Switcheroo

Posted on Tue Oct 9th, 2018 @ 10:00pm by Captain Cynthia Jackson & Lieutenant Benjamin Chiles

2,444 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Mission 0 - Christening of Legacy and Crew Arrival
Location: Bridge
Timeline: 2261.186 0745

Cindy knew that Bec was making sure that all personnel and provisions were coming aboard. However, as she looked at her manifest, something particularly bothered her. Yesterday, she would have sworn that she was expecting a Jasper Noakes as her Chief Helmsman. She would have tried to have found him at the banquet yesterday but all the glad handing with the Admirals took time, not to mention the stick that Admiral Wheeler shoved up her ass without any lube.

Today, the Chief Helm position only had one word: Pending. Pending? Oh, God! What is Admiral Wheeler going to thrust upon us now? As if one spy was not bad enough. I probably should not bother Bec with this. She's bus enough and Admiral Wheeler said we are leaving at 1400, personnel or no personnel.

Pending- that's what it said for Lieutenant Benjamin Chiles as he poked his tongue out at his right cheek and tried to figure just what Starfleet was trying to do to him... they'd done it, they'd finally suckered him perfectly- told him he was all good for a deep-space assignment while they lined up some funky administrative bungle that would land him at Timbuktu. No, Timbuktu was cool, it'd probably be an asteroid or dwarf-planet out on the fringes. He shuffled on the spot while the redshirt across the desk pressed the earpiece they were wearing closer in, and then leaned toward his personnel file up on their screen.

It said Ben was going to be on a Constitution- he thought Lexington (which would not be ready for some time) but now the redshirt was saying Legacy. With a pending thrown in for good measure. He didn't have a hard copy of his transfer orders, it was on the glass tablet the redshirt was cross checking. Ben could see the umming and ahhing continue into one serious frown- here he was at a right impasse somehow. For whatever reason there was a hold up, and the offending word seemed to be pending without a few precious loops on anyone's sleeve to get by it.

That dog wouldn't hunt. Ben held up his hand and started to circle it, moving it along, recapping- "So the USS Legacy is docked at the moment but it ships out at 1400? And I'm supposed to go there now?" The answer was no- not sure- maybe- pending "Hey so you said the Captain- Jackson, Captain Jackson commanding... that they're good to go mostly? Don't you think I could be patched through to that ship to someone on their end who could maybe clear this up?"

The redshirt straightened, perking up, understanding the opportunity to pass off- run a slant maybe, didn't matter- basically get this helmsman without a place someplace else even if it was where he was meant to be, as far as the screen was saying- pending. Starfleet personnel assignment was working in mysterious, voodoo ways. The redshirt was good at their job, too good- finding a line that might have been to the Captain's chair itself- attaching Ben's name to it... anyway connecting him through on a voice call to someone on Legacy to try and explain it himself. Sliding a communicator over and nodding.

Ben took up the com, flipped it open, =/\=Hello there USS Legacy? This is a Lieutenant Benjamin Chiles, I'm a Chief Helm prospect here uhhh.=/\= What was it he was meant to say really? He didn't let a breath go buy, driving through =/\=I've received some modified orders, new assignment over to your ship- but it's so hot, and new, I don't think it's in the system properly? Was wondering if you guys have anything on your manifest?=/\=

Cindy watched as the pending on her screen suddenly became a Lieutenant Benjamin Chiles. She was suspicious of the change due to Admiral Wheeler's propensity to put people in place on her ship that were likely to spy on her. However, there was a chain of command and with no Chief Helm Officer around, she had to take what was offered.

