Protocol, Rank and Respect
Posted on Fri Aug 21st, 2026 @ 7:49pm by Lieutenant Zachary Addams & Chief Petty Officer Alexis Aenera
Edited on on Fri Aug 21st, 2026 @ 7:55pm
2,729 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Kintsugi
Location: Main Engineering
Zach checked the time and stood up, sighing and straightening his uniform. He walked out of his office and into main engineering, where the last of Alpha Shift and the beginning of Beta Shift were all milling about. They'd been told to assemble for a brief meeting before heading for their duty assignments.
"Thank you all for coming," Zach said, his voice formal, almost stern. "As you know, I try to keep things relaxed here. I allow a certain laxness with protocols and attitudes, so long as the work is done efficiently and correctly. However, as you are all aware, Starfleet has strict rules regarding uniforms and rank insignia. Failure to wear the correct insignia is a serious issue and will be dealt with swiftly." He looked around the room. "If anyone would like to step forward, now is the time."
He looked around the silent room, and his eyes finally settled on Alexis. "Petty Officer Aenera is there anything you would like to say for yourself?"
"Sir." Alexis acknowledged his attention and instantly her brain went into overdrive. Did she forget to put on her uniform today? No, it was proper and she couldn't have gotten her rank insignia mixed up, she was always very careful with that. "I'm... Sorry, sir, I don't think anyone is out of uniform today, sir."
"Well, if I'm not mistaken, you're still dressed as a 1st Class Petty Officer, and yet you were promoted to Senior Chief twenty minutes ago." He plucked a small case out of the air and tossed it to her, her new insignia inside. "Everyone, let's have a cheer for our new Senior Chief!"
Alexis snagged the box out of the air while the entire bay filled with a chorus of "Hip! Hip! Hooray!" as everyone applauded.
"And so say all of us!" Zach said, applauding as well and smiling. "Congratulations. Your celebratory paperwork stack is on my desk whenever you want it."
He let everyone get a congratulations in and then cleared his throat. "All right, everyone to your duties and let's give her a chance to adjust."
The backslaps and handshakes and the occasional brief hugs were starting to fade away as everyone dispersed to their own assignments for the day, but Alexis didn't move yet, though the smile on her face was still brilliant now that she was able to open the small box and look at the insignia. "Wow." she said, looking at the three chevrons topped by the curve of the rocker that was the only difference between the two. Oh sure, she expected this at some point, but not quite yet.
Zach walked over to her, a wide smile on his face. "Congratulations, Senior Chief. Shall I wrap them, or would you like to wear them home?"
"Actually, Sir, if you wouldn't mind helping me with putting them on?" She held the box out to him. "I'd have to use a mirror and it's always risky that way. Besides, I need to find out if you're really serious about the paperwork stack?"
"I would be honored," he said, removing her former chevrons and affixing the new one to her collar. "They look smart on you," he said, nodding in approval. "And I never lie about paperwork. But it's not too bad, just a few forms."
"Then I suppose we should go handle that right away, Sir, so that it doesn't get any ideas and multiply like rabbits." Alexis smiled as she reached up to rub the new insignia where they'd been attached, "I've heard paperwork has that habit." She paused for a moment, "I was wondering... Does this mean I finally get my own quarters? I know Senior Chiefs get some sort of perks."
As they walked to his office Zach shrugged. "I believe you qualify, although they'll be rather modest. You'll have to check with the Quartermaster to see what, if anything, is available." As the doors to his office closed, he grinned. "And if you do, maybe I can come visit you instead of you always having to come over to my place."
"I think yours will still be more comfortable, but we'll have to break in my new ones, won't we?" She returned his smile with her own and glanced out the windows knowing that they were opaqued from the outside, "Besides, I'll need to celebrate this properly. What are your plans for later?"
Zach picked up a padd, his smile brightening. "As it so happens, I'm free tonight," he said, handing her the padd. "My place, it is then. I'll have dinner going when you arrive."
She took a glance over the PADD, nodding as it turned out to be just the standard acceptance form for promotions that could be authorized by a department head. She dashed her signature onto it and a thumbprint and it was official. "Oh, I get dinner and dessert?" She gave a grin, "But how are you going to be getting out of here before I am? Unless you're already planning on sticking me with extra work, as per the usual?"
