Helmspeople

Posted on Thu Apr 23rd, 2026 @ 3:18pm by Lieutenant JG Zahra el-Saad & Ensign Nate Stanton

1,463 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Prologue
Location: Mess Hall - USS Guinevere
Timeline: Day of Stanton's Arrival

ON

When list of new Guinevere personnel had been circulated a few days earlier, Zinaren highlighted for Zahra that a new Flight Control Officer was coming in. Good! Her team had been understaffed for a while now. Getting a new person meant they could better staff the helm station without relying on cross-trained crew from Ops, Security, and Engineering.

He had arrived on the transport that morning. She knew she couldn't meet him right when he came aboard, so she had pre-added to his calendar a lunch meeting with him in the Mess Hall. So that's where she sat, with a view to the main entrance, looking for a face she'd surely recognize from his file photo.

The doors opened, and sure enough, Nate Stanton walked in. His dark hair had been pushed back from his face at somepoint, and his jaw had a dusting of stubble. He wore his uniform, and there was no way of knowing he had a chain around his neck and hidden under the collar, holding a ring. He wasn't alone though. At his side was a girl who appeared to be about 11 years old. Her long hair was the same shade as Nate's and she spoke animatedly at his side.

"I'll be fine in our quarters by myself..." Lottie assured her father for the seventh time, but knew it would fall on deaf ears.

"Not when you're on a brand new ship and don't know anyone. No, come on, stick with me, kid," Nate scrunched her hair fondly, smiling easily as he made his way inside....then stopped. Because he realised he didn't know who he was looking for.

The helm chief saw the face from the profile and stood to wave him and the young girl over.

"Ah, here we go," Nate gave an easy grin, leading Lottie over with him. He only hoped she didn't mind. The slight worry was gone as quickly as it had arrived though. "Lieutenant? Ensign Nate Stanton..."

"Welcome aboard, Ensign," Zahra said, putting her hand over her heart and bowing her head to him, a gesture meant to be as friendly a greeting as any handshake. "I'm Lieutenant el-Saad." She smiled and looked at the child. "You must be Lottie. I'm Zahra." She extended her hand toward her.

Lottie took the hand with a friendly smile, watching her with open curiosity. Zahra's eyes were amazing, she'd never seen such sky blue eyes before. "Thanks. Er...the plan went a bit wrong..."

Nate chuckled awkwardly, only able to nod along with the comment as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, we're real sorry, Lieutenant. But she doesn't start school for another couple of days, and I really didn't want to leave her alone before we'd gotten to know the ship a little better..."

"Not a problem," Zahra told them both. "It's a safe ship but it's unfamiliar to you. You don't know what's good to watch on the screens, or where the ghosts are." She gave Lottie a wink. "Why don't you get something to eat from the replicator and bring it over?"

Nate grinned, relaxing at the acceptance. He gave her a gracious bow of the head before leading his daughter to the replicator. Just a couple of minutes later and they returned to her table, holding a tray with toasted sandwiches and drinks. He settled down, sipping his coffee with a small smile as he watched his new Chief, pleased he hadn't made a bad impression...yet, anyway. "We're not scared of a ghost or two..." he chuckled softly.

"This ship has seen its share of loss," Zahra admitted. "But you'll never find a more loving environment. It's not just where we serve. It's home." Her lunch, a replicated beef pie, was partway eaten. She took a bite at the same time that Nate did. "So tell me about yourselves," she suggested. "What's the Stanton story before coming to the Guin?"

"Dad used to be a fighter pilot," Lottie got in before Nate could even open his mouth, an innocent smile on the girl's features even as her eyes glinted with mischief as they glanced to him.

Nate laughed almost bashfully at how she blurted it out, rubbing the back of his neck as he cleared his throat. "She's not wrong. But now, I'm well versed in both Starship and small birds, so you can put me wherever you need me."

"Good to have that sort of flexibility on the team," Zahra observed. "We don't have a fighter complement but our shuttle pool is plentiful and diverse. It will be good to set you up as our primary small craft pilot for landing missions."

Nate's smile grew at that and he gave a bow of his head to her, almost as if tipping a hat he wasn't wearing. "Whatever you need, Ma'am," he assured, although the tone of his voice made it clear that he liked the idea.

"What's the biggest bird you've ever flown?" Lottie asked Zahra between bites, unable to help her curiosity. She enjoyed flying with her Dad, and it had given her an appreciation for the skill.

“This one right here!” Zahra said with a grin. “The Renaissance II class isn’t anywhere near the biggest ship in the fleet, but she’s fast for her size.” She leaned in conspiratorially, but spoke at a mock whisper which Nate could still hear. “Shuttles and fighters take a lot of skill to fly, and anyone who can do it is impressive, but it takes true mastery to get a starship like this to dance on the head of a pin.”

Lottie looked between her and her Dad with awe, grinning when she saw the admiring nod of agreement from him. "That's gotta take years to learn...don't know if I've got the patience..." she admitted with a soft laugh.

“Not everyone does,” Zahra admitted. “And that’s fine, it isn’t a job for everyone. But the reports say that you do have the patience and skill though, Mr. Stanton. Were they correct?”

Nate couldn't help a soft chuckle as he rubbed the back of his neck. When he was younger, he and the word 'patience' didn't exactly mix. But now, the war veteran, widower and single father had learnt to save the impulsiveness for the fights that needed it. Mostly. "Well, I'd just about say so, Ma'am. 'Though I'm sure there's still plenty to learn about the big birds."

"We'll make sure you get plenty of extra simulator time before you're left alone at the bridge helm station," Zahra assured him. "Run through some starship maneuvering drills." She looked to Lottie. "And where will you be stationed?" she asked, in a faux-serious tone. "Engineering? No, you're the new heavy weapons specialist the Ground Pounders have been telling me about, right?"

Lottie giggled, unable to help herself as she tried to imagine what it would be like wearing armour. She was pretty sure she wouldn't even be able to move in it...maybe just fall straight over. "Wish I could! But Dad says it's back to school for me soon..." she gave a theatrical sigh...because she didn't mind school, not really.

"Well, the ship does have a good school," Zahra admitted. "The Commodore made sure of it. He has a son on board."

Lottie perked up at hearing that, glancing to her Dad with a small smile, nodding lightly. "Hm...I guess I need to get learning if I ever want to fly..." she admitted.

"It can't hurt in anything you do," Nate teased back to her, giving her arm a firm squeeze with approval.

“Well said,” Zahra agreed. “Well, I’m due back on the bridge in a few minutes. It was very nice to meet you both,” she continued as she gathered her dishes and food waste onto her tray for her to take to be recycled. “I’ll see you on the duty roster then.”

"I'm looking forward to it, Ma'am," Nate assured, rising from his seat out of politeness at her readying to leave, not even thinking about it.

"It was really nice to meet you," Lottie added eagerly, smiling warmly to her as she followed suit, but kept in close to her father with just a touch of lingering shyness in the girl. Zahra looked awesome...she was already planning to add someone like her into her comics.

"It was nice to meet you too," Zahra said with a smile. "Until next time." She took her things to the return slot and headed to the door, waving at Lottie right before she left.

---


Lieutenant jg Zahra el-Saad
Chief Flight Control Officer

Ensign Nate Stanton
Flight Control Officer

Lottie Stanton
Civilian Child

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