Back on Duty

Posted on Sat Oct 17th, 2026 @ 9:20pm by Lieutenant Commander Arlen Reacher & Kate Reacher & Lieutenant JG Daniel Brooke

2,445 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 121 - "Where There's A Section, There's A Way"
Location: Starbase 400, Reacher Family Quarters / Security Office
Timeline: Following Return from Leave

Arlen Reacher stood before the mirror in his quarters, adjusting the collar of his uniform before checking the lieutenant commander’s pips resting against it. The change from his Marine uniform still required a moment of conscious adjustment. Major had been a familiar title, one he had answered to through years of service, but the orders confirming his move into Security and Tactical had made the transition official. He ran his fingers along the collar once more, then lowered his hands. There was work waiting, and he had spent enough time looking at himself.

Behind him, the quarters bore the unmistakable signs of a family recently returned from Earth. An open travel bag occupied one end of the sofa, a small collection of the girls’ belongings sat on the dining table, and something James had needed during the journey had somehow found its way onto Arlen’s desk. Returning to the station had taken longer than simply stepping off a transport. There had been unpacking, settling the children, and restoring the routines they had happily abandoned at the ranch. Even now, Arlen suspected they would spend several more days discovering things packed in the wrong bags.

Kate appeared in the bedroom doorway holding James against her hip. She looked him over, her gaze briefly settling on his collar before returning to his face.

“How does it feel?”

Arlen glanced back toward the mirror. “Different.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“I was referring to being dressed before someone spills something on me.”

James reached toward him as though accepting the challenge. Arlen smiled and offered a finger, which his son immediately caught. For a moment, he remained there, letting the little boy examine his hand while Kate watched.

“Any plans for your first day?” she asked.

“Meet with my deputy. Find out where things stand and what needs my attention.”

“And then?”

“Reports, probably.”

Kate gave him a knowing look. “Try to leave some of them for tomorrow.”

He nodded. They had spoken about this at the ranch, and he understood what she was asking. There would always be another report, another message, or another reason to stay a little longer. He intended to be more deliberate about deciding which ones truly required it.

“I’ll let you know if I’m going to be late.”

“And if you aren’t?”

“I’ll be here for dinner.”

“That sounds better.”

Before leaving, he found Katie and Tess and said goodbye to both. Katie asked whether he was going to be busy, and he resisted giving the automatic answer that came to mind.

“For a while,” he told her. “But you can tell me about your day when I get back.”

Tess reminded him of a word he had struggled with during their evenings at the ranch. He repeated it carefully, earning a small approving nod before she returned to what she was doing. Arlen looked toward Kate, who was trying not to smile.

“At least someone thinks I’m improving.”

“Go to work, Arlen.”

He kissed her, brushed his hand gently over James’s back, and stepped into the corridor.

The familiar rhythm of Starbase 400 surrounded him almost immediately. Personnel moved between assignments, conversations carried past open doorways, and the station’s steady background hum followed him toward the turbolift. After the open space of the ranch, the corridors felt busier than he remembered. He noticed how quickly his attention returned to the details around him: an unfamiliar face, a maintenance panel standing open, the position of a security patrol farther down the passage. Some habits had followed him through every assignment he had ever held.

During the ride, he reviewed the short list he had prepared that morning. He wanted an accurate picture of the department before making decisions about it. Reading reports would help, but reports rarely captured every difficulty confronting the people who wrote them. His deputy would have a perspective he needed to hear, particularly after his absence and the changes accompanying his return.

When he reached his office, Arlen paused just inside the doorway. Everything was orderly, though sufficiently unfamiliar to remind him that this was a beginning. He placed his PADD on the desk, checked the terminal, and brought up the departmental information awaiting review. Personnel assignments, duty rosters, and recent reports filled the display. He read through the first few entries, making brief notes where he wanted clarification.

