On Crewmates, Friends, and Family

Posted on Wed Aug 27th, 2025 @ 10:47pm by Captain T’Kal & Lieutenant JG Annika Johnson
Edited on on Thu Oct 9th, 2025 @ 7:54pm

1,777 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X02: Simulated Pressure
Location: T’Kal’s office
Timeline: Morning after the Combat Drill

With the combat drill over Annika decided to drop in on T’Kal to see if there was anything she felt she needed to talk about. Combat drills were always occassions where, if something was to go wrong, it would. Pressing the door chime she waited patiently to enter.

It had been a long night for the Captain. The combat drill had...not ended well for her. The crew did excellently, and after David had had a talk with her, she had gone to speak with the department heads to tell them as much.

But still, she remained unsettled. Perhaps it had been a mistake to ask Doctor Johnson for the names of those who had 'died' in the simulation.

Sleep had come hard as a result, despite the amount of Vulcan port she and David had consumed.

And now T'Kal was in her office, starting the day early, clearing paperwork ahead of the first proper senior staff meeting the next week.

The door chimed. Right. It was still early. The Yeoman would not have started their shift yet. "Enter."

Annika stepped inside offering a warm smile. “Good Morning Captain, forgive the early hour. I was up early so I thought I’d drop by to see you. I thought you might need to talk about how the combat drill went.”

"Good morning Counselor, please take a seat." T'Kal did not stand, but rather she gestured toward the available chairs and couch and set aside what she was working on. "And yes, the drill. What have you heard?"

“Just bits and pieces really, I try not to pay too much attention to scuttlebutt.” Annika smiled as she took a seat. “I understand we possible lost simulated personnel?”

The Captain nodded. "According to simulations, we lost Petty Officer 1st Class Saram Kaur Chokahi of Earth and Crewman Travreg Xoss of Tellar. Both damage control specialists responding to the initial strikes." She paused and took a breath. "I am thankful that this was only a simulation."

Annika nodded. “Losses aren’t easy to take at any time, even if they’re just simulated ones. They show up areas of weakness that we don’t expect, but at the same time it prepares you for the what if’s.”

"That ship was not our equal," T'Kal noted. "And despite that not only did we lose those two, but in a real way we also lost the entire ship to a ramming attack. I made...poor choices."

“It’s supposed to be a learning curve, to give us the chance to see where we need to improve.” Annika offered. “You’re obviously feeling that you’re to blame, but in the long run it’s an opportunity for you to look back and see where things went wrong. It’s not meant to make you second guess yourself.”

"I am concerned about what will happen next time," T'Kal admitted. "Will we lose someone the next time we are in conflict? And will that be attributed to some decision I failed to make properly?" After a moment of consideration, she continued. "I never had these thoughts as a First Officer."

“At that point in time you never had the responsibility of making the ultimate decisions, those rested with your Captain, Now it’s all on your shoulders.” Annika offered. “It’s a lot to cope with, knowing the lives of all those onboard rest with you.”

“It is,” she agreed. “I must balance our mission with those lives. And I must be prepared to allow some to die, even order some to die, if it means our success. But yesterday…yesterday’s losses seemed like waste. Unnecessary death caused by error, rather than intent.”

The comm system chimed and a voice came up. “Pardon the interruption, Captain. Yeoman Davis reporting in with your morning tea.”

T’Kal pressed a key to respond. “Thank you, Yeoman. Bring it in.”

The office door opened and a young enlisted man wearing support blue came in with a tray, a steaming teapot, a selection of teabags, milk, sugar, and four mugs. He set it down, nodded, and left. “Please, join me, Counselor. I rarely get to share my morning tea with anyone.”

Annika nodded. “Thank you Captain, I’d like that” she gave the yeoman a polite nod as well.

“You know, Mr. Erickson came to see me yesterday,” T’Kal told the Counselor as she poured the tea. “Almost immediately after the drill was over. It is…good to know that between you and First Officer Novis and friends like him, I have…support.”

“I like to think of it as having an extended family. We’re all living aboard this flying home in space, it tends to bring people together especially in stressful situations.”

T'Kal considered that as she let her chamomile steep. "I had not considered that. Have you observed similar family-like behaviour among others?"

