The Unexpected

Posted on 10 Jul 2026 @ 12:52pm by Captain Jasmine Somers FCapt & 2nd Lieutenant Elora Rykov

1,350 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: S04 Episode 02 The Hackers Backdoor (Incidentals)
Location: Various
Timeline: During A Curve Ball Part #3 Post

[ON]

After being given the information on the bridge, Jasmine returned to the CRR and sat behind her desk, pulling up the list, checking through it and settling on a name. She pulled up the officer's service jacket and tapped her Commbadge.

=/\= Somers to Lieutenant Rykov, report to my Ready Room immediately =/\= she said.

Aye Captain on my way Came Rykovs voice.

=/\= Acknowledged Lieutenant, Somers out =/\= the Captain finished and closed the link.

A few minutes later, Second Lieutenant Elora Rykov was straightening her uniform for the third time, a nervous habit, as she made her way to Captain Somers' office. The summons was unexpected to say the least. She had been overseeing the monopoly game for Running Man when she'd been tapped out to reply to the summons. They were hoping to finish the season before the new MCO possibly put a stop to it all. It was, after all, only a matter of time. She reached the outer office and again checked her uniform to make sure it was in perfect order before reaching out to announce her arrival.

- CRR -

A short time later, she heard a knock on her door; it was not the bridge entrance, but the other one.

"ENTER!" she said, and the door opened, and in walked an uncertain-looking Second Lieutenant, a striking dark-haired officer enter her office and came to attention.

"Second Lieutenant Elora Rykov reporting as ordered, sir!" Elora sounded off after coming to attention and saluting the Captain respectfully. She wondered if she might be in some kind of trouble. Though for her life she couldn't fathom just what she might have done to 'Be' in said trouble... All her latest shenanigans had been pretty easy to cover up. Except maybe that lil incident involving a certain live chicken and a tribble. God, she hoped it wasn't that.

*studying the officer closely* "At ease, Lieutenant, and have a seat" the Captain said, indicating the chair in front of her desk, she waited till the officer sat. As she was waiting, she looked up her Service jacket "Interesting!" she said absentmindedly.

Elora could only imagine just which parts were being deemed interesting and which parts might be about to destroy her career now. She sat silently. Waiting for the hammer to fall.

After studying the bio she updated it and looked at her with an unblinking look "okay Second Lieutenant Elora Rykov, numerous demerits for practical jokes and an event about a Chicken and Tribble" she read from memory "you crazy! giving that much chicken to a tribble?" she asked incredulously *sigh* "okay, while I do not approve of such events, they never happened on the Tomcat, but a note in your file from Station Security says tht all security officers on SB51 are to keep an eye on you, whenever you are on the station. So young, so many de-merits, hmm, but each event required planning and a logical and linear thinking and creativity. Normally, Lieutenant, such things are recognised, but circumstances would negate what you are about to receive. Deep in Federation space, we are on the edge of it, and I need officers who are creative and devious, especially in the Rifles" She paused.

Part of her wanted to correct the Captain, the tribbles had never been meant to eat the poor chickens, but were supposed to, in theory, ride them like jockeys. Unfortunately, the tribbles seemed to have developed a taste for the little leather saddles and apparently for live chickens as well. She wisely kept her mouth shut, though. The last of the Captain's words beat around her head like a fever dream. What was going on? If she wasn't about to be reprimanded, then what was this all about? She swallowed hard, her mind refusing to add up the obvious.

She sat back and steepled her fingers and touched her finger tips to her chin, "with Lieutenant Matthews transferring out, same with Lieutenant Hawthorne, I require a RXO, my new RCO a very tall, very buff hottie of a Caitian" she paused as she barely kept control as she flashed back to the RCO's rippling muscles that could be just about seen under his tunic jacket.

"Where was I!" *pause* "Ah yes, the new RCO needs a RXO, currently Chief Warrant Officer K'Muss is filling that role, but I am appointing you as the new RXO, yes there is another Rifle Officer more qualified, but she is a flirt and would melt is she had to spend too much time so close, you I think are different" the captain said.

Elora nodded, "I would like to think so, Ma'am. I am, for the record, engaged to be married. My fiancée just transferred from Starbase 51 during the last shore leave. So, I will do my best not to fall for the new Marine Commander's charms." She promised. She hadn't missed the look of whimsy that had crossed the captain's face a moment before, nor the moment of pause in her sentence. It was hard not to smile. He apparently had left a good impression on the captain, "I am glad for this opportunity, and I promise I will strive to do my best to be a leader the men can count on and an executive officer that the Commanding officer can depend on."

"Excellent," the Captain responded, and sat forward, opened her bottom drawer and pulled out a half-full bottle of human Brandy and two shot glasses "I figure you would need one to steady your nerves after the shock. Do not worry, you will not get in trouble," she said, smiling, offering.

Elora took the drink. She wasn't much of a drinker, really, but she could hold her own when she needed to. "Thank you, ma'am." She was, after all, a bit shocked and overwhelmed by this promotion. It had come out of nowhere.

Pouring two shots, the Captain handed a glass to Rykov, and she raised it and downed it in one. "I always have to remind myself not to do this too often, especially when on duty," she commented.

Elora nodded; she was off duty today or had been. She wasn't due to report for her rotation until the next morning. She had only been around today to supervise the games. She held up the drink and offered something of a toast, "Well, here is to the unexpected." She said.

After finishing her drink, "Well, I wanted to let you know of your new appointment, but now I do have to get back to work, and you have some time to adjust to your new clearences and get to know the RCO and CWO K'Mussm, so unless you have any questions, I think we are done here!" The Captain said.

Elora had finished her own drink. "Yes, Ma'am, thank you, Ma'am." She slid her glass back to Somers as she rose from her seat. "Ma'am, I just want to let you know how proud I am to be serving with the ninety-fifth. This promotion, I won't let you down." She stated.

*Smiling* "Good, I do not envy you working alongside muscles, I do not think I would be able to control my reactions, no, I do envy you, but we women must remember the scent thing," the Captain said. "Well, if you have no questions and I have nothing further, you are dismissed, Lieutenant. Get to know your new post and your new Department CO," Somers said.

Scent thing??? Scent thing? This seemed like something important and she considered asking about it. Opened her mouth. Shut it. Then nodded. Because she was still in shock of everything.

With that and a nod, Jasmine watched her newly minted RXO leave her ready room. She sighed and realized that she had to get back to the bridge.

[OFF]



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