"Things crash, tragedy happens, and it has been recorded in human history that something good grows out of it," - Michael Burnham regarding the end of a way mission as first officer of the Shenzhou and offering food for thought to Saru.
The shuttlecraft abruptly fell out of warp. The shuttlecraft flew in the direction of a nearby planet with smoke coming off a panel drifting to the back. The shuttlecraft pierced through the atmosphere of the planet while it trembled from side to side. One of the nacelles' rounded tips chipped off carving scars into the hull. Significant cracks in the hull were forming as the shuttlecraft descended at high velocity toward a Grand Canyon-like scenery. Patches of grass were few and in between below on the surface. The shuttlecraft broke into two pieces falling in different directions. The front end crashed into against a nearby cliff rolled down until it came to a stop on the edge of a cliff that had a wide berth. L'Rell dragged herself out of the chair. She made it over to the pilot's chair where his hands were still gripping onto the arm rests. A trail of blood was traveling down the corner of his head. L'Rell slid herself up against the console then pressed several buttons on the station at random.
The normal sound that would be heard from pressing a console button didn't come.
The gentle beeps that were expected did not happen
"Baktag!" L'Rell smacked the console making what remained of sparks sting her fist.
L'Rell turned over pressing her back against the console looking over toward the back end.
"Of course it needs a power source," L'Rell said.
L'Rell looked over and turned.
"It seems that Federation luck is not on my side today," L'Rell said.
Burnham's eyes opened with a deep exhale then coughed multiple times. She fell onto her side then looked toward the crumbled shuttlecraft end laid across from her. She rubbed her aching back leaning forward. There was bright light that made her head ache. She managed to get up onto her feet then rubbed her shoulder in a familiar pattern in a hurt like manner. Burnham stopped once she realized what she was doing and lowered her hand. She had scrapes on the side of her shoulders. Her chest had cuts here and there. Her Starfleet issued comfortable bra was partially unstrapped on her left shoulder. Burnham looked up toward the sublime mountain carved by nature herself.
Burnham saw the edge of the other side of the shuttle craft peeking on the edge.
"Lieutenant Bryce!" Burnham called, then cupped her hands together. "LIEUTENANT BRYCE."
Her voice echoed in the canyon.
"LIEUTENANT!" Burnham called.
Burham waited listening to her voice echo behind her.
"LIEUTENANT R A BRYCE!" Burnham repeated.
L'Rell poked her head off the edge.
"The lieutenant is unable to communicate," L'Rell asked.
"Is he alive?" Burnham inquired.
"Unconscious," L'Rell said.
"I will be on my way," Burnham said. "Stay away from the edge."
L'Rell nodded then dragged herself away from the edge.
"Alright, Michael," Burnham said. "Time to use all that rock climbing training with Pippa to good use."
Burnham went into the other end of the shuttle craft the came out with two long green curled robes.
"I will be up, soon." Burnham called. "Do not panic!"
Burnham hooked a metal bind to the backside of her Starfleet emblem then looped the rope into it.
"Here goes nothing," Burnham said, then threw the object toward the cliff edge.
Her eyes watched the green rope fly then fell in front of her feet.
"Try and try again," Burnham noted to herself, picking up the insignia. "Until you achieve. Disappointment is expected."
Burnham swung five more times with her aim on the cliff coming to the same result each time. On the sixth try, her insignia hooked onto a crevice. She tugged on the insignia three times then glanced up toward the edge. Burnham put her foot firmly on a piece of rock that stood out. She began to make her ascent up. With each stride she made it closer to the top without a sweat. Burnham placed her hand on to the ground once slipping against a piece of rock that fell. L'Rell reached out grabbing hold onto the first officer's wrist. Burnham retained her calm demeanor staring back at the consultant. L'Rell drew her on to the ground out of harms way. Burnham landed by L'Rell's side. L'Rell looked over the edge of the cliff.
"How do we get down?" L'Rell asked, then looked over toward Burnham. "Commander."
