Conversations

Posted on Thu Oct 30th, 2025 @ 4:08pm by Captain Rylan Gray & Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox & Chief Petty Officer Gildran Trusk

1,589 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Wolf in the Fold: Hide and Seek
Location: Captain's Private Quarters | Deck 2 | USS Thunderbird

Rylan sat on the sofa, propped up by pillows, with a cup of Yorkshire tea close at hand and listened. The Admiral had been speaking for some time now, working his way around to the news, and, truth to be told, he was grateful for the respite. When it came, nothing more than he had already anticipated, he signaled his agreement and ended the conversation. It took him a few minutes, to summon the energy to send messages to his remarkable yeoman and his First Officer.

Both men of reputable punctuality, it was little surprised for Knox to find himself sharing an awkward and tense turbolift ride with Trusk who grunted an acknowledgment of Harrison Knox's presence. Trusk's arms were crossed like the scolding father that he was.

"Chief Yeoman," Harrison said addressing the man. They had been on an away team together once since Knox's 'fall from grace' but they were both too duty focused and driven to not let any more loss of life to occur to stop and discuss the elephant in the room.

Knox was grateful the Thunderbird was not a gigantic starship and the ride up was short. At least it would have been until Trusk struck the first blow. "Computer, halt turbolift." The words came out and the short journey now became an obstacle.

Harrison looked at Trusk waiting for an explanation, but was met with an interrogation instead. "Don't think for one moment I nor he have forgotten how royally you screwed up. Your time charading around as Acting Captain is over," quipped Trusk.

Thanks thought Harrison as if he needed that reminder. "I know. You of all people will hold this against the rest of my career."

"Your life, Commander. Careers are too short, lives if we are fortunate exceed those careers," Trusk said in a scoffing snort. "I am not here to hold mistakes over your head. I am here to ensure you've learned from them."

Knox nodded. "I understand, S.." he stopped himself short of yielding his rank to Trusk, nearly slipping by addressing him as Sir. Trusk was just that assertive and could command a stage if he was theatrically inclined.

Trusk then released the hold he had on the turbolift, allowing both men to still arrive together in a timely manner. They stood side by side at the Captain's door with Trusk pressing the chime.

"Enter," Rylan said summoning the strength he would need for the conversation at hand. As the two men entered, he gestured for them both to have a seat. "Please," he said quietly, his accent more pronounced than usual. "I'd rather we didn't stand on formality."

Knox nodded and took a seat. Trusk, who was one to stand on formality, tensed up though took a seat. "Captain, you should not be overdoing it." stated Trusk. "After everything..."

Harrison was in agreement. "Trusk is right. You had us worried for a while. I know you aren't one to step away from things, but if you need anything."

Rylan turned his attention to Trusk first and nodding slightly, said, "You're entirely right. I should not and, frankly, Starfleet agrees with you." He sighed quietly. "I've been ordered to return to Earth, for extended recuperation. And while I wanted to disagree with Admiral Scofield, I can't. Just being on the Bridge for that short time about did me in."

Trusk grunted. "Admirals are always meddling, but sometimes they are correct," he stated. "Mend, take your time. You will be back when you are ready to be."

Knox on the other hand was concerned. "Where does that place us... the ship, the crew? With you away for however long. We don't have a First Officer, and I..." Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox looked at Rylan. "I'm not sure. Second Officer, am I done with my command training?"

Trusk scoffed. "Far from done, but you kept the ship together and you didn't wage a private war against that blasted AI. I suppose that is improvement."

If anything demonstrated the difference between the two, it was how each of them had reacted to an admission that had been hard for Rylan to make. He kept his feelings about it to himself, however, and addressed Knox's personal concerns directly. "For now, you are considered Acting First Officer. While the crew has a bit of shore leave, you will be expected to complete your training. Whether Acting becomes permanent is up to your new commanding officer. Captain Erik Norsgaard will meet us when we arrive. I'll do the change of command and then the decision is up to him."

