Ensign Saavei - Noodles are Delicious
Tara W
((Warp Science Lab, Level 7, Amity Outpost))
Hopper: And how are you settling in? Aside from whatever disturbance this storm might have caused… how are you finding your assignment here on Amity so far?
Saavei: I share quarters with Lieutenant Varati; I have settled in comfortably there. I have made friendships with both her and First Secretary Aitas. The current repair work has been demanding but I enjoy fixing broken equipment so it is personally fulfilling. It has been... more involved than I expected when I was enroute from the Academy. Almost immediately after arriving, I was undercover on Uwe II as part of a First Contact mission, alongside yourself and others. I consider it an honor, as many in Starfleet aspire to such a situation.
At the end of the day, it was one of the more fulfilling duties of being a Starfleet Officer. Saavei took the change of topic astride; she could (and would) talk at great length about technical theories if allowed.
Hopper: ::Affirmatively:: Hm. Well, it sounds like you’re hitting the ground with your feet running. You joined us in the middle of a number of big changes, but you seem to be handling that all quite well. ::Smirk:: And you made it out of your first mission relatively unscathed. That’s something.
Saavei: I would enjoy visiting Uwe II again in the future. To see how their development has proceeded as well as how their relationship with the Hovan has evolved. Close as they are, the potential for great friendship exists, if they choose. I am unsure what their current sociological system considers appropriate for off-world visitors at this time. Elarrapel indicated the idea of alien life was not as foreign to them as it is for some other cultures.
It was by and large an FDC mission now, so far as she was aware. Starfleet here worked in support of that mission more than of its own initiative, but it also seemed that Commander Ukinix wasn't one to be entirely side-lined without taking action as needed.
Hopper: Oh, you and me both – though to be honest, I’ll be glad not to have to undergo any surgical alterations next time. Say what you will for the novelty of a covert observational mission like that, but I’m happy to be back in my own skin again.
Saavei: I am sure Project Lead Greeta, at least, would be amenable to a visit. He appeared to hold you in positive esteem, Commander.
Saavei then watched as the Commander appeared to nearly choke on her drink, her cheeks changing color. Had she said something embarrassing? The Vulcan was polite enough not to mention it though she was left re-analyzing her words for something that might have been untoward. Or perhaps it was merely indicating that Greeta had viewed the Commander favorably? Probably some emotional nuance she was missing.
Hopper: Hah. Yeah. We’ll see how they do. I’m sure once the situation is settled they’ll inform the FDC and we may be invited back. ::Changing the topic:: What else is new?
Saavei: Beyond that, Lieutenant Moore approached me regarding developing a new model of the Type-I phaser. I have also advised Commander Iko of my dual-specialty with Tactical and my willingness to train alongside her officers to keep those skills honed. For the moment, making the trains work smoothly again has taken priority. When time allows, I would also find it fascinating to better familiarize myself with the Independence-B. We studied the Defiant and its role during the Dominion War, as part of Academy History and Space Tactics. Inspecting a ship of that class in-person would be insightful.
Hopper: I have no doubt you’ll have more opportunities to work aboard her, Ensign. While the USS Shelby does its fair share of diplomatic runs around the region, the Indy is just as capable in most scenarios and we put her through her paces.
Saavei: I am pleased with my posting. I find the work on Amity fulfilling and the people engaging. As I see it, we have 'the best of both worlds'. A set Outpost from which to operate with the ability to project Federation presence as needed. It is difficult to imagine a frontier farther from Federation space than this one.
And she'd already been able to explore two 'strange new worlds'. Uwe II and Idrustix. Saavei had no doubt there would be others in her future.
Commander Hopper put her hands on her hips and looked around.
Hopper: Well, for now at least, there isn’t really. We truly are on the cutting edge, so to speak. It’s a privilege to work out here – and a bit of a headache sometimes. But we’re out here doing what Starfleet does best. Exploring new worlds, meeting new civilizations, making some mistakes along the way and learning from them… And if we keep it up, then eventually these new frontiers will become the old frontiers, just like the delphic expanse, or the borderlands, or the shoals…
Saavei: If I may ask, Commander, how did you find your way out to Amity Outpost?
Saavei was well aware of Hopper's qualifications. Certainly her talents were of use here, and Saavei had seen her 'in action', but with her degree she could just as easily work with the Daystrom Institute or another think tank. She was curious what had led the other woman to her current posting. She was also surprised, in some ways, that she hadn't sought to arrange a transfer to be closer to her spouse. Emotional races often sought to do so... and many Vulcans would have, as well, if without calling it for that reason.
That elicited a quiet laugh, as the Commander crossed her arms and leaned back on the console.
Hopper: Ohhh… How far back do you want to go? I guess I’ve always had an affinity for the sort of ‘romantic’ notion of Starfleet as a ticket to ‘adventure’ – whatever that means. My first posting was aboard the USS Wall Street, a science vessel slash space taxi. It was a good first gig, really. I learned a lot from my Chief Science Officer. I didn’t realize it initially, but I guess she saw potential in my go-getter attitude – a lot of my peers out of the Academy didn’t want to stand out or be noticed – which has never been my problem.
Hopper: Anyways, my CSO is the one who encouraged me to put myself in the running for the role on Amity. I wasn’t expecting to get it, really, but I’m very very glad I did. I’d always treated Starfleet as a career until I came here and now… Well, now it’s a lot more to me.
