Horseback Communication
Posted on Thu Oct 15th, 2026 @ 1:13pm by Ensign Connor Watts & Petty Officer 2nd Class Leah Rochester
Edited on on Fri Oct 16th, 2026 @ 9:13am
1,620 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 3 - The One Who Got Away
Location: Holodeck 1 - Deck 4 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD001 1800 hrs
After a day of listening to verbal traffic on the coms and directing other communications, Connor was looking forward to spending sometime on the holodeck to go running. He wanted the release from the stress and running seemed to do the trick. When was his turn for the holodeck? It had to be his time, and so Connor went.
The last program was still running though. Green fields and blue skies. There were a few ancient trees across the landscape, and swathes of spring flowers. A thudding sound drummed in the distance. The white horse was galloping at speed toward the disappearing arch. Leah Rochester rode with the ease of a woman who had been doing it her entire life. She tugged the reins to slow the horse's approach, eventually bringing him to a stand still at seeing the officer.
Catching her breath, Leah jumped down deftly, the breeze whipping her dark red hair out of her face. She tugged the riding jacket into place, settling onto one boot as she looked to him with confusion. "I'm pretty sure I didn't programme you in..." she chuckled softly.
"Oh my, I am, so sorry." Connor stammered out, giving a sheepish grin. "I am sorry to have intruded in your program. Hi I'm Connor" rubbing the back of his head, as he sought to add something else, but failed.
Then he thought of something, "You ride rather well." Connor giving a bashful smile.
"Oh...thanks," she smiled warmly with the words as she looked back to the horse, giving a fond pat to his side. "I've been riding since I was a child, so I should hope so. It would be a sorry state if I couldn't," she chuckled as she looked back to him, offering a hand over. "Leah Rochester, pleased to meet you."
Taking her hand and giving it a firm shake, but not the sort to squish her hand, he released it. "Nice to meet you. and yes I would agree, your skill does show that you've done that for awhile. I haven't done much horseriding before. I think the last time I did anything like that was, a pony ride when I was young and well can't truly say I had been on a horse when my family had gone on a canyon ride, and we were on mules. It was the best way to go down to the floor of the Grand Canyon."
"Sounds like quite the adventure..." Leah chuckled with a tilt of her head...because it did. She'd never been there herself, maybe she should put it on the list. "Does...this mean I've lost track of time?" she didn't add the word 'again', but she could have.
Connor looked at his PADD and blushed, "No you didn't, it seems that I walked in a bit early, and disturbed your holodeck time. So I'll just well... go back out. You had a half hour left to go." turning to leave and let Leah finish up."
"Unless you wanted to try riding again?" she pointed out with a soft chuckle, patting the horse's neck firmly as he tottered patiently close by. "There's no time like the present, as they say..."
Connor's eyes lit up, "I would love that, thank you. Just don't laugh if I end up falling off. I've done that before." giving a self deprecating chuckle but it was the truth. He had done that.
"Cross my heart," Leah assured with a soft laugh, glancing upwards. "Computer, load Foxglove into the program..." she stepped back as a gentle natured chestnut horse appeared close to her own. She moved in closer to stroke her neck, smiling in a way that made it clear there was, or had been, a real Foxglove at some point. "Connor, come and meet Foxglove..."
When the horse appeared, Connor's eyes widened, then softened at the affection Leah was showing to the equine.
"She is beautiful." Connor carefully approaching the chestnut then reached out to caress the neck enjoying the feel of the silken coat.
"Hello Foxglove." Connor said softly.
Leah chuckled, watching them with a bright smile at seeing the enjoyment. "There, you'll be okay with her. Need a leg up, or are you good?"
A soft chuckle from Connor. "No I'm okay, I've got this."
He placed his hand upon the horn sliding his left foot into the stirrup, pulilng himself up. For a moment there it looked like he was going to go over the other side but he recovered quickly. Setting upon the saddle with a bit of a plop.
