New Blood

Posted on Thu Jun 4th, 2026 @ 4:47am by Petty Officer 1st Class Gatien Savoir & Lieutenant Axod Qo & Ensign M'Razza

Mission: Port of Call
Location: Pathfinder Station
Timeline: Mission Day 16 at 0700

Today was the day! M'Razza could hardly believe it. After months of working aboard the Pathfinder, she had finally been assigned to a ship's crew, the one that had arrived just recently and was undergoing refits. The Sojourner, a Nova-class. She brushed her fingertips against her badge and her pips, making sure they were proper and clean, and shouldered her duffle bag and paced through the airlock. The customs official stopped her. "Hi, I'm requesting to come aboard? I have my new assignment here," she shuffled through her bag for her PADD, before remembering it was in her jacket. She offered it to the official, who looked it over. The two confirmed the proper certifications, and she was waved in. She took her PADD back, once it was offered.

Axod held the large PADD against his chest like an old-fashioned clipboard, scanning the flow of the last few new arrivals filing through the airlock. Fresh uniforms, unfamiliar faces, each one another name he’d soon need to learn, another personality joining the extremely varied ecosystem of the Sojourner.

As Chief Counselor, Ax often found himself playing several roles beyond the confines of his office. Morale officer, informal guide, occasional mediator—and, on days like this, the ship’s unofficial welcome committee. He stepped forward slightly so his voice would carry over the low hum of the Airlock. “Welcome to the Sojourner! I’m Lieutenant Axod Qo, Chief Counselor.” His voice dripped with traces of his Doosodarian accent. It was subtle, but there were some words in Federation Standard that his people couldn't wrap their tongues around.

The few heads turned toward him, the nervous energy of newly assigned crew softening just a little under the warmth of his tone.

“You’ll notice some of the crew have joined me today. They’ll help get you where you need to go.” He gestured to a few Sojourner crew, positioned along the shipside concourse in a selection of uniform colors.

“Engineering, Flight, and Operations assignments, please see Ensign Harooq.” He indicated a Vissian woman in Operations gold, standing a few meters away with an efficient but friendly expression. One very short woman, also in gold with a single ensign's pip, scurried toward the Vissian.

“Science assignments,” he continued, “see Ensign Ral.” He turned slightly as he spoke, nodding toward the Betazoid scientist who was already waving enthusiastically to the blue-uniformed Andorian who had entered just behind M'Razza.

Axod took a quiet breath. “Security and Tactical assignments, please see Lieutenant Sel.” His hand shifted toward a dark-featured Vulcanoid officer standing with unmistakable composure a short distance away.

“And Medical and Counselling assignments, please see Nurse Savoir.” He gestured beside him to the large man in teal, his locks a jarring shade of blond today.

When he finished, Axod let out a small breath and offered the group an encouraging smile. “Please make your way to your assigned officer now. They’ll get you squared away.” His voice carried that familiar Doosodarian warmth, an easy cadence that made the instructions feel less like orders and more like reassurance. For many of these officers, this was the beginning of something uncertain, something new.

Gatien leaned over and said in a quiet aside, "You sure got that down, doc. An' bettah you den me," he added with an entirely too-cheeky wink. Then, as the new blood began seeking out their guides, he straightened, pulling his uniform down so it settled more comfortably across his broad shoulders. Cheeky morphed to welcoming interest as M'Razza made her way over.

M'Razza waved at Nurse Savoir with a narrowing of the eyes and a pinning back of her ears. "Hi, Petty Officer First Class Savoir, I'm Ensign M'Razza. It's my pleasure to meet you and to be at the service of the Sojourner." She pressed to an at ease stance, locking her hands behind her back, her tail hanging low between her ankles. "I had a posting in waiting in the Pathfinder, but I'm eager to get started with patients and my rounds as soon as the Medical wing has need of me."

Gatien shifted slightly, mostly to cover his initial unease at M'Razza's expression. As she spoke, giving context to the look, so too did the nurse relax, his features melting into a grin that was a startling white in his nut-brown face. "Gatien's fine," he assured her, "An' it's a pleashah to make yoah acquaintance. Ah hope ya weren't on Pathfindah too long?" He turned and began leading the way with a natural gait that was as inviting as it was casual. He glanced back over M'Razza's head at Qo, giving the counselor a lifted eyebrow as if to say, 'coming?'

