Fighting change

Posted on 13 Jan 2026 @ 5:41pm by Lieutenant JG Ryan Collingway

304 words; about a 2 minute read

///Crew Quarters////

Ryan read the official message on his PADD, then read it again. He had known about this only yesterday. Lieutenant Evans had told them directly, wanting a personal touch and telling them all how proud she was of their performance given the difficult circumstances. It didn't make it any easier.

Ryan was starting to realize that he thrived on stability. He never really had much control. Not with his family. Not on his first ship. Circumstances were forced on him, not chosen.

And every *single* time he thought he had stability, the slightest amount of control-the rug got pulled out under him. First with losing his first CEO, Commander Boren. Then Doctor Emerson finding out the truth about his past. And now this.

Ryan leaned back in his bunk. Was this Starfleet? Constant unpredictability, a life where everything can uprooted at a moment's notice? How can this be a home with that constantly happening? Is this what he wanted?

He didn't know. He glanced again at the datapadd again. According to Lelina, a Commander Harlan would be replacing her. The rumor mill went flying after that, but the only thing they could find was that he had served in Starfleet for a while. Knowing his luck it was probably a pencil pusher then. The type to yell if there was so much a spec of dust on the warp core. Great.

Ryan sighed. He didn't really feel like going on shore leave anyway. The old familiar guilt gnawed at him, telling him he didn't deserve it. Now it seemed more critical to stay on board to make sure engineering was in perfect condition for the new Commander.

Fighting off a new wave of frustration and anxiety, Ryan got into his uniform to start the day.

Ensign Ryan Collingway
Engineering Officer
USS Arawyn

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