An Invitation: Chester O'Hamlin

Posted on 12/01/2020 @ 12:36am by Captain Cian D'Anvers

Mission: S3E1: Time of Change
Location: Exploratory Corps Offices, Federation Headquarters, Earth
Timeline: Day 92 at 1110

The Exploratory Corps offices at Federation Headquarters on Earth felt a bit, for wont of a better word, alien to Cian D'Anvers. The decision to transfer from Starfleet to the Pathfinders was still new enough that he had yet to achieve a level of comfort. In some ways, it reminded him of those first days after his parents died, when everything he had always known looked different somehow and he found himself marveling that the entire world had not stopped in acknowledgement of such a momentous and profound change. Still, they'd given him one of those temporary work spaces, the ones provided to individuals with a need for privacy, where he could get to work on building his core team. With that in mind, he'd made a list and high on his list of candidates was Doctor O'Hamlin. Accomplished in his field and yet still with an engaging personality, so rare among the medical professionals he'd encountered, Cian sincerely hoped that the doctor would be willing to make the move and with that mind, set up the connection.

Dressed in a pullover navy sweater and gray slacks, he sat, relaxed and at ease for the first time in a long while, behind the pristine expanse of his borrowed desk and opened a communication channel to the Crazy Horse's Chief Medical Officer.

When the console in Chet's office beeped, he had been deep in concentration, puzzling over a fascinating bit of medical research that nobody but a doctor would have found interesting in the least. He was so engrossed, it startled him out of his skin. He recovered quickly, though, and quickly hit the button to complete the connection. "Ah, Captain," he said as the captain's face appeared on the screen. "What can I do for you?"

"Sorry to interrupt your shore leave," Cian said, "I know how rare and precious a thing that can be. Still, there's been a development and I wanted to let you know as soon as I could. Is now a good time to speak?"

"Absolutely," agreed Chet. "Shore leave doesn't really agree with me. My dad passed several years ago, and I don't have any other family or anything, so..." he shrugged. "What can I do for you?"

"I would like you to consider an offer I have to make, Doctor," Cian said. He paused for a moment, bringing order to his thoughts. "Turns out, I was up for a position that I didn't know existed and well, I've accepted. Imagine. Captaincy of an EC ship, the Sitting Bull, with a mission to be among the first map and explore a new region of space." His eyes gleamed with excitement barely contained. "I'm an explorer at heart, always have been, and the idea of being the first? Its compelling." He ran a hand through his dark hair, head bent slightly, and smiled up at the doctor. "Anyway, I'm asking you if you'll consider transferring to the EC as by Chief Medical Officer."

"Exploration, you say," mused Chet. "Exploration is exciting, yes, but also quite messy. You have unknown planets, perhaps covered in jeweled crabs that purr when you scratch their bellies, or perhaps in unpleasant bulbous frogs that write bad poetry and litigate you into madness. Or it could be both. Or worse! Actually, yeah, sign me up. You're going to need a good doctor and I'm the best." The last was said without a hint of either pride or humility; it was simply presented as truth.

He laughed at the notion but then thought of some of the strange things he'd seen already in his service and found himself nodding. "You know, I like the way you think, doctor, and I'm very glad you'll be on the journey with me. So, you'll be getting transfer orders shortly and an invitation to a party. Not sure which will come first but accept both ... please."

"I never say no to a party," Chet replied. "Went to one once where I met a Saurian in a ball gown who was an oversharer. Most fun I'd had in ages."

Cian grinned. "I once discussed philosophy with a Bolian ensign. We ended up huddled together off in a corner and I completely missed by cue." His expression turned sheepish as he added. "I was the guest speaker."

Chet laughed. "Bit embarrassing, that," he allowed. "Still, I think I'd rather forget to make a speech than have to listen to a Saurian describe- well! Never mind. It was fun, but also... uncomfortable.

"I can well imagine," Cian said with a delicate shudder. "In any case, I'll see you at the party and then on board the Sitting Bull. Sorry to cut this short but I have a lot to get through today."

"That's all right, Captain," replied Chet with a rare grin. "See you later!" Once the connection closed, Chet rubbed his chin in thought. Should he pack his bags first or wait for the orders to come through? A dilema for sure....

A Post by:

Captain Cian D'Anver
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse

and

Lieutenant JG Chester O'Hamlin, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse