A Deal Between Petty Officers
Posted on Mon Oct 26th, 2026 @ 4:46am by Petty Officer 1st Class Kael Draven & Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronan Drake
2,032 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Chimera and Deep Space 16
Location: Chief of the Boat's Office, USS Chimera
Kael Draven stood behind one of the visitor chairs in the Chief of the Boat's office, a PADD in one hand and an increasingly irritated expression on his face. He'd been given additional responsibilities while Senior Chief Enor remained under medical care, which apparently included inheriting the man's paperwork, headaches, and occasional personnel problems. What he hadn't inherited was the desk. That still belonged to Enor, and Kael intended to leave it exactly as he'd found it.
The door chime sounded.
"Come in."
Petty Officer Second Class Ronan Drake entered, already talking. "Senior Chief, before you say anything, the shuttle maintenance reports are up to date, and whatever Haller told you about the landing strut was completely taken out of..."
He stopped when he spotted Kael.
"...context." Ronan glanced around. "Well, I'll be damned. Somebody finally replaced the Senior Chief with the budget model."
"Nice to see you too, Drake."
"Where's Enor?"
"Still under medical care. I'm handling some of his responsibilities until further notice."
"So you're the acting Chief of the Boat?"
"Temporarily."
Ronan gave him a once-over. "You do realize COB stands for *Chief* of the Boat, right? Not Petty Officer of the Boat. Somebody owes you a promotion, and you're too dumb to realize it."
"Considering your disciplinary history, I'm surprised you know what COB stands for."
Ronan laughed. "Oh, you're gonna fit right in. What should I call you? Junior Chief? Baby Chief?" He thought for a moment before snapping his fingers. "No, no. I've got it. **Not Enor.**"
Kael stared at him.
"Don't."
"Petty Officer First Class Not Enor. Has a certain authority to it."
"Sit down, Drake."
"Yes, Chief Not Enor."
"You're already making me regret calling you."
Ronan dropped into the visitor chair with a grin. "All right, what's the emergency? Because if this is another lecture about proper shuttle bay procedures, Haller's already beaten you to it."
Kael approached Enor's desk, carefully moved a personal item aside, and retrieved a PADD from beneath a neatly arranged stack.
Ronan watched with amusement. "You know he's not going to materialize out of thin air if you touch something, right?"
"Wouldn't put it past him."
"Fair point."
Kael handed him the PADD. "The Captain asked me to speak with you. Starfleet Medical has arranged Chief Enor's transfer to Betazed for specialized treatment. A medical team from the *USS Fleming* has already arrived aboard the *Chimera*, and their shuttle is being prepared for departure."
Ronan's grin faded.
"Betazed? So they're really sending him away?"
"For treatment. They're hoping specialists there can help him recover."
"How's he doing?"
"Stable enough for transport. Beyond that, Medical isn't telling me much."
Ronan nodded slowly, remembering the Senior Chief lying unconscious in Sickbay.
"All right. So what's this got to do with me?"
"Read the PADD."
Ronan leaned back and began scrolling through the assignment.
"Let's see... *USS Fleming*, Olympic-class medical vessel. Shuttle *Juneau*, specialized medical transport configuration, extended-range propulsion, enhanced life-support systems..." He whistled softly. "Not bad. Somebody brought the expensive toys."
He continued down the manifest.
"Commander Vale, Doctor Venn, Lieutenant Yang, Lieutenant Mercer, Chief Petty Officer Bell, Crewman Ellis..." Ronan glanced up. "That's a whole lot of people who know more about medicine than I do."
"Which is why they're not asking you to practice medicine."
"Good. My bedside manner's terrible."
"They need a pilot, Drake. Specifically someone experienced with long-range support craft operations. The Captain recommended you."
Ronan looked up, genuinely surprised.
"Me?"
"You are the Chief Support Craft Pilot."
"Yeah, but it's nice hearing somebody acknowledge it without immediately bringing up my disciplinary record."
"Give me time."
Ronan smirked and returned to the PADD, scrolling farther until something caught his attention.