He walked up to her, putting an arm around her waist and holding her close. "Who am I to buck centuries of tradition?" he said, grinning and kissing her. "But no, I just thought you'd want to stop by your quarters and freshen up, change out of your uniform, et cetera, and while you do, I'll get things set."
"Mmm." Alexis responded to the kiss enthusiastically, her arms automatically going around his neck in a very non-professional manner, "I think I might just do that. Put on something slinky and maybe forget a couple of things when I do that... Make the after-dinner party a bit more interesting?"
"See? Great minds think alike," Zach said, rubbing the small of her back and kissing her again. "Now, you'd better get back out there before people start to wonder. Optics and all that." He grinned at her.
She gave him a mock glare, but nodded as she took a step back to his reluctant release, then brushed her tunic and skirt down to straighten out any wrinkles, grateful she didn't have any makeup to have to fix, "I'll just explain that you were telling me what my new duties included, Sir." She got her voice back to it's normal control. "Just won't tell them the extra ones." She winked and flounced out of the office before he could respond.
Zach was lying on his back, staring at the ceiling above his bed, his chest heaving, and his heart threatening to beat out of his chest. He would've called Sickbay for emergency care, but he couldn't move his limbs, and he couldn't find the breath to call to the intercom. "Okay," he said in a shaky voice, "so the last few times you were just warming up to see if I'd survive your A-game?" He swallowed and reached for the glass of cold water on his nightstand, taking a long sip to cool down and rehydrate. "Or does the new rank just automatically up all of your skills?" He laid back down and looked at her, kissing her and pulling her close.
She wrapped an arm around him as he pulled her close, then laughed, "This is a video game, after all, level-ups just give all sorts of additional powers." She propped herself up on an elbow, giving him a glorious look at her chest... Again. The celebration had been wonderful, as had dinner, but she wasn't even close to done though she'd give him at least a bit of a break for now, "But I didn't hear you complaining at all." She kissed him on the tip of the nose.
"Oh, I'm not," Zach said, grinning. "Wouldn't dream of it." He ran his hands down her body and kissed her again. "I just need to find other reasons to put you in a celebratory mode."
She shivered involuntarily, but a troubled look entered her eyes as it did, still she stayed quiet.
Zach saw her expression change, and he paused as well. "Hey," he said, his voice going from playful to sincere. "Is something wrong?"
"Yeah, actually." She looked down at him from where she'd straddled him for a better vantage point, "My promotion. I know I work hard, but since you and I have found each other in this sort of position more than once or twice, I have to know. Did I get the promotion over Amarachi and Vestal because of merit, or because you and I have become lovers and I've just blown you away between the sheets?"
Zach's expression went from concern, to shock, to insulted, to angry, to indignant in the span of about three seconds. He sat up and pulled himself back against his pillows, taking her with him, keeping her on him and holding her tight so she could only focus on him. "First, I'm insulted you think I'd do that," he said, gravely. "I thought you knew me better by now. Secondly, I'm disappointed you could think you didn't earn this solely on merit. You do work hard, and you also work well. Your performance in battle was exemplary, and you're a damn good engineer. Third, the fact that you are the best lover I've ever had actually almost hurt your chances for a promotion, not helped."
As he dragged her with him, the look on his face changed rapidly and Alexis began to struggle to get away from him to no avail. NOT the reaction she had expected and it scared her for a moment, then he held her to still her reactions and had started talking. She nodded at each point until he reached the third point, then it was her face that turned into a brief pinpoint of fury. "Hurt my chances? Here I thought you were judging me just on my merits in engineering?"
Now it was Zach's turn to look a bit self-conscious. "I kept reviewing Amarachi's and Vestal's file, trying to make sure there wasn't something I'd overlooked, trying to make sure I wasn't being unduly influenced by our relationship. I kept your file to the side until I was sure I hadn't missed anything, and then realized I was so paranoid about bias, I was overcorrecting. And the truth is, objectively, you are the best for the job. You earned it, Alexis. Be as proud of you as I am, if not more." He smiled at her and brushed some hair from her face, leaning in and kissing her.
