Star Trek: Theurgy

Epi S: [Day 03 | 0615] A Man's Purpose

January 19, 2026, 06:56:38 PM

[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Corridor | Deck 11 | USS Theurgy ] @Eden

Cross left the XO’s office with Stark’s notes still fresh in his mind, the padd secured under his arm more out of habit than necessity. He already knew the contents by heart. He always did—personnel files, medical assessments, command annotations. They were patterns, variables, probabilities. People, reduced to trajectories.

The corridor toward the recovery ward was quieter than most of the ship, and he found himself appreciating that. Theurgy never truly slept, but sickbay came close. The lighting softened. Footsteps echoed less. It was a place where outcomes were still being negotiated.

Callax Valin had not been a name Cross knew well until recently. A pilot. Talented. Disciplined. Ambitious. Stark’s notes were thorough; Ives’ even more so. Between the two of them, Cross had built a clear picture of the man—one that no longer aligned with a fighter cockpit. The injuries alone guaranteed that.

Cross paused briefly outside the recovery ward doors, centering himself out of reflex more than need, then stepped inside.

Valin was on a biobed, propped slightly upright, dressed in a standard medical gown that did nothing to hide the fact that this was not where a man like him expected to be. The pilot looked diminished only in circumstance, not presence. Cross noted that too.

He approached without ceremony.

“Lieutenant Junior Grade Valin,” Cross said evenly, stopping at the foot of the bed. “I’m Lieutenant Commander Cross.” No inquiry about pain levels. No polite preamble. Cal would have already had enough of that. “I’ve reviewed Doctor Leux’s reports,” Cross continued, pale blue eyes steady. “As well as the physical therapy projections. You will not be fit for flight operations for the foreseeable future. Even with aggressive treatment, returning to a fighter cockpit would be… distant.”

He let that land, watching Valin’s reaction without staring.

“I’m not here to deliver bad news,” he added calmly. “I’m here to offer you a choice.” Cross activated the padd, though he barely glanced at it. “You’re eligible for a medically induced leave of absence. Full benefits. Time to recover without pressure. When—and if—you regain flight readiness, that path would almost certainly require a transfer off the Theurgy.” A beat. Then: “Alternatively, there is a position opening that requires a different kind of precision.”

He looked directly at Valin now.

“Command Adjutant.” Cross clasped his hands behind his back, posture formal but not rigid. “You would be assigned directly to me. Tactical planning support, coordination, personnel oversight. You would also serve as an auxiliary aide to the acting captain and—when assigned—the next permanent captain. It is not a consolation role. It is a command-track position with visibility and responsibility.”

Another pause—this one deliberate.

“Regardless of which option you choose,” Cross said, “your record supports a promotion to Lieutenant. That will proceed.” He inclined his head slightly, a gesture of respect rather than reassurance. “You are not a man without purpose, Lieutenant Valin. The question is whether you wish to redefine it now—or step away until you can reclaim the old one.”

Cross waited then, silent, attentive, giving the pilot the dignity of deciding his own future.

Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0615] A Man's Purpose

Reply #1 – January 23, 2026, 07:45:21 PM

Lt. JG Callax Valin | Recovery Ward | Deck 11 | Vector 02 | USS Theurgy] @Ellen Fitz
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Convalescence was a bitch.

Cal was bored. He knew, of course, that this laying around and doing nothing was a normal part of the healing process. A necessary step in allowing his body to recovery after the traumatic injuries he had sustained. He was not going to complain but damn it was annoying not being able to do anything. Cal was about to play what felt like his 312th game of three-dimensional chess on his PADD when the doors to the room slid open.

When Cal made out who it was that entered, he said upright a bit more stiffly, not quite able to stand or sit at attention.

"Sir."

“Lieutenant Junior Grade Valin,” Commander Cross said evenly, stopping at the foot of his bed. “I’m Lieutenant Commander Cross. I’ve reviewed Doctor Leux’s reports.”