There was a temptation to keep going until he had absorbed everything. He recognized it, set the PADD down, and leaned back in his chair. He would learn more from an honest conversation than from spending the morning trying to reconstruct the department through paperwork.

Arlen wanted to know what was working, where personnel were stretched, and whether there were concerns that had been waiting for someone to address them. He also wanted his deputy to understand how he intended to work. Experience had taught him the value of a second officer willing to speak plainly, especially when that meant questioning his judgment. Building that relationship would take more than an introductory briefing, but he could begin by listening.

He glanced toward the family photograph he had placed beside the terminal. It had been taken at the ranch, with Kate holding James while Katie and Tess stood close enough to crowd him out of part of the image. He shifted it slightly so it would remain visible beside the stack of PADDs, then reached for his combadge.

“Lieutenant Commander Reacher to the Deputy Chief Security and Tactical Officer,” he said. “I’m back aboard and have resumed duty. When you’re available, I’d like you to join me in my office. I’d appreciate an update on the department, and it’ll give us a chance to get acquainted.”

He lowered his hand and waited for the reply.

Daniel Brooke had just arrived on board SB400 after the U.S.S. Berkeley dropped him off. The new chief of secuirty Arlen Reacher, wanted to see him in his office. He immediately went to his office and stood at attention. "Sir, Lieutenant (JG) Daniel Brooke reporting for duty, sir".

Arlen looked up from the PADD on his desk as Lieutenant Brooke entered and reported at attention. Setting it aside, he rose from his chair and offered the younger officer a welcoming smile. He remembered arriving at unfamiliar commands himself, with little more than transfer orders and a name to report to.

“At ease, Lieutenant. Welcome to Starbase 400,” he said, extending his hand. “And welcome to the department. Please, have a seat.”

Arlen gestured toward the chairs opposite his desk before settling back into his own. He had expected to speak with someone already familiar with the station, but Brooke’s arrival meant they would be learning their way through their new assignments together. There was no reason to turn their first meeting into an examination of reports neither had yet had time to read.

“I understand the Berkeley just brought you aboard. Have you had a chance to get settled into your quarters?” he asked. “If you still need time to sort things out, we can accommodate that. I wanted to meet you early so we could get acquainted.”

He rested his forearms comfortably on the desk, leaving the departmental PADDs to one side.

“I’ve recently returned from leave myself, and I’m making the transition from the Marines into Security and Tactical. You may see Major Reacher on some older records, but Lieutenant Commander is the proper title now.” A faint smile crossed his face. “I’m still getting used to hearing it.”

His gaze returned to Brooke.

“As my deputy, you and I will be working closely. I want you comfortable bringing concerns to me, including when you think I’ve missed something. I’d rather hear your assessment while we can do something about it.”

Arlen paused, giving the lieutenant room to respond before adding his first question.

“Tell me a little about yourself, Mr. Brooke. What sort of assignments have you had before coming here?”

you sit down and tell arlen my last post was as the Chief of the boat on the Berkeley with the rank of Master chief petty Officer before transferring here to sb400 i have yet to be assigned to quarters and i have yet to meet our security department staff yet."

Arlen listened as Brooke described his previous assignment, giving a thoughtful nod at the mention of his service as Chief of the Boat aboard the Berkeley. That answered some of his questions about the lieutenant’s background. Although Brooke was new to this department, he brought experience working with a crew and understanding the concerns that did not always reach a commanding officer through formal reports.

“Then you’re bringing quite a bit of experience with you, Lieutenant,” Arlen replied. “Serving as Chief of the Boat will have given you a useful perspective on the people we’ll be leading. I’d like you to draw on that here, particularly when it comes to keeping me informed about how our personnel are doing.”

His brow tightened slightly when Brooke explained that he had not yet received quarters. Arlen turned toward his terminal and opened a message to the personnel office, requesting a quarters assignment for his newly arrived deputy. After sending it, he returned his attention to the man seated across from him.

