(Backpost) Into the Fryer

Posted on Mon Mar 4th, 2024 @ 10:38pm by Lieutenant Commander Emni t'Nai & Lieutenant JG Leighton Romanowski

Mission: Mean Green Queen
Location: Executive Officer's Quarters
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 0000

Leighton glanced at the name plates on the doors as he passed by each one as he searched for the right one. Having come aboard the hour before, Leighton had stowed his gear in his assigned quarters before being told to report to the XO in her quarters. He knew that on a ship like the Sojourner, space was limited so he wasn't surprised. Finding the right door, he paused long enough to make sure his uniform was presentable before he pressed the chime button.

Was this the second or third? Since the first arrival of new officers on the shuttle, Emni had put aside most of what she needed to do for the morning, opting instead to skim through reports that could be easily set aside. Perhaps she should have scheduled times with each, but she preferred that new officers get the opportunity to acquaint themselves with their new surroundings and perhaps take a moment to breathe before they reported to her. For this group, it seemed, most preferred to lead with reporting and do their breathing later.

"Come in," she said, her voice holding the tiniest bit of distraction as she set her empathic walls aside long enough to get a feel for the newcomer's emotional fingerprint. There'd be enough of them that day that taking a moment to be deliberate about the practice seemed warranted. Besides she'd been caught off guard with the first one to report.

Leighton stepped forward once the doors parted. After quickly surveying the room, he spotted his new XO seated at her desk and he strode over to it. He came to attention in front of the desk before speaking, "Lieutenant Junior Grade Romanowski reporting aboard ma'am," He then handed over the PADD he was holding in his right hand, "My orders and Pathfinder station orientation certification."

Accepting the PADD she waved a hand toward the young man to indicate he should relax before adding, "No need to stand on ceremony Lieutenant. At ease."

Her eyes scanned the PADD quickly, noting the salient details before setting it aside on her desk. "Welcome to the Sojourner," she said, extending a hand for Romanowski to shake. "Can I get you something to drink?"

Relaxing slightly, Leighton took the XO's proffered hand and gripped it firmly. "No, thank you ma'am. And it's a pleasure to be aboard," he said before placing his hands behind the small of his back. "The briefing at Pathfinder station was quite interesting. It's very much the last frontier out here," he said.

There was something of dry almost cynical humor in Emni's responding chuckle, but her expression remained warm as she indicated the couch and two chairs available for them to site. "It is at that," she remarked. "Both in opportunity for discovery and in the risk that comes along with pushing forward the boundaries of what the Federation considers known space."

Selecting one of the two chairs, Emni continued her thought. "Anything in particular catch your interest in that briefing?"

"The obvious was the similarity in technologies with some of the species we've already contacted. While they are all different, it is curious how closely compatible some are to Federation standards," Leighton said as he sat in the chair across from the XO. He kept his back straight in his chair as he looked her in the eye. He was never one for small talk with his superiors, and waited for her to make the next move.

"Indeed," the Romulan agreed. "That is convenient. I imagine it should help make your job at least somewhat easier along the way." She raised her eyebrows slightly then. "Are you a student of xeno-sociology?" she asked, wondering if perhaps the interest in this wasn't so much job related as it was an intellectual curiosity at the development of these civiliations.

"I'm afraid not ma'am. My talents at the academy were better spent on technical applications than xeno-sociology," Leighton offered. He'd run into this type of situation before, many of his colleagues always mistook his fascination for alien interfaces to equate to a sociological interest, but it was purely from a techincal standpoint. There were numerous ways to create computers and interfaces, yet every civilization in the Alpha and Beta quadrants had managed to follow the same developmental lines up to a point.

Nodding knowingly, Emni smiled. "You'll have to make it a point to meet Mr. Balsam. He's one of our systems specialists," she commented with a smile. "I imagine you'll both share a rather deep love of technologies. No doubt you'll run into him somewhere along the way. It's a small ship."

"I'm sure I will ma'am. I must say I'm surprised that a ship like the Sojourner was posted to the Delta quadrant. At first glance, i would not guess she was a deep space vessel," Leighton said making note of the name that the XO had mentioned.

"I can understand that," Emni replied knowingly. "I was on an Ambassador class that was deployed to the DQ first." Memories of the much larger Adelphi flitted through her head. After a minute pause she continued. "We brought her back to space dock completely beyond repair. She's been mothballed now. Turns out a smaller stealthier ship with the ability to go longer without docking for any kind of maintenance or restocking makes for a better deep space vessel."

The Vidiian clamps that had embedded deep into the Adelphi's hull sprang to the forefront of her memory. There had only been so much that Starfleet technology could do by that point. "A more heavily armored ship doesn't hurt either. There are many alike technologies, certainly. But there are equally as many unexpected ones or technologies who are used in such dramatically different ways as to be almost unrecognizable."

Leighton nodded in understanding as he recalled the details of the Adelphi's mission reports. There had been a brief mention of the Ambassador class ship and Leighton had researched more about the subject. If anything, the Adelphi was still proof that the Delta Quadrant was full of species that were hostile to the Federation. "There was a mention of the Adelphi, I can't imagine how she was able to make it back in one piece," Leighton said. His tone conveyed his respect for his new XO and also an acknowledgement of what she had been through.

"Rubber bands and paper clips," Emni muttered with an almost dark amusement. She frowned slightly, her brow creasing for a moment before it smoothed and she let out a long breath. "But there is plenty more time to talk of such things and you've clearly read the official report."

Without preamble, the long legged Romulan stood. "I'm afraid I'm also due elsewhere otherwise I'd be happy to sit and chat longer. Is there anything else I can do to help you settle in?" she asked, somehow managing not to seeme as though she were rushing despite the sudden move to depart.

Taking her leave, Leighton also stood before shaking his head. "No ma'am, I had plenty of time to study the layout of the ship. My orders didn't specify who my department head was," Leighton said as he placed his hands behind his back and waited for her response.

"You'll report to the Assistant Ops Chief, Lieutenant Cross," Emni said with a nod and a smile.

"Of course, I will report to Lieutenant Cross at once," Leighton said before coming to attention briefly and giving his new XO a nod and slight smile. "I'm happy to be aboard ma'am," he added finally before turning and exiting through the doorway out into the hall. He relaxed slightly, releasing a short breath before making his way towards the nearest turbolift. He was glad that there hadn't been any talk about his father, maybe that was a sign he would finally be able to make something of his own on this ship. He stepped into the turbolift when the doors opened and prepared himself to meet his immediate boss, eager for his new duties.

=/\= A Mission Post By =/\=

Lieutenant Commander Emni t'Nai
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Junior Grade Leighton Romanowski
Operations Officer