Oh great, here comes more good news, he thought to himself, expecting another hammer to fall. What would it be this time? Honorable discharge?

Cross continued.

“As well as the physical therapy projections. You will not be fit for flight operations for the foreseeable future. Even with aggressive treatment, returning to a fighter cockpit would be… distant.”

The Ardanan exhaled softly and closed his eyes as he processed the news. He had been grounded. Not for any conduct of his own, but because his body was broken. It was a fate worse than discharge for the pilot whose entire childhood had been spent flying amongst the cloud. Suddenly, it felt like he was tumbling down to the planet surface.

When Cal reopened his eyes he simply nodded, offering no commentary as he stared ahead of him as if seeing something beyond the walls and bulkhead of the ship.

“I’m not here to deliver bad news,” Cross continued calmly. “I’m here to offer you a choice.” Cross activated the PADD, though he barely glanced at it. “You’re eligible for a medically induced leave of absence. Full benefits. Time to recover without pressure. When—and if—you regain flight readiness, that path would almost certainly require a transfer off the __Theurgy__.” A beat. Then: “Alternatively, there is a position opening that requires a different kind of precision.”

Cal's attention shifted to the Commander, meeting his gaze with his own. He was intrigued.

“Command Adjutant.”

They wanted him to be a damned secretary?!

Cross clasped his hands behind his back, posture formal but not rigid. “You would be assigned directly to me. Tactical planning support, coordination, personnel oversight. You would also serve as an auxiliary aide to the acting captain and—when assigned—the next permanent captain. It is not a consolation role. It is a command-track position with visibility and responsibility.”

It sure felt like a consolation role. A glorified PADD-pusher creating schedules and writing personnel reports. But what was the alternative? Catch an STD on Risa as he waits for reassignment? He did not want to leave the Theurgy. Not after everything that had happened.

“Regardless of which option you choose,” Cross said, “your record supports a promotion to Lieutenant. That will proceed.” He inclined his head slightly. “You are not a man without purpose, Lieutenant Valin. The question is whether you wish to redefine it now—or step away until you can reclaim the old one.”

There were some Gandalf vibes there that Cal could not ignore. He met the man's eyes again. Cal was not going to let an injury define him, nor take him away from the work they needed to complete. The mission was not over and he was not about to call it quits. Not after the sacrifices of the crew and his fellow pilots.

"I accept."

Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0615] A Man's Purpose

Reply #2 – January 24, 2026, 02:22:51 AM

[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Recovery Ward | Deck 11 | USS Theurgy ] @Eden

Cross didn’t react outwardly when Cal said I accept. No nod of approval, no visible easing of tension. Just a quiet exhale through his nose, the kind that marked a decision locking into place rather than relief.

“Good,” he said simply.

He stepped closer to the biobed, lowering his voice—not out of secrecy, but courtesy. Sickbay was a place where dignity mattered, even when time didn’t.

“There’s something you need to understand up front, Lieutenant,” Cross continued, pale eyes steady on Cal’s. “I can’t give you the luxury of waiting until you’re discharged to start.” A beat, letting that register. “I wouldn’t be here if I could.” He shifted his weight slightly, hands clasped behind his back again—controlled, but not cold.

“With the President's arrival and the situation we’re in, I need help now,” Cross said. “Real help. Reports, readiness assessments, departmental status updates. Tactical, medical, engineering, operations—everything has to be current, clean, and internally consistent. We can’t afford fuckups.” A pause. “Not to impress the President—though it doesn’t hurt that, for the moment, she appears to be on Team Theurgy—but because the margin for error is gone.”

Cross glanced briefly around the ward, then back to Cal.

“I’ll have a series of PADDs brought to you later today,” he said. “You’ll start from here. From the biobed if that’s what it takes. You’ll review, flag inconsistencies, chase down missing data, and prep summaries for me. I’ll handle command decisions. You’ll help make sure I’m not making them blind.”