She communicated directly from Legacy's, comm. =/\= Lieutenant Chiles. This is Captain Cynthia Jackson. I do not know who modified your orders but I do know that I am suddenly in need of a Chief Helm Officer and coincidentally, your name has appeared on my modified manifest. I would suggest that you transport over here immediately or else you may miss us. We leave at 1400.=/\=

Pausing for a moment, she perked up to her normal levels and added, =/\= I would very much like to meet you. Can you report directly to me? =/\=

=/\=Can do Captain!=/\= And like that the conversation wound down. Flip closed on the communicator, sliding it back across the desk to the redshirt, Chiles took a moment to let it all sink- so he had been shuffled to the top of the deck from the sounds of it but that would have likely gone and crunched a few toes aboard the USS Legacy. Whomever his guardian angel was they were also about the drama. Ben turned away from the desk and made his first few steps in the direction of his new posting...

***

Lieutenant Benjamin Chiles had felt a little queasy coming onto the USS Legacy- a little green- but that was nothing to do with using a transporter since he'd walked over, and everything to do with the expedited nature of his new assignment. Normally you were supposed to be happy getting a Chief's chair but Ben felt like his head was still spinning. He ran his hand through his hair, kind of keeping it neat, smoothing down the front of his uniform after- taking the corridors and the lifts until he was stepping onto the bridge.

There was some activity, quietly and respectfully, like the ship were still sleeping- everything looked new and clean- sucking in some air, it had that "new car" taste to it too. Ben would fit right in, as sudden as a fix as he was. There over in the Captain's chair he saw her in gold- a bright spill of blonde hair. As he walked around to make introductions to Captain Cynthia Jackson he got his first look and realized she must have been a contemporary- couldn't remember in his class but more like someone he'd have sat next to in Archer Hall, than the normal picture of a Starfleet Captain. Who were normally much older, very grim. Ben exhaled softer than a whisper and began:

"Lieutenant Benjamin Chiles- that cold call you got earlier?" His expression cast in an apologetic light "Reporting in."

Cindy, standing a full six feet in height towered over the helmsman. She wore her sleeveless yellow miniskirt uniform that hinted at parts of her body that were alluring. Her duty boots stretched nearly to her knees but made her legs look even longer than they might be. Her hazel eyes took in the Lieutenant and given his nervousness, she immediately decided that he was no spy sent by Admiral Wheeler.

"Cindy," she said smiling and with an infectiously bubbly voice. "Call me Captain Cindy, if you must. Good to have you aboard, Ben." She paused for a moment or two before asking the awkward question, "Do you have any idea what happened to the previously assigned Chief Helmsman? You're a bit of a surprise to me but I like surprises!"

The dark haired helmsman smiled easily but his eyes diverted to what would be his bridge station a while. Letting the Captain's voice warm him- it was the sort of comforting thing he could bask in- and it sat in some sort of plainly acceptable contrast to her tall, statuesque silhouette. Ben turned out his palm to show he was unarmed, no answer "Wish I could say..." proprietary stole his voice and his mouth worked overtime until he choked out her name as she asked to be addressed "Cindy."

After that it got better, he caught her tone and found his cheeks sore matching grins "I don't really know how I got here if you had someone else penciled in. Sometimes things work that way? But I'm keen for the seat over there at the controls, and promise to be a mighty good surprise."

"Well, considering that we're leaving soon and you were assigned here by God knows who, I guess you have it," she replied easily. "But before I formally welcome you aboard, you had better tell me about yourself. I like getting to know all of my crew."

"Good policy," He agreed "my last placement was in an Assistant Chief role- patrol cruises rather than exploratory. Was in the Laurentian system when everything happened, and after was drawing the same sort of short policing missions... I'm not far short of the ten year mark with the fleet. And have wanted to be on something like a proper voyage of discovery. That's why we sign up right?"

Outside of his provenance Ben finally started answering Cindy's question "I have a habit of smuggling candy onto the bridge- underside of the helm console, bit of double sided tape, remove at the end of shift- pretty good now at clearing up and sleight of hand sharing out. Off the bridge like to throw a ball around the corridors when handling paperwork, helps me think, and just to break up stretches of desk stuff. Half the fun is being told to quit by the way, so not sure how much further you want me to incriminate myself?"

