One Battle at a Time

Posted on Sun Sep 13th, 2026 @ 5:24pm by Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Moriarty & Master Chief Petty Officer Julian Trent

2,241 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Prologue
Location: Ground Forces CO Office - Deck 13
Timeline: Early 2389

Stepping onto Deck 13 brought the same subtle shift in pressure as setting foot on another world. In theory, the ship should have felt the same on every deck. Starfleet was very good at making corridors look interchangeable. Even so, the scent of Deck 13, where the Federation Ground Forces lived and worked, was different. Not unpleasant. Different in the way perfume could linger in the air after the person wearing it had gone. Master Chief Petty Officer Julian Trent raised an eyebrow as he walked down the corridor in his gold and black uniform, a PADD held loosely in one hand. He intended to update the Lieutenant Colonel on the ship’s tactical capabilities, along with the weaknesses he had identified during a potential boarding action and the structural vulnerabilities hazard teams might need to account for. The work might very well have been done before, but in Julian’s experience...well, it was better to make sure than discover during an emergency that everyone had assumed somebody else had handled it.

He headed directly for the Ground Forces Commanding Officer’s office and pressed the chime, glancing down at the PADD once before lifting his eyes to the door.

"Come in!" Jesse called, frowning at his screen from behind the desk. One of the problems with his XO being in charge of the MPs was that he'd lost his admin resource. He was going to have to bite the bullet and appoint a clerk.

Julian walked in, looking at the man behind the desk. Dark hair, curling slightly...longer than he would have usually expected from an officer. It made his own hair look utilitarian in comparison. Handsome face, dark eyes...reminded Julian of a storm. "Colonel Moriarty? Master Chief Trent, Tactical. Come to share my ship knowledge with you. If it is a good time."

"As good a time as any," Jesse assured as he stood, clocking the other man was human before offering his hand out. "Good to finally touch base with you. Want anything?"

Julian reached for the hand, shaking it before he smiled. "Cup of tea never goes amiss, if you're offering. English breakfast, 10ml milk, half a teaspoon sugar."

Jesse couldn't help a soft grunt of laughter at such a precise order. He got it from the replicator just the same, offering it over before ordering a less precise Earth tea from the database himself. "I hear wars were won with it."

Trent chuckled as he took it, his blue eyes warm with it. "And fought over it. Always two sides of something," he said playfully. "Thanks." He smelled it before taking a careful sip, nodding. It was...decent, replicated cup of tea. He lived on it often. "Earth history's nothing if not...bloody. And full of hot beverages."

"Maybe it's our clue to stop drinking it," Jesse shook his head with a weak chuckle as he moved to sit with him. "What can I do for you?"

"More about what I can do for you," Julian said as he offered the PADD over. "My tactical overview of the ship. Weapons. Weak spots for boarding. Recommendations. Most likely all this has already been done, but...you're now in charge of the Detachment."

Jesse arched an eyebrow as he reached for the PADD, scrolling down the first page. "No, it wasn't done for me at least, not like this," he assured.

Julian nodded as he looked at him, a small smile on his lips. "I've also marked some places for potential weapons cache. Unconventional, I know, but with us so...separate in day to day, I think you need more than just the armoury in case things get difficult," he said before he sipped the tea.

"I like that plan," Jesse admitted, looking down over the list he'd suggested, nodding along. "I know from experience...boarding doesn't always happen when you're right next to your kit..."

"Well, with this, perhaps it will be a little less scary, Colonel," Julian said playfully, although he was sure that not much scared the man before him.

"Hm..." Jesse arched an eyebrow at the suggestion, sitting back to watch him properly for a moment. He was definitely a war vet. No question. "Ship or planet side?"

Julian looked at him, taking a slow breath before he nodded. "Ship," he finally said, his voice soft. "USS Murmansk. You'd have been the boots on the ground. I...we sometimes took some troopers to the newest fronts."

"Sounds about right," Jesse nodded slowly, letting out a soft breath as he glanced away. Something always slightly shifted in him when he met someone else who'd been there. Almost like he was too exposed. "I guess things got pretty busy at tactical."

Julian watched him, making sure he kept himself very still for a moment. And then he let out a chuckle. "I think things got pretty busy everywhere," he said before he cleared his throat. "At least we both know things can always get worse. Both a blessing and a curse, knowledge."

"But it can save lives," Jesse titled his head, letting out a long, tired breath as he looked down to the PADD. "Thanks for this, it's exactly what I needed."

"Doesn't look like it was though..." Julian said and shifted, leaning forward a little. He somehow managed to look perfectly relaxed and comfortable in the pose, as he tried to catch Jesse's eyes. "Looks more like I've dragged in a few ghosts."

"Sorry," Jesse shook his head with a frown at himself, clearing his throat. "I work with a lot of younger troops here..." his frown deepened. "That's not to say...I didn't mean...."

Julian laughed despite himself, the frown somehow making it...funnier to him. "Relax," he said, meaning it. "I know what you mean. I'm older, I'm human so I look it as well. You see those under your command and most of them are too young to even really have registered the war. Me, you know at once I was in it. Like you. And that...well..." he sat back, his foot hooking behind his ankle, his forearms on the armrests and his hands relaxed, almost lazy. "It's different."

Jesse nodded lightly, pleased he understood. And in a way...it made it easier. A whole load of baggage that didn't need to be said. "It is these days at least."

