New face

Posted on Sat Sep 30th, 2023 @ 6:20am by Commodore Samantha York & Commander Joren Tal

1,611 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Broken Mirror
Location: Ready room, USS Calypso
Timeline: Current

The past 48 hours have been exhausting for Joren. 2 shuttle rides, and all the stresses that come with transferring ships. Thank the stars for turbolifts able to find their own way through ships, cause the Calypso was so massive one could be lost in it for days without guidance.

But at long last, Joren found himself in the ready room, facing his superior commander.

"Commodore York. I'm Lieut.. erm.. Commander Joren Tal." The transfer also came with a promotion, and that always took a moment to settle in. "Reportin' for duty."

"Welcome to the Calypso," Sam said, smiling at her new first officer. "Please, have a seat. Can I get you something from the replicator?" She'd been through a number of executive officers since Damon was given his own command and she hoped this one would last more than a few months.

"Thanks, Commodore." Joren moved to sit down as he added. "Coffee. Not a huge fan of the replicator stuff, but can use the energy." The last thing he wanted was to fall asleep in front of his new commanding officer - that'd probably not be the best first impression.

"How do you like it?" she asked, getting up to go over to the counter in front of the replicator. While she waited, she entered a mug of cinnamon tea for herself.

"Black." Joren answered simply, waiting for the commodore to return to her seat.

She set a mug of black coffee in front of him and took her cinnamon tea to the other side of her desk and sat down before asking, "Tell me about your last assignment." She found she could learn a lot about someone by how they answered that question.

"USS Vanguard. Sovereign class. Captained by Captain Morais." Joren took a sip of the black liquid. "But you could've read that on the records, so I'm guessin' you're lookin' for a more.. personal story?" He paused for a second, took another sip. "Been on the 'guard for 3 years. Proud to be her XO. Few years ago, we got sent to Delta-9, 'cuz some rogue Klingon faction didn't like the peace treaty."

Sam appreciated that he understood she wanted more than what she could read in his files."T'Kuvma's Heirs. I've read about them." She tried to keep up with recent news, but the Federation covered a large area of space and there wasn't enough time in the day to do more than skim over major events. "I know about as much as you could hold in a thimble, though."

"Yeah. Came there, three Birds of Prey, and a jamming device. Got the 'guard to engage the birds, keep 'em distracted. Meanwhile, I beamed down with some 'neers and sec. Needless to say, they weren't happy to see us. Lila got hit in the leg, so I moved over and laid down suppressive fire while Aria gave her medical care." The words had an undertone of fierce protectiveness. "Dam' Klingons... I used some of Hana's tools to overload a Phaser battery, caused a good flash to blind the Klingons, took the moment to sneak past them."

Damon would like him, she decided. He thought outside the box and he protected his comrades. He'd get along with Captain Rye, too. He might be just who she needed for their next assignment.

"In the end, we disabled the jammer, got the colony's defenses back online. Resulting lightshow'll make the bastards think twice of getting back into Federation space." Joren sat up straighter, took another sip before setting the cup down and looking the Commodore in the eyes. "So, Commodore. What 'm I doin' 'ere?"

She looked him in the eye and nodded. "You are here because I need someone I can rely on as my first officer. Someone who will work with me and not continually argue that my place is safely on the ship--even when I'm the best person to lead a team." She shook her head and smiled. "That was one of my first officers. She refused to accept that there were times I needed to go down to the planet, or act as diplomat. My last first officer was good, but he prefers to work in communications. I need a first officer who knows the rules and when to bend them because there have been times when the rules don't work for the situation we're in. I also need someone who can work with the Marines on board as well as security. Keeping them both happy can be difficult at times. I also need someone who can tactfully keep the peace when some of my senior officers...disagree. And I need someone who can come up with alternatives when we face something that doesn't quite fit the mold." Now he was going to think she was crazy. But she would rather him start off knowing what she expected.

"To illustrate, we recently were sent to check on a colony that had not responded to messages in several weeks. What we found was a man-made ion storm, a colonist who decided he should be in charge, and a Remen base preparing to take over the colony themselves. Now we're heading out to try and stop a group of marauders who are stealing tech and supplies from a variety of locations. For that, we'll rendezvous with a special team who will hopefully be able to help us track them down as they're not using conventional ships."

Joren couldn't help but to be taken slightly aback. Up till now, he was always told to simmer down. To get back in the mold. To not bend the rules, even if the situation clearly called for it. And here he had a commanding officer who literally called for the opposite.

After a moment, Joren answered "I'll admit, most pencil pushers aren't as... eager about my way of working. I think some people should be less focused on the rules, 'n more on what they represent. How do we protect our way of life, our ideals? When the people you care about are in danger, are you gonna talk, or are you gonna defend?" Joren went silent again, leaving the rhetoric question in the air for a second.

"I'd love to have the full brief on those marauders. Ships might not be conventional, but they'd have propulsion. Sensors. Things that stops them from accidentally plummeting into a nearby star, and should aid us in tracking them. But," Joren stretched out slightly before finishing his coffee, "that can wait until I'm settled in and had a cycle of sleep."

Sam nodded. "It can definitely wait. I'm also waiting for the arrival of the intel team. They should have more information. They are also the only ones who will be able to get the specifications on the marauder's ship or ships. that's because they are believed to come from the Mirror Universe. That's a big part of the problem. We don't know who they’re or why they're here. This team has some experience with travel to and from the parallel universe. That bit is to be kept between us, unless they want to tell the others." She paused to take a sip of her tea. "Although I wouldn't be surprised if either our chief of security or chief of intelligence already knows them--or knows of them. Both have worked with covert ops before."

"The mirror universe? Always sounded like a fairy tale to me." As a senior officer, Joren was briefed on the Mirror Universe and its quirks and dangers. But reading it on a PADD was distinctly different than any actual encounter, and details on specifics were vague. "Wonder if I'll find a version of myself all happy and rainbows. But what I've heard of the Terran empire, or what's left of it, they don't blend well with rainbows."

OOC: Should this be remover?
"Yes. Some say parallel universes split off when there's a major transition

"Yes. No one really knows how many parallel universes exist, but sometimes they converge, or splinter off, at turning points." She was a result of one of those. She and Damon, but very few people knew of that. She'd met her "twin" once. The one who still had a family. What surprised Sam was that, after meeting her doppelganger, she was grateful for the choices that made her who she was, even if it meant losing everything to gain the life she currently had.

"I've had enough trouble with this universe, but if there are lives in danger we should do everything in our power to protect the innocents. Is there anything else we need to discuss, Commodore?" While this meeting had been enlightening, and the Commodore surprisingly forthcoming which Joren appreciated, he also longed for some alone time and a good night's sleep.

"No. As I don't know when the Prowler will be joining us, I felt it important to let you know what's coming. Now find your quarters, get some sleep, then meet the senior staff. Hopefully there will be time for that, but things don't always work for our convenience." She stood. "I look forward to working with you."

"Likewise. Thanks, Commodore." Joren also stood and nodded. "I know when duty calls, though I do hope duty will leave me alone for the coming few hours. Commodore." Joren did another respectful nod before turning around and heading out the door.

"You should have plenty of time," Sam assured him. At least, she hoped so. Max Hunter tended to work on his own timetable. "Sleep well."

____
OFF

Commander Joren Tal
Executive Officer
USS Calypso

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

 

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