Weekly match
Posted on Tue Jul 21st, 2026 @ 6:25pm by Commander Colton Rogers & Lieutenant JG Zaire Byrne-Solwick
1,368 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2: Mine of Taurus
Location: Holodeck
The distinct, familiar chime of the holodeck arch signaled the start of their weekly ritual. As the yellow grid faded into a atmospheric, dimly lit gymnasium from mid-20th-century Earth, Commander Colton Rogers adjusted the leather wraps around his knuckles. The scent of ozone from the holo-projectors gave way to the simulated aroma of old canvas, floor wax, and sweat.
In the center of the room sat a classic, four-roped boxing ring. Sitting on the canvas turnbuckle, lacing up his gloves with practiced ease, was Lieutenant Zaire Byrne-Solwick, the Chief Engineer of the USS Scharnhorst.
"You're late, Number One," Zaire teased without looking up, a smirk playing on his lips. "I was starting to think the First Officer's workload finally broke you."
Colton gave a sharp, warm chuckle, stepping over the lowest rope into the ring. "Not even close, Zaire. Just finishing up the shift logs. The Captain’s a stickler for detail, and frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way."
Zaire stood, banging his gloved fists together with a dull thud. "Ready to lose your weekly title?"
"Try me."
They met in the center, tapped gloves, and immediately fell into the rhythmic dance of two men who had spent their youth in the ring. Before Starfleet Academy, before starships and warp drives, both men had been amateur boxers. Colton while in high school and Zaire when he spent holidays with his favored uncle growing up. Both men had boxed while attending the academy when time permitted. The shared history gave them an unspoken bond, a place where rank dropped away at the ring's edge.
Zaire opened with a quick jab, testing Colton’s guard. Colton slipped it easily, counter-punching with a disciplined left hook that Zaire ducked under. The physical exertion was immediate, clearing the cobwebs of a long day on the bridge.
"So," Zaire said, circling to his right, his eyes locked on Colton's shoulders. "How are you settling into the big chair? Really?"
Colton threw a lightning-fast two-punch combination, forcing Zaire back a step. "Honestly? I’m loving it. There’s so much more to the job than I ever realized from the outside. When you're a department head, you think you see the whole ship, but stepping into the Executive Officer role... it's a completely different vantage point."
Colton bobbed under a heavy right cross from Zaire, stepping back to reset his stance. "And working with Captain Kellan has been incredible. The man operates on a level of tactical and strategic thinking I’m still trying to grasp. I respect him immensely, Zaire. I know I’m going to learn a hell of a lot from him."
"Kellan’s a good man," Zaire agreed, his breathing slightly heavier as he kept his hands high. "A bit stoic, but sharp. You two make a solid pair."
Zaire feinted left and brought a body shot in, which Colton absorbed on his forearm. The engineer rolled off the blow and backed up, shaking out his arms
"Wish I could say running Engineering was as smooth a transition," Zaire muttered, a rare flicker of frustration crossing his face before he threw a defensive jab. "Don't get me wrong—being Chief Engineer on a vessel like the Scharnhorst? It’s been my dream since I was twelve years old holding a micro-wrench in my uncle's workshop. I love the ship. I love the engines. I've embraced every single nightmare standard operating procedure they've thrown at me."
"I hear a 'but' in there, Chief," Colton said gently, lowering his guard slightly as they took a brief breathing space.
Zaire let out a long breath, lowering his gloves to rest his hands on his hips for a second. "The hardest part... the thing I’m struggling to accept... is the people side of it. Back when I was just an engineer, I figured everyone just wanted to get the job done. But now that I'm running the department? I'm realizing a lot of the crew serving under me just don't like my style. They don't agree with how I run things. It’s hard not to take that personally when you're trying to push the engines—and them—to be their best."
Colton wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his leather glove and nodded in deep understanding. Before he had been named First Officer, Colton had walked in Zaire’s boots as a Chief himself.
"Listen to me, Zaire," Colton said, stepping closer, his voice shifting from ring partner to seasoned mentor and friend. "You're a brilliant engineer. But leadership isn't about getting a full department to agree with your methods. You have to remember to follow your instincts—they got you into this office for a reason. But you also have to temper those instincts with empathy."
Zaire looked at him, listening intently.
"Your crew isn't a set of plasma conduits you can just calibrate to a fixed tolerance," Colton continued. "They're people with different motivations, different stress limits, and different ways of solving problems. You have to learn where to hold the line, and where to compromise. Give them room to breathe, show them you understand their perspective, and they’ll follow you into a warp-core breach. Compromise isn't weakness, Zaire; it's the glue that keeps a crew together."
Zaire absorbed the advice, a subtle nod of appreciation escaping him. "Empathy and compromise. Easy to say, harder when one of my engineers is arguing with me over a secondary relay shift." He smiled faintly, raising his gloves again. "I'll try to keep that in mind tomorrow morning."
"Good. Now guard your chin," Colton warned, stepping back in.
They traded punches again, the rhythmic slap-slap of leather on leather echoing off the simulated brick walls. The physical fatigue was setting in, but it brought with it a profound mental clarity.
As they circled, Colton’s expression softened, a shadow of self-doubt touching his face that he rarely let the rest of the ship see.
"You know..." Colton started, dodging a quick jab, "...talking about adjusting to the role. It’s been hard for me, too. In a different way."
"Oh?" Zaire asked, dropping into a defensive bob.
"It’s hard for me to sit back," Colton admitted, throwing a light left jab that Zaire parried. "This last away mission... that makes two in a row where I wasn't involved hands-on. I had to stay on the bridge, monitor the telemetry, and wait. I hate waiting. But... I suppose it's teaching me patience. Realizing that as XO, I can't be the one sliding through the mud on every mission. Not everyone gets to go."
Colton paused, stepping out of range for a moment. He looked at Zaire, his tone dropping to a quiet, candid confession between true friends.
"I'll admit something to you, Zaire—and this doesn't leave the ring. For a wild, irrational moment on the bridge today... I actually wondered if Captain Kellan lacked confidence in me. Wondered if he kept me back because he didn't trust my field command."
Zaire lowered his hands completely, staring at his friend in disbelief before breaking out into a quiet laugh. "Colton, you're the best tactical mind on this deck."
"I know, I know," Colton smiled self-deprecatingly, shaking his head. "It was completely fleeting. A momentary flare of ego. I snapped out of it quickly enough. I mean, the reality is obvious: if Captain Kellan had any real doubts about my abilities, I wouldn't be standing here as his First Officer. He needs a steady hand on the bridge while he’s away, not just a muscle-bound commander chasing adrenaline."
"Damn right," Zaire said, stepping forward and tapping Colton’s glove gently. "He relies on you to hold the ship together. Just like I rely on my team... even if they hate my shift rotations."
Colton grinned, his competitive spark returning instantly. "Speaking of holding things together—let's see how well your guard holds up."
Zaire stepped back, raising his hands with a renewed energy. "Bring it on, Number One."
The two officers lunged back into the fray, the sound of leather striking leather filling the holodeck, two friends forging their leadership through sweat, trust, and mutual respect.
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