Meeting the Boss

Posted on Sun Dec 11th, 2022 @ 5:13am by Lieutenant Myne Redal & Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Ensign Mrera Sr’au
Edited on on Sun Dec 11th, 2022 @ 5:28am

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Operations
Timeline: Shortly after boarding on a shuttle
1670 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

//ON//

Ensign Mrera Sr’au anxiously walked toward operations soon after boarding the Elysium. Her first duty was to report to her senior officer, let them know she was aboard, and get her duty assignments. Her tail flitted from side-to-side, demonstrating her nerves. Mrera had heard that Lieutenant Whavi was half Betazoid. She wouldn’t need to see Mrera’s tail to identify her nervousness. She would be able to read it.

Outside the door to Operations, Mrera took a deep breath to calm herself. She took another before letting a low purr of contentment come forward. This is where her curiosity brought her. She wanted to see what was beyond the known universe. Mrera had heard the stories of adventure from those that had gone forth. Now, it was her turn.

“I am Ensign Mrera Sr’au, the new communications officer. I was looking for Lieutenant Whavi to report,” she announced to another ensign in a low purr.

Whavi's head turned towards the open doors when she heard her name. The wave of nerves were radiating off the officer entering and Baeryn immediately felt the need to calm them but thought twice about approaching them too quickly. She instead turned back to her screen and quickly finished what she was working on.

The ensign whom Mrera addressed pointed to Whavi, who seemed to be hard at work. Mrera didn’t want to interrupt her CO, but she was to report at boarding.

Cautiously, as not to interrupt or startle Whavi, Ensign Sr’au approached. She slightly cleared her throat, hoping a hair ball wouldn’t come up.

“Parrrdon me,” she softly mewed, “Ensign Sr’au reporrrting for duty from Starfleet Academy.”

Lieutenant Whavi looked up form her screen and gave the ensign a small warm smile before picking up a PaDD to pull up the newbies record. She had looked over the caitians file earlier that week but scanned it quickly as a refresher for her pregnant brain. She lowered the PaDD so she could properly welcome her. "Welcome to the Elysium Ensign. I'm Lieutenant Whavi. I hope you were able to find your quarters and get comfortable before your shift?" Baeryn joked knowing the Ensign just arrived.

“Uh, no Lieutenant, I jusst came aboard and quickly rreporrted,” Mrera answered. The ensign suddenly realized Lieutenant Whavi was with child. “It apearrss congrratulasshunss arre in orrderr.”

Baeryn's free hand went to her stomach. "Why thank you ensign. And I was joking of course. I do have you set to start tomorrow with Lieutenant Vemre who will give you a tour. She'll be looking for you at 0800 tomorrow. "

“Yess, Lieutenant,” Ensign Sr’au stated, holding her tail still in her hand. “I hope my worrk ethic and sskillss pleasse you. I look forrwarrd to serrving with you!”

Whavi's gaze glanced down to the ensigns tail in their hand. She thought to make a joke to hopefully make the ensign feel more at ease but decided against it. "As I with you, Ensign. "

Mrera thought that strange. Why wouldn’t she pleased with her CO’s work ethic and skills. Mrera doubted that Lieutenant Whavi would be CO without those. It was Mrera that was fresh out of the Academy. It was she that was inexperienced. The Academy was one thing, but lives didn’t depend upon her getting an rave reviews in her communications classes. She was the rookie. The newbie. Mrera knew that she had much to learn.

“I,” Ensign Sr’au timidly voiced, “…I’m ssurre I will be.”

"A pleasure to work with?" Baeryn raised a brow slightly confused by the ensigns response. "I mean I look forward to working with you ensign." The lieutenant couldn't help but smile slightly.

“I…I mean,” Ensign Sr’au stuttered, nervously pulling on the end of her tail, “I’m new. Fresh from the academy. You…worrked yourr way to being the CO of Operations.”

"Relax, Ensign. " Lieutenant Whavi tried to sound reassuring enough to soothe the caitians nerves. Was she really that intimidating?

“Thiss issn’t the Academy,” Mrera explained. “Therre’ss livess aboarrd that May depend upon me doing my job!”

"That's true and should never be doubted. What we do here is important and affects many lives, not just those who work and live aboard the Elysium. But species we have yet to encounter, and some we already have. If your instructors didn't think you were ready, you wouldn't be here." Baeryn ended sternly.

The ensign nodded in a slow affirmative, “Yes, Lieutenant.” At least her CO seemed to be the kind that would be behind her. Mrera smiled believing she had the right CO for her first. One day, Sr’au hoped to have earned the privilege of standing in her boots.

