Remote Possibilities
Posted on 28 Aug 2026 @ 12:27am by Captain Sabrina Corbin & Commander Suzanna Batenburg & Lieutenant Commander Sandra Boren
1,249 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
The Doldrums
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: The Morning After 'Changing Hands'
//// Captain's ready Room /////
Suzanna waited for the chime to sound and the doors to part before entering the ready room. “Captain,” she greeted with an inclination of her head, then took the chair opposite Corbin’s desk as requested.
Their daily meetings had become routine. A concise review of anything requiring command-level attention, decisions that needed to be made, and issues that either of them believed warranted discussion. Today, one item stood clearly above the others. Collingway’s departure.
Engineering had endured more than its share of disruption over the past year. Another change in leadership, particularly after Collingway had begun establishing himself as Acting Chief, would place additional strain on a department of more than two hundred officers and crew. And no news of when Cmdr Harlan would be fit for duty again.
Suzanna had, however, considered an alternative. It was unconventional. Convincing the Starbase medical staff would likely prove more difficult than convincing the Captain. Yet, there was a logical argument to be made. If Sandra Boren’s return to limited duty were treated as an extension of the testing programme for the device she had developed, it might be medically and professionally defensible.
More importantly, Sandra knew the Arawyn. She knew Engineering, and the Engineering crew knew her. If they could persuade Lieutenant Commander Boren to return, even initially on a limited-duty basis, the department would gain an experienced Chief Engineer without subjecting the crew to yet another unfamiliar face.
Suzanna regarded Corbin for a moment. “I believe Engineering should be our first discussion today. Collingway’s departure leaves us with a problem, but I may have a possible solution.” A slight pause followed. “It will require some persuasion.”
Sabrina had been expecting Engineering to come up first. What she had not expected was the immediate wave of exasperation that followed Suzanna’s opening, enough that she leaned back in her chair and pressed two fingers briefly to her temple before she could stop herself.
“Of course it’s Engineering,” she muttered.
For a moment, the polished composure of Captain Corbin gave way to something far more personal. She looked toward the ceiling, lips pressed together as though attempting to negotiate privately with the universe. “I am beginning to think that department is personally offended by the concept of stable leadership. We finally get Collingway settled into the role, people start adjusting to him, and I stop wondering who is going to be sitting in that office next month, only to find ourselves doing this again.”
She let out a slow breath and lowered her hand, meeting Suzanna’s eyes across the desk. There was a faint, resigned curve at one corner of her mouth now. “That was perhaps less captainly than intended, but I stand by the general sentiment.”
Her irritation was not really with Collingway, and certainly not with the engineers who would be left absorbing another change. That was the part that bothered her most. Engineering was too large, too central to the ship, and had already endured too much instability for another revolving door at the top to be dismissed as an administrative inconvenience.
“More than two hundred officers and crew should not have to keep recalibrating themselves every time their department leadership changes,” she continued, quieter now. “They need someone they know, someone they trust, and someone who already understands the Arawyn.”
That brought her attention fully back to Suzanna’s choice of words. Possible solution. Persuasion.
Sabrina reached for the cup of tea beside her, wrapped her hands around the warmth and took a sip. Her expression sharpened with interest as she leaned forward slightly.
“You have clearly thought about this before coming in here,” she said. “And the fact that you led with the word persuasion suggests your solution is not sitting in Personnel waiting for us to submit a transfer request.”
A small smile appeared, curiosity overtaking frustration.
“All right, Commander. You have my attention. What are you proposing?”
Suzanna understood the Captain’s frustration. She shared it, even if considerably less of it reached her expression. “It would be a first,” she began, “but we possess the technology to make it feasible.” She leaned forward slightly. “Commander Boren is currently on Starbase 369. She has developed a subcutaneous device that continuously monitors the clotting factors in her blood and automatically adjusts the relevant values when necessary. The device remains officially experimental.”
A slight lift of her eyebrow followed. “Which, in this instance, may work to our advantage. It requires testing under more realistic conditions.” She allowed a moment for Corbin to consider where she was going. “My proposal is that Commander Boren initially resume limited duty remotely. She could use the holographic projection systems in Engineering to maintain a presence aboard the Arawyn while physically remaining on Starbase 369. She knows the ship, she knows the department, and most importantly, the Engineering crew already knows her.”
Suzanna paused. “It would also allow us to evaluate two things simultaneously. Whether Boren is ready to resume the responsibilities of a department head, and whether her medical device performs reliably under the demands of active duty.” Her expression became more thoughtful. “If the arrangement proves successful, and Commander Harlan remains unable to return to duty, we would then have a stronger case for requesting that Boren physically rejoin the Arawyn.”
The faintest hint of amusement entered her expression.
“I anticipate that particular discussion with the Starbase medical staff will require considerably more persuasion.”
Sabrina’s attention stayed on Suzanna as the proposal settled into place. The initial surprise gave way quickly to consideration, her thumb tracing once along the rim of her cup.
“Remote duty through holographic projection,” she repeated, testing the idea aloud. “It gives Engineering continuity without asking Medical to pretend she is further along than she is.”
A faint smile touched her expression. “And if she handles the workload well while the device performs as intended, we gain evidence instead of optimism.”
She set the cup down and nodded once, decision already taking shape.
“I like it. More importantly, I think Sandra might like it.” Her brow lifted slightly. “Which leaves us with the considerably less pleasant question of whether Medical will.”
Sabrina leaned back again, some of her earlier exasperation finally easing. “All right. Speak with Boren first. If she’s willing, we make the case together. I would rather persuade Starbase Medical with a plan already supported by the officer in question than surprise them with one.”
“Aye, Captain. I spoke with her recently regarding the possibility of mentoring Collingway. Based on that conversation, I suspect she will welcome the opportunity.”
Suzanna gave a slight nod. “I will discuss the proposal with her and inform you as soon as I have her response.”
She paused, mentally moving to the remaining items on their agenda. “Are there any other matters from your side that require our immediate attention today?”
Sabrina considered the question for only a moment before shaking her head.
“No. I think Engineering has quite thoroughly filled today’s quota for command-level complications.”
The faintest smile touched her expression as she reached for her tea. “If nothing else requires our attention, I’m content to call that enough excitement for one meeting.”
She gave Suzanna a small nod, the familiar signal that their daily review had reached its end.
“Thank you, Commander. Let me know what Boren says.”
Cmdr Suzanna Batenburg
XO USS Arawyn
Everything fits, otherwise we'll make it fit!
Captain Sabrina Corbin
Commanding Officer
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