Kingship: using an auxiliary bridge to train future commanders

Science officer Rachel Scott hopes to command a survey frigate and asks to gain experience by taking occasional watches in safe conditions. Captain James Sumerville points out that even survey ships have wartime duties, so she will also need the tactical training normally given to command-track cadets. He offers her a place in an auxiliary-bridge training watch alongside junior officers. They will rotate through command consoles and officer-of-the-watch duties, working through practice scenarios while the main bridge retains control. Real watches remain conditional on her progress. Scott accepts despite the embarrassment of training beside younger officers whose nominal rank is lower than hers. Keeping the auxiliary bridge manned also provides another command position if something goes wrong aboard the ship.