“Aboard various ships, yes.” Annika nodded as she let the fruit tea she’d chosen brew a little longer. “Those who’ve served together for long periods of time come to know each other, look out for each other, like a big family would.”

“A number of the junior officers and enlisted persons served aboard the ship together for years before I took command,” T’Kal noted. “Vulcans have often excluded themselves from such deep connections aboard starships, valuing their friendships but not connecting as deeply as humans or others do. Hmmm…” She paused to think a moment while taking out her tea bag and taking a sip. “I would be interested in learning about some of the crew who have served together the longest. This is an old ship, and as I said, while we are new, many are not. I would like to know how some of those with the deepest connections worked together during the recent drill, or during other incidents before our time. I understand it will be largely anecdotal, but it may yet prove insightful. I cannot do it myself, as people act differently around their Captain, but perhaps you could look into it?”

Annika nodded. “I can do that, I normally observe the crew anyway so it won’t make much difference to them seeing me around.” She smiled warmly. “Just because you’re the Captain, don’t let it stop you from interacting with your crew. Put yourself into the heart of things, visit the mess hall, join in on crew gatherings, show them you’re willing to be there in a personal way as well as just being Captain.”

“I…shall endeavour to do that more often.” Unusual for a Vulcan, T’Kal had always craved social contact. But she also knew that the dynamics between a Captain and crew often brought about some degree of alienation. Perhaps she could fight that…

“If you need anyone around to make it less awkward, just give me a heads up.” Annika smiled warmly. “I’ll be more than happy to help out.”

“Thank you,” T’Kal said, taking another sip of tea. “I should ask, how have your first few weeks aboard been?”

“So far, so good” Annika smiled. “I’m getting to know all my new crew mates, plus working with my husband at long last is a bonus.”

“It is fortunate you were both able to accept this assignment together,” T’Kal said. “I understand it can be difficult to be separated from one’s spouse for so long, but is the unfortunate reality for many married couples who serve.” She considered her own separation, but only for a moment.

“We were separated for a long time, I kept complaining to Starfleet and we finally got assigned together” Annika smiled giving T’Kal a curious look. Having read her personnel file she knew T’Kal was separated from her husband yet she was feeling no regret, or anything else from her regarding her ex husband. “I understand that you’re separated from your husband? I read your file.”

"Separated by circumstance, but not legally," T'Kal replied. "Some Vulcan marriages are done for...well for lack of a better word 'love', but many are political unions between families. The matriarch may seek access to certain parts of Vulcan society and thus enter one of their relatives to marry into a family in that societal sector. In my case, my Aunt Nir wanted to ally with a family with access into the High Command. As my father's eldest daughter I was offered to Sten, whose mother is the Captain of one of our defense ships. Sten and I are...not as compatible as was originally assessed." She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and sipped her tea again. "I have no desire to be anything that he wants me to be, including wife or mother. So I see him when it is required only, which is naught but every seven years. Divorce is technically permissible, but it is tedious, occasionally violent, and would create other challenges I do not wish to ensure."

Annika nodded. “I’ll admit what I know about Vulcan society is limited, I’m glad to have the chance to learn though.” She smiled. “I can’t imagine what being in an arranged marriage is like, though it is a tradition on Betazed as well. My parents decided not to force me into that thankfully.”

“My sisters had the good fortune of choosing their mates,” T’Kal said. “T’Para is married and pregnant with her first child. Solan has decided to focus on her work, entertaining the idea of partnership only if the right person comes along. Much to the consternation of some of my male colleagues,” she added wryly. “As for me, it is the life chosen for me. Thankfully its impacts on me are limited.”

Annika nodded. “Of course, being out here especially aboard a starship affords you the luxury of putting distance between you.”

“If only distance were enough,” T’Kal mused. “At any rate, thank you for coming to see me this morning, Counselor. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?” Their tea cups were almost empty.

Annika shook her head as she finished her tea. “No, I don’t think so” she offered a warm smile. “It’s been nice getting to know you better Captain. We should do this more often.”

"I agree," T'Kal said. "Take care, Counselor. I shall be in touch."

“Thank you Captain” Annika smiled as she gracefully rose from her seat and departed, she had a feeling she and T’Kal would get along very well indeed.


END

Captain T'Kal
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant jg Annika Johnson
Chief Counsellor

 

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