Meeting the Crew - Matthews

Posted on Tue Aug 4th, 2026 @ 2:24pm by Lieutenant Commander Andromeda Lightfeather Andi & Captain Cassandra Matthews

3,005 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Mission 01 Shakedown Cruise
Location: USS Churchill/Various
Timeline: Current

[ON]

After she met with the Captain, she decided to go meet some of her crew, and she decided to start with the Marine Commanding Officer. She entered the nearest lift and, when the doors closed, "Marine Level", she said, and the lift whisked her to her requested destination.

- Marine Level -

Andi stepped out onto the Marine Level and paused as she looked left and right, then decided to go right and quickly located the MCO's office. She walked up to it and pressed the buzzer.

Cassandra looked up from her data pad. The chime snapped her out of the real-time information being fed to her from the holodeck. Her eyes burned from three days of hard evaluations. Moving and shuffling men around.

"You may come in."

As the door slid open and Cassandra saw who had entered, she got to her feet quickly. She hadn't expected to see the new executive officer of the ship today.

"Hello, Lieutenant Commander. Was there something I could do for you?"

*politely smiling* "I thought that I would come to get to know the MCO. May I have a seat?" She said by way of introduction.

"Yes, of course, please have a seat." Cassandra offered, motioning to the two chairs placed before her desk. "Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?" She offered. Cassandra herself needed a top-off on her coffee. She was ass deep in inventory reports, and the last of her men were scheduled to check in tonight from the starbase. She wanted to be there to see them.

" Mint tea, hot, please," Andi said as she took a seat, while Matthews was getting the drinks "II thought I would start to get to know the crew, as I am the newish First Officer, it is my job, I read from your file that you served aboard the Tomcat, a heavily modified Akira class, what was serving aboud an AKira Class like?" Andi asked.

Cassandra worked at the tea and got a coffee for herself. She considered the question and shrugged, "As a ship, it was a fine piece of engineering, the best Starfleet has ever produced in my humble opinion. She is a good, strong ship with a good, strong crew. I miss it." She said honestly, her mind was going to Leland, Somers, and Winchester. All the fine troops she had left behind. She missed them. But moving around had always been part of the job.

Cassandra walked around and handed the mint tea to Andi before taking a sip of her coffee.

*nods her thanks* Andi takes the cup and takes a tentative sip. Your file also said you were about to regain your MCO status, then the Bantha Poodoo hit the fan, changing your trajectory. But at least you have finally made MCO a position your file says you were ready for. Yes, I read the files. I do not know the actual reason as to why it went to crap, not my business, and I will not push; that is your news, and it was not in your file. So who is currently commanding the Tomcat?" Andi asked.

Cassandra appreciated the first officer's direction. She didn't want it to be common knowledge about her reason for needing to transfer. "Fleet Captain Jasime Somers is currently in charge of the Tomcat. As to the ninety-fifth, I am told it is a 2nd Lt. S'earr, a Caitain name if I ever heard one." She smiled as she sipped her coffee.

"Somers... Yes, I met a Somers once, long ago, was it the Fleet Captain or her Cousin? I cannot remember," she pauses as she takes a sip and then looks up "I hear the ship is nicknamed the Love Boat, something to do with a lot of romances and marriages on board! It is amazing for a ship so small" she said.

Cassandra let out a quiet chuckle at the mention of the nickname. The sound was genuine, a rare break from the exhaustion that had settled over her since transferring aboard, especially with the war games finally concluded.

"The Love Boat," she repeated, shaking her head slightly. "I suppose that is one way to describe her. The Tomcat has always had a reputation for being a close-knit ship. Small crews tend to become families whether they intend to or not. You spend enough time together, facing enough danger together, and bonds form quickly."

She took another sip of her coffee, considering the question about Somers.

"As for which Somers you met... I would need more details. The Fleet Captain has been around long enough that she has crossed paths with a lot of people. But yes, Captain Jasime Somers is the one commanding her now. She is an excellent officer. Calm under pressure, sharp as a tactical blade, and the kind of captain who knows the name of every person serving under her."

Cassandra leaned back slightly against her desk, her expression softening as memories of the Tomcat surfaced. Memories of Leland. Of Benson, and Kildare, and so many others.

"And yes, there have been quite a few relationships aboard. Some worked out, some didn't. That happens anywhere people live and work together for extended periods. But the thing about the Tomcat was never the romances. It was the loyalty. When things went bad, and they did more than once, everyone knew exactly who would be standing beside them."

She glanced briefly toward the viewport, though the view beyond was mostly forgotten.

"I think that is what I miss most. Not the ship itself, not the engines or the layout or even the missions. It was the people. A ship is just duranium and circuitry until you put a crew inside it. They are what make it special." She looked back at Andi with a small smile.

