Settling Down

Posted on Fri Dec 13th, 2019 @ 5:32am by Commodore Jacob Kane

Mission: Shakedown
Location: USS Athena - Ready Room
Timeline: MD-00
658 words - 1.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Kane took a final glance over the personnel file as he waited for the door to chime. Decades of experience, Starfleet through-and-through, and undoubtedly talented. He was genuinely excited to meet his new chief engineer. The fact that she'd turned down other assignments for the Athena was no small part of that. Besides, with the ship undergoing an overhaul, he wanted someone fresh in to make sure every base was covered in full.

Yadira was not new to the protocols of checking in with her superiors. She had just cleared her mind and tuned almost of all the voices save the few that almost always push through and one of these voices made her smile as it made her happy. She was in full control of her mind and hit the door chime and waited.

"Come in," Kane responded. He waited for Yadira to enter, rising from his table as she approached and offering his hand. "Lieutenant Commander Reisen. It is good to finally meet you. I've heard good things."

Taking her slightly by surprise with what he thought, she spoke; "Thankyou Cmdr. Kane. I just hope this is my final home permanently. Starfleet has shifted me around so damn much, makes putting down roots nearly impossible," Yadira said smiling.

"I hope this is a good change for you too," Kane agreed. "Honestly, I'm glad to get someone of your experience. It's rare to find someone with your skills and willingness to take a step down as you did. Besides which, I think we could benefit from a fresh pair of eyes looking after some of our upgrades."

"Very true, in my years of service, every upgrade a ship gets, there are several glitches and kinks in every new system. Most engineers over look them and when you get into a tough situation; it never fails....boom things fail. I get it all the time and I have had many arguments with SB engineers on how inept they are. Then the captain swears that the base engineers did it right and I am wrong. Then there is another fight again. However I just go on and do my job and as usual SF snatches me before I can finish my work. I swear if they pull me off here I will resign my commission. Hopefully it won't come to that captain," she said casually. "I am sorry if I ranted but I am tired of moving so much. I just want to be happy and maybe find a relationship that I can settle down with," Yadira added. Suddenly turning red in the face, she realized she hadcsaid to much and got embarassed quickly. "Oh....I am so sorry I went to far," she said tears forming.

"It's...fine." Kane hadn't expected an emotional response such as that. He wasn't great at empathy, but he stood from his desk and poured a small glass of water from a decanter he had nearby before offering it to her. "I appreciate honesty in my senior staff. And courage. If you're willing to be honest with me, I swear I will give you the same. Deal?"

"Deal!" Yadira said taking the glass of water from the captain. "Thankyou sir, I hope I didnt ramble to much. Sometimes I can get carried away in a discussion. Bad trait I guess," she said.

"Only if you let it get the better of you," Kane noted. "Thank you for your time, Lieutenant Commander. I won't keep you from those engines any longer."

"Understood captain......um....oh my god there I go again .....sorry sir. I will just get back to engineering before I trip over my tongue again", Yadira said and beat a hasty retreat from the captain's presence. 'Damn it Dira you really know how to mess up meetings', she said to herself.

END:

Lt. Cmdr Yadira Reisen
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Athena

&

Lt Commander Jacob Kane
Commanding Officer
USS Athena