As the doors opened, the Trill officer stepped through biting on her thumb with her eyes fixed on her custom PADD. "Boss, we got a fresh one heading your way soon. I sent you the file a few days ago..." Myne trailed off as she raised her gaze from the PADD and saw Mrera and Baeryn facing each other.

"Aaaaand I am totally late, aren't I?" Sighing Myne shook her head and gave Baeryn an apologetic smile. "I got lost in trying to fool Avalon to do math the wrong way. Sorry." Turning to Mrera she bowed her head slightly. "Nice to meet you Ensign Sr'au, welcome aboard the Elysium."

Ensign Sr’au bowed her head slightly, giggling because she found Lieutenant Redal’s entrance amusing. She stood and offered her hand, “Hello Lieutenant! I’m pleassed to make yourr acquaintance.”

Taking Mrera's hand, Myne shook it, weirdly. First of all she grabbed the Caitian wrist instead, and secondly she was shaking it left and right, not up and down, in a clear display of a complete lack of understanding of Human or Human like customs.

"You don't have to worry Ensign, the chief here has made me promise to make sure no members of our staff loose any limbs. Well, any more limbs!" Myne said chuckling, hoping to elicit another fun reaction from the Ensign.

Baeryn pursed her lips in attempt to hide a smirk and simply nodded, "Yes. that was my instruction wasn't it?" She gave the caitian a sympathetic smile.

Mrera gave a nervous chuckle with concerned eyes. Her tail tucked in behind her. “I would think a communications officer has less to worry in that department,” she hopefully expressed.

Taking a seat herself Myne chuckled, making no attempts to look too professional. That was the chief's job after all. "Well, don't you worry, I heard communications is a highly explosive domain. Erm... word wise... as long as you do not engage in deathly rap battles with the Human officers. That is still a thing in Human culture, right?" She asked Baeryn innocently, before turning back to Mrera. "But you will be fine, chief Whavi runs the best department on the ship and we got your back just in case!"

Mrera chuckled at Mine’s sense of humor. She could see the officer was doing her best to keep the mood light and joking. Mrera could see she was in capable hands with Lieutenant Whavi. Lieutenant Redal seemed like she would be the one to break up the tension when things got stressful.

“Thanks,” Ensign Sr’au appreciatively replied, “I needed a laugh. Nerves, and all.”

Nodding, Myne smiled warmly. "Nerves are normal Ensign, but do not let them rule over you. You're in a good department, and we are here if you needed. You can always come to me if you need help until you get settled into routines that you find comfortable."

“Thanks forr the asvice,” Mrera said to Myne. “I’ll be fine once I’m worrking. I’ll be too bussy to be nerrvouss.”

Baeryn handed Mrera a PaDD with her orders along with a welcome letter from Whavi on it. "You've got some light reading to do tonight before your tour. I suggest prepping a few questions as well. The Elysium is a big ship and always evolving. It's alot to keep up with. Any other questions?" Baeryn smiled at the ensign.

Mrera glanced at the PaDD, viewing the contents page. Her eyes opened widely at the huge list of items introducing her to Operations aboard the Elysium. There seemed to be a flow in the contents to demonstrate how the department comes together as a team to serve and support the crew of the ship.

“Yess, Lieutenant,” the ensign affirmed with a grin. “I have my worrk cut out furr me!”

"It might seem like a daunting task Ensign, but honestly, it is really a lot worse than it looks. We are the department that never sleeps after all." Myne chuckled and smiled, obviously at least half teasing the Ensign.

Then with a kinder and at the same time more solemn look, she continued. "But seriously now Ensign. It can be overwhelming at first, but we have a big team. My role here is to support the chief and the team so do not be shy about it. If it feels overwhelming, come to me. At best, I'll be able to help you myself, at worse I'll assign some of our other ops personnel to help you. Or since I am teaching ops at the on board Academy, I can always steal a cadet or two to be your aids for extra credit!"

“Thank you both,” Mrera sincerely stated, “furr being sso graciouss!” She looked down at her PaDD once more and smiled. “Ssince I’ve got a lot of homewurrk, I besst be going to my quarrters.”

"You are dismissed Ensign." Baeryn said with a smile before turning to Lieutenant Redal to discuss the readings of a few recent diagnostics that were in need of their attention.


//OFF//

Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi
Chief Operations Officer
USS Elysium

&

Lieutenant Myne Redal
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Elysium

&

Ensign Mrera Sr’au
Communication Officer
USS Elysium