Meeting the Boss

Posted on Sun Nov 6th, 2016 @ 7:06am by Lieutenant Commander Selune & Captain Patrick O'Connor
Edited on on Sun Nov 6th, 2016 @ 7:06am

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Taking Chances
Location: USS Bonne Chance, Deck One, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: 2265

Patrick sat in hie ready room, drinking his Tarkalian tea and going over reports. A lot happened while he was off the ship. He had a lot to discuss, especially with the new junior officers. He needed to speak with his new helm officer most notably, because she was going to be dealing with the biggest change in his mind. In his experience, she'd be calm, cool, and collected, and nervous as all hell talking with him. But it had to be done.

He hit the communication button on his desk and asked for her specifically. He then sat in wait, like a cat waiting for a mouse. He wasn't planning on pouncing, but he did need to get a feel for the feline.

There was a brief period, as Selune found herself at her destination, where she seriously considered claiming there was emergency and she was required to man one of the shuttles until further notice... just in case. Despite assurances to the contrary she was still somewhat apprehensive about her first face to face meeting with the captain.

Surrendering to the inevitable she took a deep breath and hit the door chime, settling herself and idly brushing back the unruly hair that constantly threatened her face before steeping inside," Lieutenant Junior Grade Selune," she announced as she softly padded inside, "You wished to see me Sir?"

He nodded as he sipped his tea. He motioned for a chair in front of his desk, "Indeed. Take a seat lass." He allowed her time to sit, then got right to business. "I understand that this must be a daunting experience, going from such a small vessel to something grand as this. I understand, believe me. I didn't always wear this gold you know. Spent nearly my whole life as an engineer. I love being elbows deep in grease, playing with the guys of the ship. An engineer often makes friends with the pilot for obvious reasons. Being the captain, I have to know how my officers are going to handle pressure. You seem to be graceful enough at the helm. Do you think you could handle the alpha shift fulltime?"

The words had barely left his mouth before Selune began to reply, "Y-yes of course," she stammered eagerly, "That is, if you'll have me. Uhm, Sir," managing to save a least a slither of decorum as her mind caught up with her mouth.

He understood the trepidation she was feeling, the uneasy thoughts of what to say and how to act. He remembered his first day aboard a vessel, getting dressed down by a senior officer. He hadn't done anything wrong, other than make the officer look like an idiot. And now here he was, and he had the option of being the tough guy or something better. "Well, based on your performance review, and how you handled yourself thus far, I see no reason not to make you the senior helm officer lass. I suspect the move to senior staff quarters won't bother you much. Much nicer than junior officer quarters, and no roommate." He gave a slight chuckle, realizing the irony in his comment for him personally.

"It would be quite an honor, I'll do my best not to dent the ship... again," she managed with a faint smile. There was a small part of her that wanted to simply hug the officer infront of her, admittedly it wasn't really a small part, and it was taking a large chunk of willpower to maintain any kind of formality. Especially after her time with Chary and Riesan on the bridge. "And a quarters upgrade is always great incentive," she finished with a wider grin.

Patrick sipped his tea. "Well then, it is settled, you are now my Chief Helm Officer. Congrats." He stood and walked towards a little table he had sitting along the wall. "Any questions you'd like to ask me, or perhaps some tea?" he put forward in a easy going tone.

A soft quiet settled as Selune mulled the offer over in her mind. Even a few days ago she would have already asked why me, why here but Charybdis had rather pointedly drilled those answers home on more that one occasion. She considered asking about the ship simply to be polite if nothing else, things an engineer would know about but she was honest enough with herself to know she could never hold a decent conversation on the subject or provide a truly apt listener.

Instead she simply nodded, smiling gratefully, "I would love some tea, if it's no bother."

Patrick poured a second glass and turned and walked over and put it before her. "So, ready to be an alpha? I hope so. I hand picked you for this assignment."

Drinking in the teas soft aroma for several seconds Selune was again forever thankful at just how difficult non-Caitian's seemed to find reading her body language. Fighting back the embarrassment of both the statement and her drifting mind she brought herself back to the present, looking to the captain's eyes as she let her curiosity get the better of her, "Chary had mentioned it... Do you mind me asking, why? Surely there are dozens more experienced helms, and for that matter any number of other positions on this ship that have been occupied by lower ranks than I would have expected."