Julian nodded slowly, watching him over the rim of his cup before taking another sip. "Not sure that's a bad thing though," he said, lowering it again. "Means fewer people walking around with the same ghosts...although I am sure new ones will come for other people." He looked into the cup for a moment and then chuckled at himself. "Well. Hopefully we will make it better."

"It's our job to stop it happening..." Jesse pointed out, clearly meaning it as he gave a weak shrug. "Especially out here. No back up."

Julian looked at him, a small smile coming to him at how earnest the man before him was, even if he clearly tried to be factual. "You're not trying for perfection, are you?" he asked, his voice rough. "Zero casualties, no trauma of your people."

Jesse fell silent at the words, having to consider them for a moment. There was something about the smile that made him feel he was teasing him. Just a little at least. "That's the general idea," he replied quietly. "Unless there's no way. Then you have to prioritise...damages."

He let out a soft breath as he watched Jesse and then nodded. "My job's...very much on a console. What you see are numbers. Decks. Breaches." His jaw tightened for a moment. "You can delay the knowledge when an area vents that there were people there. It's a luxury I know you don't have."

"I'm responsible for them," Jesse shrugged lightly, as if that said it all. And it did, in a way. "There's no such thing as perfect, but people can have different ideas of 'good enough'."

"Mm..." Julian nodded before he tilted his head, watching him. "It's a lot to have on your shoulders...young man," he said, the last with warmth. Because Jesse was clearer younger than him...and to him, the frown made him look younger.

Jesse looked to him with actual surprise. He was used to people not seeing his age through the rank. And frankly, he didn't feel his age either. He laughed, shaking his head lightly. "Haven't heard that for a while."

"Now that is a crime," Julian said with a smile, both genuine and in response of making Jesse laugh. It suited him. Warmed the face, made the shadow of years of responsibility retreat. "Although I suspect the colonel's marks on you might...deter your fellow soldiers from calling you that. Luckily for you...I am not one of them."

Jesse paused at that, sitting back with a small smile as he watched the other man. He wasn't oblivious to that kind of look...that kind of attention....but it usually happened on shoreleave these days. "You're right at that," he finally replied, his voice a shade softer. "For both our sakes...I'd break you in a day," he teased.

Julian smiled as he looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "That's what you think," he said lightly, tilting his head. "But in this world with all this...perhaps no one needs more than one day to feel alive." He met his eyes, holding them for a moment longer before he nodded. A time and a place though, like all things. "I do hope that PADD is...somewhere useful. And I am sure Lieutenant Commander Drevas can also answer any questions if you can't get a hold of me."

"I mean it, this is just what I need," Jesse assured quickly, tapping the PADD against his hand. "You should join us on a training exercise one day."

Julian chuckled at the words, nodding. "I never...adapted naturally to the Security side of Tactical," he admitted as he gave a small shrug. "I can fire a phaser, but that is...it. I can fight, but think...bar brawl, not combat."

Jesse chuckled softly, shaking his head with a small smile. "No, I mean on a ship drill. You could take tactical, feed us intel."

"Ah," Julian's smile widened as he looked at him, giving a nod. "That, young man...I can do," he said easily, giving a nod of approval.

"Jesse," he replied with a slight shrug, chuckling at him calling him that again. "The name's...Jesse. And I'll set it up. It'll be good for all of us."

"I'm Julian," he said, wanting to make it clear that he expected him to call him that when he wanted to. "Or Jules, to some. And yes...I have not seen the Ground Forces in action for years. I look forward to it."

"Hopefully you won't need to see us in the real word, but....well....we have no idea what's out here," Jesse shrugged, having resigned himself to trouble one way or another.

"Then I will feel comforted that you and your people will keep us safe...and you can rest assured that Tactical will keep firing those weapons 'til the bitter end," Julian said softly, giving a nod. "Jesse...what will be will be. We just do the best we can with what we get."

"One battle at a time," Jesse agreed, put at ease by the other man's matter-of-fact nature. "Just like life," he added, but with a soft, wry chuckle to take the sting out of it.

"Just like everything...you put one foot in front of the other. See where you end up," Julian said and finished the tea, putting the empty cup on the desk. "Sometimes, it is somewhere good. Other times...you push through. And keep going."

"To somewhere better?" Jesse suggested with a soft chuckle, finishing the man's analogy for him. The man had a way with words, that was for sure.

"Sometimes, yes," he said, his eyes shining as he looked at him before he leant forward a little, holding his eyes. "Or at least to something survivable..." he stood, looking at him. "You know, Jesse, if you ever do want to talk outside of...duty. I have found myself in the bar now and then."

"I've gone a couple of times. I usually prefer a place with...heavier music," Jesse admitted, but nodded all the same. It wasn't often he found someone to unwind with outside of his own troopers. And that had never quite been the same since becoming an officer, and definitely not since becoming commander.

Julian chuckled as he nodded, watching him. "I remember those places well. Where you can feel it in your bones," he said softly. "And nothing matters except the moment."

"Besides, it wouldn't feel right if there was a place like that on a Starfleet ship," Jesse finally grinned, shaking his head at the very thought of it.

"Yes, we need something to make...shoreleave feel better," Julian observed and smiled back, watching how the grin changed the other man's whole demeanour. "I do mean it. If you want to talk, about anything. Find me."

"Sounds good," Jesse agreed with a light nod, as close to a promise as he got.

----

Master Chief Petty Officer Julian Trent
Tactical
USS Guinevere

Lt. Colonel Jesse Moriarty
CO Federation Ground Forces
USS Guinevere

 

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