Cindy became quite animated. "You like to throw balls? Really? Do you play sports of any kind? I'm seriously considering forming a racquetball league and I just *LOVE* sports." She then settled slightly as she gave Ben a chiding smile, "Now, if you start putting that candy under your console and it just happens to be missing, I might have eaten it. So, if you're trying to make me gain weight, I would say that's not really a wise policy." She threw her head back and laughed. "Besides, I have to keep this girlish figure, right?"

She smoothed the sides of her skirt. However, while she may have had a desirable figure, it lacked a great deal of fat and close observation would reveal that she was toned and muscular. The woman clearly meant the words she said about being fit and into sports. There was no air of acting to any of her tone or demeanor. "And do feel free to continue incriminating yourself. I'm rather enjoying it, Ben."

The helmsman nodded sideways, immediately and honestly obliging her "Well girlish isn't what I'd call it." As Cindy's hands had leveled her uniform to the lines of her body Ben's eyes had naturally gone and followed them- for a stalled heartbeat- then he'd had to quickly fling his gaze away. He was looking 100 yards past an auxiliary science station repeating it again and again like a mantra don't check her out. The nice echo of her laugh brought the Lieutenant back towards the conversation.

His nose wriggled up, fearing he'd been caught and wanting to paper over it- he didn't mean anything by, and winced his way to a surrendering smile "Anyhow I don't enjoy keeping still and am usually game for anything if there's a chance to score points." Not saying tennis had been his racket sport, Racquetball made more sense aboard, he liked the sound of it "Sign me up- I had a bit of leave before this quick transfer came in. Chance to swim, row, make great use of the summer at home. Sort of survived the sunburn too." Like that may explain the red about him now "Name it and I'll play, it's a good to hear that might be something in common."

"Oh, I think I'm going to enjoy you," Cindy said, nearly purring. "Though, I have to wonder about what you meant when you said my figure isn't girlish." She put her hands on her hips and her eyes moved from hazel to green in shade as the conversation had progressed. Now, they were getting lighter, a turquoise shade. "Are you telling me that I'm manly?" Her smile turned mischievous and she tapped her foot expectant for an answer.

Ben's eyes flashed as wide as they got, reflex panic as his candor was called- this wasn't exactly what you went and said to a Starfleet Captain first thing- Cindy got him good and proper. He stumbled along in front of her fine and joking and comfortable mood. Captain's privilege to razz him now...

Easy now, he summoned more of the truth as he saw it. Her golden hair in its gentle waves, her pretty expression. Cindy's eyes, disbelieving that he was only just registering their shimmer and energy. "No I meant you're beautiful. Not in any still growing way- but like hard, indisputable fact. And nothing manly, nothing girlish, all of it very attractive woman." He shook his head to reassure her "And that isn't a problem with me. Don't worry- my station is forward of you, no rubbernecking, no puppy dog act, maybe toss the odd candy or chew over my shoulder your way. All you'll have to worry about on duty."

"And off?" she asked curiously, her eyes sparkling brightly. "And being an attractive woman is not a problem to you?" She scoffed and then tossed her hair back with a short laugh. "So nice to know!"

"You asked." He was grinning, so much he'd probably swing by sickbay after to sort out the sore cheeks. Turbulent asteroid fields, sparking nebulae- those were problems- a cheery and charming Captain now that Ben thought about it might be a heck of a lot worse. The curiosity in her and off? gave him a chance to get a hold of it, steady, remain honest, tease back "Probably getting my butt kicked in that Racquetball league you mentioned."

"Fair enough," Cindy replied with her smile beaming. Her eyes danced and moved into the light blue realm. "Well, I would suggest that you get yourself settled in before you fly us out of here."

"Yes ma'am," The helmsman deferred. Straight faced and business-like expression in an instant, all the sentiment and his smile retreating up to his eyes. It was a good impression then, even if Ben had already given himself up as, not exactly straight-laced. His mind took her advice and ran ahead with it- there was a process of coming aboard and he'd have to rush... the ship would be getting underway before he got a chance to stop. It was a coveted posting- he didn't mind one bit.

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