Second chances

Posted on Thu Jun 19th, 2025 @ 12:12am by Lieutenant JG Vincent Shaw & Commander Joren Tal

2,927 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Broken Mirror
Location: Mess hall

On:
Being off for the evening, Joren was taking a stroll through the ship. Stretching his legs, not really worrying where he'd end up.

Vincent had been in his half organized quarters, taking the time to go through that packet he had found earlier, which contained the more recent image of his daughter Esme. He had just put the picture into a frame, not realizing he had been staring at it for a little bit of time. The chime of the clock upon the wall caught his attention, and he gave a start, it seemed that a half an hour had passed. Grimacing at the time that had passed. Vincent decided he'd tackle the rest of his quarters later and left. He passed by a few crew members giving them a nod in greeting, but didn't stop to chat with them. Though when they were down the corridor, Vincent blew out a puff of air, he could have engaged with them, especially to get to know this ship a bit better. Normally he would have had things mapped out and know the direction of where he would go on a ship.

Vincent pulled out his PADD to look up the deck levels on the ship. He's not memorized what's on each deck of the ship yet so, he had to look. As he perused the listing and heading towards the turbolift, the normal vigilant and observant Operations officer was not like that at this moment. He bumped into someone, much to his chagrin, his PADD flying out of his hand.

"Er sorry!" Vincent exclaimed looking to see who he had bumped into.

"Lieutenant." Joren said calmly - Although he hadn't been walking quickly, he had been unable to avoid the man rushing around the corner. "Are you ok? In a hurry?" He bent down to pick up the PADD that had skidded behind him.

"I am okay, and maybe I was in a little bit of a hurry. I hadn't been gauging my speed. I am, Lieutenant Shaw, chief of operations, sir." Vincent offered as to a lead in to knowing who he almost bowled over.

"Ah," Joren said as he offered the PADD back to the Lieutenant. "Commander Joren Tal. I've been meaning to talk to you, but I won't keep you if you're in a hurry." Being executive officer and second in command, Joren found it important to get to know the senior staff. Unfortunately, life on the USS Calypso had taken a hold of him, and he hadn't had the opportunity to search out the newer additions to the crew.

Accepting the PADD, Vincent pocketed the device. "Thank you. Commander, I don't have a pressing matter to attend to, just my being a bit over eager in exploring the ship. That can be set aside, done at a more leisurely pace at a later time.I am available to converse with you right now."

Vincent was taking in the man's tells if there were any, what his body language could reveal. He even looked at his facial features, noting the scar. The commander's stature and what he was wearing and how he held himself. Vincent could blame it on his previous stint as security in his early days with StarFleet.

Joren's outer appearance was one of relaxation. There were no immediate dangers, no current need to be on alert. Yet, behind his eyes, there was a readiness. A deeply ingrained ability to be able to spring into whichever action or defense as needed ~ not unlike one would expect from a security officer.

"Very well, I can accompany you.. wherever you were going." Joren nodded towards the turbolift only slightly further down the hallway. "So, Lieutenant Shaw. Former security, now Chief Operations." Joren thought for a moment. "Now that I think of it, your service record was rather... unassuming. I can only assume there's a story behind those words - If you're willing to share."

Vincent flashed a smile at Joren's words, "I will agree that I don't have a service record filled with heroism or just steady service. I'm willing to share-" he was interrupted by a rumble of his stomach. "I think if you don't mind I'll share my bland history with you over a meal. Any suggestion for a place to eat?"

"Behind every hero is a thousand unnamed servicemen." Joren said, before adding "Considering the severity of the emergency, I'd suggest the mess hall." Leading them towards the turbolift. "Mess hall." Joren said before the familiar chime of the turbolift affirmed they were in motion.

Vincent stood at the back of the turbo lift, musing over who he'd encountered so far, of the crew. it wasn't much except for seeing those on the bridge. One on one would be Bela and Samantha.Both having some awkwardness involved. Samantha ended up trcking him down as he hadn't reported into her as what was normal. "I've not met many of the crew as of yet, in one on one basis. There are only two so far, and that is the Commodore and the Counselor. Counselor Swain, I was not anticipating her to immediately give me an embrace. Caught me offguard."

The slightest amount of mirth appeared around Joren's eyes. "She believes physical contact is important. That said, she is supposed to ask for permission." Joren had no illusions to be able to tame the councillor, although he was aware of the importance of consent. "She means well. As for the Commodore, I am proud to serve under her."