"Though I will admit, I never expected to find myself as the MCO of another ship after leaving the Tomcat. Career paths have a funny way of taking unexpected turns."

"Indeed," Lightfeather simply said.

Again, she thought of Leland, of the future they now were hoping to share. How it turned out in time would reshape her career. In a year. She would step down from the MCO here and hand that position to Hawthorne. She had already decided it, planned for it. She would then ask to be re-assigned to the Tomcat in the CAG program. Paul Winchester would be happy to take her on; she was sure of it.

She wanted to go home. She wanted to be with Leland. Wanted the future he so recently offered her. Then, remembering she wasn't alone, Cassandra lifted her coffee cup slightly in a gesture toward Andi. "So, Lieutenant Commander, what about you? You have been asking about my history, but I am curious about yours. What brought you to the Churchill?"

"I met the Fleet Captain briefly before she was a Fleet Captain," Andi clarified "I used to be her First Officer back when it was a Luna Class, so this is kind of a return for me. Ironically, I was the XO back then, and now I am XO again. You are correct about career paths, as for the other reason Churchill was in dock, and she needed a new First Officer; beyond that, there is not much more," she paused,

"I am part Cherokee, and mt family lived on a Native reservation where my father was the Chief of the Tribe. Stardate 239405.29, I stepped down as CoS on the USS Dreadnought and on 239406.20, I attained the First Officer position on the Churchill. It did not last long, as six months later, I stepped down, worked at SFHQ for a while, then a year later returned to the Churchill. I miss my days as a Security Chief," she said wistfully.

Cassandra listened with genuine interest, nodding as Andi spoke of her career. Something was reassuring about hearing from another officer who understood that Starfleet careers rarely followed a straight line.

"It sounds as though the Churchill has a way of calling you home," she said with a warm smile. "Not many officers get the opportunity to return to the same command twice, let alone as Executive Officer. That says as much about the confidence others have in you as it does about your own dedication."

She took another sip of her coffee before continuing.

"I can understand missing Security. Every department leaves its mark on the people who serve there. For me, it'll always be the Marines. No matter where I go or what billet I hold, that's where my heart is." She smiled that wistful smile of hers.

Cassandra set her mug down.

"I've always believed good leadership isn't about the color of the uniform or the title on the door. It's about taking care of your people. From what you've told me, I think we see eye to eye on that." Her expression softened further.

"And for what it's worth, Lieutenant Commander... I'm glad you're back. A ship finding its way after a refit and a change of command benefits from experienced hands. You'll have the full support of the Marine detachment. If you ever need us, whether it's security planning, tactical support, or simply an honest assessment, my door is always open." She smiled, extending the same respect Andi had shown her throughout the conversation. "Welcome home to the Churchill."

"Thank you, Captain. Now, what are your plans for the Marines? Also, I think you are allowed to wear accoutrements from your previous posting I understand that you were a Rifle Officer, should you not still be wearing the Officers' Crossbelt?" AndI asked.

Cassandra paused for a moment at the question, glancing down briefly at the uniform she wore. Her fingers brushed unconsciously over the Marine insignia displayed with careful precision. The mention of her previous posting, and the traditions that came with it, brought a faint smile to her face.

"The crossbelt is a complicated matter," she replied, her tone respectful rather than dismissive. "You are correct that Marine traditions allow for certain accoutrements and honors from previous commands or units. The 95th carries a long history, and those decorations are not simply pieces of metal or fabric. They represent the Marines who served before us, the ones who didn't come home, and the ones who carried the name forward."

She set her coffee down and folded her arms as she leaned back on the desk, considering her next words carefully.
"But aboard the Churchill, I am still waiting on authorization from command before wearing the 95th decorations or any additional unit-specific accoutrements. Regulations are clear that while a Marine may retain earned honors, there is a difference between personal achievement and displaying a unit identity aboard a new command."

Cassandra gave a small nod.

"I will not have my Marines wondering whether I am bringing the Tomcat with me instead of building something here. The Churchill deserves my full commitment, and so does this detachment. Until I receive approval, the 95th stays properly stored."

A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Besides, Lieutenant Commander, the Marines who earned those decorations deserve the respect of having them worn correctly. Not because I want to show where I came from, but because of what they represent."

She leaned forward slightly, returning to the other part of the question.

"As for my plans for the Marines..."

Her expression shifted into the familiar look of the Marine officer who had spent far too many hours studying readiness reports. "First priority is integration. The Churchill is a new chapter. My Marines need to know the ship, the officers, the procedures, and the people they are protecting. A good Marine detachment isn't just a force you deploy when things go wrong. We are part of the ship's heartbeat."

She tapped the padd resting next to her on her desk.