Saavei: It sounds... what is the phrase; 'like a journey'.
Hopper: ::Smiling wistfully:: You can say that again. ::Thinking for a moment:: Hey, you like noodles? There’s this little hole-in-the-wall place in my neighborhood, Chaoyang Noodle House. They make an amazing veggie lo mein. If you haven’t had dinner yet, that is… You can download that data onto a PADD and bring it with you.
Saavei: Lo mein... I did have that on Earth when I was in the Academy... ::she glanced towards the console once again:: ... though I do not wish to be remiss in my duties.
Robin waved towards the Ensign in what Saavei understood to be encouragingly.
Hopper: Come on – I’m buying. ::Chuckling:: Besides, as eager as I am to know more about your findings during the neutronic storm, don’t think I’m not also going to ask you about how you wound up here on Amity Outpost. What led you to Starfleet, Saavei?
Saavei: Very well, Commander. You are correct. Food would be in good recommendation. ::Saavei saved what she had so far to her PADD, tucking it under her arm and then turning back towards Robin:: Your curiosity is natural in light of my own.
Saavei followed Hopper towards the edge of the 'ring' so they could catch their turbolift to the train, which then took them off towards the Beijing District. The Vulcan had no qualms; she'd enjoyed the asiatic region on Earth during her time there and hadn't had much opportunity to make a thorough explanation of the Beijing District here yet.
Saavei: I grew up in the ShiKahr province on Vulcan. Both my parents are in the Science Academy. I have an older sister and a younger brother. My grandfather also lives with my family. He suffered a brain injury during the Dominion War and is unable to care for himself. ::She didn't mention the other family members who were lost during the same conflict:: I was an impulsive child. I grew up reading about Ambassador Spock and his life. My parents encouraged my mechanical talents, my interest in Starfleet less so. My application was delayed as I was required to help care for my grandfather, then when I took the entrance exam the first time, I failed to gain admittance. I persevered and passed on my next attempt. Starfleet is where I feel my talents are best put to use. The Science Academy has ample applications for its membership. Perhaps it was when my parents took me to Earth with them when I was in my teen years and I saw Starfleet Academy for the first time. My parents believe I am displaying illogical romanticism but I disagree. And thus, here I am.
Hopper: Was your ‘cadet cruise’ fun? I did mine under Lettie Ashwood, Captain of the USS Kepler – bit of a personal hero of mine, so I was already jazzed to be there. In our scenario we had to fend off a swarm of brain-eating arachnids while investigating a missing shuttlecraft… You?
Saavei: Commander Nilsen of the USS Octavia E Butler and Commander Kel of the USS Ronin were my proctors during the Academy. The majority of my time was spent being evaluated by the former. One of my fellow cadets, a Caitan pilot named JoNz, also serves on the Octavia E Butler now though we have not remained in close contact. I digress. Our ship was struck by an energy wave of unknown origin and composition. Contact was lost with multiple decks and anomalous signals were being received from those levels. While Cadet, now Lieutenant JoNz, attempted to pilot the ship clear, I made my way towards Main Engineering with a small security team, including Commander Nilsen. The stations had been abandoned and the other crew were nowhere to be found. The warp core was in imminent danger of breaching and our Red Alert status was working against us.
Saavei thought perhaps she had better explain that one more clearly.
Saavei: By which I mean the warp core was generating an excess of power, but due to Red Alert shutting down non-critical systems like the holodecks, the damage to the vessel was preventing the power from otherwise dissipating. It was a problem of too much energy versus not enough. I began re-activating any secondary and tertiary systems we could access, and conscripted the security officers with us, as well as Commander Nilsen, to begin doing the same. It was an odd experience ordering a Commander to do repairs as a Cadet, but given the parameters of the simulation, I required his assistance in rerouting power to available outlets. He seemed amused by the situation. The warp core breach was averted once we could safely redistribute power to other systems and was then brought back under control without rupturing a coolant tank. I remained in communication with Lieutenant JoNz and attempted to provide energy to free the ship from its current entanglement. I am unaware exactly what transpired on the Bridge while I was below decks but the simulation ended and our efforts were declared a success.
Hopper: Response
In the time it had taken Saavei to tell the story, the turbolift ride was over and their train was arriving for them to embark on. The Blue Line, from Main Engineering, but if Saavei remembered her station geography they would need to transfer to the Purple Line to reach Archer and the Beijing District...
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((Blue Line Train, Amity Outpost))
Saavei: Immediately after graduation, I was assigned to Amity Outpost. I was given a berth on a transport vessel, the SS Rangoon, and began the six-week journey. I spent much of the time studying Amity and reading crew bios, to better familiarize myself upon arrival. I volunteered in the Rangoon engineering room along the way as well, otherwise the journey would have been... less stimulating.
Hopper: Response
Saavei: What is the phrase... 'to make a lengthy story short'? ::She didn't shrug but her head inclined slightly:: I have yet to be on a ship suffering an imminent warp core breach outside of a simulation, but the experience did lend itself to building confidence in my ability to be... creative... with solutions.
Hopper: Response
Saavei: Brain-eating arachnids no doubt made for a more dynamic experience. I have noticed many humans suffer arachnophobia, as well. You said Captain Ashwood was a personal hero?
Saavei was curious, as she hadn't read about Captain Ashwood's exploits as yet.
Hopper: Response