"What do you mean new commanding officer?" Knox leaned forward. "I know you need time away, I understand. I do, but... how long? How long are we going to have Captain Norsgaard? Is this permanent?"

Trusk tried not to react, keeping emotion in check, but a change of command was not something he wanted, not now. Better than Knox in command thought Trusk. "Command changes happen and you need to do what's best for yourself while Starfleet Command does what is best for the Thunderbird. I do echo Commander Knox's concern for the extent of this command change."

"That's not up to me," Rylan said with a tired shrug. "Realistically, if it was going to be a week or two, you'd all have had shore leave." He gave Knox a hard glance. "And I expect you to give this new captain more respect than you gave Commander D'Sai."

"Commander D'Sai wasn't the problem," stated Knox. He did not want to discuss her further as the weight of her fate was still lingering. "She was a fine officer. I'll do better."

"If it were up to me," Rylan said, addressing them both, "I would stay. It's hard for a captain to turn his ship, his crew, over to the care of another. But I'm not up to command at the moment. I know that. This recovery will take some time."

Trusk gave a solemn nod. He admired that Gray had the maturity and leadership capabilities to know his own limitations, and when the safety of the crew and the starship meant stepping aside for however long that needed to be.

"I am sure Captain Norsgaard will be a fine Commanding Officer, but I would be amiss if I did not state that your presence here has already gotten this crew through a lot. Your absence would be felt," stated Knox.

"Thank you for that," Rylan said. "It's nice to hear." Privately, he doubted that since virtually no one had visited him since he had awoken in Sickbay but still, it was something of a comfort to know that he had had something of an effect in his short time aboard. "You know how it is. We are Starfleet Officers. Sometimes, that means uprooting ourselves, starting over. What's the expression? We go where we are needed."

Knox smiled slightly. "Something of the sort. There was a time where I was needed here under your command. Now, it would appear I am needed under Captain Norsgaard."

Rylan nodded, his expression noncommittal. Things had changed between the two of them and Rylan, slow to forgive at the best of times, had felt it doubly since Knox had been his chosen First Officer. "You have an opportunity with Captain Norsgaard," Rylan said, "to ... do better ... provided he intends to keep you on, of course. The choice of First Officer is generally left up to the commanding officer."

"If not, then I'll see where Starfleet takes me, but I would appreciate the opportunity to clear up the blemish on my service record" Knox replied. "Though it isn't just my blemish on my service record I needed to repair."

"You're speaking about Josephine Devane," Rylan asked?

Knox felt a sting in his chest and fire in his veins. He did not like to hear her name. "Yes, and no. I... because of my ignorance and trust in her, I damaged the dynamic we had as Captain and First Officer, and I damn near destroyed our friendship. I need to repair everything."

"I think there's work there that needs to be done," Rylan said, a thoughtful look stealing across his features. "The Maquis work against Federation interests from within Starfleet. I have personally advocated for exposing their network and removing their agents from positions of power in Starfleet. Of course, that starts with figuring out who they are."

"Maquis," echoed Knox. "So, they have a more formalized name now? These Federation colonists and Starfleet officers undermining the Federation. Figuring out who they are will likely be no easy task. I imagine most of them won't be as brazen as Devane was."

"No, it won't," Rylan said. "I plan to make use of my time on Earth. Talk to Starfleet Intelligence. Get things moving."

Knox nodded. "Good luck doesn't cut it. If you need anything, reach out. I may not be that good at chess, but if I can help you in any way exposing these people, you know where I am. Hopefully here aboard the Thunderbird." Where he wanted to be was at Rylan's side as things were intended. His right hand aboard the Thunderbird, but that was not the case.

"No doubt, luck will be required. Now, if you'll both excuse me, I need to get some rest."

---

Captain Rylan Gray
Aboard the USS Thunderbird

Lt. Commander Harrison Knox
Acting First Officer
USS Thunderbird

Chief Petty Officer Gildran Trusk
Captain's Yeoman
USS Thunderbird

 

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