Maybe less bored soon
Posted on 06 Aug 2026 @ 7:15pm by Lieutenant Commander Sandra Boren
779 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
The Doldrums
Location: SB 369
//// Starbase 369 - Sandra Boren quarters ////
Sandra sat behind the desk in her quarters, the stars beyond the viewport holding her attention for a moment longer than the PADD in front of her. Choosing quarters with a view had been one of the first decisions she had made upon arriving at Starbase 369. It was a poor substitute for the ever-changing panorama from a starship, but it eased the ache, if only slightly.
Three months.
Three months since she had been forced to relinquish engineering to someone else. Three months of physiotherapy, medical reviews and negotiations with Starfleet Medical. Three months of watching the Arawyn's mission reports arrive without her name appearing anywhere but the distribution list.
The broken leg had long since healed. Daily rehabilitation had restored nearly all of her strength, and by every conventional measure she should have been fit for duty. Yet conventional was a word that rarely applied to Sandra Boren.
The unforeseen interaction between the emergency vaccine and her hybrid physiology had left a far more persistent legacy than the fracture itself. Her blood clotting mechanisms had become dangerously unstable, fluctuating without warning. The condition no longer threatened her life, but Starfleet could not justify assigning a chief engineer to a vessel where a medical emergency might arise in the middle of a warp core casualty.
Sandra understood the logic. She simply disliked it.
Being an engineer, she had eventually approached the problem the only way she knew how. With Dr. Halvik's oversight and approval, she had designed a miniature subcutaneous monitoring and delivery system. The implant continuously analysed her clotting factors and, when necessary, automatically administered a precisely calculated dose of anticoagulant or counteragent to keep the values within safe limits. The prototype had performed flawlessly for several weeks.
Unfortunately, flawless data did not immediately translate into medical clearance.
Starfleet Medical regarded her implant as a promising experimental treatment. Until it accumulated sufficient long-term data, she remained restricted from starship duty. The compromise currently under discussion was considerably less appealing. Limited engineering duties aboard Starbase 369, under regular medical supervision.
It was progress. Just not the progress she wanted.
"Meow." Luna leapt gracefully onto the desk, interrupting her thoughts.
A small smile found its way onto Sandra's face. "It isn't dinner time yet, Luna." She scratched the feline gently between the ears. At nearly nine months old, Luna had grown into a sleek young cat, though Sandra still thought of her as "little one." The vigorous purring that followed suggested the title remained acceptable.
"If anyone has benefited from my extended leave, it's you." Luna settled squarely on top of the PADD Sandra intended to use, making no effort to conceal her opinion that work could wait.
Sandra laughed quietly. "I have a call to make soon." Speaking to the cat had become an oddly comforting habit during the long weeks of recovery. There was no judgement, no sympathy, and no questions about when she expected to return to duty. Luna simply listened.
Sandra reached for another PADD lying beside the first. The scheduled call had nothing to do with Starfleet Medical or her ongoing negotiations with the station commander
Sandra gently nudged Luna aside before opening the communications console. She considered the wording for only a moment. Commander Batenburg had already spoken to her, and there was no reason to make the invitation any more formal than necessary.
Her fingers moved across the controls. "Computer, compose and transmit to Lieutenant Ryan Collingway, USS Arawyn."
She paused until the acknowledgement sounded. "Lieutenant Collingway, Commander Batenburg, contacted me regarding the possibility of serving as your mentor. I would be pleased to assist, should you still be interested. Please let me know a suitable day and time for an initial subspace meeting. We can use that opportunity to discuss your goals, the expectations Commander Batenburg has outlined, and determine how best to structure our sessions. I look forward to speaking with you. Lieutenant Commander Sandra Boren."
Sandra read the message once more, satisfied it struck the right balance between professionalism and approachability. "Send."
"Message transmitted." She leaned back in her chair, watching the stars beyond the viewport. Ryan had been one of the bright young engineers she had supervised. Technically gifted, meticulous, and endlessly curious. Leadership had never been his greatest concern. He had always preferred solving engineering problems over managing the people solving them.
Commander Batenburg clearly believed he was ready for the next step. Sandra found herself hoping the Commander was right. If she could no longer stand in Engineering herself, perhaps she could still help shape the officer who eventually would.
LtCmdr Sandra Boren
ELOA on SB369
Everything fits, otherwise we'll make it fit!
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