Here It Goes

Posted on 04 Aug 2025 @ 1:59am by Ensign Lucas Scott

1,097 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Assignment: Arawyn
Location: Shuttle Tundra
Timeline: 242508.03

=/\= Shuttle Tundra =/\=

Luke was not having a good day. Things had already started off with a late shuttle launch and only progressed from there. Layovers and scheduling had only delayed his arrival to the Arawyn. He'd read the specifications and assigned officers as much as he could, which was a longer time than he'd envisioned, His arrival at SB 369 was already seemingly too far away though the ETA had already shrunk from hours to minutes. The waiting was the worst part, desiring to show what he was capable of while at the same time fearing it wasn't good enough. He had kept himself busy with reading all the data he could get his hands on regarding his new home. She was there. She was ready. He had to prove to himself that everything up to this point had not been in vain. There was a reason for everything, Lucas kept telling himself, and if his skills had any use to this new family then he had to find it. There had been so many incidents in his past that would have easily warranted an end to his existence. But they had not. There had to be a reason. A purpose.

As the shuttle pilot announced their impending arrival Luke found even more questions coming to mind. Sure he'd held his own in marksmanship training, that was easy. Physics dictated a lot of that. The one time he'd questioned his instincts thre had been consequences. Ones that he still to this day couldn't process, it just didn't make sense even after so long. But he'd been cleared and assigned.... now only his new family on the Arawyn would be the ones to judge him. And that brought fear.

Memories of times past bugged his anxiety, memories of time spent out back in the woods with his father. It had never been good enough. Every missed shot demanded explanation. There had to be reason for every shortcoming and at all turns the reason was never sufficient. A childhood of failing to meet the standard. Luke had always wondered why but at the moment there was endless possibilities ahead of him. He was determined not to waste such a chance, success or failure.

Docking at the Starbase and finding where he was supposed to be was another matter. After quite the migraine and a long discussion with a particularly bossy superior Lukcas found her. That first view of Her was going to stick with him forever. On one hand the Arawyn seemed massive, bigger than life itself and at the same time his mind was already thinking of vulnerabilities. Such a young and inexperienced ship was surely going to run into encounters it was not ready for and as a member of her Security dept neither would he. Excitement and insecurity blended into a weird mixture that Luke wasn't sure how to swallow.

"Only way to it, gotta do it." he muttered to himself. He had clear orders to report to the CSec which was an encounter he already feared. He'd always been terrible at first impressions and this particular one would dictate his career for years. Being an accurate marksman would only carry him so far. These were people that would rely on him not only to play his role but also be there when things hit the fan. The tough times. When things went straight to hell.....

Lucas checked his orders once again just to be sure. He had to report to Lieutenant Flammia by 0600 the coming morning. There was still time to check out 369 and as the shuttle docked and he made it onboard there was time for a quick nightcap. It didn't take long for Luke to find the local watering hole and make his way to a cold one. He'd always preferred a lager and after a sip felt much better about everything. Sure there were a lot of question marks in the air but they'd be figured out in due time. For now, just for this moment, he let his guard down. Relaxing in a bar, having a brew and just being relieved of expectations.

He would always have to prove he was "good enough" no matter the judge or jury. Whether it was his rearing or challenges with the Academy Lucas had always felt himself fighting against the invisible foe that was expectations. What he should have done. What he could have done. Never being able to be comfortable in the feeling that he'd tried his best. But now was the time. Now was the chance. And things -were- going to happen one way or the other.

The first beer was cold, the second even colder and after four or five he started to feel a lot better. There was still plenty of time to rest before he reported to his new CO and CSec. He was curious about both but hadn't been able to learn much from his access to the Arawyn's files. There would have to be face-to-face discussions, his new command would be looking at him and he at them in return. He smiled to himself, either way it would be interesting to see what happened. Either he would be a valued member of the crew or would screw it up so bad that nobody ever talked to him again. The latter case more closely to his own family than anything else.

"Lemme get another, last one" Lucas said as the bartender passed. He knew his limits. Starting to feel things? Getting irked at what felt fair and not? Time to call it a night. Tonight was for celebration, anticipation. Here was an assignment, a chance to show everyone what he could do. Anxiety screamed that it wouldn't be good enough. Pride declared that everyone would learn. There was plenty of time for a good long sleep before he reported to the CSec tomorrow,

"Here's your burger."

Luke looked down and laughed, he hadn't recalled ordering one but felt confident that there was a good chance he had done so.

"Thanks buddy. Smells awesome"

He decided to pay up before leaving, just in case he forgot to do so later and made a bad impression somehow. Lucas hated debt, preferring to be an asset rather than an obligation. And the chance of that happening going from the Academy to the Arawyn was too likely for him to ignore. People would be looking. Lives would be on the line. Leaving the bar his only concerns were a nap and reporting in for duty.

=/\= End Log =/\=

Ens Lucas Scott
ASec
USS Arawyn

 

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