, come sit. May I get you something to drink?"

"No thank you, Captain," Jonah said.

Akiva covered his mouth with the back of his hand and cleared his throat. "Allow me to get straight to it. I intend on accompanying the Phantom on its current mission, which means that I must leave somebody in charge. As the senior ranking officer remaining on board the station, I would like it to be you."

"Sir, I'm a Medical Officer that isn't exactly my specialty. Is there any particular reason?" he asked, curiously.

"Yes..." Akiva trailed off. While he wasn't one to lie, there was a way to tell the truth so that somebody heard something different. "There aren't many commissioned officers on this station. Lots of enlisted. Lots of automated processes. Seeing as how we've installed the QEMI system, I would like to oversee its use in the field myself. Since I will be in direct communication with you during the test phase, why not leave you in temporary command? I will be in contact with you every step of the way."

Jonah looked at him, suspiciously, "very well, sir." He was certain there was more to this decision although he knew better than to pry. Taking him for the word and understanding there was more would win him more points in the end anyway. "Is there anything, in particular, I should know?"

"Well, there isn't much to it, really," Akiva said, again only half-truthful. "Ferrofax handles the grunt work as per the automated design of the orbital station, so really it's just a matter of keeping a biologically sapient eye on things. Truth be told, Ferrofax could run the whole station himself if he were trustworthy."

"It cannot be helped if the orders provided are never as clear as you believe them to be," Ferrofax said with an affected sniff of disdain. "Though you are not wrong. I am fully capable of running station operations regardless of crew compliment. Why if there was, say, a sudden and rapid decompression of all currently habitable spaces within the facility, it would be just a picosecond before I was able to counter the generated thrust with the stations RCS network. I'm sure I could shave that down if I was allowed to practice."

"I'm sure," Jonah said, not looking away from the Captain. "Any staff issues?"

Akiva blinked at the ramifications of Ferrofax's proposed practice maneuvers. "No... We're actually a little short-staffed at the moment. Just follow the duty rotations in place and adhere to the list of protocols to which I'll grant you access, and you'll do fine." It was a minute before he continued. "And, whatever you do, remember that Ferrofax cannot make you do anything, nor can he disobey a direct order. Truly, do not forget."

“I am also incapable of lying, and bound by the restraining hand of a Program Governor. That also makes me Asimov Compliant and Human Safe. I’m very trust worthy,” Ferrofax crowed.

"Of course," Akiva said, then mouthed 'Do not trust him' without making a sound.

"You got it sir, Ferrofax I guess we're a team. If there's nothing else?" he asked, a concerned expression looking at the CO.

Akiva shook his head. "No, I believe that about does it. I hereby instate you with provisional command of Overwatch Station. Thank you, Doctor...Commander Wilson. I'll be in touch."

"So, 'Commander Wilson'..." Ferrofax asked, sounding casual. "...how do you feel about training drills concerning the silent self-destruct?"

"I didn't hear that," Akiva muttered as he hastened for the Phantom.

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