"Hold on a second."
Kael waited.
"'Upon completion of the medical transfer, Petty Officer Drake will arrange independent return passage to Deep Space 16 or another designated Starfleet facility.'"
Ronan slowly lowered the PADD.
"So let me get this straight. You want me to fly an unfamiliar medical shuttle all the way to Betazed, deliver the Chief and his medical entourage, and then hitchhike my way back across Federation space?"
"That's the arrangement."
"Do I at least get a cardboard sign? 'Starfleet pilot, will work for passage'?"
Kael fought back a smile. "I'm sure transportation can be arranged."
"Then why doesn't it say that?"
"Because that's not my department."
"Ah, there it is. The first official response from the Office of Not Enor."
Kael folded his arms. "The Captain made it clear this is voluntary. Nobody's ordering you to do it, and they need an answer soon. The medical team is already here."
Ronan glanced toward the desk, then back at Kael.
"You know what your problem is?"
"I'm beginning to think it's you."
"You're too tense."
Ronan leaned back farther, stretched his legs out, and casually planted both boots on the edge of Enor's desk.
Kael's expression changed immediately.
"Drake."
"What?"
"Feet. Off."
Ronan glanced at his boots. "Well, since you won't sit at the desk, I figured somebody might as well make use of it."
"Get your boots off before I remove them for you."
Ronan grinned. "There he is! That's the command presence I've been looking for. Little Baby Chief's growing up."
"I'm still your superior petty officer, Drake."
"And doing a fantastic job, Not Enor."
"Ronan."
"All right, all right."
Ronan reluctantly lowered his feet, making a show of brushing an imaginary speck of dust from the desktop.
"You're no fun."
"I'm not here to entertain you."
"Could've fooled me."
Kael pointed toward the PADD. "Can we get back to why you're here?"
"Sure. Let's negotiate."
"Negotiate?"
"Absolutely. You're asking me to take an unfamiliar shuttle halfway across Federation space, deliver a high-priority medical patient, and find my own way home. Seems like a pretty good opportunity."
"Drake, this isn't a cargo contract."
"You're right. Cargo doesn't usually come with six medical professionals and a Senior Chief who'd probably complain about my flying even while unconscious."
"That's your NCOIC you're talking about."
"Yeah, and he's given me enough grief over the years to earn a few jokes."
Kael's expression hardened. "This is serious, Ronan."
Ronan studied him before sitting forward.
"I know it is. I saw him in Sickbay, remember? He didn't look good."
"Then you understand why this needs to happen."
"Yeah, but let's not pretend Enor and I were best buddies. The guy never exactly made my life easy. Hell, he barely gave me a break over having Finn aboard, unless he was too busy flirting with that hot doctor to notice."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You really want to go there?"
"What? I'm just saying. The man had priorities."
"He's the Senior Chief of this ship, Ronan. And he's the one who helped keep the enlisted crew together when things went sideways."
That gave Ronan pause.
He glanced down at the PADD.
"Yeah," he admitted quietly. "He did."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Ronan looked up.
"All right. I'll fly him."
Kael nodded. "Good. I'll notify the Captain."
"Didn't say I was finished."
Kael stopped.
"Oh, for the love of..."
"One condition."
"Of course."
"You watch Finn while I'm gone."
Kael stared at him.
"What?"
"Finn. My little brother. Eleven years old. Brown hair, smart mouth, thinks every Starfleet regulation was written specifically for him. Ringing any bells?"
"I know who Finn is, Drake."
"Great. Saves me the introduction."
"Why would I be watching your brother?"
"Because I'll be on Betazed, and unless you've secretly invented a way for me to be in two places at once, somebody needs to keep an eye on him."
Kael blinked. "I don't know anything about raising kids."
Ronan shrugged. "Neither did I. You learn fast."
"That's not reassuring."
"He's easy. Feed him, make sure he sleeps, and don't let him talk you into anything involving tools, shuttles, or restricted areas."
"That sounds suspiciously specific."
"Experience."