There was a faint tightening around his eyes then—not quite an apology, but close enough that it counted.

“I don’t like doing this,” Cross admitted quietly. “You should have time to heal. All of you should.” A fraction of a pause. “But none of us are getting what we want right now. Including something as basic as time to take a dump in peace.” He straightened slightly, professionalism reasserting itself—but his tone remained human. “So I need to ask,” Cross said. “Not as your superior, but as the man you just agreed to work with.” His gaze held. “Can you handle that?”

He waited, unhurried but intent, knowing full well the answer—and respecting Cal enough to ask anyway.

Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0615] A Man's Purpose

Reply #3 – February 10, 2026, 02:21:54 AM

Lt. JG Callax Valin | Recovery Ward | Deck 11 | Vector 02 | USS Theurgy] @Ellen Fitz
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"Good."

Though there was no outward reaction, Cal could sense the finality of his acceptance in the commander's exhalation. His wings were officially clipped and he would be beginning a new life.

The commander continued, detailing the duties of the position and the necessity to begin immediately. Cal listened intently, gaze never straying from that of the senior officer. If he was to be a glorified paper pushing secretary-bureaucrat, he would be the best damned paper pushing secretary-bureaucrat there was. That was just how he was. Whatever task was placed in front of him, he not only wanted to complete it successfully but to go above and beyond. To be the very best.

Cal sat up a bit straighter in the biobed. Though his body still felt broken, it responded to his commands. An improvement. He would walk again, yes, but it would take time for his motor functions to return to their original state. Weeks if not months of physical therapy awaited him as he regained strength in his limbs. If he could speed up that process he would. Whatever it would take.

“...So I need to ask,” Cross said finally. “Not as your superior, but as the man you just agreed to work with.” His gaze held. “Can you handle that?”

"Without a doubt, sir."

Truth be told, Cal ached to be able to do something. Anything. He hated being confined to a biobed. Even the task of reviewing reports and schedules was preferable to the hell that was invalidism.

"Let's get started."

Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0615] A Man's Purpose

Reply #4 – February 16, 2026, 02:05:50 AM

[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Recovery Ward | Deck 11 | USS Theurgy ] @Eden @Stegro88

Cross gave Cal a single, sharp nod as the other man finished. “That will be done,” he replied evenly. “You will have every relevant datapad on your," he glanced at the biobed then askew to a movable cart, "inside the hour. Engineering summaries, requisition backlogs, flagged personnel reports—the entire stack. I expect measurable movement on the high-priority items before the end of the shift.”

Not a threat. Not quite. But the expectation was there, clean and immovable. Bidding the former pilot a polite farewell, he did not linger for further discussion. Cross was already running through the next layers of the day in his head—logistics, readiness reports, the diplomatic traffic he had yet to untangle.

Halfway down the corridor, a tall, broad silhouette moved through the low light—soundless, deliberate. Lorad.

Cross slowed a fraction. The Reman’s presence was difficult to miss: the visor catching overhead illumination, the heavy set of his shoulders, the faint mechanical precision in the movement of his prosthetic arm. Stark’s briefing resurfaced in Cross’s memory—temporal changes, anomalous engagements, unresolved classification flags. Not a reprimand file. But it was a dossier that required clarity.

“Petty Officer Lorad.” His voice carried without sharpness, but it brooked no confusion. He gestured slightly down the corridor. “Walk with me.”

He resumed toward his office without waiting to see if the Reman complied. He knew he would.

“I have been briefed by Commander Stark regarding your recent temporal activities,” Cross continued, hands clasped behind his back as they moved. “There are… irregularities. Circumstances that place you at the edge of several departments’ interests.” A sideways glance—measuring. He hated temporal mechanics; always gave him a headache. “I am less concerned with speculation than I am with intent.” They turned a corner, the corridor quieter here. “What are your expectations moving forward, Petty Officer?” Cross asked. “Regarding your place on this ship. Your duties.”

Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0615] A Man's Purpose

Reply #5 – April 02, 2026, 01:53:19 PM

[ PO3 Lorad | Main Sickbay | Deck 11 | Vector 02 | USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Ellen Fitz
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Lorad eased past the press of people, heading back towards the emergency entrance to the Sickbay. He had been on detached duty with others from the Security Department sweeping areas of the ship damaged during the battle. Inevitably, they had found both wounded and dead that needed to be cared for. This was his third trip back to the sickbay, to the morgue this time. He had used the last free space in the room to leave the remains for identification before departing. He had just stepped past the head nurse’s duty station when a sharp, clear voice cut through the clamour of the sickbay.

“Petty Officer Lorad,” it called and Lorad turned to see a tall, bald man standing some distance away, looking at him. “Walk with me.” Lorad recognised the tone of someone used to commanding respect as much as he knew who this man was, if only by reputation. Commander Cross, Chief Tactical Officer and Temporary Executive Officer. Lorad hurried to catch up, his long strides eating up the deck until he could fall in to step beside the man.

“I have been briefed by Commander Stark regarding your recent temporal activities,” Cross said as he continued walking down the passageway. “There are... irregularities. Circumstances that place you at the edge of several departments’ interests.” Lorad had been watching the man as they moved and saw the Vulcan glance at him, he guessed trying to measure his reaction. "I am less concerned with speculation than I am with intent.” Lorad followed Commander Cross through a junction and into a quieter corridor, something that Lorad appreciated. Cross continued without stopping. “What are your expectations moving forward, Petty Officer? Regarding your place on this ship? Your duties?”

Lorad was taken aback. While he had known that sending the message he had sent before the battle would draw attention to him and bring about a potentially uncomfortable conversation, he had believed that due to the current situation the Theurgy was in after battle, that it was probably several days away. Instead, it seemed it was happening now.

“Sir?” Lorad said, trying to buy himself time to think and formulate a response. He went through Cross’s words again, searching for what the man was asking. A part of him considered that just three days earlier in this timeline, he would have gone ahead and answered using his limited understanding of the language. Now, with 8 years of additional experience in speaking the language, along with a few courses in it, Lorad was more prepared to respond.

“You are referring to my skillset prior to my mission compared to the skills I know possess after my service with Starfleet,” Lorad stated calmly, his voice clear. “I am a member of the Theurgy’s crew and will perform the duties assigned to me to the best of my abilities. That said, I would prefer, from my perspective, in a roll where I can utilise my engineering skills. I worked hard to obtain them and would regret them going to waste. Whether that be with the maintenance crews in the Fighter Assault Bay or in the Engineering Department of the Theurgy herself, I do not mind.”

“I have been a warrior for most of my life,” Lorad continued. “And while I do not see that changing, I would like to have a larger impact on the course of my future than just how well I can aim a phaser or swing a sword. Sir.”

Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0615] A Man's Purpose

Reply #6 – April 02, 2026, 07:46:53 PM

[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Corridor | Deck 11 | USS Theurgy ] @Stegro88

Cross did not stop walking. The corridor narrowed, the noise of Sickbay thinning behind them into a distant hum.

“I am aware of the distinction,” he said, voice even. “You have acquired skills beyond your current posting. That much is not in dispute.” A brief glance sideways—measured, clinical—then forward again. “From my position, Petty Officer, a transfer to an engineering-adjacent role is the most logical course of action given our present circumstances.”

He let that settle without emphasis, as though it were an operational note rather than a concession.

“The ship is damaged. Resources are strained. We are operating without certainty regarding resupply, reinforcement, or even strategic direction in the immediate term. Personnel who can serve in multiple capacities are no longer an advantage. They are a requirement.”

They passed a pair of crewmen hauling a damaged panel aside. Cross adjusted his path by a fraction, never breaking stride.

