Prelude

Posted on Fri Dec 3rd, 2021 @ 5:42am by Captain Devin Hadenbeer

948 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Into The Void
Location: Starfleet Headquarters, Holodeck Four

It was not like Admiral Katherine Janeway to shirk her duties, but being bound to a desk could at times be…irksome. Not for the first time she found herself looking back longingly during her “Voyager years”. At least her ready room had given her a better view, she thought wryly as she reached the holodeck doorway. She hesitated before engaging the override; Hadenbeer was still on leave, after all. Whatever simulation she was running it was private. But Janeway could not resist wondering what said simulation entailed. A battle drill, perhaps? She keyed in the override, the reinforced doors slid apart-

And Janeway as assaulted by a blast of sound!

The music was fast and frenetic , played by an orchestra of perhaps twenty musicians, principally brass, although there was also an electric guitar, drums and a piano. A woman in a full length black dress, cinched at the waist by a corded belt, her auburn hair in a loose bun, stood on a podium before a music stand, her hands waving through the air in sharp, precise movements. Janeway was not overly fond of jazz but the music was compelling. She began to place her hands on her hips and prepared to wait a while-

Sheets of paper went flying as Hadenbeer grabbed the music stand and threw it at the piano, it bounced off the lid, causing it to crash close. The piano player froze in what looked like terror and the music slowly skidded to a halt as the other musicians ceased playing one by one. Hadenbeer rubbed her temples, then froze in place.

“I have the room for another fifteen minutes,” she stated, her English accent giving her voice a pleasant lilt.

“That’s about how much time you will need to pick up your sheet music,” Janeway noted, torn between concern and amusement.

Hadenbeer turned and seemed ready to snap off an acerbic retort, but then she realized whom she was speaking with. “Computer, end program,” she said as she hopped off the podium and it along with the orchestra disappeared, leaving the white sheets stark against the black, orange gridded floor.
As Hadenbeer stalked about the chamber, picking up the music Janeway asked, “What was that?”

“Set for stun,” Hadenbeer replied without looking up.

“Did you write it?”
“I am sorry to say I did.”

“I thought it sounded fine. I am no expert on jazz, but-“

“It should not be ‘fine’,” Hadenbeer replied and she stood up and faced the Admiral, “It should be excellent, exemplary. I spent years on this atrocious piece of…” she stared at the sheets in her hand, then sighed, “…music. I cannot get it right.”

“That…is some dedication.” Janeway replied, as she to retrieve a stray sheet of music. She examined it; to her the notes were barely comprehensible, “Oh, I understand congratulations are in order, Professor Hadenbeer.”

The Captain’s expression warred between pride and embarrassment, she reached out and accepted the sheet from Janeway, “Ah…thank you. It’s taken some time but, well, the pursuit helped keep me sane during…the…you know.”

Janeway did know, at least a little. Hadenbeer’s and her crew’s ordeals on the Lionheart A’s ill-fated voyage between realities was still being studied by Starfleet Intelligence.

With all the pages retrieved Devin placed them in a folder, “So, I assume this meeting was not about my acceptance into the halls of academia.”

“Yes. Your ship has completed its standard refit.”

Devin nodded, “I have been keeping up on the work,” she cocked her head, “You have a mission.”

“Yes. If you are ready. I realize you have a few more days of leave…”

“Well, if it comes down to another round with this,” she held up the folder, “and whatever quest you
have for me, I would gladly choose the latter, Admiral.”

“I apologize if this means losing time with your niece.”

Hadenbeer gave a slight shrug, “I appreciate that, Admiral. But the job is the job and Dare will understand. This will mean I am going to need to accelerate my search for a new senior staff.”

Janeway nodded, “Yes, I noticed how quickly you got rid of your old staff. You recommend your tactical officer for tactical training school, your operations officer is going to become the XO on the Morgana, the first officer is getting the Tal’Kir, and your chief engineer has been reassigned to Utopia Planetia for her remarkable work on a new class of runabout. All of them received glowing recommendations from you. Frankly from our conversations I had no idea you could be so articulate,” Janeway frowned, “Your Chief Medical Officer, though, is off on an extended medical leave…?”

“I drove him crazy.”

“Imagine that.”

Devin smiled wryly, “I suppose I deserved that, Admiral. I have a few ideas regarding candidates, I will submit them to Personnel this afternoon. As for the Executive Officer, I am certain I could work with whomever is assigned me.”

“As a matter of fact, Captain, someone requested to be assigned as your First Officer.”

Devin blinked, “Someone wanted the job.”

“Yes,” Janeway grinned, “It was fortunate I was sitting down when I heard the news….”

Devin gave a slight grunt at that. She walked over to the wall where a black cane with a silver head rested. Grabbing it with her free hand, she said, "Well, send this brave soul to me, Admiral. I am certain somewhere along the way they will rue the day they decided they wanted the second chair alongside mine."

And perhaps, Janeway thought as she exited the holodeck behind the Captain, this "brave soul" might surprise you...

 

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