"Hold onto that thought, L'Rell," Burnham said, going into the other half of the shuttle craft then came back out with another insignia. "What I have in mind will be very odd."
"Odd is what I volunteered my services for," L'Rell said.
"Excellent," Burnham said. "Then you won't mind sending you down to the roof of the back half."
"That I have no quarrels with," L'Rell said.
Saru walked out of the transporter room with the new transferred officer.
Saru's long arms swayed behind him as he strolled down the corridor giving a a rough outline of what to expect.
The poor navigating officer seemed to be scared as he looked around the darker than usual starship.
The navigator held the black duffel bag with blue Starfleet Command emblems on both sides. It seemed to be stuffed more than an average duffel bag would be. The mood of the ship had turned from bright and light to dark and gloomy. Saru didn't like the lighting but it was satisfactory to Georgiou. He remembered the way it used to be on the Shenzhou. It was brighter back then. The grim and gritty Shenzhou didn't feel a little bit like the old. Over fifty six days, he had watched the Captain transform to hopeful, bright, and diplomatic into someone who was none of the three. She was different. Hopeless, strategic, and miserable while submerged into a human version of grief. Slowly that hope had been coming back over the past month after the return of the Discovery.
"And that is all you need to know about being a crew member of the Shenzhou," Saru finished. "Ensign Evernest."
Evernest looked up toward the Kelpien.
"Does the bridge ever get attacked?" Evernest asked.
"Hardly," Saru said. "As a navigator, you will find it a safe place to be."
"A friend of mine told me about the bridge of the Shran being attacked," Evernest said. "They lost their captain. They were standing there one minute on the center and the next they were sucked out before their eyes. Right after the Discovery went lost with all hands aboard."
"Rest assured, the bridge is less likely to be attacked in such a manner," Saru said. "Besides, it has been reinforced."
"You mean this has happened before," Evernest said.
"No," Saru replied. "It is best to be prepared for the unexpected."
"Starfleet wasn't really thinking that way before the Klingons came out of the woodwork and started spreading terror," Evernest said.
"Rogue Klingons," Saru corrected. "Klingons have no interest in starting a war with the Federation and Starfleet."
"They are all the same," Evernest said.
Saru looked over toward the ensign.
"They are not all the same," Saru said, then turned his attention off feeling unsettled by looking at the human.
"If you say so, Commander," Evernest said.
Saru came to a stop at the doors.
"These are your assigned quarters," Saru said. "And your roommate. . ." he glanced toward the doorway then toward the ensign. "Is half Klingon."
Evernest's face fell.
"B-b-b-b-but Klingons are not allowed," Evernest said. "I can't share a room with those god awful aliens."
"Listen to yourself, Ensign," Saru said.
Evernest stiffened.
"Yes, sir," Evernest said.
"Talk like that got your world into World War 3, brought humanity nearly down to extinction," Saru reminded. "and it is not tolerated on this ship. Suppose your roommate was an Andorian . . ." Evernest's eyes fell as it occurred what he had fallen into. "Imagine if we were in a war against the Andorians instead of the Klingons," Evernest sulked. "Warriors just like Klingons with their own values and culture. They are considered the most loyal species in the Federation. It could turn out that Klingons are loyal just like them should they join the federation. Hate has no place in Starfleet. If you continue spewing hate about the Klingons in general then your term of service in Starfleet will be short-lived and very bitter."
Evernest nodded his head.
"I understand," Evernest said.
"Do you?" Saru said, skeptically.
"Yes, sir," Evernest said.
"Then write a five to ten page essay in Times New Roman, double spaced, text format 2," Saru said.
"What will the topic be about?" Evernest asked.
"About hate and how it will affect Starfleet should it become a wide spread problem. It is due at the end of this week," Saru said. "Good day, Ensign." And then Saru walked away.
Saru made his way down the hall letting go of the relief of ending the conversation.
So being a first officer was not at all what everyone had thought it to be keeping hate infecting duty.