Measured Beginnings
Posted on 03 Aug 2025 @ 5:40pm by Captain Sabrina Corbin & Commander Adrienne Holt
1,364 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Assignment: Arawyn
Location: USS Arawyn
Timeline: 242508.03
=/\= Captain’s Ready Room =/\=
Sabrina June Corbin glanced at the outline glowing softly on her PADD. Duty rotations, senior staff introductions, and expectations, each bullet point aligned neatly under subheadings. The replicator hummed to life. She took a sip of coffee and smoothed the sleeve of her uniform, calming her own nerves behind a mask of quiet precision.
The door chimed. “Come,” she called, rising with her hands clasped behind her back in classic officer form. Commander Adrienne Holt stepped inside. Taller than she looked in her personnel file, Holt’s stance was attentive, her hazel eyes taking in every detail. Sabrina noticed the measured grace that comes from years of martial training and the constant management of a mind that processes information differently.
“Commander Holt,” Sabrina began with a half‑smile that softened the formality, “welcome aboard the Arawyn. Please, have a seat.” She gestured toward the opposite chair and, as Holt sat.
“Something to drink?” Sabrina offered.
Adrienne took in the office as she approached the chair. The personal touches still had to be added. For now, it spoke professional coldness. She wondered if the captain would choose to change that. "Some coffee would be nice," she nodded as she sat down. The captain looked young, but Adrienne was used to it in recent years. Too many fine officers had been lost. Too many younglings got promoted too quickly. She wondered in which category she'd end up putting this one.
Sabrina tapped the PADD off and leaned forward slightly. “I appreciate you making the transfer on short notice. I’ve been reviewing your record, commendations for tactical coordination, de‑escalation, and… unconventional boarding actions. I suspect we complement each other well. I tend to anticipate logistical problems. You see threats I may not.”
"I'm sure Starfleet saw a benefit in teaming us together. I don't think you've had a lot of say in the matter, and neither have I," the XO replied as she took a sip of her drink. It was slightly too hold, scalding her throat, just the way she liked it.
Corbin inclined her head in thought at Holt’s response. “We have a lot still to learn about each other, but I look forward to us working through that and becoming a strong leadership team for this crew.”
Adrienne took a moment to think about her reply. "Good officers always take the time to learn from each other. Strong leadership needs to come through strong actions. It takes a lot of communication and hard work to build a strong team. But yes, I believe we'll succeed. We have to, for the benefit of the crew."
Sabrina gave a curt nod of agreement to what Holt had said. Her back was straight, confident as she stated, “This is my first starship command. That comes with pressure, and eyes on both of us.”
Information that was not new to Adrienne. Of course she knew she'd serve under a CO whose first command it was. It had been her own choice not to accept a command. She'd been convinced it wasn't her time yet, even though a small nagging voice now started to complain in her mind when it saw the green captain. "Eyes mostly on you, I'd reckon."
Corbin continued their dialogue, “I’ll say this plainly. I value clear communication, follow-through, and initiative. If you see something that needs attention, handle it. Loop me in when necessary, but don’t wait for permission.”
The Captain folded her hands, “When we disagree, and we will, do it in here.” She tapped her desk lightly. “Once we leave this room, we speak with one voice.”
Sabrina leaned back slightly, letting the silence stretch before adding, “I’m not looking for a shadow or an echo. I’m looking for a partner who sees what I don’t, says what needs to be said, and backs the decision once it’s made.”
Holt tried to figure out if the CO's words were driven by fear, by young age, by stress or by something else. Nothing that was being said, came as a surprise to her. All she could do, was wait and see how Corbin would live up to her own words. "The crew wouldn't benefit from two voices, obviously. I've been here before, Captain, if you don't mind me saying so."
Corbin nodded. She had wondered if she had hit some nerve or if she was reading too much into this interaction. "Of course, I value your experience, Commander. I'm just opening this first meeting up with clear and intentional expectations." Sabrina reflected on her own choice of words, wondering if that sounded too clinical, too by the management book.
"Clear and intentional expectations are a good way to start any relationship," Adrienne agreed easily.
She let Holt speak, then offered a faint, dry half-smile. “I don’t expect perfection. I do expect readiness.”
"I intend to have the departments start running drills when I get back to my office. As for ship wide drills, I'll make sure not to announce them to you, but the crew will do her best. "
“Questions? Concerns?” she asked, her tone still even, inviting but no-nonsense.
Adrienne inclined her head slightly. She'd put down her cup and now spread her hands lightly, in a non threatening way. Her words conveyed the opposite sentiment. "Do you see me as a threat, Captain?"
Sabrina found herself surprised by that question, her eyebrow rising, but she took a moment to reflect on it, pushing down the initial reaction to immediately blurt out a negative. The Captain observed the body language, they conflicted with the words. Corbin had a lot to learn about her XO. She answered honestly, "Not at all Commander." She provided a soft, slight smile. "We are just getting to know each other here. I know that you could probably easily be sitting on this side of the desk. I do wonder why you haven't taken the seat, but I thought I'd like to get to know you better before asking." That statement left it open if she wanted to provide anything on the subject.
An honest answer. Holt believed that Corbin believed what she was saying. Honesty was also a good thing to start any new relationship. She appreciated that. Unfortunately for possible expectations, she wasn't about to elaborate on her own choices. "It's a good thing we've established clear expectations and sentiments during our first meeting. I certainly appreciate that, Captain."
Sabrina took a sip of her cooled coffee, and a brief moment of analogy to the temperature of the room crossed her mind. Her blue-grey eyes looked over her XO as she carefully considered her words. This meeting needed reflection by the Captain; she wouldn’t say it was good or bad at the moment. What she hoped they had established was clear expectations and an honest relationship. “I appreciate your frankness, Commander, and I look forward to getting to know you better.”
"Likewise, Captain. I think we'll work well together," Adrienne finished her own cup and rose to her feet. "One front, though I suggest you let me be the bad cop when necessary," she added. It would be good for a freshly minted captain to gain some credit from her crew. But, as she didn't want to suggest weakness, she left those words unspoken. It wouldn't be weakness, it would be thoughtful strategy, but perception could be dangerous. As could assumptions.
Corbin gave a nod of both appreciation and acknowledgment of agreement. "One last thing, Commander, I wanted to mention. Our Chief Ops has a ways to go. I will let you in your position manage that, but there is potential there. We have a history of serving together. I wouldn't have brought him on if I didn't think he could do this."
Adrienne nodded, but a coldness had crept in her posture. "I prefer to make those assessments myself. Potential always has a way to assert itself." A pause. "By your leave, Captain."
Corbin gave a soft smile, "Until this afternoon, Commander." She stood as the XO got up to leave, retrieving the empty coffee cups to clear the space.
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