Axod smiled warmly, his gaze sweeping the area one last time to ensure no one had been left behind. Satisfied, he moved as quickly as his body would permit, measured, but purposeful, closing the distance between himself, the nurse, and the unfamiliar face at hid side.

He slowed as he reached them, the urgency softening into something more welcoming. His attention settled on the ensign, eyes bright with quiet curiosity. “You’re with us, then?” he asked, the question carrying both confirmation and invitation.

She noticed his initial response. Her eyes widened slightly, and she offered a smile, hoping to fix her faux paw. "Oh, sorry- Sorry, I didn't mean to seem like I was glaring at you! Gatien, it's so nice to meet you," She planted her hands on her hips and shook her head. "Oh, eight months or so? It's uh, It's okay, I really enjoy my work. Got to meet lots of interesting people, improve upon what the Academy taught me, you know?" Her ears went alert, and she turned over to Qo. "Hi, M'Razza." She offered her hand. Her hand was humanoid, save for the nubbed claws at her fingernails, and some soft, bare patches in the palm.

Gatien whistled in sympathy, "Hoo boy cherie, eight mont's a long time on dat dere station. Glad you gotcha some 'sperience, but Ah'll be damned if you could pay me ta do dat."

"So, uh, what's the Sojourner like? I've done some reading about the Nova classes, but that doesn't tell me much. What's her Captain and the CMO like?" M'Razza asked.

"Oh, she's da best you could ask for, out heah in the Dee Cue," Gatien assured her, flashing her a grin that told her he knew there weren't many Starfleet vessels to ask for in the Delta Quadrant. "She small, but she do da job. Captain's got a good head on his shouldahs, and the CMO knows his--" Gatien grimaced, still unused to the change in the good doctor, "her business. An' she ain't an asshole, so we got dat goin' fuh us." Again, Gatien's white smile flashed in his brown face, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Asshole CMOs weren't unknown, and nurses sure fared better without them.

Axod nodded, the motion a touch more subdued than usual but no less sincere. “You won’t find a finer doctor this side of the wormhole,” he said, a note of easy confidence threading through his words.

He shifted his stance slightly, settling more comfortably as his attention turned fully to their guest. Curiosity softened his expression, open and inviting. “So, Miss M’Razza,” he continued, tilting his head just a fraction, “tell us about you. Why medicine? Why the Delta Quadrant?”

"Why medicine? I suppose, um, I want to be able to help people. I was raised from a child on Earth, and I got really swept up in the 'good you can do for others' mentality in my education. There's a lot of harm that needs to be mitigated in this galaxy and if I can help, I have an obligation to help. The Delta Quadrant is easy. It's an unexplored frontier! I can be the first woman from Cait to plant my paws on an unexplored moon, I can be the first person to treat a new alien lifeform of a disease, it's really, unbelievably exciting. What about you two?"

Axod nodded as she spoke, following her easily. There was a familiarity in her words that settled something in him, a quiet recognition he hadn’t expected. “I grew up with a mother who was a musical healer,” he said, a soft warmth threading into his voice. “More concerned with the spirit than the physical body. That always resonated with me, and it’s what led me toward counselling in Starfleet.”

For a brief moment, the hall tilted. A subtle shift, but enough to catch his attention. He steadied himself almost immediately, smoothing it over with practiced ease, as though nothing had happened, hoping, perhaps, that it hadn’t been noticed.

“Most of my people are content to remain together on Doosodaria,” he continued, his tone thoughtful now, reflective. “There’s a strong sense of community there, of belonging.” A faint smile touched his lips before it softened. “But there are always a few of us who feel the pull of something beyond that. Sometimes it only takes us as far as the moons in our own system…” He paused, glancing between them. “And sometimes, it carries us all the way out here.”

Gatien nodded along with her answer and Axod's companionably... until M'Razza mentioned the Delta Quadrant. He nearly missed a step, and his lips pressed together as though to keep his reaction shuttered on the inside-- an effort that met with minimal success. He shot a glance at Axod over M'Razza's head, concern lifting one of his dark brows for the young ensign's answer, his own near stumble having caused him to miss the counselor's.

