Changing of the Guard
Posted on Tue Jan 6th, 2026 @ 11:52pm by Captain Maxwell Culver & Chief Petty Officer Lyara Dahris & Captain Lorut Vila
1,813 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Intrepid: Maximized
Location: USS Intrepid: Captain’s Ready Room
Timeline: MD0: 1000 hours
Captain Emma Ambrose stepped off the transporter pad and onto the deck of the USS Intrepid. She was greeted by the transporter chief, a nervous looking fellow with owl rimmed glasses which either served to improve his vision or were fashionably decorative. She honestly wasn’t sure which.
“Captain Ambrose requesting permission to board,” she asked in the traditional manner, her tone professional if not a bit cool.
“Permission granted, Captain. I’m sorry, we weren’t made aware of your arrival. Security is on their way to complete their boarding duties and escort you to Captain Lorut’s ready room, sir.”
Emma bristled a bit at waiting, but it was truly no one’s fault. This transfer of duty stations to accommodate Captain Lorut’s departure had been a surprise for the brass and Emma herself had been called up on short notice as well. “Then we will wait,” she responded in the same distant tone.
Lyara entered, prepared to welcome the Captain. She didn't really expect her, but nonetheless, she was busy handling numerous reports. As the first Chief Petty Officer to become the Chief in Security/Tactical, she was also grappling with that responsibility.
"Captain, Chief Petty Officer Dahris, Chief Security/Tactical Officer, I will show you to your quarters when you're ready."
“If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to meet with Captain Lorut first,” Emma responded, surprised by the rank of her soon-to-be CSec/Tac. Not that she trusted any NCO less than her commissioned officers, most had worked twice as hard to reach their positions. “Please,” she added, not forgetting her manners.
"Understood," Lyara stated as she backed off, giving the Captain some breathing room.
A short while later via turbolift, Emma stood before the ready room doors, just off the Observation Lounge. She adjusted her duty jacket and rang the annunciator chime to alert Lorut Vila to her presence.
=/\= Thank you, Chief. Bring her in. Thank you. =/\=
Vila herself was sat in the Ready Room, finishing her final reports to turn things over. It was a bittersweet thing; a promotion to a new ship, but at least Fraiser was coming with her. It had been a BIG ask, she knew. They had discussed it at length, though, and felt it was the best choice for their relationship at this time. Gocx would move into the CMO role. Also, she needed to have one final chat with the transporter chief. He could've seen Captain Ambrose in himself.
The chime rang, and Vila smiled.
"Please, come in." Once upon a time, the Bajoran would've been snappy, rude, and a bit aloof. Now? She was calmer, happy. Even...nice.
Emma entered and her eyes settled on the Bajoran woman inside. “Captain Lorut, thank you for making the time to see me before the transition. I know you have plenty to do, not the least of which will be meeting your own new crew,” Emma said as she took in the other woman.
"Captain Ambrose. It's nice to meet you. Thank you, Chief. Please let the yeoman know I will not need the usual ten am coffee. I appreciate it," she said, as the woman left.
"Please, sit down," Vila said.
Emma took the seat across from Lorut and placed her hands in her lap. “Thank you. I’m hoping that I can be in service of the crew as you have. As Captain Culver was before you.”
Emma paused and decided to play all in, as the saying went. “I must admit, however, that I’m a bit wary of this center seat. It’s my understanding that Captain Culver went MIA and is assumed dead, and now, a year after gaining command, you too are leaving. Should I start a timer now?” She smiled, indicating that she was half joking.'
Vila laughed lightly.
"Well, besides Admiral Albion, you should be fine. In my case, it's an active choice," she said. "As for Max...well. I am sure we'll be able to find some closure in time," she said.
"Do you have any questions for me? Anything I can do to help make your transition smoother?" She asked. She'd already talked to the crew individually, and they were all understanding. She just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She'd have to see Rena about it.
“Hmmm,” Emma responded as she considered the question. “I think, mostly, that what I’ve read in reports indicates the crew is above board, even in a fleet of above board officers. In time, we’ll be working just fine, I’m sure.
“As for the assignment, as you know, Intrepid is being sent back to the Beta Quadrant to continue heading up the task force there. Do you have any insights for me as to what I can expect?”
Vila nodded. "The crew has been appraised of the upcoming changes," she said. "They've been told to mind themselves," she said, in her Bajoran way, of course. "As for the BQ, well, your usual suspects. The Klingons, the Remans, the Romulans. All fighting over scraps of the Star Empire, obviously.
