Post 5 - Accelerated Timelines

Posted on Thu Dec 10th, 2020 @ 5:38am by Captain Jocelyn Blake & Lieutenant Jordan Hoover

Mission: Episode 1: Acta Non Verba
Location: Jocelyn's apartment
Timeline: Shortly after the press briefing

[Jocelyn's Apartment]
[San Francisco, CA]
[Day 10 - 2200 Hours]

It was a small, but cozy space. The bed, littered with PADDs, half drunk cups of tea, and soft pillows looked inviting, but it's usual occupant was absent. A hastily removed Starfleet uniform, science blues running across the top, was thrown over a chair in the corner, and Starfleet issue boots lay akimbo just inside the door. The room's denizen was pacing, the edge of her silk robe flapping behind her like the cape of a hero in a child's comic book.

0900.

Friday.

Jocelyn ran a hand absently through her loose hair walking over to the bed where she perched on the end, disturbing a precariously stacked set of PADDs. The devices thumped quietly onto the thick carpet of the floor. She cradled her head in her hands, propping her elbows on her knees and massaging her temple where a headache threatened to blossom. Not enough time.

Standing up again and returning to her pacing she mumbled under her breath--statistics, awards, strengths, weaknesses, all coming out in breathy whispers. How long had it been since she had undergone a real interview? The Academy? Even then she had been scouted, her position waiting behind an interview that was no more than a formality.

A chime sounded from her living room, startling her out of her reverie. Hastily she wrapped the robe around her, tying it in the front in a loose knot.

"Coming!" Her voice picked up by the comm system seemed to echo back at her in stereo, reaching whomever was at the door.

Hurrying to the entrance she opened the old fashioned door, grasping the knob in her hand as the wooden structure gave way to the sympathetic face of Jordan Hoover.

Not saying a word he held up two wine glasses and a chilled bottle.

"Yes, please," she groaned, ushering the man inside.

"I guessed you might be having a small break down," Jordan quipped, stepping into the living room and setting the wine and glasses on a thin table next to the door.

"Small isn't even the half of it," she said, flopping onto the sofa.

Jordan made his way into the kitchen, retrieving a corkscrew and returning to sit on the love seat across from his friend. Making quick work of the cork he poured a glass of the straw yellow wine and handed it to her.

Jocelyn accepted gratefully taking a deep breath of the sauvignon blanc before taking a sip. "Mmmm..." she murmured closing her eyes. "Thank you."

Jordan sipped his own wine, propping his right foot on his knee and leaning back into the seat. "I'm sure you don't want me to say 'I told you so'," he began, "but I did tell you that you were on the short list for this position."

"The short list!" Jocelyn sat forward rapidly glass held expertly in one hand. "The interview is tomorrow morning Jordan. You told me this morning. I've got less than 12 hours to prep for a conversation with the most powerful man in Starfleet so that I can somehow convince him that I can be the face of his administration for press outlets throughout the galaxy. I wasn't supposed to be thinking about this for 20 more years with at least 5 more journalistic awards under my belt and a position much closer to the CinC's office than a disgraced R&D appointment meant to hide me from the world."

Jordan shook his head at her. "Joce, when are you going to pick up that R&D was never a punishment? Just... a shift in focus."

"A shift out of the spotlight you mean," she replied, a touch of bitterness coloring her tone.

"Fine," Jordan conceded, raising his empty hand in surrender. "You were moved to R&D to get you out of the spotlight. But if they wanted rid of you they would have done so by now. It's been nearly a decade, Joce. Leyton is in the past. They like you. This is a great opportunity and one you've worked hard for. Enjoy it for a moment would you?"

Jocelyn fell silent, sipping her wine and turning the thought over in her mind. She had hoped to be considered for Press Secretary one day. She just imagined there would be grey in her hair before such an opportunity would come to her.

"Ok, yes," she conceded, a smile teasing her lips, "it is pretty exciting."

"There's my good friend." Jordan grinned. "Now... let's talk strengths and weaknesses."

Jocelyn rolled her eyes, but returned his smile. "Ok, so here's what I've got so far..."

=/\= A mission post by =/\=

Lieutenant Commander Jocelyn Blake
Public Relations
Starfleet Research and Development

Lieutenant Jordan Hoover
Journalist
Alpha Centauri News Network