Chapter 10

September 12th 2158

Commander Tucker had spent an hour or so talking to Admiral Gardener about the command structure on Enterprise. Once that was finished, he gathered the rest of us in the situation area at the back of the bridge. Phlox was late but when he finally arrived we found out that Crewman Cutler had been in with a headache that he had to sort out. For the whole time I wasn't really paying attention, just looking, staring at the floor around my feet, still remembering the moment I let the Captain lose his life.

"As you may or may not have guessed by now, I have been promoted to Captain. The En'erprise is under my command." It was silent. There was no need for applause or a cheer, the moment just wasn't right, it was expected. "Of course, there's the question of who to promote to become Commander, to serve by my side. It wasn't an easy decision. Malcolm… you know how much I respect you. You're great at everything you do. And you'll never stop being my friend, no matter what."

"Thank you, sir." Malcolm replied, the way he stood up a little straighter than he had been the last few days showed he was feeling honoured by our new Captain's words.

"T'Pol… We've had our ups and downs. And you certainly know your diplomatic abilities, which I may very well look to you for help from over the coming months, maybe even years if I don't listen to you to begin with."

"Hoshi, Travis." You're the best helmsmen and communications officers a captain could ever ask you. If I could I would have ask one of you, but as you know, you have to Lieutenant first. I want you to know that. I need you where you are, to keep doing what you do best, what you did for Captain Archer best."

"Thank you." The two of them spoke, nodding their heads in agreement. I could tell that Hoshi wasn't interested in a promotion, she was happy with her languages. Travis on the other hand, he did look like he was trying for a promotion, it was in his eyes. A young man with the potential to be a great man if he put his mind to it.

There was silence for several seconds. "Jesse." I looked up when he said my name. I knew he was going to say that he couldn't trust me. I had let Jonathan down, how could he possibly pick me for such an important job? "I know Captain Archer trusted you implicitly, or he wouldn't have asked you to go with us. The last five years, we've all watched you become a strong and wise young woman, I'm sure everyone here will agree. And if anyone would agree with me more with what I'm about to do, then that would be Captain Archer himself." He heart began to race. What was he trying to say? Was he kicking me out of Starfleet because of my failure? "I've decided I want you by my side." I stared in shock at him. What had he just said, had I really heard him correctly? "Will you be my right hand guy…. Woman?"

I was in stunned silence. "Trip… I…. I don't know." I replied, finding it all a lot to take in. from a failure to a promotion… how does that work? I did love him, but maybe that was why I was reluctant… two lovers running the ship, that just didn't seem right.

"Admiral Gardener has approved the decision. It's yours if you want it, no one is forcing you to take it though."

"We won't think anything less of you if you didn't take it." Malcolm added, placing a hand on my shoulder to try and reassure me.

I looked between everyone, all eyes were on me as they waited for a reply, I was in conflict with myself, my mind was saying no, but my heart was saying yes. I locked eyes with Trip, and then slowly nodded my head. "Yes." I finally said, following my heart as the saying goes.

Trip nodded his head and smiled softly at me. "Commander Reller." I too smiled a little bit, that had a nice ring to it, it rolled off the tongue nicely. "All right. That's all I have to say. Dismissed."

T'Pol, Travis and Phlox passed on their congratulations to me as they left the area and went to their desks, Phlox heading back down to sickbay.

"I promise I won't be too hard on either of you. Or anybody for that matter." I said looking between Hoshi and Malcolm. The tactical officer patted me on the back and I thought I caught a glimpse of him smiling, but I couldn't be sure. Hoshi gave me a comforting hug, and I needed it as I felt as if the ship was spinning so fast beneath my feet that I would fall over. I needed something to support myself on, and Hoshi had given me just that. From that moment on I could tell things were going to get easier. They had accepted me as their Commander, the one they would have to take orders from.

"Come on, let's go and get some dinner." Trip suggested, knowing that I had barely eaten anything over the last four days. With nods from the other two, I was led off the bridge, into the turbolift and down a corridor. Trip and Malcolm walked in front of Hoshi and myself. When we arrived at the Mess Hall, we avoided the Captain's Mess, we felt it best not to eat there.

Everything was going to feel odd for a few weeks whilst we all got used to the changes. I was now a Commander, and would be giving out various orders to most people around. Although I was now a higher rank than Malcolm and still a member of security, it was agreed between us that he could keep his job of Chief tactical officer, so I will still have to take a few orders from him.

Another change has happened down in engineering. Lieutenant Hess has now become Chief Engineer and Commander, and as I get used to my own change in rank it makes me wonder why Trip chose me over others like Malcolm and T'Pol who he's served with for longer. Maybe it's because I can really be trusted with important decisions, or maybe it's just because of our relationship with each other. I'm also not sure why I agreed, maybe it's because I want to progress further with my career, or maybe once again, it's the love that I feel for Commander Tucker.