Meeting the Staff...

Posted on Sat Nov 20th, 2021 @ 6:48am by Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Commander Kyle Reece

Mission: Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
Location: USS Elysium, Academy Commendant's office
Timeline: MD 3 / 1300 hour
1716 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

After he was finished moving into his new office, he sent a message to the current teachers in the academy. As he read over the current readiness reports, he sat in his desk chair and waited for them to arrive.

Vanessa and Jessica were the first to arrive. Only they were in the middle of a tizzy over something. Jess spoke. "Now see here, princess pain-in-the-butt. I got here first, so I walk into the Commandant's office first."

"Only in your dreams, Fly-girl. I was at the coffee machine, and when I turn around. Here you are." Vanessa mentioned with a smirk.

Jess spoke. "Yeah, you were messin around at the coffee machine. I had every intention of being the first here."

Kyle looked up from the PADD he was reading and arched an eyebrow. "Do I need to put you two in detention?"

Jess spoke. "No sir." Vanessa followed up. "No. Not at all." Both of the women had a lot of pride.

The edges of Kyle's mouth twitched slightly. "Well then, thank you for coming. Now we're just waiting for one more. Avalon?" He called out for the ship's A.I.

Avalon appeared. "Captain?"

Kyle gave Avalon a pleasant smile. "Where is Mister Kavanagh?"

"He is on his way" the AI replied with a smile. "He was caught up in a report."

As the AI spoke, Malak Kavanagh entered, looking every inch the dusty archeology professor.

"Ah, there he is," Kyle remarked. "Thank you, Avalon, that will be all for now." Kyle then stood and moved from behind his desk. "Please have a seat, Malak. Would any of you care for anything from the replicator?" He asked as he moved over to the device.

"Ah no thank you. I am sorry I was late. I was reading a report from one of my second year students. " Malak said taking a seat beside Jess.

Kyle nodded. "That's quite alright. Was the report a good one?" Kyle replied. He then looked at Vanessa and Jess questioningly. "Ladies?" He indicated the replicator.

Jess approached a replicator. "Coffee, Milk and Sugar. Hey Legate, what do you want."

Vanessa responded. "Tea please."

Kyle stood quietly next to Jess, a bemused smile crossing his lips. "Ya know, I was doing that." He chuckled softly. Then, after their drinks were served, he ordered his usual. "Raktajino, extra strong."

Once he had his coffee, Kyle moved back behind his desk and sat down. "Okay, the reason for this meeting. Thank you for coming on such short notice, I know you're all very busy, getting your classes going for the new semester. I just wanted to take a few moments to introduce myself and also learn a bit about each of you."

Malak gave a shrug as he listened. "I have a few students I am looking to take off ship, to a dig site." he said when no one else spoke.

"Oh?" Kyle asked, interested. "What are the particulars of the trip?"

"Kirrti. M-class barely. A dig that is run by Doctor Tallis Varis. Its been ongoing for a few years and every year they find more." Malak replied. "I have several students I feel would benefit from it."

"And all the necessary paperwork for the excursion was filed with the former Commandant?" Kyle asked, before adding, "I'm not doubting you, this is just the first I've heard of the trip is all."

"Yeah i filed it. Not sure if they ever did anything with it." Malak replied. "Captain Lalor was all for it. Carrington never commented on it."

Kyle nodded slowly. "Okay, if you already have the go-ahead, then I won't throw a monkey wrench into the works. Just, if you would, by end of business tomorrow, send me a copy of everything you initially presented and was approved for. That way, I have a copy for my files."

"Sure" Malak said. He was rather casual about such things.

Kyle nodded. "Thank you. Enjoy the dig. I look forward to reading about you and your student's findings."

Vanessa spoke. "My name is Legate Vanessa Alcean an Vantar. I have served nearly five years as the Alindari Ambassador to Earth, and I have participated in vital negotiations on all levels of the Federation Diplomatic Service. It is my privilege to teach the diplomats of the future.

Kyle smiled imperceptibly. The fact that Vanessa was introducing herself to him like he didn't already have claw marks on his back caused by her nails, was a bit funny. However, as she wanted to keep things professional hete, he would respect her wishes. "I hope your students learned from their encounters with the donuts and o.j." he grinned, remembering seeing her entire class, killed by her simulated poisoning.

