Running Into Things

Posted on Mon Feb 16th, 2026 @ 11:43am by Captain Tristan Faust & Lieutenant Commander Marc Kitchner M.D.

1,184 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Mission 6: Echoes of the Interphase
Location: Deck 4: Captain's Cabin
Timeline: M6 MD05 (2268.10.08) 1300

Stacks of clipboards, books and spiral bound journals covered the Captain's Desk. Tristan leaned back into the Eames Soft Pad Executive chair, one extravagence added while the Midway was in dock. He rubbed his eyes. Moving up the Midway's launch window only compounded the bands of red tape required before leaving dock, while at the same time compressing the time span to finish. He need another vacation.

Marc looked at his watch for the fourth time in the past ten minutes. He got up and walked to the wall and punched the intercom button. "Bridge ..."

"Bridge ... McGowan." The duty officer responded.

"Christopher ... Dr. Kitchner. Can you page the Captain to the officers mess on deck 6?" Marc asked.

"As good as done Doc. Before I forget, are you going to join us for the junior officers game on Thursday?" McGowan asked. Thanks to the popularity of Kitchner's by invite only card games some of the junior officers started their own version. They of course left an open invite to the Captain, Exec, and Kitchner out of politeness.

"Work permitting, but I stop in for a beer all the same." Kitchner said, he felt bad taking their credits, so he usually came down for the latest news and a drink.

"Okay Doc, same time same place. Bridge out." McGowan said closing the channel. A minute later. "Captain Faust report to the Officers Mess deck 6 ... Captain Faust to the Officers Mess deck 6 ... Captain Faust to the Officers Mess deck 6. That is all." Marc went back to his table and his breakfast.

The Captain groaned audibly. Only two people on the ship would summon him over the intercom under condition blue. He stood up and headed towards the door.

The mess hall was fairly crowded which wasn't surprising with the order to return to the ship. The Captain stepped inside and ran right into Ensign Page. Carter almost fell over but Tristan caught him.

"I'm sorry Captain," Carter apologized.

"Don't mention it Ensign, it's... Busy in here today. Have you seen Dr. Kitchner?" the Captain asked.

"Over that way sir," Carter responder, regaining his balance. He pointed towards the far wall near the windows. The Captain made his way over and saw the shape of the doctor in the corner.

Marc looked up over the rim of his coffee cup at Tristan. "I figured as much. You haven't closed your eyes since we got back from your parents place have you? I bet you've hardly eaten either." The Captain grunted.

Marc pushed a chair out with his foot under the table. "Dominic ..." Marc called the steward over.

"Dominic Jeffries ... Tristan Faust ... Tristan Faust ... Dominic Jeffries." Marc said pointing from one to the other and back again.

"Captain ... Commodore Anderson said you needed somebody to look after you. I'll be at your call of course, but I'll also be helping out here as well. Can I get you some breakfast?" Dominic said extending a hand.

The Captain smiled and chuckled, the Commodore actually honored his request. He was shocked. "Sure," Tristan responded, "I'll start with coffee... How about a few scrambled eggs and rye toast." He reached out and took the hand, "And welcome aboard... You're a welcome sight," he added.

"Coming up directly." Dominic said grinning. "Another cup Doctor?" He asked Marc. Marc just nodded.

Tristan sat down stiffly and obviously exhausted. A few more minutes and Dominic returned with a tray. "Three eggs soft scrambled, rye toast, extra butter and jelly." He placed a coffee carafe on the table. "The coffee is fresh made. Sir, I know you're busy as sin, but I'd like to sit with you for a few minutes to get your likes and dislikes. Joe said you haven't made many special requests in the past year." Dominic stood there waiting for Faust to take his first sip of coffee. "Too strong?"

"No that'll work," Tristan responded, "Thank you Mr. Jefferies... I'm pretty much all over the place cuisine wise... Mediterranean, German, classic American... We can figure it out. I enjoy fresh shell fish, of course that is a tall order."

Dominic thought to himself for a minute before speaking again. "What time do you prefer dinner sir?"

"1900." Marc said putting a spoon of sugar into his cup. Tristan nodded his mouth full of toast.

"I'll have something special for you." Dominic said grinning sheepishly. "I promise."

"I actually prefer dinner at 1800," the Captain commented, "Although I am shocked the Commodore actually came through."

"1800 it is, I'll have something special tonight, I promise." Dominic nodded. "The Commodore expected you to say something. He said to say he wanted somebody as good as Tommy Michaels for you. I hope I'm half as good, Tom's a good man." Somebody across the room called Dominic. "Excuse me." He gave both men a nod and walked off.

Marc picked up a piece of toast and spread some jelly on it with the back of a spoon. "Sour cherry. Not bad" He said half chewing. "Feel better now that you have something in your belly?"

"I suppose so, something more than black coffee anyway," he commented, "I met with Admiral Nogura yesterday morning... Tell me, does he offer everyone tea and then never allow them to actually drink it?"

Marc just shook his head. "I couldn't say. The last time I saw the Admiral was in San Diego at a charity event Chris Budzinski drug me too." He snagged another piece of toast.

They continued eating in silence for a few minutes. A semi scared crewmen walked up. "Excuse me sir. The XO wanted you to see this before she did anything." Handing Faust a clipboard.

Marc watched his nephew halfway struggling to read before handing it back. "Tell her, I trust her on this."

"I knew it." Marc said putting his cup down. "Your eyes are giving you trouble aren't they?"

Tristan set his cup down onto the table, "Just a little fatigued," he lied.

He let out an uh huh grunt. "While we're still on Earth, you and I are going to visit a friend of mine who's an optometrist." Marc said with a slight grunt in his voice.

The Captain sighed, "Let me guess, if I say no, then you put an order on my medical file, relieve me of duty and keep the ship from launching on time..." he said, shooting a glare towards the doctor.

"If necessary." Marc said half grinning because he knew Tristan couldn't argue with him. "You can spare yourself two hours."

"Fine, we better make it quick and under two hours," Tristan responded, "We have a strict deadline and medical excuse or not, I'm not crossing Admiral Nogura."

"An that deadline is what exactly? If you don't mind my asking?" Marc asked.

"Twenty-four hours," Tristan responded grimly.

"We'll be fine ..." Before Marc could say anything else he was paged over the ship wide intercom. Tristan sat there with a 'now you know how I feel', look on his face. "I'll talk to you later." And gave him a pat on the shoulder as he left.

To Be Continued...

 

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