The Long Way

Posted on Fri Nov 1st, 2024 @ 4:44am by Major Wolfgang Yates & Ensign Yiasen Laed

800 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Daily Operations and Crew Enrichment
Location: Corridors, Deck 4
Timeline: Stardate 133432.76
Tags: Quarters, Yates, 133432.76

Walking hesitantly through the corridors of the Ambassador-class USS Midway with his duffel bag, and trying to stay out of peoples' ways, Col. Wolfgang Yates frowns down at the PADD in his hand.
The Squadron Leader turns it upside-down, then even turns himself around to face back the way he came, studying the map displayed on the device.
Finally, Wolfgang shakes his head in frustration and lowers the PADD. "Computer, where's the Quartermaster located?"

"Ensign Yiasen Laed is currently in the gymnasium on Deck 4" The computer responded.

"Dammit. Gym." Wolfgang mutters as he spins around and hurries down the corridor. He'd passed the Gymnasium on the other side of the ship.
Finally, after a long walk back around, the Colonel approaches the doors to the gym, but then he slows to a stop a short distance from the still-closed doors. If the Quartermaster were in there, she was probably on her rostered time-off, either on a break or off-duty for the day, and if so he didn't want to interrupt the Trill. Time-off was just as important as one's duties in his book.
Wolfgang tapped the combadge on his chest to check. "Colonel Yates to Ensign Laed?"

Ensign Yiasen Laed was just finishing up her cardio work out when the speaker came over her communicator. "Yes Colonel? What can I do for ya?" She said breathing heavily from her workout.

"Hi Ensign, I believe you're the Midway's Quartermaster? I'm the new Squadron Leader in Starfighter Group, reporting aboard today. I just needed to know what quarters I've been assigned."
Hearing her breathing, Wolfgang added, "Do you know who I could speak with regarding that?"

"Ah yes, I've assigned you Deck 3, Room 12, right across from Commander Hartmon's quarters. Would you like me to show you the way, Sir?" Ensign Laed said over her communicator, her breath returning to a normal rate.

The Colonel enters the location into his PADD.
"Oh no, Ensign, I should be fine--" but then Wolfgang sees what's displayed on the device and points it down both directions of the corridor outside the gym hesitantly.
"Ah... well... actually... yes. Yes, if it's not too much trouble, Quartermaster. I'm having a bit of trouble navigating the Ambassador-class, so I was already on my way to you in the Gymnasium and now I've just arrived."
He steps into the gym with his duffel bag and looks for Ensign Laed.

Ensign Laed had just finished changing and came out of the woman's locker room when the Colonel came in. Smiling, she approached him. "No issues at all Sir, right this way." She said motioning for him to follow. She headed towards the Turbolift. "So, how was your shuttle ride Colonel? Comfortable enough, I hope?"

Wolfgang keeps up alongside the Quartermaster as they enter the lift. "It was good, thanks. A smooth ride. The pilot was great. What about you, how was your workout? What do you train?"

"Today was just a simple cardio work out" She shrugged. She ordered the Turbolift to Deck 3. When the doors opened again, they were standing on the concourse of Deck 3 with several corridors. She took him down the right corridor first and then to the right again and then finally coming to a halt in front of room 12 just as they turn left down another corridor. Across from it was room 10 and to the left, 11. "Here we are Colonel. I've put a set of fresh sheets and towels in there for you and the replicator has a very nice selection. Feel free to browse. Let me know if you need anything else, Sir. I'm only a communicator call away!" She said with a smile and before he could say anything further, she walked down the hall and disappeared to go back to her other duties she was doing just before she took a break to go to the gym.

Wolfgang took in the room as the doors whooshed shut.
The quarters were spacious, with a sleeping area, work desk, and private bathroom.
He dropped his duffel bag on the carpet and walked over to the viewport.
Outside, below the Midway, the Colonel could see Deep Space 9, the skeletal wheel-shaped starbase with sharp rib-like docking pylons, the tip of one the Ambassador-class starship was docked to.
He saw a runabout pass close by their ship, and some smaller worker bees carrying out their duties on the station, and a cargo ship of a class he was unfamiliar with begin its own docking process.
The Squadron Leader turned his eyes from the former Cardassian starbase to the stars beyond it and to the dark spaces between those faraway points of light.
With all the great natural forces set out against life in the universe, it was unfortunate that the most dominant enemy to sapient life was itself.

 

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