Meeting the Boss

Posted on Thu Jan 24th, 2019 @ 5:49am by Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Commander Liselle Qwyyn

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Flight Control Department
Timeline: MD 2
1533 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

IC

Nerinath entered the flight control offices in silence. She had boarded, stowed her gear in a shared cabin with three other ensigns and was now reporting for duty was next on her list. She paused just inside the doors and looked around, her antennae flicking lightly.

"Are you reporting to Flight Control, or from Engineering to fix our lights?" Ensign River Waters asked, walking over from a nearby monitor. The glow of his neon-green eyes was particularly pronounced in the dim light of the room.

"I am wearing Red, Ensign, just like you." The Andorian replied. "I am here to report to the chief of Flight control." She wondered if his eyes made it hard for him to see colors but chose not to mention it.

Her guess turned out to be correct, as River reached up to tap the side of his head. "Biotic implants," he confirmed. "They're a miracle given the alternative treatments, but I can't always trust them in conditions like these." He raised his hands to the room around him. "Things are normally in tip-top shape around here, but Engineering has been pretty busy lately. This your first day?"

"Yes." Came the reply. "Is commander Qwyyn available?" She was not sure she should say more. She knew gossip was a big thing.

He smiled, despite himself. "Yeah, sure. Sorry, I'll take you to her." He extended a hand. "Welcome aboard, by the way. River Waters."

The Andorian inclined her headas she shook his hand briefly. "Ensign Sh'rhilror."

River found himself choking a small laugh. "I'll have to practice my pronunciation on that one before I'm brave enough to try it out," he said apologetically.

"Sh'rhilror," Qwyyn cut in, stepping into the room. "Andorian is actually very similar to Trill. Many of the sounds come from carefully distancing your teeth." The Chief of Flight Control crossed the room to stand before the newest member of her department. "I am very pleased to have you aboard," Qwyyn said with a small bow.

"Thank you Commander." The Andorian's antae flexed in the Andorian version of a bow. "My orders" She held out the PADD.

Qwyyn accepted the PADD and tapped through the general transfer order, nodding her approval. Her fingers moved to the bottom of the screen, and she elected to call up Sh'rhilror's extended dossier. Although Andorians were hardly uncommon in Starfleet, it was not often to come across one who was interested in so directly engaging the command track. "The Imperial Military Academy at age fourteen. I've heard their flight training program is rather intensive."

"it is." Came the reply. "It was also enjoyable." She tried a human smile. "I thought the Starfleet training was just as good."

"Nonetheless," Liselle said, delighting at Sh'rhilror's attempt to wear a smile of her own. "I would love to compare notes. I'm sure all of us on the Elysium could benefit from your unique experiences. Speaking of which --" Qwyyn gestured to the bulkheads around them "-- what do you think of her?"

"She is impressive. I was very happy to be given this assignment." The Andorian smiled. "And it made my classmates very jealous."

"You didn't win the lottery, Ensign," Qwyyn assured her. "You're here because you've earned the chance to prove yourself. Work hard, watch out for your fellow crew, and keep the wind in your wings. Now, then. Any questions?"

"no ma'am" Nerinath replied. "I intend to do just that."

"Wonderful," Qwyyn said, doting on her newest staff member like a proud mother. Realizing now how saccharine she was getting with Sh'rhilror, Qwyyn clapped her hands together, shattering the awkward silence. "Well, then. First things first. Have you been to your new quarters yet? Need a tour? Ensign Waters, you're not too busy?"

River stepped forward once more. "No, ma'am." He cleared his throat smartly. "I mean, always busy, ma'am. But I can find time."

Neri's lips pressed together at her new CO's words and the reply from her fellow ensign. "I found my quarters, but a tour of the shuttle area would be great."

Waters exhaled a long held breath, a new mirth lighting his eyes as she accepted the offer.

Qwyyn caught that look from him, and she immediately took a hold of the young man's arm. She pulled him a few steps away and spoke to him in whispered tones. "Just a tour, Ensign. Understood?"

"Sir?"

Qwyyn set her jaw, her eyes making it clear that she was in no mood for games.

River nodded. "Aye, ma'am. Just a tour."

She let him go once more.

River rubbed his arm where he had been nabbed. Stepping back to Neri, he extended a hand for her to lead the way out of the room. "After you."

Neri had noted the exchange but chose not to comment. She instead led the way from the office area.

River talked idly of the Elysium and her crew as he lead Neri to the main shuttlebay, keeping the conversation professional and rather dull all the while. He spoke of flight assessments, and bridge duty, and emergency preparedness drills. Suspecting that he was boring his companion he cut himself off mid-sentence. "Tell me a little about yourself," he said suddenly.

Neri looked at him calmly. "I am Andorian. Born and raised. I have chosen to be a starfleet officer due to the different races that make up Starfleet." She didn't really want to go into the rest of her past with someone she barely knew.

River cracked a wry grin at that. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to interrogate you or anything, Ensign. I was just hoping I might be your first friend in this posting."

Neri tilted her head slightly. "That would be acceptable Ensign"

"I've never actually had an Andorian friend before..." he said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "Any typical Human mistakes I should be sure to avoid?"

She considered his words. "Just one thing, do not expect normal human reactions from me. What Humans consider normal is not for us."

He couldn't a small laugh at that. "Sounds like you speak from experience. Any examples spring to mind?"

Neri nodded "There was a prank war on campus. Someone thought it would be fun to prank my quarters.... they needed medical assistance after the fact."

River's eyebrows shot into his hairline. "Okay, so Andorian's don't like pranks. Good lesson to remember," he said. A thought struck him, and he decided to follow up on it. "Did you have a lot of human friends at the academy?"

"A couple." Neri replied. "I like my own company for the most part. Friends are nice but I am too much of a loner."

"I haven't exactly been Mr. Popular around here myself," he admitted. They reached the shuttlebay doors, though River hesitated at the door control. "This ship has been through a lot. Things can get intense around here sometimes. But I promise you can always count on me. Okay?"

"ok" Neri wondered what he meant by through a lot. The doors opened. "Ah the shuttle bay." she smiled slightly.

River beamed, as proud as if he had built the room with his own two hands. "Pretty impressive, isn't she? You ever get a chance to fly one of those?" he asked and walked them over to one of the Titan transports.

"Simulators only." Neri admitted. "Not many back on Earth to allow for hands on."

He wore a devil's smile as he cocked his head toward the transport. "Want to take her for a spin?"

She was tempted but she shook her head. "No, Better not. I will have time I am sure."

River found himself grinning at her yet again. There was something about her, her confidence and her attitude, mixed with a strong sense of professionalism that he deeply admired. Having come to Starfleet from rather unusual circumstances himself, he could sympathize with some of the struggles she must have suffered. He decided it best not to press the issue any further during this first meeting, however, lest her overwhelm her with too many probing questions. "Well," he said with a teasing grin, "I happen to know that the Commander loves to put the newest people on flight assessment duty. You'll be flying just about every vessel in this bay before the end of the month."

"Very good. She seems to be very competent." Neri replied.

He nodded, his lips pursed. "Competent," he agreed. "But she might take a little bit of time to get used to. Make sure you give her a chance. You'll learn a lot from her."

Neri turned and looked at him. "She is my senior officer, I would expect to learn from her. And why wouldn't I give her a chance?"

River lowered his voice, speaking as though he were passing on classified information. "Commander Qwyyn can be a little, um, esoteric at times. Especially around new people. Sometimes it puts people off a bit."

Neri considered that. "I will take your words under advisement." She said calmly.

He gave her an assured nod. "I think you're really going to like it here," he promised. "Believe me, you won't regret this posting."