A Lack of Faith

Posted on Sun Apr 7th, 2019 @ 10:38am by Captain Luka Mahone & Lieutenant Commander Sofia Nikedoros

2,321 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Deep Freeze
Location: Haumea Colony, Central Town Couryard
Timeline: MD -08 - 1330 Hrs

It had been two days since Luka's acceptance of the Commanding Officer position, and he could feel the jitters as he walked through the snow-covered civilian square. The chill in the air did not make that any better. His stroll through the square was met with the various faces and figures of the colony, each weighing him down the further he walked. With the announcement pending, he knew the expressions on everyone's faces would eventually change.

Soon, his eyes rested on a familiar face, that of the chaplain who was to make a transfer over. He rested the courage to make his way over, doing so only when he felt she had noticed his presence. He cleared his throat, suddenly very aware of their surroundings and of himself. "Nikendoros, isn't it?"

She offered a kind smile. If ever she had seen a young man looking like he had the weight of the world, and in particular this new world, on his shoulders, it was this one. "Nikedoros, sir, but you can call me Sofia. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I... am so sorry." Luka's eyes widened as he realized his mishap. His cheeks flushed. "I just wanted to check in. Make sure you're doing well since our unfortunate landing, Commander-ah... Sofia. I know you've been quite busy in the chapel, that's for certain."

"No need to apologize. It's not an easy name and you've been hit with hundreds to learn and remember," she said sympathetically. "The check-in is appreciated. Space is tight with the number of wounded and displaced in the chapel, but we're managing. In some ways, it has even been a blessing in that it's helped pull us together. It does keep me busy though, but not as busy as I'm sure you've been," she added, her tone leaving an unspoken question and offer, if he needed or wanted to talk.

Luka let out a small laugh. "With how many people I've seen as a doctor, I should know better than to mispronounce a name." His expression turned serious. "If there isn't enough space, we build a temporary module next to the chapel for the wounded. We might not have a big medical staff, but that's something I can appeal to Director Stone. I might be busy, but if our people start dying, that's a mountain of paperwork I wouldn't know where to start with."

She held up a hand. "Some extra space would not go amiss, but don't worry about anyone in the chapel dying. None of the overflow from the hospital are in critical condition. Most simply need nursing and recovery care, though several will need physical therapy in the days ahead. Honestly that's where I'm most concerned, especially for those who will need prosthetics."

"I can make a few calls to obtain the resources I know we aren't going to get right away." Luka frowned in thought. "I know we should be getting a shipment of recovery goods, and at least one nurse who insisted upon a transfer. She'll jump in the moment she sets foot on the colony. Prostethics..." He trailed off. "I have a few schematics saved up on my personal console, and I'm sure we can pool resources from somewhere and-" He pressed his lips together, suddenly aware of himself. "I'm in problem solving mode, not check in mode. I'm sorry."

"I've worked with a lot of doctors. I'm used to problem-solving mode," Sofia replied with a smile. "Besides, I'm the one who brought the problems up, and now that you've mentioned nurses, in fact,there's a favor I might be call in, at last short-term..." She shook her head. "Problem-solving mode is contagious," she observed with a soft laugh. "Now I'm the one who must apologize. With all the problems you already have on your plate, I should be checking in on how you're coping, not adding more."

"If I was concerned about problems piling up, I wouldn't have asked for Command training. Be prepared for every eventuality, they always say. Then someone stumbles upon something else and suddenly no one's prepared for it." Luka looked about for a bench that didn't happen to be snow-covered, but to no avail. He let out a disappointed sigh. "If you need me to facilitate moving staff, let me know."

Sofia regarded him a moment. "Still, command can be trying, especially when taken on unexpectedly," she observed with a knowing look. "I know who to speak to, so I won't need to bother you for facilitating that. But I hope you know that if you ever need to unburden, or just talk, I'm here as a counselor as well as a chaplain."

Luka gave Sofia a half-hearted smile. "When there's time for it, don't worry, I'm going to make an appointment. I need my mental state checked anyway, I've just accepted the responsibility for this colony. But out in the cold is not the place I'd like talk about that." He gestured around them. "I just wish they would have assigned me to a colony that didn't have so much snow."

"I'm sure you're quite sane," she replied with a soft laugh. "Though that must feel as much a burden as an honor, especially with this unexpected cold. Which might be best dealt with at the moment, by keeping in motion." She gestured along the pathway they had both been walking. "And if you need any other advice on living with snow, I grew up in place far enough north on earth to have had a bit of experience with it."

"With or without the cold, I always pictured my first command assignment on a starship. Something small, or an Olympic-class. Nothing quite this... Stationary." He kept stride with Sofia, aiming to keep his mind off the stress as they spoke. "I can't say I have the same experience. Hawaii is better for heat and humidity than anything else. How far North were you, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Toronto. Hardly arctic circle, like a few people I know, but we saw plenty of cold and snow. Certainly more than Hawaii," she said with a sympathetic look. "As to first commands, there's an old earth saying: 'Man plans; God laughs'. I think being thrust into a position of necessity may be more common than following an expected career path. I'd say especially now with all the demands on Starfleet, but historically trouble and subsequent high demand been more than norm than the exception."