As they stepped up to the turbolifts and he called one, Gatien managed to school his features into something more neutral to inform her, “Ah don't think it goan be long befoah you learn this yo'self, but Ah'm gonna tell ya right now-- the Dee Queue is anytin' but easy. Treatin' new diseases might be excitin', but it damn sho' ain't easy.”

The lift doors opened and the bright-haired nurse gestured for them to precede him as he chimed in, “He right about dat, cherie. Dere ain't noplace with a tighter community den a starship like dis one on th'bleedin' edge o' the Federation's reach. It's a mighty fine place ta be, you ask me.” Gatien flashed her a smile as they piled into the lift, trying to take the edge off his earlier words.

"Deck four," he directed the car as the doors slid shut, explaining, "We'll drop yo' t'ings an den getcha checked in at sickbay."

M'Razza's innate sense of balance caught the tilt. She slid her footing slightly as she walked, and swayed her tail. "Hm," She said quietly, before turning to Axod with a smile. Entering the lift with the two, she nodded to Gatien. "Of course, yes, I know it's not going to be easy, but there's a saying on Earth, nothing worth doing is ever easy, right? It's going to be a challenge, but I'm excited to work with the crew and meet the challenges."

Gatien shot her a lopsided smile for her human-ism, and agreed with a, “Dat’s th’spirit.”

She nodded. "Drop off my things, then get checked in at the sickbay. Do you think they'll need me to complete a physical, or should I request a transfer of my data from the station? Do you know anything about my roommates?"

Axod shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the movement subtle but betraying the discomfort he couldn’t quite mask. He positioned himself before continuing, keeping his tone even, professional.

“Your records will transfer over,” he said, giving a small nod, “but you’ll still need to report to Doctor Wang, she’s your superior officer.” He paused briefly, as if weighing how much to add. “She may decide to update your medical file, or she might be satisfied with what’s already there.” A faint shrug followed, measured and restrained. “It’s up to her.”

Gatien cut a concerned glance at Axod, becoming aware of the other man’s discomfort. He couldn’t pinpoint anything he or M’Razza had done to elicit such a response, but a busy lift didn’t seem the time to ask, so instead he tried catching Axod’s eye and lifting his brows in unspoken inquiry.

M'Razza caught the glance at Axod in her periphery, She adjusted her grip on the strap of her bag and focused ahead on the door of the lift. She was concerned about the first impression she'd make on the ship - Her first posting, no less. What if she says the wrong thing, does the wrong thing? She smiled and steeled herself as the lift came to a slow.

“I hope you aren’t expecting much in the way of living space,” Axod said, his tone warm but touched with apology. “The Nova-class is a far cry from the Sovereigns, or the Station, when it comes to amenities.”

He gave a small, self-aware shrug, the corner of his mouth lifting just slightly. “We make do, though,” he added, a hint of quiet pride slipping through, as if the limitations had long since become part of the ship’s character rather than a flaw.

"Oh, this is great. I can sleep anywhere, Axod. Girl Scout training helped me get used to being in odd places, and this isn't so bad. I know it's not the Enterprise or the Defiant."

The lift came to a smooth stop and opened. The computer informed them, Deck Four, Archeaology, Cargo Bay, Computer– as they stepped out into the hallway. “Da counselor can confirm, but Ah t’ink you in with some sciencey types. All junior officahs, new to da ship like yoahself,” Gatien explained as they rounded the curve of the corridor and Axod directed them to a particular door. “Go ahead an’ key yoahself in, den we’ll head to sickbay an’ you can meet da rest o’ da inmates.” He flashed her a bright white grin.

She nodded to Gatien with a smile, showing off those fanged pearly whites in return. "Before I go, did you feel the deck shift at all? I did, wonder what that was about?" She turned gracefully on her paw, and made her way into her quarters. She was in there for maybe a minute, dropping off her bag in her section of the quarters before jogging back to the others.

“Deck shift?” Gatien asked, brow furrowing with confusion as he shot Axod a questioning glance while M’Razza chucked her things inside the room. “Just the lift shift,” he offered in answer as she returned.

