Reporting for Duty: Liam's Arrival

Posted on Tue Feb 27th, 2024 @ 6:53pm by Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating VII & Ensign Liam O'Connor

Mission: Character Development
Location: Main Engineering
Timeline: Pre-Mission
803 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

The hum of the ship around him was both comforting and electrifying as he quickly found his way to his assigned quarters. Liam had taken some time to settle into his new surroundings, stowing his belongings and taking a moment to absorb the enormity of the situation. This was it—the beginning of his career as an engineer aboard a starship, the USS Athena a Prometheus Class starship, one which he had spent hours, no days on learning it bulkhead by bulkhead, isolinear chip by isolinear chip to not only hit the road running but to impress his new colleagues. But there was no time to waste on the momentousness of the occasion; duty called, and Liam wasted no time in accessing the ship's computer to locate Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating, his department head.

"Arvo Computer," Liam started, his voice steady with determination, "Please provide the current location of Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating."

A soft beep acknowledges his request, and a moment later, the computer responds, =^=Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating is currently in Engineering, Deck 5.=^=

With a nod of satisfaction, Liam sets off towards Engineering, his mind buzzing with excitement for the challenges and adventures that lie ahead. This is just the beginning of his journey aboard the USS Athena, and he's ready to make his mark.

As Liam stepped into Engineering, the air seemed to crackle and pop around him, an explosion of whirring machinery, softly humming consoles and engineers talking between one another. The room was a hive of activity, with crew members bustling about, each focused on their respective tasks. Despite the controlled chaos, there's an underlying sense of order and purpose that fills the space.

Liam's eyes quickly scan the room, searching for Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating amidst the sea of faces. Spotting the commanding figure of his department head across the room, Liam closed his eyes, took in a breath and approached her.

"Lieutenant Commander Keating," Liam says, his voice projecting confidence and determination. "Ensign Liam O'Connor, reporting for duty as ordered." His New Australian twang was as strong as it ever was.

"Ah, Ensign O'Connell...I mean O'Connor, sorry." Finn looked up from the work she was doing. "The assistant chief around here is O'Connell so I'll just apologize now for all the future times I'm sure to get your names mixed up," she chuckled lightly. "I read your transcripts before you boarded. You had quite the listing of good marks from the academy and you're certified in advanced warp theory and advanced plasma dynamics. Is that right?"

"Spot on, Lieutenant Commander," Liam replied with a nod, a sense of pride swelling within him at the mention of his certifications. "I've spent a fair bit of time delving into those areas, trying to get a handle on the ins and outs of warp theory and plasma dynamics. Always had a knack for it, I suppose." He couldn't help but feel a slight bit of satisfaction from the validation of Finn's acknowledgement of his academic achievements. It was one thing to excel in the classroom, but to have his skills recognized by someone as seasoned as Lieutenant Commander Keating was a whole other level of great.

"I'm keen to put those skills to good use here in Engineering aboard this here tinnie," Liam continued, his enthusiasm obvious. "If there's anything you need me to dive into or lend a hand with, you can count on me to give it my all."

"Tinnie," Finn smiled. "I haven't heard anyone call one of these a tinnie in a long time. Since the academy, I think. Anyway," she crossed her arms and leaned against the console. "Your academics were impressive, but operations on a ship aren't exactly the same as academics. Don't make assumptions and don't be afraid to ask questions. You'll be paired with a mentor to start as you learn the Athena's systems...and quirks. My door is always open if you have questions or need anything. Same with Lieutenant O'Connell. Any questions before we throw you to the fire?"

“Understood, Lieutenant Commander,” Liam said, nodding along as Finn emphasised the importance of practical experience over academic knowledge alone. “I’m all ears and ready to soak up as much as I can from my mentor and the rest of the team. And thanks for the heads-up about the Athena’s quirks—I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for ’em.”

He paused, considering Finn’s offer of support. “No questions for now, but I’ll definitely keep that in mind,” Liam said, his tone sincere. “Looking forward to diving in and getting my hands dirty, so to speak. Thanks for having me aboard, Lieutenant Commander.”

Finn nodded and pushed away from the console with a smile. "Glad to have you with us. Welcome to the team."