The Yeoman

Posted on Mon Sep 29th, 2025 @ 11:33am by Ensign Vesper Wells & Commodore Elias McEntyre

1,339 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Prologue
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: after "Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion" - 2388

Elias came back from a quick run to the ship daycare to check on his son, Emery. Stepping into his ready room he stopped. Something was different. His ears and nose twitched as he looked around his ready room. He looked over to his desk, neat, organized. He tilts his head as some of his PADDs were on the charging rack and several other small things were moved.

Someone had been in here.

"Computer?"

The Computer trilled in response.

"Aside from myself, who was last in the Ready Room?"

The Computer replied almost immediately.

"Ensign Vesper Wells" The voice came, masculine, British, monotone.

"Position on Manifest?" Elias asked curiously as he walked over to the picture of the Unicorn that adorned the wall over the couch. Majestic, intimidating, a reminder of his heritage as the legacy of service and honor.

"Commodore's Yeoman"

"Ah" Elias thought to himself. The yeoman, not that he needed one but as a Starfleet Flag Officer he had been assigned one, though his last Yeoman was...well...they were not suited for the job and was rotated on the last port call to DS12.

Turning, Elias walked over to his desk and tapped the comm panel on it.

"Yeoman to my Ready Room"

"On my way, Sir," Vesper's voice was soft and light across the comm, hiding the slight pang of nerves the summons had brought. It didn't take long before the chime came, and she waited for his go ahead before letting herself inside. At least this time she wasn't concerned about finding him passed out on the floor. She moved inside as briskly as her cane would allow, coming to a standstill in front of the now familiar desk. "Ensign Vesper Wells, Sir, reporting."

Elias gave the woman a long, observing look. She was young. From what Elias read in her file, she was fresh out of the academy, eager, long list of honors from the Academy and a Starfleet pedigree. Just as long was the long list of medical flags in her file. Still, Elias was one for giving people the chance to prove themselves.

"Stand at ease, Yeoman." He ordered, leaning back into his chair.

"What did you think of the Ready Room and what were your first impressions of me based on your observations?" Elias asked direct and to the point.

Vesper relaxed at the words, letting out a soft breath as she let her weight shift to settle more comfortably. She was also smiling; he'd noticed she'd been in his office. Another flutter of nerves hit...but he wasn't ordering her out of an airlock, so it couldn't be terrible. "It's wonderful, Sir," she replied honestly, looking around it as her smiled widened. "Authentic...natural touches that keep it...down to earth as we say, despite being so far away from home. Wood...leather...paper books. There's order in here...confidence. Where you've come from is as important as where you're going. And so is your family."

“And from these observations what have you determined about me?” Elias followed up, still trying to size the yeoman up, a yeoman needed administrative skills as well as deductive reasoning and analytical skills.

Vesper considered her words carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was offend her new commanding officer with one clumsy observation. She took another glance around, breathing in the scent. "I believe you're a man of principle, Sir. You honour where you've come from, and the people who shaped you, but you don't let tradition slow you down. You value discipline, but not for the sake of it...because it protects people. And that's what matters most to you. The books say you're thoughtful, curious. The one on your desk, 'In the Raptor's Claws', it's well read, annotated, signed...treasured. You don't just browse knowledge, you engage with it. So...if I had to pick three words? Intelligent, steadfast and driven."

Elias pauses for a moment, considering her words and then spoke again.

“Then I think you’ll do well here.” He commented before he got up from his desk picking up the book and walking over to the big couch before sitting down.

“A good yeoman is astute, observant, detailed. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders and yes, this book is something special to me. Do you know what it’s about?” He asked curiously.

"Only to glance at, I've never read it," she admitted with a confessional, soft laugh, motioning to it with the hand that held the top of her cane. "I noticed it when I popped in earlier though. What is it about?"

Elias looks up at her as he gestures to one of the big leather arm chairs across from the couch.

"It's a history of the Earth-Romulan War. Archer, Duvall, Shran. My family fought in it as well...at least my ancestors did. John McEntyre, was one of the first casualties in the war, when Starbase Salem One was destroyed at Berengeria VII.

Vesper listened intently as she settled into one of the chairs; it was even more comfortable than it looked. "You must be very proud," she replied softly. She wondered what it would be like, to live under that kind of legacy. Equal parts pride and pressure perhaps.

"I say more...understanding of the legacy we all carry. Forged from war to Peace. We should strive to maintain the peace whenever possible but be ready with a razor between your fingers for the ones that forgot their manners." Elias quips.

Vesper thought on the words, nodding gently as she looked down to the hands in her lap. "Well, peace is what I came here for," she said softly and honestly, tucking a stray piece of blonde hair back. "You may need to help me a little with the last part."

Elias lets out a small chuckle. "Don't worry, I don't expect you to perform combat drops. I'll leave that to the Lieutenant Colonel and his troopers." He adds with a soft smile.

"So, do you have any questions or comments for me?"

"I suppose...it would be good to know what you expect of me," she asked softly as she met his eyes earnestly. "Not...the day to day, I know what you *need* from me, more...what *you* expect from your Yeoman...and if there's anything particular that I can do to make your life easier."

“Only what is expected of you as a Yeoman, though on occasion I might ask you to watch Emery for an evening, if you’re alright with that?”

Vesper's smile warmed as she nodded quickly and without hesitation. "Very much so, I would love to meet him," she assured.

Elias beams. "We'll have you over one night. Beyond that, all i ask is you attend your duties to the best of your abilities. That's really all I need. The rest should come naturally. If there is nothing else?" Elias asked.

She shook her head with an easy smile, clearly relaxed in his presence as she took to her feet. "No, Sir, I have everything I need. And if you do too, I can leave you to it?"

"Thank you Yeoman and Welcome aboard. You're Dismissed." Elias nods as he picks up a PADD and got back to his paperwork.

Vesper gave a brisk nod in return, seeing herself out. She was smiling to herself on the way back to her own office, humming softly. Her flutter of nerves had disappeared now that their first meeting was out of the way. He hadn't seemed bothered by her medical condition, or this being her first posting. She knew it was an irrational worry; everyone had to start somewhere. But it had been a constant little niggle in the back of her head that she could quiet now. And even better, it seemed like this was a posting she was going to learn so much from.


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Commodore Elias McEntyre
Commanding Officer
USS Guinevere

Ensign Vesper Wells
Yeoman
USS Guinevere

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