"Right. So, Gatien, your accent, it's very peculiar, can you tell me more of where you're from? Me, I'm from San Francisco. My relatives on Cait think my accent is ridiculous."

“Moi?” Gatien asked with exaggerated innocence, “Just a humble Louisiana boy mahself. Ah can assure you, San Franciscans thought mah accent as ridiculous as yoah relatives. You dun put on the Caitian accent when you around dem?” They began back down the corridor for the lifts once more.

She laughed. "Oh, no, no. I grew up in San Francisco since I was a little girl, and my stepdad is as human as the day is long, so I took after him a lot. The rough accent of some of my relatives, I can try," She snickered, approaching the lifts with the two. She touched her chin and thought. "Your're frrom Louisiana?" She spoke, her voice more gruff, more heavy on the rs. "I can't say I've ever been. Studied the history of it, though!"

She entered the lift once it opened, and turned to face the two, her arms crossing behind her back. Ears alert, tail swishing, she looked like she was on cloud nine.

“Don’t even start on the food!” Axod exclaimed, a sudden brightness entering his voice as the subject instantly animated him. “Louisiana has some of the most flavourful food I’ve experienced on Earth.”

He gave a small, incredulous shake of his head, as though he still hadn’t entirely recovered from the discovery himself. “Everything tastes so rich, layered, unapologetically bold.” A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I’m fairly certain I nearly embarrassed myself the first time I had proper jambalaya.” He had to consciously stop himself from licking his lips.

“It can be very beautiful,” Gatien said of his homeland as Axod joined them, before directing the lift, “Level two.” Anything else he might have said on the subject was completely derailed by talk of food, which brought back the white flash of teeth as he grinned, "Hoooo, boy just you wait 'til you meet my maman an' she boils you up a propah feast o crawfish n' shrimp. Mis amies, you won't know what hit you." As the lift slid to a smooth halt and the doors open, Gatien led the way out into the corridor, whose first set of double-doors was sickbay. "You like seafood?" he asked M'Razza as the doors parted for them.

She nodded, "I do. My species are obligate carnivores, so I'm always trying new seafoods or dishes. Replicated, of course. Your maman's crawfish and shrimp sound great, you should ask her to give you the recipe to make and we can make it a thing with the three of us! I'll bring a food from Cait that my mom taught me to make, it's synthetic R'Sazo river lizard cooked in spice." She turned over to Axod, swishing her tail with a grin. "As for the jambalaya- I can't handle anything TOO spicy either, but that's what antacids are for, yes?"

She laughed. "Oh, the food of Earth, once I tried sushi and hamburgers as a child I knew I could never ever leave."

The turbolift doors parted with a soft hiss, depositing the trio onto the designated deck. Just beyond, nearly opposite the lift itself, the main entrance to Sickbay stood ready behind its familiar sliding doors. Axod gestured toward it with an easy motion. “Sickbay!” he announced lightly, a hint of humour threading through the presentation, as though offering a grand tour despite the compactness of the ship.

“This is where I part ways,” he added, inclining his head in the opposite direction, toward the corridor that led to the cabin he shared with the Chief Medical Officer. He turned back to M’Razza, warmth brightening his tired features. “Welcome, again,” he said with a genuine smile. “I’m sure we’ll cross paths soon.”

Then, with an acknowledging nod toward Gatien, Axod took his leave, disappearing down the corridor at a measured pace.

Gatien lifted a hand in farewell to the counselor and then stepped forward toward sickbay’s doors, which opened obligingly before him. “R’Sazo river lizard, yah say?” he clarified, one corner of his mouth quirking upward, “Now dat is somet’in Ah’d be excited to try. You’re on,” he said as they stepped into the brightly lit space beyond. “Now, let’s getcha acquainted wit’ da CMO an’ all da bells an’ whistles we got here in our sickbay.”

The sickbay doors closed behind them, cutting off the rounded flow of words as Gatien launched into his grand tour of sickbay, the Caitian firmly tucked under his metaphorical wing.

A post by:

Lieutenant Axod Qo
Ship's Counselor

Ensign M'Razza
Nurse

Petty Officer First Class Gatien Savoir
Nurse