I see you again

Posted on 01 Nov 2026 @ 8:26pm by Lieutenant Margeurite "Maggie" LeFebvre & Chief Warrant Officer Glenn Stone Mr

3,265 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: S04 Episode 02 The Hackers Backdoor (Incidentals)
Location: Flight Deck USS Tomecat
Timeline: After departure

ON:

When you step onto the Akira-class flight bay, the first thing you feel is scale. It is not the quiet, carpeted diplomacy of a Galaxy-class ship. It is a warship’s flight center—built during an era when the Federation remembered the sound of Borg hull cutters.

The deck is positioned just beneath the dorsal weapons roll-bar, tying directly into the ship’s superstructure. The Flight bay is controlled by a space traffic control room known as "Flight Operations". This is located against the forward wall of the Flight bay, next to the turbolift exit.

The shuttles and fighters. You feel them—a low, controlled tremor through the deck plating. The Flight bay module replaced the shuttle bays found in previous Starship classes. This Flight bay contains support services for the latest in Starfleet shuttle and runabout designs.

Mr. Stone walked out of the flight control office through the bulkhead and stepped onto the flight deck. There was a lot of commotion as work was done, checking every nook and cranny for anything that could be picked up by gravity systems or blown into personnel or spacecraft.

He paused as he saw someone. A tall woman with a thin but muscular build. bland hair, and he thought he saw blue eyes. The woman appears to be a Starfleet fighter pilot standing confidently on the flight deck. She has short, softly waved blonde hair, styled neatly, framing a composed, focused expression. Her posture is upright and poised, suggesting discipline and authority.

She wore a sleek Starfleet fighter-pilot uniform, primarily black, with a gold yoke across the shoulders and upper chest. A metallic Starfleet delta insignia badge is pinned over her left chest. The uniform is form-fitting and structured, with a high collar and subtle gold trim at the cuffs, emphasizing both practicality and rank.

The setting behind her features advanced control consoles, softly glowing blue floor lighting, and a central console. Overall, she projected confidence, intelligence, and the steady composure expected of an elite Starfleet pilot. It was the light of the consoles reflecting off her face that made Stone have a flashback to a rough time.

Flashback

The team had been compromised and had taken heavy enemy fire. The team was almost all killed. They needed extraction. They called several times, but the LZ was too hot for the shuttle to come in and pick them up. The enemy was closing in on them, then the communications crackled with a message, "ETA one minute, 30 seconds to get on. Boomer SAR out."

Stone yelled orders as they threw their last photon grenades out to make a barrier. He had given the order to shoot until their phaser rifles overheat and explode. He went through the beacon for the landing of the shuttle.

Flight Deck

Shaking his head, Stone forced back on the fight deck. He had to know who that was who flew in when no one would. He walked up when she was alone, stopped a little away, probably looking confused. "Ah... LeFebvre? Ensign?" When she turned, her rank was Lieutenant. "Sorry, Lieutenant, your last name is LeFebvre? Right?" Mr. Stone asked as if he were looking for someone.

Maggie stood on the Flight deck, eyes trained on the computer, watching as pilots-fighters and shuttle pilots, all were in the air-were doing their training flights. As the new Deputy, it was her job to ensure that flight paths were followed, that safety was taken seriously, and so on. She'd promised to take this job seriously, and she was.

She startled lightly as she turned around to talk to the Air Boss, the head of Air Traffic Control.

"Yes, that's me," she said, looking at the Chief of the Boat. "What brings you here, Chief?" She asked. Maggie had learned a long time ago that respect ran both ways-she appreciated the fact that enlisted and warrant officers existed in the Fleet-it helped to spread the work around. Only by sheer dumb luck had she managed to graduate from the Academy anyway, so she never had a chip on her shoulder about how officers were better. Most of them were dumb, in her opinion, and had an ego.

He searched for the right words. He was never any good at this kind of interaction in this setting. He was transferred off the ship before he could even say thank you. "Don't think that I am crazy, but I did think we met before. Back then, you flew a SAR shuttle? He paused, thinking You flow in with a fighter when no one would. You pulled my special operations team out of a bad situation. If you had not, we would not be talking right now. I think it was the Mercy Hospital Ship. You were a SAR pilot," he explained. He paused again, looking at the round he was vividly remembering.

"I never got to thank you. I remembered your face in the light of the control panel. I will never forget that. It was you who gave me some peace in that moment, saving us. I was transferred off the Mercy Hospital Ship before I could talk to you." he added as he seemed to be remembering at the moment.

Maggie's mind ran through the rolodex of her memories. Most of them she was easy to access-she wasn't one of those people who buried things. She was a "confront it head on and deal with it so you can live" kind of person. She quickly found the memory.

"Oh, yes!! The Delphic Expanse," she said. "Planet XO-7, right?" She asked. She was a young, fresh pilot, eager to fly and eager to please. She was also kind of dumb in that she'd take unwise risks sometimes. That mission had been one of those-the only pilot to volunteer to run a grab-n-go rescue mission from the nearby Station to the Planet under a full siege. Dumb? Yes. Thrilling? Also yes.