"Oops well I avoided that embarrassing moment." he remarked, Connor giving a grin towards Leah.
Then took up the reins into his hand
Leah laughed softly, but with him, not at him. She pushed herself back up onto her own horse, taking a moment to settle him with a brief pat to the neck. "No worries, we can take it slow," she assured, leading them off in a gentle trot, already knowing that Foxglove would instinctively want to follow.
Connor managed to keep his seat upon the back of Foxglove. At first he bounced in his saddle which was a bit rough until he finally got the rhytm of Foxglove's gait.
"Okay so far so good." Connor turning to flash a grin towards Leah. Now daring to look around at the scenery where the horses and Leah were riding.
"Just trust her, she'll see you right," Leah assured with a small smile, shaking her head as she made sure to take it easy, keeping their pace gentle as she enjoyed the 'fresh' air. The pretence of it at least. "You're an animal guy then?"
"I do like animals, I just haven't been around them alot lately I had a dog for awhile, when I was growing up, and well my grandfather had a small farm. Goats, a couple of pigs and a couple of cows. Oh can't forget the chickens. Just never get into a confrontation with a rooster... Especially a Banty Rooster they are vicious."
Connor gave a grimace. "Oof I will never forget that encounter. Darned thing got on my shoulder and was pecking at me. My mom had to my rescue. I can still feel his claws digging into my shoulder. And I was just six years old."
Leah laughed softly, shaking her head lightly as she imagined the boy trying to fend off a rooster...only causing it to flap more. "What made you want to head out here away from it all?"
Connor looked out towards the horizon, as they rode. "I wanted a closer look at the stars and even just step foot on them. It wasn't enough to see them in the sky, And here I am traveling amongst the stars, and learning of the people that populate the universe."
Connor looking over towards Leah with a bit of a smile.
"What brought you out to the stars?" he asked.
"The work," she admitted openly, knowing it wasn't always a popular answer in Starfleet. It was a fleet of explorers and adventurers after all. "I was offered a spot as a forensic specialist. How could I refuse?"
"Nice, can't fault you on that. That sort of work does seem to be interesting from what I have been told. And if you have interest in that, by all means pursue what interests you. That is what my mom had told me when I mentioned wanting to do communications besides engineering. I find it enjoyable."
"You like reaching out to people? Finding ways to understand each other?" she asked with a genuine smile. It was nice notion. A good way to spend a career.
Connor chuckled, giving a nod. "Yes that is it exactly." Giving a shrug. "Hey gotta have the connections especially when it comes to Communication. Good communication is very important when talking to those who are out there."
He went quiet for a moment as they continued on the ride. A beep came over his combadge.
=^=Ensign Watts, report to engineering=^=
He tapped his combadge, "Watts here understood, will be there shortly."
Connor looked at Leah, with an apologetic smile. "Duty calls, thank you for this."
"Any time, Connor..." Leah jumped lightly down from her horse, moving to take the bridle, holding them steady so he could dismount. "If you ever fancy a riding lesson, just give me a call. It's nice to have some company out here."
"I agree it is good to make friends space is a rather large place to travel and not know anyone" He carefully dismounted from Foxglove taking a moment softly caress her neck. "Thank you." he whispered to her.
Turning Connor looked at Leah, "I will be certain to schedule sometime to go riding. " I truly appreciate this and will be looking forward to going riding once more."
Giving a wave to Leah, Connor left the holosuite, it was great meeting someone else of the crew.
Leah smiled weakly to herself as the doors closed, leaving her alone again on the moor. She looked out to the horizon, at the slightly moody weather brewing out there. "See you later, Foxglove," she said softly, watching her disappear before straightening her riding jacket and mounting her horse again. "Come on," she clicked to him before setting off at a gallop towards the settling clouds.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Connor Watts
Communications Specialist, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Petty Officer Second Class Leah Rochester
Crime Scene Investigator, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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