Quiet Courage

Posted on Mon Apr 13th, 2026 @ 3:09am by Lieutenant T'Vei

1,909 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Echos on the Deck
Location: Deck 18, Promenade
Timeline: After "Here They Come"

The Nausicaans had arrived. Without violence. Without fanfare. Sixteen hours of preparation remained in the event it was needed, although T'Vei suspected it would not. She had redirected her staff to security roles: guarding critical areas of the station and patrolling in pairs, ensuring personnel were nearby anywhere the visiting Nausicaan crew would venture, without directly shadowing them.

"Brown reporting in. All quiet in the arboretum."

"Guess they're not big on smelling the flowers. Meanwhile, our guys are literally window shopping."

"Rik'koshvar to security teams. You mean figuratively, Mr. Alycia unless there is a purveyor of glass on the Promenade that I am unaware of."

"Uh...I'll take your word on that, Rik."

T'Vei keyed her comm. "T'Vei to security teams. Cease the unnecessary conversation. Declare yourself when speaking in the future, Mr. Alycia."

"Rik to security teams. Acknowledged." Don't accept a crude shorthand so readily, T'Vei thought.

"Alycia here. Copy that, Sublieutenant. Won't happen again."

T'Vei continued to process the occasional reports and updates as she strode through the Promenade with GM3 Zhao at her side. The contrast between the lanky Vulcan and the petite Gunnery Mate was striking, but, Zhao's commitment to vigilance and habit of speaking only when necessary made her an ideal patrol partner.

To her annoyance, T'Vei tried, and failed, to suppress a yawn. She and Rik'koshvar had been awake for 26 hours at this point. Upon waking on the Velor eight hours had passed to the station, then 16 hours of preparation, and two hours thus far of patrol. While Vulcans required less sleep than Humans, it remained a biological necessity and would have to be addressed soon.

Zhao stared at T'Vei as if she had seen a free-floating katra. "Are you alright, Sublieutenant?"

"I am tired. That is all," T'Vei assured her.

They passed into the Lower Promenade, following the flow of the crowd. All around her, T'Vei could smell the stink of non-Vulcans and could hear the drone of conversation. The clink of glass on glass. The hum of electric signs. The muffled stomp of booted feet on carpet.

Then the yelling began.

T'Vei maneuvered her way through the crowd towards the sound of unrest. It was coming from an unusual establishment that smelled strongly of alcohol and emitted loud, unpleasant music.

Ahead of the crowd, T'Vei saw the confrontation taking place. Two Nausicaans stood to one side, one on the ground passing a drink up to his fellow, who was currently standing atop a counter that ran in a U to one side of the establishment, protecting all manner of bottles behind it.

Two of her officers stood to the other side. One was MA3 Barnes. Barnes was a broad-shouldered but short man who was currently speaking over the din. "Sir, I need you to get down from the bar," while the inebriated Nausicaan laughed.

The other was Crewman Mays. The young man had frozen in place, sweat accumulating rapidly along his brow, his eyes darting from side to side, his breathing rapid. His hand shook as it began to inch towards the handle of his phase pistol, still holstered at his side.

"Zhao, assist Barnes," T'Vei ordered.

"Aye, Lieutenant," the smaller woman acknowledged.

Then T'Vei carefully stepped in front of Crewman Mays, blocking his view of the Nausicaans and the crowd's view of him. "The situation is under control, Mr. Mays." She gently took the arm that had drifted towards his holstered weapon. "We should vacate the area."

"--rfleet and their rules. What're you gonna do? Shoot me like you did--" the Nausicaan rambled.

"I don't....what if....Lieutenant?" Mays stammered, continuing to breathe quickly. His eyes widened as if in realization. He pulled away from T'Vei's grip and started out of the bar at a brisk walk, eager to escape.

T'Vei let him go, but kept an eye on his departure.

"Look at how the Ho-mans run!" the Nausicaan howled. He took a step forward, forgetting he was already at the edge of his platform, and fell down onto the deck.

Zhao was there in an instant, helping him to his feet, and taking control of the Nausicaan. T'Vei remained long enough to verify that her team had the situation well in hand, and then left, following after Mays.

She didn't have to go far, seeing the closing of a bathroom door across from the bar. She followed after.

Inside, she could hear the sounds of hyperventilation and choked sobs from one of the restroom stalls as Mays' panic attack progressed. The Vulcan crossed the room and sat down outside the stall, wishing she knew her team better or was less exhausted.

"Crewman Mayes," she recalled the personnel files she had read. "Peter. You must control your breathing. You are safe. You are not in trouble. Picture a storm in your mind." She shut her own eyes, the storm before her. "The sound of thunder, lightning arcing, thick sheets of rain pouring. Now, imagine the thunder grows fainter, the rain thins, clouds begin to part, and the sun is now shining."

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant," Mays gasped on the other side of the stall. "I don't--I'm not--this has never happened before."

"Your anxiety controlled you," the Vulcan explained logically. "Triggered when you saw the Nausicaans?"

