Duty And Expectations

Posted on Wednesday June 10th, 2026 @ 11:23pm by Commodore Carol Hogan & Lieutenant Commander Rodney Horton

1,256 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: VFY S9, E1: We Have A Home
Location: Port Royale, Commodore Hogan's Ready Room

Location: Port Royale, CO Ready Room

Carol was in her ready room, she was waiting for her next appointment. She was happy her next appointment was with a familiar face. The doors to her office slide open and in walked her new executive officer.

Even though he was familiar with Carol, Rodney was a little nervous. He had looked in the mrror several times before he left to make certain he looked his best. Walking to her desk he stood at attention and spoke.

"Lieutenant Commander Horton." He said in a clear, confident voice. "Reporting for duty."

"I hope you came to work commander, because I needed you like yesterday. " Carol handed him for data pads. "I need you to approve all these requests, I need you to review several personnel files and give me a recommendations on them strictly based on what's in their service profile. I also have updated all of our meetings for the next two weeks. Typically an Excel would not rate a yeoman but I think you should probably get one I'll get you in contact with quartermaster if need be." Carol called out and she waited to see Rodney's reaction. Typically people had a week or so to get used to the new jobs before they start getting bombarded with requests but Carol was just throwing him to the wolves right away.

"I will get right on it, Commodore." Rodney replied. He felt like a deer standing in the headlights but there was nothing like jumping in where Angels fear to tred. What he wasn't going to do was whine or complain. This was the life of a officer.

"I'm going to quote a famous Admiral it's not crunch time yet." Carol suggested. I prefer ma'am over commodore." Carol suggested with a warm smile on her face. "Please have a seat."

Rodney sat down. "Yes Ma'am." She was testing him. Rodney had wondered but he wasn't one to complain.

"Well that's better, I think ranks are so formal. We're going to be working close together. Well I appreciate the chain of command I would prefer ma'am, on on some rare occasions maybe even Carol. But only in private and only in non-official capacity roles SO meetings like this obviously I want you to refer to me as ma'am but if we decide to have dinner together so like that we can probably loosen up the rank completely." Carol said hoping that made sense.

"That makes perfect sense." Rodney nodded. "Different settings call for a different protocol. That is something I can relate to."

Carol then handed him a datapad. "I have lined up your afternoon schedule for you, after today you're going to have to schedule it up but I want you to meet all the assistant department heads and then all the department has to go with them then I want you to personally visit R&D, the court of Engineers and the advanced Starship bureau today before you call it a day." Carol told him what a cold stone tone. She knew what she was asking was a lot because it feels lucky he might get out by 1900 hours tonight but it could go even later into the Night. But she wasn't asking him to do anything that she wasn't willing to do herself. The only difference was she planning on bringing Anastasia along when she went to the other stations for a visit. She knew that her daughter would love to go visit the other stations.

"Yes ma'am." Rodney replied. "I will get on it as soon as I leave here." It was a tall order, he was going to be very busy but he also knew that was part of being the first officer. It came with great responsibility and he was up to the challenge. He knew enough about Commodore Hogan to know she set the bar high.

Oh and so you're aware your wife's coming to visit in 3 days I just got to communication brush from them." Carol pointed out to him. She assumed that he already knew but she was also just stating the obvious. However it needed to be said, because he had duties as first officer. "I want you to make sure her quarters are good to go, unless you staying with you?; even if she is her diplomatic staff will need quarters. I assume it'd be easier if you guys just put everybody together and you stayed with her but I'll let you guys figure that out." Carol said, not really caring how it was done as long as it was done.

"I will take care of it ma'am." Rodney assured her. "I will contact my wife for her preferences and accommodate when as best we can." He was certain she would want him to stay with her.

"Thank you Number One, I hope she will not be a distraction from your duties to port royale?" Carol said to him with a cold hearted tone. She was not trying to be mean, but Carol needed to know if she could count on him to hold things down on the station?

"She won't." Rodney assured her. "If there was someone who understands duty it's my wife."

(Hi one line Rich I have missed you!)

"How is Camila doing?" Carol asked, with a warm smile on her face. Sher leaned back in her chair, as she waited for his response. She knew the Empress, they had some interactions in the past. Now that Empress husband was her XO, she knew she would have more interactions with her.

Rodney smiled at the mention of his wife. "Camilla is doing good." Rodney said, thinking of how he missed her but they both had responsibilities and there would be more times than nought that they would not see each other. "She is looking forward to seeing you."

"Please an extended invite to have dinner with me and my daughter, of course you're more than welcome to attend as well." Carol said to him, hoping they didn't sound too forced. That wasn't her intent but she also knew that a political dignitary should least be invited to dinner by the station Commander let alone a fleet yards Commander.

"I will." Rodney assured her. "I am certain Camilla will accept that invitation and I would be happy to as well." He would be coming as her husband and also as Hogans executive officer. It would be an interesting position for him.

"Thank you Commander, do you have any questions for me, before I end this meeting?" Carol said trying to be proficient with her time knowing that she has several more meetings to get through. She is hoping to squeeze in a couple extra meetings today so she would have a lighter load tomorrow.

"No, ma'am." Rodney replied. He was ready to get to work and start fulfilling the list of duties she had handed over to him. Rodney wasn't upset by it, his expectations as a first officer was that he would pick up a lot of work and he wanted to prove himself and show he was worthy of the position.

"You're dismissed then." Carol said to him, and she stood up to shake his hand. "Thank you for stopping by Commander." She said that she waited for him to return the handshake.

Rodney stood and shook her hand. "I am pleased to get to work. Thank you for trusting in me, Commander." He said as he turned and headed on his way.

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