Reporting to You

Posted on Saturday October 4, 2025 @ 2:59am by Lieutenant Commander Halli Bann Dr (PhD) & Lieutenant JG Melissa Gladwell-Hunt

1,441 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: A New Frontier
Location: XO's Office

Lieutenant Melissa Gladwell before heading down the counseling offices, made her way to see the First Officer. From what she could tell at this point, there was no Chief Counselor assigned to the Vanguard. Therefore, she would have to report directly to Lieutenant Commander Bann. Arriving to the door, Melissa pressed the chime.

Halli looked up, a bit startled from the sound of the chimes. She was working on staff rosters and personnel things, unaware of the arrival of others just yet. She smiled lightly. Her first visitor.

"Hello! Please, come in," the Trill said. "How can I help you today?" She asked. She sat up, setting her work aside to focus on the woman who entered her office. "Would you like some coffee?" She asked. Halli had had a personal replicator brought into her office. She was planning to spend a lot of time there, at least for the first few weeks of this tour.

Melissa walked into the office and made her way to the desk. "No thank you." Standing in front of the desk, she wouldn't take a seat until invited to. "I'm here reporting for duty."

Halli nodded, and smiled. "Feel free to sit," she said, indicating the visitors chair across from her desk. "Excellent," she said. She turned to her computer, and tapped it a moment. "You are...Lieutenant Gladwell, Melissa," she said. "Counselor." She turned back to the other woman. "Nice to meet you. Of course, I am Commander Halli Bann, executive officer. Have you had a chance to visit sickbay yet?" She asked. "We're still waiting for the Doc to onboard but he should be here shortly," she said. "How are you today?" Halli liked to have a bit of small talk before they got to business. She wanted to know the crew as PEOPLE, not just crew.

Finally taking a seat, the Lieutenant smiled. "Hadn't stopped by sickbay yet, but that will be my next stop. By I am actually doing well. My husband and just settled into our quarters."

Halli smiled, and nodded. "My son and I are still settling in, but hopefully...soon," she said. "I hope you two found your quarters ok, and to your liking. If there's anything you'll need, please let me know," she said. "I am actually supposed to be meeting your husband shortly; our Second Officer will be plenty busy up to launch day," she said. "But I promise to return him fully intact and only slightly insane," she joked. "My ex-husband was an Engineer; I remember how crazy it was trying to have a marriage in the early years before launch," she said. Those were the days. He had always been busy, and as an Engineer, Odom was even busier than most. It was fine until Jobom was born. THEN it had gotten...a little more difficult. She was, at that point, trying to make a family work while also trying to make a career work. Not for the faint of heart, but they had done it, for nearly ten years.

"Wow ten years," the counselor spoke. "Drayton and I still fairly new at this marriage thing. Just had an anniversary, not too long ago. And the quarters are perfect, thank you. Not quite sure when adding children will be added to the picture. Guess right now, still learning to navigate around each other."

Halli smiled. "It will get easier," she said. "Dating and living together first helps, but it's not the same," she said. "Then add a child or more to the mix? Your days will get loud," she said. Jobom was a boys' boy, and rowdy since birth, so Halli had always had her hands full. Still, he was a great kid, and didn't give her too much pushback about her work or moving, or anything. That was really helpful. She moved on then. "OK, so. Any formal questions before we have a quick tour of the ship?" She asked.

"Any idea where and when we're shipping off?"

Halli shook her head. "When? A few days. We're waiting for a few more key arrivals, and the Science labs to finish being set up. Where is...we don't know yet. Unfortunately, there's some kind of trouble in the Beta Quadrant; the Dominion are on the move, so most likely there," she said. "But honestly, it could be anywhere," she said. "We haven't gotten set orders yet, or at least, they haven't been passed down to ME yet," she explained.

Melissa clearly was somewhat shocked. "Didn't think the Dominion would be a threat that we would be dealing with."

Halli sighed. "Me, too," she said, sadly. "But nothing is set in stone yet. I'd rather head out to the Delta Quadrant myself and do some investagatory maneuvers. I speak with the Captain this afternoon to firm up final orders, and then you and Drayton will know then," she said. "Unfortunately, we're the only ship shipping out from here, so we'll need to travel a bit anyway. It'll give us time to iron out the minor details though," she said, cheerfully.

"Thank you," Gladwell responded. "Do I need to handle things with the counseling department or will someone else be running things?"

"We have the CMO, but you will be in charge of Counseling for now," she said. "However you two work out the interactions is between you two, but if there are any issues, or you have questions about the Civilian side of things-we have about twenty scheduled to join us, please come see me," she said. She stepped out into a corridor. "This is the main Sickbay corridor," Halli said. "Main Sickbay is there," she pointed to her right. "And mental health and wellness is here," she said, heading to the left. "Your office is here," she said, pausing by a door. "And then there's a treatment room down the hallway. Also, I understand that there's a therapy pool on this deck, too, at the other end of the corridor, but the Chief of the Boat and Civilian Relations will coordinate with you and the Doc on that," she said. "As soon as you're ready to take patients, let me know. I'll send my kid. I think he needs someone to talk to about the divorce and our move here," she said, a bit more softly. "He's a good boy, and I'd like to keep it that way," she said. She stepped aside so that the woman could enter the office.

"If you need any extra furnishings, I can take care of that for you, as well," she said. "Anything at all."

"Let's check out the Sickbay," she said. Halli herself was curious; each ship class had a slightly different setup and she liked to have a general idea of the layout before a major emergency. She led the way across the hallway and into a reception area. "This is main Sickbay, obviously," she said, and then smiled lightly at a young Petty Officer at a desk. "This is...Petty Officer Jones," Halli said, as if she were trying to remember the name from files (she was), and then continued. "Medical Yeoman," she explained. "Jones, this is Lt. Gladwell-Hunt, our interim Chief Counselor," she said. "I am sure you two will become very familiar with each other," she said.

Melissa smiled and nodded at the Petty Officer. In all honest, she never expected an actual tour of the place. But very much appreciated it. "I'm actually right to begin work now. So, feel free to send your son whenever you ready."

She laughed. "Alright. I am sure he'll be VERY excited," she said, with a hint of sarcasm. "After his schooldays, I will send him. Today will be a short day; we're not even technically ready to launch yet, but the Station's school room allowed him to come in today. He was getting restless and bored in my office all day." She sighed. Parenting a child by herself on a battleship was going to be a new adventure for BOTH of them.

"But thank you. If you're ready to start, I'll leave you to it, then. It was nice to meet you, and I'll see you again soon, I am sure," she said. "Have a good rest of your day. Make sure to check out the Indian restaurant on the Promenade while we're still docked; it's very good." She and Jobom had visited it the night before because Halli hadn't felt like cooking after their long shuttle ride to the station.

"Drayton and I will definitely check that out."

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CDR Dr Halli Bann, PhD
Executive Officer
USS Vanguard

&&

Ltjg. Melissa Gladwell-Hunt
Counselor
USS Vanguard

 

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