Internal Analysis

Posted on 16 May 2026 @ 10:10pm by Lieutenant Ryan Collingway

463 words; about a 2 minute read

//Ready Room//

"Take the evening," the Captain said. "Report to engineering at oh-seven-hundred tomorrow and begin transitional planning with the department staff."

A brief pause followed.

"This ship will tell you very quickly whether you're listening to it properly," she said. "I suggest you pay attention."

Ryan nodded. His stance and his face said very little. Only his eyes betrayed the enormity of what she was saying. "Yes, Captain. Thank you. I won't let you down."

When he was excused, he left the ready room and released a slow, deep breath. He returned back to his quarters. Spencer, his new companion, gave him a curious look. He took the rabbit out of the cage, and pet him absentmindedly. But his mind was racing with only one thing on repeat.

He wasn't ready.

Commander Harlan's slow recovery hadn't exactly been a secret. He had expected there to be changes, definitely. Maybe someone from the station stayed on the ship temporarily. But him?

He had arrived on this ship with a story full of lies and a lot of attitude. He had lied to everyone on board the ship. He might *still* be doing it, if he hadn't been caught. Not exactly Chief Engineer material.

But he had grown since then. A great deal. Enough to be released from mandated therapy and was even willing to go to it voluntarily. He had even lost the attitude...somewhat. And gained trust instead.

But was all of it enough to be in charge of a department? He didn't know. Doubt flickered in his mind as he gazed out his window.

He hadn't been ready to take charge when the ship had almost been destroyed, either. But he had done it. The Captain was right about one thing-Engineering did need stability, and at this point it was a running joke how often that had been said. But he had been there, through three CEO's at this point. Maybe that was stability enough. And when Commander Harlan was ready to return-whether or not it was a day, a week, or months from now-he could at least make sure it stayed that way.

One thing for sure-he wasn't just an officer who could safely put his head down out of two hundred and fifty engineers anymore. He was in charge of a lot of people. And he was going to be watched by the senior staff very closely.

Which meant that whatever issues he had unresolved had to be figured out with Emerson. Sooner, rather than later. And as the Captain said, it was time to start paying closer attention. To the ship. To everything.

Still petting the rabbit, Ryan began to plan on how he was going to do this.

Lieutenant Ryan Collingway
Acting Chief Engineering Officer
USS Arawyn

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