She held the kiss for a couple of seconds, then slowly withdrew, holding his lips until they couldn't touch anymore. She reached up to brush the hair away from her face again before leaning back and putting her hands on his shoulders, "I told you before that I am the daughter of a former Caesar back at home. I know I said that it means nothing and generally it doesn't, but it has it's perks and privileges nonetheless. I had an automatic acceptance into the Imperial Academy, a guaranteed graduation and almost assuredly rapid promotion within the Imperial Navy, up to command of a starship faster than I could possibly imagine if I wanted it. I would have already had my own ship by now, even if it were just a small one, for at least a couple years whether or not I really earned it." The entire time she watched for his reactions.
Zach raised an eyebrow and nodded. He'd lived a life outside the 'society of equals' values of the Federation, however briefly. He knew wealth and power could have their perks.
"I joined Starfleet to keep that from happening. I'm not command material, I'm a do-er, not a direct-er, generally speaking. Sure, I accepted the instant-promotion to Petty Officer Third Class, because it made no sense to waste the knowledge I had as a journeyman in the lower enlisted. They're coming out of effectively boot camps that familiarize them with shipboard life, a general overview of the department they're in and some specialized information so they have a leavening of usefulness. Crewman Recruit, Crewman Apprentice, Crewman, they're still novices in any fleet, a raw Ensign right out of an Academy has more of a sum of their ability." Alexis sighed. "But the thing about me is that I don't want special treatment, I don't want any promotions, perks or anything that I haven't earned in my own right. I can't help who my father became, but I sure as hell can try to be the best damned person I can be."
"You're doing a great job," Zach said, simply. "You're a born engineer. And I think you'll be a better direct-er than you give yourself credit for. And if it helps to spell it out: you are neither on my team nor in my bed because of who your father is or what your previous position was. You're here just because of you, and so long as you continue to perform as outstandingly as you have, you will always be welcome." He gave a small shrug and a wry smile. "Get any better and I may be out of a job, but at least I'll be happy at home."
A frozen sliver of ice ran down Alexis's spine and her hands fell from his shoulders, "I think you're putting the cart ahead of the horse, Zach, this.." She grabbed the sheets briefly as an example, "Isn't anything serious. This is not a commitment, this is just for fun because you're cute, you're attractive and willing. If you're looking for a real relationship right now, look elsewhere." She started to slide off to the side.
"Woah, woah, woah," Zach said, grabbing her hips and pulling her back. "I'm not asking for commitment. I know what we have is just this. And I like this. I like this a lot, frankly. But you may not have noticed....we're in my home right now, and, up until a moment ago, I was almost unbearably happy. So, I was making a little joke. I'm sorry if I pushed a button." He took her hand and kissed it. "Of course, I care about you as a good friend, and I appreciate you think I'm cute and attractive--could've said 'impressively built', but I'll take what I can get--but I know that this is just for fun, and I have no illusions otherwise, okay? We are, to use an archaic term, 'friends with benefits' and I'm good with that." He had to pull himself back from joking that she just had to make sure she didn't fall in love with him. He had a pretty good idea what parts of him would be aching if he said it.
Alexis searched his face and eyes to try to determine if he was telling her the truth. On her last assignment, her 'friend with benefits' had fallen hard for her and she hadn't cut it off right then and there. After she'd finally put the kibosh on it, it had ended very badly and they hadn't talked unless absolutely necessary ever since. Finally she nodded and settled her weight back on his thighs again, "Well, I haven't had any other complaints, I can tell you that." She gave a weak smile at the joke.
"Well, dead men tell no tales," Zach quipped, grinning.
"And you're also charming, too charming for your own good, so the other ladies had better beware."
"Ah, so that's why you get so touchy about your roommates. I'm too charming," he said, grinning, then wincing as she punched his shoulder.
"And you know the moment that I think this will change our professional relationship, this is done, right? Of course, until then..." She leaned forward slightly.
Zach smiled and kissed her, grabbing her hips and pulling her forward, back into action. She was always reminding him, warning him, cautioning him. He wanted to tease her that she was talking to herself, but she locked herself around him and made sure his smart-ass quips were done for the night.
A post by:
Engineering NCO
USS Tokyo
AND
Lt. Zachary Addams
Chief Engineer
USS Tokyo
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