"I do like the Commodore, she is someone who I can see myself serving under her command as well. " The turbolift came to a stop, the door opening to let the two men out. "back to the counselor, she is the first Risan I had encountered. She was surprised that I've not been to Risa." walking alongside Joren towards the mess hall. "Its never been on the top of my list for a planet to go to."

"Never been myself.." Joren paused for a second. "I've learned the value of 'letting my hair down', as they say. But a party planet seems... just wasteful." The two men arrived at the closest replicator. "Setlik salad and a Raktajino."


"Steak and tomado salad, the steak medium rare. And a sparkling lemonade." When the food was done, Vincent picked up his tray."Letting down my hair, I would go hiking, or camping those are good, or- just lose myself in doing some cooking.There is just something so relaxing when making a delicios meal." Vincent spotting what he felt was a suitable table went there to have a seat.

"Can't disagree there ~ While the replicated salad isn't bad, there is something special in harvesting your own Rilka Rosemary and Teral Thyme for a homemade vinaigrette." Joren mused.

"A good vinaigrette makes a salad have even more of a flavor. " Vincent looked at his plate quite happy they were going to be eating. After taking a bite of his salad, actually relishing the taste. Vincent looked at Joren, "You had mentioned you'd like to find out a bit more about my-lack of service record. What would you like to know?"

"Your story. In my experience, everyone has a story - beyond what I can read in the service records. So who is Lieutenant Vincent Shaw?" Joren asked, before taking a sip of his raktajino.

"My tale." Vincent took a bite of salad as he contemplated on where the start while he chewed when the bite was swallowed he began. "I joined StarFleet at the tender age of 18, so filled with hope and proud to be accepted by StarFleet and eager. Felt like I could save those who needed saving. The knight in shining armor complex." a slightly bitter laugh."Maybe a little too idealistic." a drink, another bite of salad, then continued. "I met a woman whom I thought was perfection. She needed help, and I was able to do so. We fell in love, well I fell in love, I courted her, we married after six months of dating. Two years went by, I was happy and she seemed happy. We found she was with child. We were blessed." Vincent's eyes went distant as he thought back to that fateful day.

"After my daughter Esme was born, my wife, wanted a divorce. She revealed she wasn't who she said she was. She revealed that her real name was Ilyana. I never got her last name. She had told me that she did fall in love with me, and because of that she wanted to be honest with me. I got to hold my daughter Esme, the only time I did after her birth. We divorced, My ex then left with baby daughter, I allowed her to do so. Esme needed her mother. I then faced an investigation as to who I was truly. Including being poked and prodded by a doctor who seemed to take great pleasure in doing so. Testing if I were human or some other race. in disguise. Afterwards, I served for a time then. I left, going into the reserves until I felt I could return to StarFleet."

He speared a piece of meat and resumed eating, letting the XO take his time to process.

"Sounds like a difficult time." Joren said empathetically, before waiting patiently for the lieutenant to continue his story.

"Between the time I had left StarFleet I went home, then went to work in the family business. I worked on my Uncle's ship being security when needed as well as keeping his ship running. I seemed to have a knack for doing such according to my uncle." Vincent gave a slight smile thinking about his Uncle. "There was a time when we had unloaded some cargo, and I went to get the payment for it. When I came back I found that my uncle and other members of his crew had gotten into a fight with several men. It was found out that they were looking for me. They had dropped a packet which contained my image, an image of my daughter, along with my ex standing besids a man, whom I thought could be her husband." A drink from his glass he continued.

"Since it seemed that someone was looking for me, it would be better for me to leave and keep my family safe from harm. I went to work for a friend of my uncle. I was contracted for a certain amount of time with him, all the while , looking for possible clues as to the location of my daughter. And also to find out who might be looking for me." another bite of his salad, Vincent remarked. "I have the packet with me, that had been dropped. And have been studying it over and over again. I rejoined StarFleet as I felt it was time, and hopefully in some aspect I can get help in finding my daughter. "

"You'll excuse me if I don't hug you." While his tone was serious, Joren's eyes betrayed the hidden quip about counsilor Swain. "Without any leads, your daughter is a very small needle in a very, very big haystack..." His eyes gazed out the nearest viewport. "And that is even assuming they'd want to be found. That said, if there's anything I can do for you, any systems en-route to wherever the missions leads us... Well, I'm sure I can arrange for a few pit-stops."