Maggie looked back at him, and snapped her fingers. "You were the team lead," she said, remembering. "And you're welcome. But I was truly just...doing my job." She smiled lightly. "I would do it again," she said, more serious now. It was true. If she saved just ONE life that day, then it was worth it.

Stone gave a slight smile at her response. " Lieutenant, do not sell yourself short. That's six people alive today because you took the initiative to do something, risking everything. I thought they would just leave us there on our own, then come back with more ships," he said with gratitude and respect. "I know the wing is in good hands as the flight deck officer, I appreciate that," said Stone as he looked away for a moment, looking at the flight deck, then back at the Lieutenant.

Maggie simply nodded. "They wanted to," she said. "I couldn't stand the thought of not at least TRYING," she said. "They said I was stupid to try it. A suicide mission, they called it. But it WAS my job. But more than that...it was my oath. Leave no man behind if I can help it," she said. She wasn't going to lie-it was a rough 20 minutes, the barrage had never let up, but neither had she. She took fire and had some pretty sweet injuries, but she'd do it again if she had to. She never talked about it much, just to the Counselor after and to Todd, once. It was just something that had happened once. She never thought she would see any of them again.

"In any case, you did your job brilliantly. There is no obligation, but I would like to get you a drink, maybe after your shift or whenever you are free. As I think you. If I may," asked Chief, his tone with a bit of reverence.

Maggie nodded. "That sounds nice," she said. "I would like that. Actually, I am done now, if you're free," she said.

He looked across the flight deck, looking at his Padd and the micromitor for time. Then with a few touches on the Padd. He looked up at Maggie. "I have the time now. Besides, I have had people tell me I spend way too much time at work. If that is possible in my position, Lieutenant," replied Stone with a smile.

"Is Lieutenant or LeFebvre fine off duty, or do you like to be called something else?" asked Stone in a formal tone. He was talking to an officer and did not want problems. He knows he outranked most by position. But there was a line there some did not like to cross.

"Just call me Maggie; I don't stand on ceremony," she said. Boy. was that the truth. The mere fact that she'd made it through the Academy and then made it to a real job in the Fleet. But she had.

"And you?" She asked.

He grinned, "Well, people have called me many names, most of which are not so nice, and I would not repeat them in front of a lady," he said jokingly. "Glenn or Stone, I normally answer to
that." He said with a more serious tone.

"Shall we go then?" he asked Maggie with a little excitement in his voice.

She nodded. "Alright, Glenn. Lead the way," she said. Wow, the memories!! "The Officer's Lounge is close by; I'll get you in," she offered, but if he had a better plan, she was fine with that, too.

Giving a chuckle, Glenn looked at Maggie. "Sure, funny thing, I would like to see someone stop me from going in. Only two people outrank me by position. CO and XO. There are a few places on this ship I just can not walk into as the COB. The Officer's Lounge is one that I can walk into, but it makes it better with you there," Glenn said as he walked. "Not that I go there much anyway." He added as they entered the corridor.

Maggie was right, thought Glenn, it was not too far away. As they walked through the ship's corridor. "I do think it is incredible that we met on this ship out of all the ships and assignments. The memories of the time back then will probably never fade," Glenn said with fondness.

Maggie smiled. "I forgot that that rule existed. I don't think anyone would actually care, though some of the civilians can be a bit uptight about the rules," she said. They entered the lounge.

"I think you're right. It won't go away. It has stayed with me all this time. Not always in a bad way. I don't regret it, and I'd do it again," she said. "Booth or bar?" she asked. "Jeyson," she said, nodding to the man behind the bar.

He looked around the room. There were already three at the Bar. "Booth," he replied, gesturing towards the next window. It was in the open, almost in the center of the room. He sat across from feeling.

Some of the other officers gave the Chief a look of surprise. but said nothing. Chief just gave a smile or a nod to anyone who noticed him.

"What do you normally drink, Maggie?" asked Stone. He was relaxed but still watching the room. It looked like second nature to him.

"Vodka, usually" she said. "but Todd's been giving me some whisky lately that is good, too," she said. At her core, she was still kind of a girly pink fruity drink kinda person, though. She tapped on the ordering PADD. "But maybe just some juice today, I am not feeling that great," she said. Something she'd eaten or something was getting to her.

"Oh, not feeling well?" Stone replied, looking a bit surprised. He had wondered if he pushed this little get-together too much. He did not remember pushing anything at all. Stone made some selections of his own on the padd then looked at Maggie. "How long have you been feeling this way?" he asked with curiosity.

"A few weeks. I have an appointment with the Doc tomorrow," she said. "It's probably just nerves; Todd and I are going to get married soon," she said.

"Marriage would do that. I am glad you could find happiness out here in the dark. Just take a few breaths and take one step at a time," suggested Stone with a smile. "Talk to Todd about anything that might be on your mind. You will be doing that for the rest of your lifes," said Stone, taking a sip of his drink.