Jess spoke. "And what's there to tell about me?" Jess noted. "Jessica Vaii. I am a combat fighter pilot. I have almost thirteen recorded combat kills on my bird, and I've flown pretty much everything in both the cockpit and the Holodeck."

"That's very impressive, Commander. I hope you will continue training pilots that can one day match or exceed your caliber." He paused and then added, "and now, a personal question. What do each of you prefer to do for fun?"

"Boss. My idea of fun is loading up the holodeck. And flying to the moon on a vintage Saturn V Rocket. I've flown simulated P-38's over the pacific, and Mustangs over europe." Jess noted. "If they can get a washing machine to fly.. I can land it." She smirked.

Malak bit his lip. "Among other things I hear"

Kyle arched his eyebrow at the quiet comment, but said nothing as he listened. "Well, that's quite impressive indeed. I look forward to sitting in on all of your classes throughout the semester." He looked at Malak and said, " Or read updated progress reports in your case."

He then took a breath and decided it was time for him to tell them about himself. "Well, only fair that you learn something about me. While I'm sure you will read my service file, what isn't in there, I'll tell you now. I've seen more than my share of combat and death, in both this time and dimension and others. I have commanded a starship, in a supportive nature of the Elysium as it was, i've been promoted for doing my job properly, demoted for following heart, and earned both my rank and the respect of my peers and senior officers again."

"After we finished the last mission, I had requested a lateral transfer to the Academy here, wanting to pass on my knowledge to the young cadets here, hopefully bestowing a bit of armor onto their backs as they move out to the fleet. To my surprise, instead of being allowed the transfer as an instructor, I was given the honor of this office. It is an honor that I will never abuse or take for granted. My door is always open to you, any more instructors we get in the future and, importantly, to our students. They are the future of Starfleet and the UFP. How we regard and mold them here, will have lasting repercussions in the future."

"As for fun, I enjoy playing poker, atmospheric skydiving and furthering my own education." He paused before asking, "So, do any of you have any questions for either myself or your fellow professors?"

Malak shook his head. "Not from me"

"Atmospheric Skydiving huh." Jess smirked. "Hell, I knew I liked you."

Vanessa spoke. "My my, Commandant. Such extreme sports."

Malak rolled his eyes and said "So is this meeting done?" he had assessments to grade.

Kyle chuckled softly. "For now, yes. However, I'd like to set up a meeting between the four of us, at least once a month, just to touch base with how things are going." He paused briefly, and then continued. "You may go, I know you are all very busy. Thank you again, for coming to this sudden meeting."

Malak nodded and stood. "Have a good day" he said to the room and headed out the door. He hated staff meetings.

Kyle nodded in reply. He then turned to face Vanessa and Jessica. "Ladies, enjoy your classes. Jess, if you could stay behind for a moment?"

Vanessa smiled and discreetly slipped Kyle a PADD that had a message. 'Dinner 1600 Sharp.'

Kyle took the PADD and put it to the side after he glanced at the message on the screen.

Jessica nodded and waited.

Once they were alone, he began. "Okay, Jess, you've been training your cadets to be as good or better than you. That's admirable. What targets have you been putting them up against lately?"

"First, they have to meet the Baron." Jess noted. "It's the required introductory course for all my pilot cadets. And what I consider to be the foundation of combat fighter pilots. They will spend a week learning from Herr Von Richtoffen. Then they get to meet Erick Hartmann. He will refine their marksmanship. I have these pilots loaded from their past experiences and writings into holo matrices."

Kyle nodded, impressed. "Have they gone up against more modern opponents, gunboat-sized or smaller?"

"I do keep them up on the modern stuff as often as I am able. Commandant the foundation of modern space flight is found in the past. My pilots know how to coordinate, combine their tactics, and strike like lightning." Jess noted.

Kyle had an idea. "I may drop in, at some point, unannounced. To test your pilots."

Jess spoke. "I live to give them surprises. I'm not just training pilots. I am a starfleet officer who prides herself at being a modern astronaut. I got a surprise for all of them later on. Three of these cadets will have to pilot a crippled Apollo Spacecraft back home." She smirked. "Because these things happen in Starfleet. It's not an easy life we lead. I'll train them superbly in both the old stuff and the new stuff. But it's when your oxygen tank explodes, that determines who passes."

Kyle nodded slowly as he listened. "That sounds very interesting. Perhaps, at some point along the way, I'll join the class, as an opponent of course, and we can see how they react to a live pilot.