“Cardassia, of course, has been a bit more active than I'd like," she said. "Beware of the wormhole and it should be fine," she said. "The Intrepid is well equipped to handle the worst of any battle and I haven't even had a chance to push her to the max," Lorut said.
“Well, the Constitution III class, Titan did hold a strong line during the Borg advance of 2301, so I’ve no doubt about Intrepid’s readiness,” Emma answered, her mind turning to other thoughts ahead of their launch tomorrow.
“There will be major changes to the crew before our departure as well. I’m taking on a new second officer and fillers for other positions, but you’ve eased my mind as to how the crew might react.”
Emma adjusted a PADD in her lap before continuing, “Tell me about Commander Lyo. It’s my understanding that he was involved with the previous Commanding Officer, Maxwell Culver. Has that proved problematic to you or the crew. Has he processed his grief over the last year? Does he require counseling oversight?
“I’m sorry that this is all personal, but I need to know my XO isn’t going to perform a mutiny to go looking for a dead lover - in the event that rumors are stirred by someone looking to destabilize the ship and crew.”
Vila blinked. "There were only rumors. The Counselor would be a better person to answer that question," she said, evenly. It wasn't technically a lie, she knew that there was SOMETHING, but she had no proof and she didn't feel like it was her place to confirm something, one way or the other.
"However, if it's true, he seems to be dealing well, and he has a standing appointment with the Counselor," she said. "Of course, he was upset for awhile, but seems to have moved on. Frankly, he has bigger fish to fry on his home planet; it's my understanding that he is avoiding taking the throne and Starfleet is his way out." In a way, she understood that; Starfleet had been HER way out, too, but entirely different circumstances.
"He's loyal to the crew and Starfleet."
Emma nodded, mentally noting the Kriosian throne was currently occupied as far as she knew. “It’s my understanding that Krios has a High King on the throne. How could it be that Commander Lyo would ascend to the position when it wouldn’t be vacant for centuries, at least?”
Vila shrugged lightly. "I believe his brother has ascended but it's not the most ideal situation," she said. "And since Kriosians, like El Aurians, live for a long time, I don't expect it to be a problem again for awhile," she said.
“Well then, it seems all is in alignment. I will meet with him after the launch, unfortunately time is short at the moment,” Ambrose responded to Lorut.
“Thank you, Captain, for your time and the information you’ve given me. I’m certain we will make a good team as part of the Beta Quadrant Task Force. I’m quite looking forward to this mission,” she finished.
Vila smiled tightly but nodded. "I am glad. The crew has been alerted that they'd have a new Captain, but no details have been given beyond that," she said. Hell, Vila herself hadn't known who it'd be until that morning. She'd only found out the day before about the reassignment anyway. It was moving fast. And in some ways, she was mad about it-it felt like a top-down betrayal and another quiet way of pushing her out. She had worked hard to make to where she was, and it wasn't fair to her or the crew to make them change AGAIN so soon. But she knew that that much was out of her control, no matter how many threats or pleadings she made. And besides, growling wasn't in her nature, so after her first, "Are you sure this is the best thing for my crew right now?" she had let it go.
“Well, I’m sure your schedule is as busy as mine,” Ambrose said in response. “I’ll let you get to it.” Emma slapped her thighs lightly before she rose from her chair. “Thank you for your time, Captain Lorut. Hopefully, we will have many more meetings as we head up the Beta Quadrent Task Force.
“I’ll be relying on your expertise in the quadrant as this will be my first time there.”
Vila nodded. "They said the Explorer will be ready tomorrow," she said. "In the meantime, I am in guest quarters until needed. Please, come to me anytime," she said. It would be weird-being a Captain without a ship, even for a short time. She stood up, and moved from behind the desk, and held out a hand.
"Good luck," she said. Ambrose was going to need it. "May the Prophets bless you," she said. She turned to Daharis. "Please ensure that Captain Ambrose has whatever she needs. Commander Lyo should be on duty...Now," she said, glancing at the computer. "By your leave, Captain," she said, stepping out into the corridor.
What would she do with her time now? Normally, she'd go find Fraiser, but he was still technically a crew member of the USS Intrepid. Instead, she made her way to the cafeteria for more coffee.
The Petty Officer had just stood outside the door. She didn't really get told anything else, so she waited outside till otherwise stated. Captain Ambrose exited the ready room and regarded the CPO and Chief Sec/Tac. “Let’s continue on, shall we?” she suggested casually.
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