JP: Cmdr Rahman & Lt Venroe: The Offer (Part 1)

[Rich Yulin]

((Roshanara Rahman’s Quarters, USS Invicta))

::She held the PADD in her hands, her eyes on the text but her mind elsewhere. She must have read it a dozen times.::

“To Commander Roshanara Rahman, stardate 239304.05. You are hereby requested and required to take command of the USS Invicta as of this date…”

::She knew it was a possibility with Captain Kells still recovering from his ordeal at the hands of Commodore Chase, but the “acting” in her title had let her think of it as only temporary. Now, there was no turning back. Especially after she’d learned Captain Kells had been promoted to Invicta Expedition Commander.::

::The door chime finally brought her back to reality, and when she called for her visitor to come in, she had composed herself enough to greet the Trill woman with a smile.::

Kinan: Commander Rahman. I’m glad we could meet on better terms.

Rahman: Lieutenant, thank you for coming. I’m sorry your leave wasn’t as relaxing as it should have been, but you should know a commendation has been placed in your file for your actions aboard the Lindbergh.

Kinan: Thank you, but I think my role was . . . awfully small.

::Literally nothing she’d been expecting had happened on the Lindbergh.::

::Roshanara nodded, still smiling.::

Rahman: It’s all right. We often can’t really place our own actions in the larger context of a crisis, and the point is, from outside, you were vital in preventing further loss of life. ::beat:: Were you planning to continue your leave or head back to Astrofori One soon?

Kinan: I was. I’m half-way home, might as well go back, have a cup of tea on a couch before going back to what might be hundreds of reports on my desk.

Rahman: I see. I noticed on your file, you’ve been station-side for the past couple of years. May I ask if you were ever thinking of returning to starship duty?

::No.::

Kinan: It honestly never crossed my mind. I feel more useful behind a desk.

::Hmmph. It seemed Roshanara would have to go with a more direct approach.::

Rahman: Well, I’ll be honest, lieutenant. I was one of those impressed by your recent actions. Having “negotiated” with Cariño, I can’t imagine it was easy. One of the liner’s crew members even described how you stood up to her, phasers aimed at you, and you didn’t even flinch.

::Not one of her better moments on the job, she had to admit. Cariño was . . . unpredictable. She didn’t match any behavioural patterns she (any of them) had ever seen. And that’s three incredibly short lifetimes worth.::

Kinan: Humans are harder to convince to stand down. I prefer Klingons - they’re more obvious in their actions and motives.

::Roshanara stood up, nodding, before she gestured for the other woman to follow her to the small dining table near the replicator.::

Rahman: You mentioned you enjoyed tea?

Kinan: I do. White tea, three sugars.

::The Kriosian called up the requested blend and placed the cups on the table before taking a seat, again gesturing for the Trill to join her.::

Rahman: I asked you to meet me because there’s been a recent vacancy aboard the Invicta. And I’d like you to consider it.

Kinan:::frowning:: Commander?

::Roshanara took a sip, closing her eyes for a moment as she enjoyed the taste, before she placed the cup down and looked straight back at Kinan.::

Rahman: First officer.

::Kinan choked on her tea, sputtering for a second before composing herself, placing the tea back down. (Consider it.)::

Kinan: W-wouldn’t it be better for you to offer this to someone you *actually know*?

::The former first officer raised her eyebrow. She wondered if Captain Kells had had this much fun when he had asked her to take the job.::

Rahman: Are you saying you don’t want it?

TBC...

Lt. Kinan Venroe

Personnel Officer, Astrofori One

Writer ID C238803SB0 (I am not a sheep, ser!)

&

Commander Roshanara Rahman

Commanding Officer, USS Invicta

Writer ID I238705TZ0