Reporting in

Posted on Tue Dec 8th, 2020 @ 2:01am by Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Deck 17- Commanders ready room
Timeline: After Taylor wedding/Before mission post
1562 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Baeryn stepped off the turbo lift onto deck 17. She had been aboard the U.S.S Elysium all of ten minutes and was already eager to get to her department. It always took her a few weeks to settle in so spending time in her quarters wouldn’t result in anything productive.
“Twenty nine...twenty nine...” she said under her breath and she walked down the corridor. The right side of her lips perked up in a smirk as she located her new quarters. She quickly punched in an access code into the pad on the wall and the doors swooshed open.

Baeryn took a few steps inside, the room was far more lush then she had anticipated. She wondered what she was getting herself into taking assignment aboard such a fancy ship. She slid her bag off her shoulder and into the couch for the time being. Locating a mirror she did a quick check of her uniform, everything seemed in order, no wrinkles. Her hair on the other hand.... well it would have to do. She admired the auburn coloring of her curls and the sheer volume of her mop in the mirror briefly.

“Computer locate Commander Gary Taylor.” She spoke loudly. Within second the computers voiced chimed back. “Commander Taylor is in his ready room.” Perfect she thought as she excited her quarters and headed for the nearest turbo lift.

After a few minutes and a few wrong turns Baeryn stood outside Commander Taylor’s ready room. Hesitantly she rang the chime to notify the commander of her presence.

Inside the ready room Gary was going over the PaDDs of the new crew transfers. It was an impressive group. The Elysium and her crew were like a family and the family kept getting bigger and bigger. They had gotten some new cadets for the Elysium's shipboard academy. In addition Lia would be happy as security received some new blood as well. Science also received some new personnel. He just hoped Arri didn't ride them too hard. He was in the process of looking at the PaDD of the new Operations chief when his chime rang. Placing the PaDD to one side he called out "Come." And sat back to see just who was coming to see him.

The door slid open and Baeryn took a few steps inside. Locking her arms together just above her lower back she nodded to the man seated behind the desk.
Her mouth went dry as she addressed him, “Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi reporting for duty sir.”
Something about the U.S.S Elysium had her nerves in an uproar. Perhaps is was that she wasn’t attuned to this new environment yet. She cursed her betazoid heritage, and probably not for the last time that day.

Gary stood, "Commander Gary Taylor, please come in Lieutenant and have a seat and relax. Your reporting for duty not facing a court martial." He joked. "Would you like something from the replicator? Something to ease a case of the nerves." He questioned as he took a step toward the replicator. "I was just looking over your file. Impressive." He offered.

Her shoulders relaxed a bit as she took a seat in front of the desk crossing her legs. His compliment gave her a sly grin, "Thank you Commander, your recognition is appreciated." She turned in her chair to face him at the replicator. "I'll have a cinnamon coffee with cream please." Baeryn took in her surroundings as she waited for the replicator to produce the beverages. The room was impressive in style as size, she admired the painting hung above the couch.

"One cinnamon coffee with cream." Gary repeated to the replicator and an instant later the drink materialized and he was handing it to Baeryn. "Here you go Lieutenant." as he offered as he sat behind his desk. His eyes flicked to the painting Baeryn was looking at. It was a painting of a mountain range with the first rays of sunlight hitting it;s peaks and casting them in a majestic glow. The open prairie lay below and the sky above was filled with stars. "Reminds me of home." He offered with a smile and continued, "Welcome to the Elysium. I hope you like it here."

"Thank you Commander. I feel honored to be here." She accepted the drink with a smile. The steam lofting from the coffee served as a warning sign, Baeryn looked up from the drink to the commander. "Home? Where might that be, if its not too forward of me to ask." She glanced back towards the painting with new interest.

Gary shook his head, "We're honored to have you here." His eyes went to the painting before returning to look at Baeryn. "Not forward at all." Gary replied easily. "Home is Wyoming a state in the United States of America. I love the freedom of the open space. I have a ranch there and I've been away far too long."

"Ahhh, I was born and raised in New York, not too much open space where I come from, unless you travel up to the mountains." She paused her memories briefly taking her back to her fathers unfortunate accident that resulted in his passing. She quickly pushed the memory into a closet in her mind and braved a smile. "Its been sometime since I've been back there as well." She took a small sip from her coffee, the spicy cinnamon notes tingling her tongue.

"I've been to upstate New York a few times, It's beautiful with it's finger lakes and mountains. The air is so crisp and clean there just like in Wyoming." He paused as Baeryn shipped her coffee. "Let me give you some information on the operations department you are the chief of. Lt. Gallia Norris your assistant chief used to be chief but was demoted to a violation of policy. She's good. Knows her stuff. make use of her advice. Lieutenants Morgan and Gregory, "The Bobbsie Twins." You rarely see one without the other especially off duty. Their also good and talented but they lack experience or they did. Our adventure in the mirror universe caused them to grow up fast. Point is you have a talented group of officers, make use of them and their knowledge."

Baeryn mentally noted the information the commander was offering. Her eyebrows arched a bit interested to learn more on her new assistant, she hoped there wouldn't be any feathers ruffled with Baeryns presence. Stepping in as the chief she knew there may be some learning curses to get through, a challenge she was fully prepared to take on. Baeryn nodded along absorbing all the information, she was more eager now then before to get to her department. She took another generous sip of her coffee. "Mirror universe huh? I'll have to make sure to read the reports regarding that. Thank you for debrief on the officers, I'm looking forward to working with them. And you of course."

"They are a good group. Gabby that is Lt. Norris just made a mistake. She's still a heck of an officer. I'm sure you two will get along great. Morgan and Gregory are like young pups. Eager to learn and please." Gary regarded her for a moment before continuing. "I would recommend that you do read the reports, so you know just what this crew went through and what a threat the Mirror Universe is to ours." He paused for a moment. "Oh, I'm easy to work with. Do your job, if you screw up admit it, don't hide it. If you have a problem or you just want to vent , come to me. I promise I'll listen to whatever you have to say and it will go no farther than these walls."

Baeryn gave the commander a smile, her eyes twinkling like a star in space. She rose from her seat, "Well Commander I thank you for the debrief, and the coffee, "she raised the empty cup slightly. "I find I'm very eager to see the ops department along with the crew there. Should there not be anything else I think I'll head right there?" Baeryn was thankful she was early, that meant she would have time to dig into some of the mirror universe reports.

Gary rose. "It was my pleasure Lieutenant. No, nothing else so by all means, check out your department. Meet the officers there. Put your stamp on the department." He paused his eyes twinkling with delight. " I misspoke. There is one more thing." He extended his right hand. "Welcome to the Elysium family."

Baeryn beamed with delight as she firmly shook the commanders hand, "Thank you sir." Her senses told her that this ship and its crew were far more then just an assignment to the commander, she could feel the love and pride he donned. She hoped one day she would be worthy of the admiration he had regarding her new colleagues. After giving the commander a tight nod Baeryn exited the ready room still wearing her bright smile.

A smile still on his face, Gary watched the new Operations chief leave. He had no doubt she would soon fit right in and be an integral part of the Elysium family. Then with a sigh he sat down and got back to work on the crew transfers.