Vincent chuckled catching on to who Joren refered to. "Thanks for the offer." a grin appearing. "And thank you for considering on making the pit stops. I do hope I find out, maybe get my face on some bulletin boards to send a trail of bread crumbs for someone to find me." Vincent giving a shrug. "But not to where it will endanger the ship. That will not happen."

"I consider everyone on this ship extended family." Joren said gruffly. "I will not endanger the ship without good reason. But, if someone needs to be rescued, if others are in danger, if our way of life is threathened..." It was clear Joren wasn't exactly talking about Vincent's daughter in particular. "Sometimes you have to protect what you hold dear." Reeling himself back, Joren added, "Sorry, it's a subject I hold near and dear to my heart."

Joren's reaction was revealing to Vincent. "I would like to hear more. There seems to be a story behind the statement you made." To the operations officer, it was possibly Joren's turn to share. If the XO would be willing to do so.

Joren sighed. A story, or parts of it, he had shared many times. At the same time, shielded and bended and tried to make sense of all of it. Yet, Vincent shared his. It was only fair for him to do the same. "What do you know about the Dominion War, Lieutenant?"

"I was sixteen at the time when it started, so, definitely familiar."Vincent replied with a frown."It wasn't pleasant. Lost relatives in that war." he picked up his fork, to work on the rest of his salad. Quietly chewing while he waited for Joren to continue.

"Then I don't have to tell you what right bastards the Cardassians are." Joren grunted. "You may have heard about the massacre on Setlik III. I... was born on Setlik 3. I was still young, but I lost family and friends that day. And no one came to save us. We were left to fend for ourselves. Survivors left to recuperate by ourselves. That is when I swore. Never again."

What did you do? Join StarFleet afterwards?" Vincent was rather interested in that.

"No. I joined the Maquis. I know most people saw it as a terrorist organization, but for me, it was a way to defend everyone. We were at the edge of the universe, and we took it upon ourselves to defend our way of life. And you can't make Setlik salad without cutting a few herbs."

"Well, I don't have any judgement towards you for being part of the Maquis. There are times when a person has to do what they feel is right. And, being left to fend for yourself, something like that is pretty rough. I saw the after effects of what happened back then. I had gone on some aid missions with my uncle." Vincent spearing the last piece of steak and chewing it as he thought over what Joren had told him.

Joren was pleasantly surprised by Vincent's reaction. Most people held at least some kind of resentment over the Maquis. "I did many things I shouldn't be proud of. And I was good at it. And, looking back, innocent people did get hurt. But it was all for a greater cause. To defend my people. Or so I kept justifying my actions." Joren took a bigger sip from his Raktajino, which lost most of it's heat at this point. "Until the truth caught up with me. Until StarFleet caught up with me. They gave me a choice. Use my skills for the good of the fleet ~ or rot in prison."

There was no sign of condemnation from Vincent as he quietly regarded Joren for a few moments, before he spoke. "You know, I'm glad you chose to take the second chance that was given to you by StarFleet. You're a good man. As for me, this is my second chance as well." Vincent picked up his drink, to finish it up. Lowering the now empty glass he placed it on the table.

"You know, I was so angry at how I was being treated after my ex wife was found to not be who she claimed to be. I was ready to quit StarFleet completely, when a friend of mine who was in the upper ranks convinced me to go into reserves. He told me to take time to sort myself out. Took me a few years to figure out things. Now I've come back, StarFleet giving me a second chance, and me giving StarFleet a second chance."

"The Calypso is a good ship with a good crew. As chances go, definetly not the worst. And the commodore appreciates my pragmatic approach. Rules are good and all - but if I need to choose between following a rule and letting someone get hurt, I'll take the chance of being reprimanded every day of the cycle."

"The Calypso is shaping up to be a rather good ship, and honestly, I'm not one who likes to let someone get hurt either." Vincent giving a firm nod.

There was some laughter as a group of people came into the messhall, chattering away, all seeming to be in good spirits. This caught Vincent's attention. "Looks like either a shift change or its time for others to get something to eat. Thanks for the talk, Commander Tal, I should probably be on my way, to do something."

Joren nodded slowly, setting the cup down with a quiet clink. “Glad you're here, Lieutenant. Second chances don’t mean much if no one sticks around long enough to prove they were worth it.”

"You speak the truth." Vincent rising up from the table to take his items to the recycler. He turned to look back at Joren giving nod and a smile,before leaving the messhall.

OFF:

Commander Joren Tal
Executive Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Vincent Shaw
Chief of Operations
USS Calypso

 

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