"Maybe." Luka shoved his hands into his pockets as they continued onward. "It's not a regret of taking Command, on the contrary, I decided to undertake Command Training because of my own life experiences. And I suppose the best way to continue that training is on the job. There aren't too many different ways to advance without being in the thick of it, right? I... will have to admit, I'm not exactly familiar with... any scripture. I have a friend who may actually be more well-versed in all that than I am."

"Not to worry. That wasn't scripture; just an old adage - Yiddish, if I recall correctly - but universally apt. You don't have to believe in a Deity to see that the plans of beings as finite as ourselves are almost comedic when viewed against the uncertainty of cosmic events," she explained. "In fact, the person who first told me that adage was firmly agnostic."

"Ah." Luka let the thought hang for a step longer than he wishes to. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment as his silence fell. "Clearly that proves the point if at anything, but a fair point all the same." He offered a small smile, despite his flustered feelings. "I suppose I should diversify myself if I'm going to hang up my doctor coat. I hear about so many in command that are much more well-rounded, or at least more well-read."

Seeing how ill at ease he was, her heart went out to him. Even those who chose command could find it daunting, and she had seen too many overwhelmed less by the pressures from others than by the pressure they placed on themselves. "Commander, I have counseled a fair number of COs, so let me put your mind at ease there," she said reassuringly. "Few are well-rounded in their own estimation, and most only appear well-read because they have a couple favorite books or authors that they quote from. Why, I even had a CO once whose favorite quotes came from an obscure 20th century comic strip - and the crew loved him for it."

"Comics?" Luka's thoughtful frown deepened, eyes focusing not on the road in front of him but instead on Sofia. She was so very certain, and while he was sure she was right, he could not get the nagging concern out of his head. "Well, I suppose if people don't mind quips from a medical journal, but other than that... I have an old surfboard in my office. How it survived so many ships exploding is beyond me, but it's there."

"Medical journals have some excellent insights," Sofia replied, suppressing a chuckle. She had known quite a few doctors and was sure he was in fact much better read than that. "I knew a pilot from Australia who claimed his only religion was surfing and he seemed to have some nearly 'scriptural' quotes relating to the sport. I take it you surf as well?"

"I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it religious, but yes I do. Or I did, back before Academy." He let out a sigh at the thought, gaze refocusing on the white powder that lay around them. "I suppose it was more of a hobby at that point. With twin siblings, it was difficult to take time for myself unless I was on the waves. I always knew that wasn't going to be a career choice. You can't help people when you're chasing after waves. Although, if the weather lets up enough, I might see what snowboarding has to offer."

"Ah. I understand. I have twin siblings too, and I was 14 when they were born so guess who got to be the live in babysitter?" she laughed. "In my case, time to myself came through practicing violin. But I took some time for sports as well. I've never surfed, but I have snowboarded and while there are no tubes or big waves to ride still it's a great deal of fun. I'd be glad to show you sometime."

"I don't think I had the delight of watching them until after Kikua went to Academy." Luka smiled. "Oh I'd like that. Especially if we end up here in the long haul." Luka was pretty sure he was not going anywhere, and without a beach in sight, he would have to take up a new hobby. "Or I could see if we could get some of those dogs they use for sledding. I bet we could start something on the colony with that."

"Well, if you can surf, I'm sure you'll pick it up quickly," Sofia said. "But if you can wrangle sled dogs for us, that would be a delight. Mushers are such wonderful dogs - good for transport and for company." She hugged her arms as if against the chill. "And good for snuggling to keep warm."

"... I'll have to make calls." It was uncertain which part appealed to Luka the most, but his eyes lit up at the thought of mush dogs. "I'm sure there's somewhere that has too many mush dogs and not enough mush...ers? Is that the word?"

Sofia nodded. "I think that is the correct word. Earth is thankfully past the days of excess dogs languishing in shelters, or worse. But I'm sure there are breeders there and on other worlds that we could contact," she said warming to the idea. "Who knows? Some of them might even want to come join the colony for the opportunity to let their dogs do the work they were bred for."

Luka gave it a mulled thought. "I wonder if there's someone in the civilian community who knows someone... Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I don't have any idea how long I'm going to be here. I wouldn't want to end up with multiple dogs just to be transferred to an island somewhere."

Sofia looked at him sidelong. "Not that I think there'd be any problem finding adopters for the theoretical dogs, but surely you aren't planning on leaving so soon after taking command?"

"I don't have plans to, but Brass might have a lapse of sanity and decide to put someone more qualified in the position." Luka explained. "But something tells me I won't have to worry about that."

"Good. I'd hate to think you were actively looking to leave, because I'm sure putting you in charge was an entirely sane decision." She flashed a smile. "And I'm a Counselor, so take that as qualified assessment."

Luka gave a nervous laugh at the thought, but it did occur to him that he had not thought this a permanent place of residence. Maybe he should have, at least for the time being. At least he had some positives to look forward to. "I shall. Though I should submit myself to my mental health physical at some point soon, so that we can get all that out of the way."

Sofia smiled. "Whenever you can make time, Commander. I'm sure my schedule can be more easily shuffled than yours."

"Of course." Luka gave a chuckle. "But, we can always resume this conversation for another time. I'm sure I've kept you long enough, and I likely have a yeoman to pacify."

"Good luck." Sofia suppressed a chuckle, knowing which yeoman he likely meant. She nodded a farewell, heading back toward the chapel. "I'm available to talk any time."

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