“You wish to broaden your impact beyond combat,” he continued. “That aligns with current necessity. Your engineering training will not go to waste if I have any influence over the matter. That said,” Cross added, tone sharpening by a degree, “you would be ill-advised to think in terms of leaving one role behind for another.”

He slowed slightly, just enough to make the point land.

“The future of this ship is undefined. Given the nature of recent events, it is highly probable that every individual aboard will, at some point, be required to function as a warrior—whether they were trained for it or not.” His gaze shifted again, more direct this time. “In one sense or another.”

They came to a stop at a junction. Cross turned to face him fully now, expression composed, unreadable.

“If you are transferred, you will be expected to maintain both competencies. You will repair systems when needed. You will take up arms when required. There will be no distinction in the moment that matters. Can you operate under that expectation, Petty Officer?” The question hung there, less an inquiry than a final calibration.

Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0615] A Man's Purpose

Reply #7 – May 03, 2026, 03:09:43 PM

[ PO3 Lorad | Main Sickbay | Deck 11 | Vector 02 | USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Ellen Fitz
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Commander Cross never paused. His stride never faltered. He was the image of an officer in command, cool under pressure, unwavering in his resolve. Lorad wondered how much of that was real and how much of that was an act for those around them. Then again, what was that expression he had heard so many times in the other universe while training to join Starfleet there. Fake it till you make it. Was Commander Cross faking it for the benefit of everybody, including himself?  The thought was one for consideration at a later time. For now, Lorad listened to what the Vulcan had to say.

Damaged ship. Limited resources. Personnel with broad skillsets. He could be an engineer, but he would remain a combatant as well. Lorad could tell that if he got to know the man beside him better, he could easily come to respect him. He reminded the Reman of a team leader he had served under on his first ship. That man could talk to a ship and you could almost swear that it stood up and talked back to him. Commander Cross seemed to have the same skill with speech, though he was directing it at people.

The challenge. Could Lorad function as both a tool to repair and maintain the ship while always staying ready to defend it at a moment’s notice?

“As I said, sir,” Lorad began respectfully. “I want to have a larger impact than just my combat abilities. Not that I wanted to replace them. I undertook additional combat training when I joined Starfleet in the other timeline, both mandatory and elective. I have no desire to stop being a warrior, Commander Cross. Only that I want to be more than just that.”

“Yes, sir,” Lorad confirmed, straightening his posture. “I can operate under those expectations.”

Re: Epi S: [Day 03 | 0615] A Man's Purpose

Reply #8 – May 03, 2026, 03:49:51 PM

[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Corridor | Deck 11 | USS Theurgy ] @Stegro88

Cross looked at him for a moment after the confirmation landed. Not measuring it — Lorad's file had given him nothing to measure against suspicion, and Cross had no use for skepticism that wasn't grounded in evidence.

"Good," he said. He resumed walking toward the junction, hands clasped behind his back. "Your file supports what you've told me. There is no reason on record to expect otherwise, and I do not operate on hypotheticals." He turned the corner, Lorad keeping pace beside him. "You will report to Engineering as soon as you are cleared from your current assignment. I will have the transfer notation entered before end of shift — engineering primary, security secondary. That order of priority will be reflected officially."

He stopped at the turbolift. His hand went to the call panel.

"What I am going to tell you now is not a caveat to that order. It is a fact about the current state of this ship." He looked at Lorad directly. "We lost personnel in both departments at a rate I would not characterize as acceptable. Security is stretched. Engineering is stretched. At this moment those two departments are in direct competition for every available body, and that competition does not care what any of us have decided on paper." The turbolift doors opened. "Be prepared for that reality. Your orders are clear. The situation may not always be." Cross stepped into the turbolift. "Keep up the good work, Petty Officer."

The doors closed on the conversation, literally, as Cross headed back toward's the xo's office.