"I keep seeing it. Over and over. Me firing, Vaul falling," Mays' voice shook. "I started all of this, Lieutenant. The Nausicaans are here because of me."

"I have reviewed the reports. You followed protocol," T'Vei argued. "We are security. Sometimes people are injured. That does not make it 'our fault'."

"That doesn't stop me from feeling that way." Mays' sighed. "Am I relieved of duty, ma'am?"

T'Vei considered the question. "You are, for the next hour. Then you will check in with me. I can assign you to a post away from the Nausicaans or you can face your fears and resume your patrol of the promenade."

"You make it sound so easy, ma'am," Mays said.

T'Vei climbed to her feet. "Stand up, Crewman, and open the door."

A moment later, the stall door opened and Mays stared out, eyes red, his features pale. He tried to stand up straight.

"I am Vulcan. Every emotion I feel is intense," T'Vei explained. "Every day I control my fear. I do not allow it to control me. Should you feel yours begin to take control again, imagine the storm, imagine it calming. Focus on your breathing and your environment. Ultimately, however, you will have to address the source of your fear."

Would she be able to live among other species'? Would they understand her and she them? Was she ready to lead a department full time? Would she miss traveling aboard the Sh'Raal? Would Alise agree to visit a Human station? To live here once they were wed?

The storm stilled, the fear controlled. "Can you do that, Crewman?" T'Vei asked.

Mays nodded. "I think I can try, Lieutenant."

"Report for duty in one hour. Dismissed."

- - -

Thirty minutes later, the Nausicaans had been returned to their vessel, evidently after having an insult contest with the station's resident Tellarite. Later, T'Vei would have to question Brukh if that was necessary.

"You require rest," Rik'koshvar noted as he slid into patrol beside T'Vei.

"As do you, Rik" she noted. "We have been awake an equal number of hours. I can remain vigilant while you return to your quarters."

"I extend the same offer," Rik said. "As it seems we are at an impasse, would you engage with me in a human custom to settle this debate?" he queried.

"Perhaps," T'Vei said. "Explain."

"Earlier I observed Officer Brown and Officer Yang decide their patrol routes by closing their fists, counting down, and then displaying one of three options: a closed fist indicating a rock, fingers extending indicating paper, or two fingers extended indicating a bladed instrument they called a size-or."

"Peculiar. How does this settle debates?" T'Vei asked.

"The combination indicated victor," Rik continued. "Rock destroys size-ors, the size-or cuts paper, and paper smothers the rock."

"It smothers it? Do Earth rocks respirate?" T'Vei mused.

"I have to assume so," Rik said. "Will you indulge me? The victor decides who remains on duty?"

"Regardless of outcome, we rotate in four hours," T'Vei said.

"Eight hours," Rik said.

"Much can transpire in eight hours," T'Vei said.

"Lack of sufficient rest will lead to greater mistakes," Rik acknowledged. He made a fist and held it in his other hand. "Are you prepared?"

T'Vei mirrored him. "Proceed."

"Three, two, one," Rik counted down and after one he extended two fingers.

T'Vei had all four of hers extended. Her eyes narrowed. "I am not sure I like this custom."

"Eight hours, T'Vei. Sleep and then call Alise," Rik said. "You owe Captain Greene your response to his offer."

"I will. Chief Truman can take over should you require it."

---

So busy had the last 18 hours been that T'Vei had to visit the quartermaster for assignment before having a room to enter. As the door shut behind her she noted the spaciousness of the quarters, the window's view of Pylon B, and the abundancy of furniture. She felt at a loss at first as she remembered her possessions were aboard the Velor and she was far too tired to retrieve them.

She sat down before the computer terminal, fully intending to complete the difficult message before her, but when she tried to assemble the words they remained...inadequate.

Time was spent painstakingly undoing her braid, a request was sent to the quartermaster for a uniform, and a half hour was spent basking in the cool water from the showerhead, drowning out her thoughts.

It was after she sat back down at the terminal that she knew what she had to do. She opened subspace communication and began again.

"Alise, I trust this message finds you well. I have departed the Sh'Raal and joined the crew of a Federation space station in the Delphic Expanse. The station had need of experienced security officers and I volunteered. The station's commander has offered me a permanent position here, and I intend to accept. The opportunity to run the armory department here is a necessary move in my career, and the chance to work alongside other species is unique."

T'Vei took a steadying breath and continued. "It is my hope that you will visit me here. Civilians are permitted aboard and I intend to query the captain when I accept his offer. I believe this assignment will satisfy both of our career objectives and allow us to spend more time together. I await your reply. T'Vei."

She stopped the recording and hit send on the message before she could second guess herself again. She felt anxiety well up inside her, much as it had for Crewman Mays, and let the storm pass. Dwelling on an answer would not be productive.

The door to her room chirped. When T'Vei answered it, there was a uniform at the door with the red of Starfleet operations' division staring up at her. She had failed to specify the type of uniform she needed, but the choice seemed serendipitous now.

She sent a request to the Captain, asking for a meeting once she had some sleep.

Sublieutenant T'Vei
Acting Chief Armory Officer
Sentinel Station

 

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