Lieutenant Rin, reporting (Attempt two)

Posted on Thu Oct 21st, 2021 @ 6:59am by Lieutenant Commander Rin & Captain Garrett Lovejoy [ Taylor]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
Location: Captain's ready room
Timeline: MD1, 1000 hours
1093 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

(Note for readers: Oh, yea, go me. Made the newbie error of posting a joint post rather than saving it. Please disregard the previous version. This is an updated and complete version.)

Lt. Rin stepped through the door of her quarters and quickly surveyed it. It was considerably larger than her last one. Heck, it even had a proper window. While this was not strictly speaking a promotion, the Elysium was a far larger and more prominent ship than the USS Mississippi, which meant more responsibilities and more trust in her capabilities.

She set down a box on the table and began unpacking: a few holographic photos of friends from the Mississippi, plus a few more from Tavara. A long ceremonial dagger. A handful of PaDDs and data crystals. A sizable potted plant. A few odds and ends. And what was left of a broken Starfleet communicator from the 2360s, suspended in a transparent block for display.

With everything neatly in place, she checked to make sure her recharging equipment had been installed into her bed.

Giving her quarters a final onceover, she exited to finish her onboarding duties.

She replayed the ship schematics in her head again as she navigated her way to the Captain's ready room. Certainly, she did not relish the thought of having to ask for directions as her first official act onboard.

Thus, schematics.

She found the correct door soon enough and rang the chime.

Garrett sat in his office, he was looking over the reports he would be sending to Commodore Mountbatten om Captain Carrington's death and President Green's attempted takeover of the Elysium. He was roused from his thoughts by the sound of his door chime ringing.

Putting the PaDD down, he called out "Enter" And waited to see who came through the door.

Rin entered with purposeful and measured steps, her gaze momentarily darting around the room to familiarize herself with it and to assure herself there would be no surprises. Not that she expected such a thing. It was just instinct.

She was, overall, not particularly notable in appearance. Average height and body type, chin-length black hair neatly cropped into a bob. Uniform crisp, shoes shined. Light blue eyes facing forward now. One might find her face pretty, but not extraordinarily so, accentuated by lightly applied makeup. Roughly symmetrical features, except for that one glaring feature: the metallic implants set both below and above her left eye, the remnants of her eyepiece from her time with the Borg Collective.

She came to attention on her side of the Captain's desk. "Lieutenant Rin, reporting for duty, sir."

Garrett rose from behind his desk, placing a PaDD to the side and gestured for her to take a seat. "Before we begin, would you like something from the replicator Lieutenant?"

She took the offered seat, sitting ramrod straight. "Water would be appreciated, sir." She didn't really need the water, but she found people thought it more polite when she accepted something rather than refusing offered hospitality. And water was simple. There was no need to specify flavors or brands or additives. Water was water when it came to replicators.

"Certainly Lieutenant." Garrett replied as he walked to the replicator and got the water Rin asked for. Returning to her handed it to her before moving behind the desk and sitting down. He looked across the open space between them and spoke. "First welcome to the Elysium. We like to think we're the best ship in the fleet and we're glad to have you as a member of the Elysium family."

"Thank you, sir."

*Family was a weird word to use,* she thought. *No matter. Moving on.*

"It's a privilege to serve here, Captain. Cutting edge technology. Multifunctional objectives. Diverse range of capabilities. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute."

"I have no doubt you will contribute Lieutenant, no doubt what so ever." Garrett replied, "We've been without a Chief of Intel for awhile and as it is a senior staff position I like to see it with a chief leading it."

"if I may ask, why has Starfleet left the position open this long?"

"Good question Lieutenant. Answer is I don't know. I don't try to figure out how Command allocates or transfers it's officers." Garrett replied in a unconcerned tone.

"Understood, sir. I've been reviewing the recent reports. The department appear to be in decent order. I can do a bit of belt tightening and reallocation and it'll be in top form." She pauses. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm not very good at these sorts of introductions."

"It is your department, run it how you see fit Lieutenant." Garrett replied crisply. "Please don't apologize, you've done nothing wrong and these interviews are awkward to start with." Garrett said reassuringly hoping to put Rin at ease.

"Yes, sir. Was there anything you specifically needed from me? Or anything I should know about?" She frowned at something inside her head. "Or...do you have Borg technology on board?"

Garrett's reply was guarded. "Borg technology onboard? Why would you ask such a question Lieutenant?"


"Because I'm relatively confident I'm detecting it. Not a Collective drone," she hurriedly added, realizing without a quantified amount her comment could have been quite alarming. "Something much less than that."

Garrett relaxed visibly, "You may detecting some experiments in the science labs in general and Dr. McKay's lab specifically. She has been doing some experiments with nanites."

"Yes, sir," she acknowledged. "Perhaps I'll speak with Dr. McKay after I finish my onboarding. I'm curious, and could possibly be of service. My apologies if I caused alarm."

"I think that would be a good idea. That way you can familiarize yourself with what she is working on. Also no apology is necessary. I am glad you are so in tune with what is going on."

"Appreciated. It upsets some people. So, to return to my previous and less alarming question, was there anything more you needed from me or that I should know?"

Garrett shook his head as he looked at Rin, "I don't believe so Lieutenant. So I will let you go, to look at your department, set it up as you like, as well as the rest of the ship along with finishing up any unpacking you still have to do." He grinned, "Then when you have finished that you can relax."


"Thank you, sir. Glad to be aboard." She stood and, once dismissed, headed down to Medical for her review.

"Again, welcome aboard the Elysium Lieutenant, we're glad to have you." Lovejoy said sincerely.