Passing of the Torch

Posted on Mon Dec 29th, 2025 @ 6:17pm by Captain William Abernathy & Commander Kelly Kerrigan

1,302 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Shore Leave - Starbase 1
Location: USS Arcadia | Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: December 2260

Behind Commander Kelly Kerrigan, the stars as a backdrop out the viewport were distant pinpricks, Arcadia was steady, still, docked at Starbase 1. The subspace channel finished synchronizing. For a moment the screen shimmered, then resolved into the image of a man seated in a modest office, Earth sunlight cutting in through a tall window.

“Commander Kerrigan,” Captain William Abernathy said, settling down slightly into his chair. “Good to finally speak face to face... well, as close as subspace allows for now.”

Kelly smiled, tension easing from his shoulders. He had never met the man before. In fact, he had barely heard of the guy. He was not out there making a name for himself like Robert April, Christopher Pike, or that upcoming Lieutenant James T. Kirk. “Captain. Welcome back to Earth. I hear Starfleet is keeping you grounded until the Arcadia’s refit wraps?”

Bill Abernathy let grimaced before smirking a bit. “Apparently so. They don’t trust me not to go poking around the starship early,” Abernathy replied dryly. “I’m due to transport to Starbase One in two days, but I thought it best we talk before then.”

“I’m glad you did actually.” Kelly folded his hands behind his back, posture formal but not stiff. “Congratulations, Sir. Arcadia really is a good starship.”

Abernathy’s expression did not entirely soften. “They all are good starships, son. It's just what happens to them that shapes them and Arcadia has earned a bit of a reputation. Big boots to fill as it were.”

Kelly shook his head. “Not my doing. She had an exceptional Captain before me, Sir, and years of experience; However, this crew will test you like every crew does, but they’re professionals. They are Loyal, and admittedly.... stubborn in exactly the way you want them to be.”

Abernathy nodded. “Well, to me, that sounds like Starfleet’s recruiting slogan.”

There was a brief albeit companionable silence, the kind built from shared understanding rather than awkwardness. Then Abernathy leaned forward slightly. “I wanted to say personally that to taking command under these circumstances is not ideal. You are a young officer still gaining experience. I've read your record and mission logs, assigned to be First Officer and then thrown into being Acting Captain until they finally settled on you being there. Now, you are leaving....”

Kelly nodded once. “On my own accord, Sir. It wasn’t an easy decision to make. How many officers my age get to command a Constitution class starship? Arcadia needs a more seasoned Captain, and this Andoria endeavor needs the expedition team leader, and… it felt like the right time.” He exhaled quietly. “Arcadia deserves a captain who’s ready to stay with the ship, go down with it if necessary."

Bill Abernathy studied Kerrigan through the screen. Kid isn't as arrogant as I expected thought Bill. In fact, he was coming around to have acquired a level of respect for the young officer. Stepping away from the Arcadia took some iron-clad balls. “Starfleet doesn’t hand out expedition leads lightly. You wouldn't have been granted your request to transfer if they didn’t trust you with this.”

“I appreciate that,” Kelly said. “I just want to make sure you know what you’re inheriting, Captain."

“By all means, son, call me Bill” Abernathy said. “You've earned it by making this decision. Consider this my unofficial briefing.”

Kelly turned slightly, calling up a schematic on the display beside him: the familiar silhouette of a Constitution class starship. “Bill, Arcadia’s upgrades are nearly complete... sensor resolution is significantly improved, but she’s still a little temperamental when switching between long-range scans and tactical mode. Engineering says it’s software, but I say it’s personality. Arcadia has one.”

Abernathy grinned. “I’ve commanded far worse, Commander. Sometimes, they have a big personality."

“I’m sure you have.” Kelly’s expression grew more serious. “Crew morale is… steady, but fragile in places. We’ve had losses and lots of them. Missions that should have been successful just fell apart, first contact missions that crumbled, and got our asses handed to us by the Gorn on more than one occasion.”

Abernathy’s gaze sharpened. “Lieutenant Zai Walker?” He had read recently of a loss.

“Yes.” Kelly inclined his head. “He was one of our engineers. He had an incident, brain damage...”

“I read the report,” Abernathy said quietly. “He was a fine officer.”

“He was,” Kelly replied without hesitation. “He held that engine room together with instinct and grit.” He paused, choosing his words. “His husband, Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker, was my most recent First Officer.”

Abernathy nodded slowly. “Mmm. I had wondered if you would bring that up.”

Kelly’s jaw tightened just a fraction. Clearly Bill had done more than just some light reading. “I’ll be honest, Captain. Sabastian and I never saw eye to eye. He’s.... never been my cup of tea and we certainly have clashed in the past couple of months.”

“I see. Yet you have kept him as your Executive Officer,” Abernathy said.

“Yes,” Kelly replied simply. He did not want to bring up anything about Fang, or any of his previous choices. “Because he’s capable. Exceptionally so. He knows this ship, he has started to connect with the crew, and he carries stress without letting it compromise his duty.” A beat. “That doesn’t mean he will bounce back from this most recent loss quickly though."

Abernathy leaned back, folding his arms. “Grief can sharpen an officer, Commander, or it can damn well break them. I'll see what it does to him.”

“Given time? I would say sharpen, Sir,” Kelly said. “He’ll challenge you. He challenged me, but he’ll never undermine your authority directly, and he will never put Arcadia at risk. That much I can tell you."

“That’s all I ask of an executive officer,” Abernathy said. “Frankly, I think we’ll work well together.”

Kelly studied him, then nodded. “I think you will too. He needs a captain he can respect. He never quite got there with me, but you’ll earn that from him."

“Andoria isn’t exactly a quiet posting" commented Abernathy.

Kelly smiled faintly. “No. There's Ice, political tension, long nights in the field. It is going to feel familiar enough.”

“Leading an expedition team is different from commanding a ship,” Abernathy countered.

“I know,” Kelly replied. “But it’s still about people. About keeping them alive and pointed in the same direction.”

Abernathy’s expression softened. “I know your absence will be felt on Arcadia.”

“That means more than you know.” Kelly glanced around his ready room... the chair worn just enough, the star charts pinned where only he ever looked at them. “Arcadia’s been my home, but it is time.”

“She will be my home soon,” Abernathy said gently. “I promise I’ll take care of her.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” Kelly said. “Just… listen to her. She’ll tell you when something’s wrong. Honestly, she screams it if you try to ignore her too long.”

Abernathy laughed under his breath. “Every good ship does.”

The comm chirped softly, signaling the end of their allotted window. Abernathy stood. “Commander Kerrigan... Kelly, good luck on Andoria. Starfleet’s lucky to have you leading that mission, son.”

Kelly straightened, a hint of pride breaking through the restraint. “Thank you, Bill. I knew Arcadia’s would be good hands, but this helped put any doubts in my mind at ease.”

The screen dimmed, Abernathy’s image dissolving into static. Kelly remained where he was for a long moment, the hum of the ship settling around him. Then he turned toward the viewport, toward the stars, and the future that waited beyond them.

 

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