Maggie nodded. 'Thank you. I appreciate that," she said. "How about you? Are you involved with anyone now?"

"No, I have not found anyone who will put up with my type of life. It makes it hard to find time to even date a nice woman. It is one of the reasons to be stationed on a ship, maybe to find someone special. Make friends who are different from me," replied Stone. He seemed to have some regret in his eyes just for a momint not having a wife.

It was the Admiral who told him he needed a break and to consider other approaches to his career. He was a fine operator, one of the best, but even the best needs a break now and then. He had tried to date, but whenever things started off, he would be deployed to another unnamed system and disappear for months at a time.

"The Admiral Sands said take a brake gain some more command experience. Not that Special Warfare was not a bad place to get it, but I have been there most of my career. He thought a ship would be a great place to gain more experience and meet people." Stone explained after taking a drink from his glass.

Maggie nodded. "That sounds wise. Plus, out here, you can do other things. Not just do your job. On a ship, we wear many hats. Well. Most of us do. I have no illusions or want to be in Command. I am content just flying. It's my passion and I am lucky to be able to do it," she said. "So. ARE you meeting people?" She asked.

"Yes and no, I met back up with you." He replied, taking a sip of his drink. "Yes, mostly professional. Nothing romantic and still making friends, I guess. In my position, much like the Captain, I have to keep a certain separation from the crew. Which does not make it any easier," explained Stone with a knowing smile. "You know that as well." added Stone.

Maggie nodded. "Yes," she said. "It's nice to see a familiar face." She paused. "That makes sense. When you hold people's lives in your hands," she said, "It makes it hard to get too close. I know. I've flown enough rescue missions," she said. "It's funny how things change, isn't it? Back then, I was a young pilot with a bit of a chip on my shoulder and a lot to prove. Now? I have grown into my career. I am not longer needing to prove myself. I just...am."


He smiled at her. "I can see that. I never thought I would be the chief of a boat either. I fiugered that, with the way things were going, I would be on some backwater planet, wanting to be somewhere else, slowly bleeding out." He said without remorse, more like a fact. "But fate had other plans. Some hotshot pilot always got to come in and rescue my dumb butt from the tuble I started," he said half jokingly. Then he took a sip of his drink.

"I am glad you are here, a familiar face. I know you have this ship's back and mine too. I am sure I might have to drop in on the planet side one day, and I will need close cover," Stated Stone senserly.


"Yes," she said. "Most of our missions are planetside," ehe explained. "So, why did you come back?? I feel like a station would be more fun for us,."

"if you are referring to a ship I had mentioned, the Admiral ahead of special operations said I needed this assignment to make it to the next stage of my career," replies Stone, thinking on her question.

"Now being on the station would be ok but this is where the action is. I have not spent too much time in any one place, ship, or station. always on the move to the place to solve Starfleet's problems," he said with a grin. "You know the old saying, explore new planets, meet new civilizations. And kill them. Oh, I mean, no, I'm sorry, there serinder? or something like," he stated with a chuckle.

Maggie simply nodded. "There's definitely more opportunities on a ship, for sure. Flying out of bases isn't as fun. They tend to not appreciate aerial maneuvers. And yes, exploring space is funner," she said. "The reassignment is usually a ticket to advancement, yes. For me, I think that Command just didn't know where else I would go. I was...a bit of a problem for awhile there. I just...the rules are dumb and I am a pilot. Who cares if I can run a console?"

"There is always the academy. Teaching is a good job. Not always easy, but can be satisfying. Nothing like getting up in the morning and putting cadets through hell." looked over at the window and looked at the sraers going by.

She chuckled. "I would be miserable," she said. It was true. She'd lose her marbles not being able to "do anything."

"Well, with my assignment, I did not have all cadets. Am I sure you could teach advanced flight, tactics, and dogfighting?" He said with a grin.

Which reminds me, I should put some Marines and security through some training. Maybe knock some chips off some shoulders." He added with a sly grin.


Maggie nodded. "The training is always good. I have uploaded a couple of my favorite simulations," she said, a look in her blue eyes of mischief. "Probably best for more advanced officers, though."

It was basically a dogfighting pattern, with aerial tricks...until you were cornered and needed to get the hell out. It wasn't as easy as it sounded. She liked to refresh her skills on that one occasionally.

"But really...I think any training is good. Like us, I can't fly without a certain number of training hours. It's how you keep fresh and safe," she said, seriously.

Glenn glanced down as his comm badge chirped.

"Stone here."

A moment later, he nodded. "Understood. I'm on my way."

He looked back at Maggie with a small, apologetic smile. "Duty calls, Lieutenant. Apparently, they still haven't figured out how to run this ship without keeping me busy."

He stood, collecting his PADD. "It was good seeing you again, Maggie. And I mean that. We'll have to do this again sometime, preferably when neither of us is being called away."

He gave her a friendly nod before heading toward the exit. The bridge was waiting, and the Chief of the Boat had work to do.

"Bye," Maggie called out as he left. She finished her drink and headed back to her quarters, glad that she could catch up with an old friend.

 

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