By the Skin of Her Teeth

Posted on 19 May 2016 @ 9:12am by Lieutenant Commander Magdalena "Maggie" Doyl

753 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Errand of Mercy
Location: USS Redemption
Timeline: Just before departure

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Maggie was running late -- extremely late. She'd given herself an entire day, thinking she might be a few hours late, but she'd still have time to check in, unpack and have a look around the ship and her department before her new ship left the Starbase. But now, here she was, running from where her shuttle had just docked to where the Redemption was preparing to depart. All her belongings were being transported over, but the deck crew refused to allow her to transport with them. It was some sort of regulation created after someone used the cargo transporters to sneak onto a ship and was found two weeks later half in and half out of a container of titanium slabs when the ship docked at a mining colony. Nothing she could say would sway them, so now here she was, dodging air carts and deck crew as she tried to catch her ship.

The last thing she wanted was to have to catch a shuttle to chase the Redemption. That would look great when she tried to explain how she'd managed to miss departure.

A long cart full of metal bars cut across her path and she jumped, hurdler-style, so as not to crash into it. She hadn't run hurdles in over a decade. Fortunately, she hadn't forgotten the technique and cleared the cart with room to spare. "Chalk one up for the Latina," she said under her breath, pleased her stride hadn't faltered. As she got closer to her destination, the number of cargo handlers and freight diminished, allowing her to make better time.

It was looking like luck would be on her side. She could see her destination just ahead, when she heard someone yell. "Ma'am, stop. You can't go in there."

She slowed and called back. "I need to get to the Redemption."

"You're too late, ma'am. The ship just unhooked its moorings and is pulling away."

Maggie swore in Spanish. "They wouldn't let me transport over. I need to get on that ship."

"Not this way," the man replied cryptically. "Even if I wanted to. The umbilical has retracted, the clamps have released and it's currently 200 yards out and departing at 1/4 impulse."

She came to a stop and paused lust long enough to take several deep breaths. "Can you transport me over?"

"I'll need authorization," he hedged.

Maggie pulled a PADD out of her pocket and handed it to the man. "My transfer orders. I'm Lieutenant Commander Magdalena Rosalia Doyl, Chief Security Officer aboard the USS Redemption -- the one that is currently leaving the Starbase. I need to be on that ship." Her Spanish accent grew stronger as she spoke. "Por favor. Get the authorization and transport me aboard or get me a shuttle so I can catch it before it jumps to warp."

The man nodded and quickly scanned the PADD. "Yes, ma'am. Step this way, ma'am."

She let out the breath she'd been holding and followed him to a small cargo transporter. At the wave of his hand, she took her PADD and stepped onto the pad. A moment later, she felt the familiar tingle as the docking bay disappeared, to be replaced by the inside of a transporter room.

"Magdalena Consuelo Doyl reporting aboard," she said, attempting to sound like beaming aboard a ship minutes after departure was an every-day event.

"Umm, yes, ma'am," the transporter officer said a little hesitantly. "You're supposed to be on the bridge, ma'am. Or you were, an hour ago."

"The shuttle was delayed," she replied by way of explanation. While it was true, a more correct answer was that one shuttle had been delayed, one cancelled and another had to make a short stop for repairs. That made her late enough that she expected to see a large white rabbit dressed in a suit run by, checking his pocket watch and complaining about his tardiness.

The transporter officer raised an eyebrow, both is body language and attitude showing skepticism.

Maggie leaned closer and whispered, "Assuming a senior officer is lying is never a good way to make a first impression." She took her PADD and walked out of the door. It was too late to show up on the bridge -- someone from security would be there already, but she could make sure her belongings made it to her quarters and then she could go to her department and begin to familiarize herself with it.

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Lieutenant Commander Magdalena "Maggie" Doyl
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

 

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