Meeting The New Chief Engineer

Posted on Wed May 26th, 2010 @ 12:36pm by Lieutenant JG Kalyka Meral & Commodore Samantha York

1,182 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Transitions
Location: USS Calypso
Timeline: Just after the Calypso gets there

Kalyka had finally gotten word that her commander had shown up on the station and that the ship was there. She was eager to get to work after two weeks of doing nothing. After two weeks of strolling along the promenade and stocking up on her perfume, buying more incense and candles, treating herself to a few fancies and a meal or two, she had had enough leisure to last her quite a while. She wanted to get to work and quickly. She didn't care if she was just putting in new isolinear chips. At least she would be DOING something.

She entered the dock and headed to the nearest turbolift. "Bridge." She assumed her new CO would be there. It would be only logical for a CO to want to be right on the bridge or breaking in the new ready room.

She exited the turbolift and walked to the readyroom, ringing the chime.

Sam was under her desk, working on setting up a link to the computer in her quarters. "Come in," she called as she climbed out and stood to greet her guest.

Kalyka walked in to see a mess of tools under the CO's desk. Her grey eyes took it all in in a second before going to the woman in front of her.

She was quite young for a commanding officer, with long brown hair and black eyes. She seemed quite the beauty except for the lack of ridges on her nose, but then, Kalyka was biased...she loved her deep ridges and always had.

Kalyka gave her a serene smile. "LtJG Kalyka Meral reporting for duty, ma'am."

"Ah, yes. Lieutenant Kalyka," Sam said, giving her a warm smile. "Welcome aboard the Calypso. Can I get you something to drink?"

"Darjeeling tea, please, with honey." The Bajoran followed the other woman with her eyes to the replicator, but she didn't sit down because she had not been invited to. She took a look at the desk again. "What are you trying to do there?" she said out of curiosity.

"I installed a secondary computer system on the Orion. I figured I could set it up here as well as we don't have a chief science officer. I was setting up a link to my personal computer so I could access it from here," Sam told her as she replicated the tea and got herself a cup of chamomile tea. "Have a seat," she said as she set the tea in front of Kalyka.

Meral sat down and picked up her tea. She was relaxed, yet looked ready to jump up at any moment. It wasn't that she looked tense or eager to get out of there. It was just her normal position: back straight, both feet flat on the ground. Some people called it tense. Her doctors called it good posture.

Sam sat down and took a sip of her tea. "So, tell me a little bit about yourself," she asked.

She sipped her tea. There was a touch too much honey. "Well, I grew up on a moba fruit farm on Bajor. I saw the difference one person could make by just being a Starfleet officer and joined Starfleet about 9 years ago. I started out as science because I liked plants and working at B'hala, but decided to go with engineering because other planets weren't the same. Been an engineer ever since."

"I started in science myself," Sam replied with a smile. "I sort of 'inherited' command."

Kalyka thought she might like the woman. She still hadn't given Kalyka her name. She decided to ask. "I'm sorry, but my last department head was in a bit of a rush and didn't give me a name to go with your rank."

Sam was surprised. "Really? Orders generally state the name of the ship, the name of the captain and when and where to report in. I'm Samantha York," she said.

Kalyka consulted her orders again. "It states the name of the ship and when and where to report in and only says "it's commander". Then again, my former commander isn't known for his organizational skills."

"Oh? Tell me a bit about your former commander," Sam asked.

Kalyka sipped her tea to give her time to think about how much to tell. "Well...he isn't great at organization. His desk would prove that to anyone. But he's a good man and is always thinking of his crew. He outdrank a Romulan once, but passed out almost the instant after the Romulan did. And he had this gift for making a room fall silent and pay attention to him just by walking in."

Sam listened quietly. It was always telling to hear someone talk about their former CO. When Kalyka fell silent, Sam spoke. "We are just settling in on the Calypso. It's fairly new and just came through a refit, so most of what we're doing is moving in and getting things set up. Our last engineer was good, but she was transferred before we left for Tiberius IV. I think you're going to fit in well around here."

Meral nodded. "That's good to know. It's my first time as a department head. I just hope I don't screw it up," she said with a sheepish smile. She was a little unsure of herself in this new role, and was uncertain as to whether she would measure up.

"Oh, honey," Sam said, laughing. "After the week we've had, you'll be a welcome sight." She briefly explained about the ghezun infestation that led them to abandon the Orion and move to the Calypso.

By the time she was finished, Kalyka had a blank look on her face. "Guess I have my work cut out for me. I would ask if the last chief left any notes about the ship's quirks, but I don't think that would apply in this case."

"Alexandra was on the Orion. As were the ghezuns. That ship is headed for drydock for nearly a year. This ship just came out of refit," Sam corrected. "So any notes would have been on the old ship -- and before the infestation."

"That is good to know." Kalyka thought about the types of checking she'd have to do on a new ship and thought about the size of the ship. She'd better get to work.

"Is there anything I can do to help you get settled in?" Sam asked.

The Bajoran shook her head. "No, ma'am, I got my billeting assignment from the quartermaster." She hesitated. "Are pets allowed? I saw the cutest kittens on the starbase."

"Pets are allowed in your quarters and designated areas of the ship," Sam said. "Engineering is not one of those areas." She grinned. "There is no 'bring your pet to work' day on the Calypso. You're dismissed."

Kalyka smiled. Yes, she would like it here. "Understood, ma'am." She set her tea on the desk and left for the starbase, wondering what she would name the kittens.

OFF

Commander Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

LtJG Kalyka Meral
Chief Engineer
USS Calypso

 

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