Kael rubbed his forehead. "You do realize we're supposed to have some shore leave during this refit?"
Ronan gestured around the office. "Look at you. You're not going anywhere."
"I could."
"Sure you could. But somebody has to keep the enlisted department running. Face it, you're staying aboard."
"That doesn't mean I have time to supervise an eleven-year-old."
"Then take Finn down to Deep Space 16. Let him see the station, get something to eat, maybe check out a museum. He's a good kid. Besides, it'd be good practice for you."
"Practice for what?"
"Parenthood."
Kael stared at him.
Ronan smiled innocently.
"Think about it. You're learning to be Chief of the Boat, responsible for the enlisted personnel, keeping everybody in line, dealing with problems. Finn's basically a miniature enlisted crewman without the uniform."
"Or the discipline."
"Exactly! You're already getting it."
"Ronan, I'm not running a daycare."
"No, you're running the enlisted department. Much harder, trust me."
Kael shook his head, but Ronan continued before he could object.
"Look, jokes aside, Finn's all I've got. I don't leave him with just anybody, and I sure as hell don't want him sitting around wondering where I've disappeared to. He knows you. I trust you. That's why I'm asking."
Kael's expression softened slightly, although he still looked unconvinced.
"And how long exactly am I supposed to have him?"
"However long it takes. Which brings me to the second part of the deal."
"There's a second part?"
"Relax, this one's actually useful."
Ronan lifted the PADD.
"Instead of dropping the Chief off on Betazed and leaving me to find my own ride home, I'll fly the Juneau and her medical team back to the Fleming. That gets their shuttle and personnel back where they belong, and Starfleet only has to arrange for somebody to pick me up or drop me off afterward."
Kael considered that.
"That would need approval from the Fleming's command staff."
"Then ask them. They've got a perfectly good pilot offering to bring their shuttle back. Seems like a pretty easy decision."
"And in exchange, I get an eleven-year-old roommate."
"Temporary roommate," Ronan corrected. "Don't get attached. He's not housebroken."
Kael gave him a look.
"Kidding. Mostly."
"You're enjoying this far too much."
"Absolutely."
Kael sighed. "I swear, the Senior Chief is going to kill me when he finds out about this."
Ronan grinned.
"Good. That means he'll be awake."
The joke hung between them for a moment, and Kael couldn't help giving a small smile.
"All right," Kael finally said. "I'll look after Finn while you're gone, provided we clear the arrangements properly. And I mean it, Drake. He follows my rules."
Ronan stood and extended his hand.
"Deal."
Kael shook it reluctantly.
"No wandering around the station unsupervised, no restricted areas, no getting into trouble."
"Got it."
"And no convincing me to let him anywhere near the shuttle bay."
Ronan winced slightly.
"That one might be difficult."
"Drake."
"Fine, fine. I'll talk to him."
Kael released his hand and shook his head. "I have a feeling I'm going to regret this."
"Oh, absolutely. But look at the bright side. By the time I get back, you'll either be ready for promotion or you'll understand why Enor drinks."
Kael laughed despite himself.
Ronan picked up the PADD and started toward the door, but stopped before leaving.
"Hey, Kael?"
"What now?"
Ronan's expression turned serious.
"Thanks. Really. And if you hear anything about the Chief before we leave, let me know."
Kael nodded.
"Of course. Just get him there safely."
Ronan returned the nod.
"I will."
He started through the doorway, then leaned back around the frame with one final grin.
"Oh, and Not Enor?"
Kael closed his eyes.
"What?"
"Try not to get too comfortable. I'd like the real Chief back eventually."
"GET OUT, DRAKE!"
Ronan's laughter echoed down the corridor as the doors slid shut behind him.
Kael looked at the empty doorway and shook his head.
"Not Enor," he muttered. "Unbelievable."
Meanwhile, Ronan was already halfway down the corridor, reading over the flight assignment and wondering how exactly he was going to explain to Finn that his new temporary guardian was a Trill petty officer with absolutely no parenting experience.
He chuckled to himself.
"Poor Baby Chief."
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