Chain of Command

Posted on Sat Feb 11th, 2023 @ 5:41pm by Commander N'Garzi Zora & Lieutenant JG Kirral Nagata

Mission: Character Development
Location: The Bridge
1720 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

A familiar feeling of anxiety and excitement struck Kirral when the doors to the Athena's bridge opened to her for the first time. One she had only experienced a small handful of times in her life, and only once since graduating from the Academy. The Zenith had been a nice ship, if small. Not old, not new, it had been just the scout ship she needed for her research. But its bridge was nothing like the Prometheus-class had to offer. It was clean, modern, and everything she expected out of a ship that looked like it did from the outside and read like in the specifications.

She had to force herself not to stand and gawk, or at least go off course and just wander to admire it all. Eyes only briefly scanned the chairs upfront, the stations of those in command that she had yet to even meet. Athena had a normal crew complement for the class, roughly 140, so her chances of not running into at least one of the senior officers was small. Especially on the bridge. But that one glance was all she took, before she reviewed the datapad in her hands and moved toward one of the dedicated consoles where she could appropriately interact with the ship's sensor systems and run her diagnostics. This was part of her job, part of being the Astrometrics Officer, but she had to admit the cherry on top of getting to interact with the systems that would eventually provide valuable data on her research as well. She allowed herself a smile for all her troubles.

Zora had noticed on the crew transfer report that the new Astrometics officer was apparently half Romulan, so when that very officer entered the bridge, she felt a sudden flood of excitement. Even in this day and age, Romulans in Starfleet were still not common, yet somehow the Athena had three of them on board. The irony wasn't lost on her that their Captain was currently awaiting trial for killing a Romulan senate. The universe is a cruel mistress she thought with dark humour.

Zora made her way over to the station where the Romulan female was currently working. "You're new here, right?" She asked, obviously knowing the answer.

Normally, Kirral might not have looked up from her task to address such a greeting, especially one that was, at face value, less formal. But she was on the bridge, so something told her to observe decorum more closely than usual. And wow was she glad she did. Finding a good pausing point, she turned fully to address the ship's XO. Her posture became rigid, her hands folded neatly at her back. "Yes, ma'am. Lieutenant Kirral Nagata, Astrometrics Officer. It's a pleasure to meet you, Commander. Forgive me for not formally seeking you or the Captain out as of yet, I've often been told I tend to jump into work too readily for my own good."

"You're forgiven Lieutenant," Zora said with a smile. "Honestly, if I had to meet every officer who transferred to the ship during a standard rotation, I'd never get work done." She had noticed the woman's change in posture but that was something she had gotten used to, part and parcel of having three pips on her collar. "What are you working on?" She asked curiously. "Most astrometics officers barely leave their lab never mind venturing to the bridge."

Kirral's stance and features remained prim and proper, Starfleet to the letter, until the Commander spoke honestly, smiled. All bets were not off then, but she took it as a sign that she could ease up a bit herself, features tugging into a smile themselves. "That is fair, Commander. I often find myself so buried in work, primarily of my own accord, I can scarcely imagine taking on a command of my own on top of the usual workload. I will have to ask Lieutenant Ryan how she manages."

Once the other question was asked, Kirral dared to turn back to the console and resume her work, though she did so at an angle to invite the XO in, so to speak, and observe. "I know it is hardly a requirement, but I am double-checking the diagnostics of the ship's sensors from my lab and from the bridge to weed out inconsistencies or inefficiencies. It's... good practice, but also helping me with my research. I cannot claim entirely selfless motives, ma'am."

"Sounds like a win-win to me," Zora said encouragingly, "and I'm sure Leiko and his people will appreciate the hand. One less job for him to do. So how does the old gal-" she gestured around aimlessly, meaning the ship as a whole- "compare to your last assignment? Has she passed your watchful eye?"

There was a genuine smile there, any unease she had with being caught in a conversation with the ship's XO melting away. "Anything I can do to ease the crew's burdens, Commander." Her fingers danced over the console for a moment while she processed the rest, deep greens shifting in thought. "While my last assignment was my first, and will always hold a special place in my heart, I look forward to falling in love with the Athena as much as I was with the Zenith. She was just a scout, but I was always thrilled for even the mundane exploratory missions." She stopped in her work again, confident in letting the diagnostics run while she continued, eyes addressing Zora again. "If I may be frank, Commander? At first, the idea of transferring to a dedicated warship so limited in mission duration did not excite me. But seeing her systems, being on board, meeting her crew, I feel I was mistaken in my initial judgment. It feels a bit like... developing a crush on someone that is not usually your type."

Zora smiled and nodded in unison, "I can completely relate to that feeling Lieutenant. My background is in communication and diplomacy, so being on a ship that shoots first, and asks questions later was unnerving for me at the start too. Especially the Athena," she added as she looked around the bridge that she had become quite fond of. "Not only does this ship shoot first, but it does it in such a style it paints a target on its hull. But I think, ships like this need people like us. We're the ones who keep the ship and the crew grounded, in check if you like." She thought about Kane and all of their differences and how that worked to their advantage.

Kirral found herself staring, smile only growing until it was large and goofy and she was forced to gather herself. A hand raised to gather loose, black strands and push them behind her ear on her right side and her eyes returned to the console as the diagnostic chimed a successful completion with no issues detected. "That means a lot coming from the Executive Officer, Commander. Thank you for saying as much. Any doubts I had before? Consider them dispelled. Much as I aspire to end up in red some day, I think I will be sad the day I no longer get to wear blue. Science and exploration are where I will always be happiest. But I think I understand exactly what you mean, and I shall endeavor to lead by that example."

Satisfied with the data she had, Kirral's hands folded neatly at her back as she directed all of her attention to the XO next to her finally. Her back grew more rigid, posture and expression professional and neutral leading into her next words. "And about the situation with the Captain, Commander, if I may. I do not wish to speculate or spread rumors, but... I feel it most appropriate to ask you how I should conduct myself during this period. If that is alright, ma'am? I do not wish to bother our new CO with trivialities and you know the Athena and her crew better, I suspect."

Zora felt herself stiffen at the mere mention of the Captain and the current situation. It wasn't that she hadn't expected people to have questions, hell half of her day had been batting away these kinds of questions from all manner of the crew. However, she hadn't expected this topic from this officer, it had taken her by surprise. "To be frank Lieutenant, I don't think you should trouble yourself too much with the worries of the crew," she said with a friendly tone. "The crew, the ones who know the Captain, are tightly wound and it's going to make the next few days challenging. You have the fortune of not being burdened with that responsibility, relish it. Keep your head down, keep doing great work and leave the worrying to me; I'm old enough to cope for everyone." She gave the Romulan a reassuring smile.

Kirral's reaction then was, perhaps, a relieving one for the XO then. She simply returned the smile and nodded, turning to fully address the Commander with all her decorum restored, posture and hands placed just so. "Aye, Commander, I can do that. And I would thank you for the praise, but I do not feel I have quite earned it yet. More work yet to be done to prove my usefulness to the crew and the ship." She bowed her head slightly there, a soft gesture she preferred to something like a handshake or a wave. Certainly to something like the Vulcan V, which she'd only done once as a prank on an ignorant cadet. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Commander? I am sure your duties are no less numerous than my own, and certainly more important."

"No, you're dismissed Lieutenant," Zora said as she returned the nod. She watched as the young woman made her way off the bridge and smiled. She had spent a good amount of her time around cadets and junior officers and some of them caught her eye for all the right reasons. She had a feeling that Kirral was such an officer and she made a mental note to keep an eye on the promising scientist's work from now on.