"The war games gave me a good baseline. The personnel are capable, but capability needs refinement. We will continue tactical training, zero-G operations, boarding procedures, emergency response, and shipboard security coordination. The goal isn't to create soldiers who can win a battle in isolation."

She looked back to Andi. "The goal is to create Marines who make everyone around them better."

A brief pause followed. "I also want them to understand that discipline and morale are not opposites. A Marine can be professional and still know the names of the people standing beside them. The best units I've served with weren't the ones that never struggled. They were the ones that trusted each other when things became impossible."

Cassandra shifted her coffee cup slightly. "Of course, that means I also have to learn from them. Every detachment has its own culture. My job isn't to erase that. It's to strengthen it."

She smiled faintly. "And regarding the crossbelt... I appreciate that you noticed. Most officers wouldn't." Her eyes held a hint of amusement. "That tells me you understand the traditions behind the uniform, not just the regulations."

She picked up her cup again and took another sip of coffee.

"Once command approves the 95th decorations, I will wear them proudly. Until then, I will earn my place aboard the Churchill the same way I expect my Marines to." Cassandra looked toward the door and then back to Andi. "One command. One crew. One mission."

A quiet, confident smile crossed her face. "That is what matters."

"An Admirable trait. Also, if you ever wanted to after you have settled in, want to have a go at command, come seek me out and I will put you through the practical, but I would suggest on studying before coming to me" Andi said.

Cassandra smiled, genuine interest flickering across her features at the offer. "I appreciate that, Commander. I may just take you up on it." She folded her hands behind her back, her posture relaxed but attentive.

"I've always believed that leadership is something you never truly stop learning. I've commanded Marines for years, but starship command is a different discipline with its own challenges and responsibilities. If I'm going to pursue it, I want to do it properly." A determined glint entered her blue eyes.

"I'll hit the books first, make sure I've got the theory down, and once I've settled into the ship, I'll come find you for the practical side. I'd rather earn the confidence to sit in that center seat than simply assume I belong there." She offered a respectful nod. "Thank you for the opportunity, Commander. I look forward to learning from you."

"My pleasure, but books can only help one so far; the rest is learned and cannot be taught, the practical can only give you practice; sadly actual command is the perfect teacher" Andi responded.

Cassandra nodded thoughtfully, taking a sip of her coffee. Andi's words carried the weight of experience, and she appreciated the honesty behind them. "You're right, Commander. Books can teach you regulations, procedures, and theory, but they cannot teach you the weight of command."

She paused for a moment. "They cannot teach you what it feels like when every decision you make affects hundreds of lives, or what it means to send people into danger knowing they trust you to bring them home." Cassandra's expression softened slightly. "I think that is something Marines understand well. We often operate where there is no perfect answer. Leadership is making the best decision you can with the information available and having the courage to stand by it."

She leaned back slightly. "That's the difference between a commander and a leader. A commander gives orders. A leader earns the trust of the people who carry them out." A small smile crossed her face. "I will take you up on the offer, Commander. Not because I am looking for a different title, but because I believe good officers never stop learning. If I ever sit in the center seat, I want to do it because I have earned the confidence of those who serve with me."

She glanced down at her uniform briefly. "The Marines have taught me that people are the most valuable asset any command has. Ships, weapons, and technology are just tools. It is the people who make them matter." Cassandra raised her coffee cup slightly with a faint grin. "I will study first, though. I have a feeling you would enjoy making me regret showing up unprepared."

She chuckled softly before continuing. "Thank you for the offer, Commander. Mentorship like that is not something I take lightly." She offered Andi a respectful nod. "And I think the Churchill is fortunate to have an Executive Officer who understands that command is not about the chair. It is about the people who trust you enough to sit in it."

Andi nods "I do not deserve such praise, but I thank you", she said and finished her tea. She stood and put her cup on the desk "Well, Captain, I have to be going now. I have places to be; I will see you at the mission briefing!" She said

" Aye Ma'am" Cassandra said setting her own coffee cup down before offering a respectful nod. "Of course, Commander. Thank you for taking the time to stop by. I appreciate the conversation more than you know." She offered a small smile, genuine and warm. "It is good to know the Churchill has an Executive Officer who values the same things I do. The crew, the mission, and the people who carry out both." Cassandra extended her hand, "I look forward to working with you, Commander Lightfeather. I have a feeling the Churchill is in very capable hands. I look forward to seeing you at the briefing."

Cassandra gave a final nod of respect as Andi departed, then returned her attention to the waiting reports on her desk. For the first time in days, the weight of the transition felt just a little lighter.

[OFF]

Lt Cmdr Andromeda 'Andi' Lightfeather
First Officer

&

Captain Cassandra Mathews
Marine Commanding Officer

 

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