“I’ve put in a request to get your quarters sorted out. You’ll need somewhere to leave your belongings and settle in before we get too far into departmental business.” He paused, considering the rest of Brooke’s answer. Asking for a department briefing had been premature when the lieutenant had barely stepped off his transport. “And don’t worry about having an update for me today. I hadn’t realized you’d only just arrived.”

Arlen picked up the PADD containing the current duty roster and placed it within Brooke’s reach. “Once you’ve had a chance to settle, we’ll arrange introductions to the staff. I’d like us both to spend some time with the shift supervisors and hear what they need from us. That should also give you a chance to see how the department operates before taking on the daily coordination.”

He leaned back slightly, allowing the conversation to become less formal. “What prompted the move into Security and Tactical? Going from Chief of the Boat to a commissioned department position is a considerable change. I’d be interested to hear what drew you to it.”

i wanted a career change from command to security/tactical my previous CO of the Berkley Marcus O'Connell recommended i change careers to Security/Tactical and be a commissioned officer" .

Arlen nodded as Brooke explained the recommendation from his former commanding officer. “Having your CO encourage you to pursue a commission says something about the confidence he had in you,” he replied. “And your experience as Chief of the Boat should serve you well here. You already know how much a department depends on its experienced enlisted personnel. I’ll expect us both to listen to them.”

He glanced toward the duty roster on his desk, considering where best to begin once Brooke had settled aboard. There would be time to work through administrative responsibilities, but Arlen wanted his deputy to become familiar with the station and its people before spending entire shifts behind a desk.

“Once your quarters are arranged, I’d like you to spend your first few days meeting the staff and accompanying the patrols. Get to know the public areas, residential sections, and the places where we regularly need a security presence. Ask the officers what they encounter on an ordinary shift and what tends to complicate their work. Then you and I can compare notes and work out where your attention will be most useful.”

Arlen set his PADD aside and gave Brooke his full attention. A career change could offer a welcome opportunity, but the lieutenant would also be taking on responsibilities that differed considerably from his previous posting. He wanted to understand what experience Brooke could already draw upon.

“Before your time as Chief of the Boat, did you serve in a security billet or have much involvement with investigations and shipboard response teams?” he asked. “That’ll help me arrange any familiarization or training you need as you get started.”

i was mostly in the command division " daniel said to arlen .

Arlen nodded, setting his PADD down beside the terminal. “Understood. We’ll take that into account as you get settled into the department.” Brooke’s experience would become clearer once they had worked together, and there was little benefit in keeping him in the office asking variations of the same question.

“For now, your first priority is getting your quarters assigned and your belongings squared away. Once that’s done, report back here tomorrow at the start of Alpha shift. We’ll review the station’s security procedures together, then arrange for you to accompany one of our experienced patrol officers.”

He brought up the station layout on his terminal and turned the display slightly toward Brooke. “A station this size takes time to learn. Start with our own facilities, the main public areas, and the residential sections. I want you familiar with where people come to us for help and how our teams respond. As you go, make a note of anything you need explained. We’ll work through it.”

Arlen rose from his chair, offering his deputy a cordial smile. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Brooke. I’ll forward the reporting details to your PADD. Unless there’s anything you need from me before you go, I’ll let you get settled.”

"thank you sir this Starbase has so many decks which deck is my quarters stationed at ?

Arlen glanced at his terminal and opened the response to his earlier quarters request. After checking the assignment, he forwarded the details to Brooke’s PADD, along with directions from the security offices.

“Your deck and quarters number are in the assignment I’ve just sent you,” he explained, looking back at his deputy. “I’ve included the route as well. The station takes some getting used to, but the computer can guide you if you lose your way.”

He rose from his chair and offered Brooke a welcoming smile. “Get yourself settled, Lieutenant. We’ll pick things up tomorrow at the start of Alpha shift. Welcome to Starbase 400.”

With the meeting concluded, Arlen returned his attention to the duty roster, making a note to set aside time for his deputy’s orientation the following morning.

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