Patrick chuckled. "I believe everyone deserves a chance to prove they got what it takes. Space is unforgiving, and that is something they don't always teach you properly at the Academy. Having to find it out from an overbearing CO typically destroys what otherwise would be great officers. I know that from personal experience, both in my years in StarFleet and growing up the son of a career officer. I looked at the reports on you, on your test scores, and it screams potential waiting to be realized. I like to give people the chance to realize that potential, and so, here you are lass."

Selune's head tilted as she listened, "It must have been quite something to grow up with an officer for a parent, I had nothing quite so glorious. Although you make it sound... almost painful?"

Patrick nodded. "It has both its pros and cons like everything else. Few things in life are ever simply the perfect thing we wish for them to be. I am glad for everything I had though, for the many opportunities I was afforded, and even for negative experiences I have had. They help define who you are, how you react to things, and if you can take on different things as you continue on the journey of life. Being in space, serving in StarFleet, it will be a nonstop test of your character, your ability to adapt to situations, and test you on dealing with a wide array of situations, both good and bad. If I have any say in though, we'll have more good than bad though." He gave her a smile to try to ease her mind.

There was a moment where Selune was forced to suppress a small shiver, losing her gaze into the tea as she listened to the Captain as she recalled the all to recent tests she had been put through at her post. She brought her eyes back up to him as he finished, "It has been a rather... unexpected start here I have to admit."

A small lull began to build as she considered his words before her mouth ran away from her, "Was it like this when you first joined Starfleet?" she asked, "Uhm, that is... if you don't mind me asking, Sir." She almost kicked herself for probing unasked and so casually of her superior despite the curious voice in the back of her mind that pointed out she still wanted to know.

She was curious, just like any other cat. He was certain that she both wanted to know the answer to a great many questions, and was likely kicking herself everytime she asked him something. Junior officer jitters he liked to call it. He shook his head. "Actually, the answer to that is both yes and no. Exploration has always been the main tenant of StarFleet, I trust you know that. When Archer took out the Enterprise in search of new species, wanting to announce to the rest of the galaxy that humanity was joining the neighborhood, he found out that space had many of the same issues that we faced on Earth. Many species, once you get past the initial barriers are welcoming folk with rich cultures that want to be friends with you. But you also have all levels of hostile races, most notably the Klingons." There was considerable anger in his voice when he mentioned the Klingons. "Some are little more than bullies, others are warmongers and creatures that thrive on all the vile and loathesome parts of the human condition as it were. The dark parts of every species that many of us try to push aside and not consider. And you also must consider that their are those species that lurk in the dark, moving in the shadows, watching you carefully, studying you like prey, waiting for the opportunity to pounce on you as a cat does a mouse."

Patrick took a moment and again sipped his tea. He allowed himself to ground himself before talking again. "The truth is lass, many wonderful things await you as you explore the galaxy. But sadly, we will have misadventures as well. Wearing that uniform ensures that you will be thrust into danger on occasion, and you will likely lose friends and comrades at some point. But I can tell you that if you have the courage to venture forward despite that, it is well worth it. The things I have seen in my time would fill volumes. I think you are looking for that, am I right?"

Selune shrugged, mostly to herself. It was probably the most casual gesture she'd made during the entire meeting and completely natural to the point that she didn't even realise she had done it. "I signed up because I wanted to see stars and nebulae and all the beauty that space has to offer. Every time I gaze out there I'm reminded of it... but at no point did I ever really understand the cost it would take to get there, to see it all," she brought herself to a halting pause before self consciously shifting the subject, "Oh and ah... sorry about breaking the ship. I hope it didn't cause too much extra work for the engineers."

He shook his head. "Not at all. Based on the reports, you ought to be commended for your excellent piloting and keeping my ship in one piece. Insane maneuvers were requested of you and you seemed to pull them off flawlessly. I haven't a bad thing to say to you about it lass." He sipped his tea again. "I suspect that you might want to get back to duty. Congrats on your new senior position. We'll talk again soon lassy. Dismissed."

He watched as she exited, moving with feline grace. She was still a little raw, but she had the right mechanics to be his pilot, and that was what mattered. His minded turned to other crew. He needed to speak with others on a whole different level.

 

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