Captain Addison MacKenzie: Finish Yer Onboarding
Addison MacKenzie
(OOC: Wrapping this up in the interest of our mission starting tomorrow!)
(( Captain’s Ready Room – Deck 1, Artemis-A ))
MacKenzie: And so, you’ve been assigned to the Artemis. What
do you know of our assignment?
Bergmen: No, I do not know anything yet, ma’am. I did not meet my
division chief to clarify on my assignment within the department. But giving my
professional history, I would expect the team lead position within supply chain
or clerical administration. ::nervously bites his lip, pausing for a moment to
collect his thoughts:: I gather from your question, ma’am ::nods:: sir, that my
assignments on this vessel will entail rotating through various officer roles
within OPS in my first year onboard - similar to your experience during your
medical residency in the medical division, ma’am.
She raised an eyebrow. Her question was not one of his assignment: he
would be responsible for completing whatever tasks the ops department chief
felt were worthy of his skills. Her question had been about the Artemis
and its mission.
Dakora: Response
MacKenzie: And what about the Borderlands? What do you anticipate will
be some of the more difficult aspects of your job, given the area of the galaxy
to which we’re assigned?
Bergmen: Sector 04-70, Alpha Quadrant. Borderline region between
Federation and Cardassian Union, with Bajor as the nearest major Federation
world. This region is known for its massive plasma storms - and these storms
severely limit the reach of navigation and targeting sensors, rendering any
ships inside the Badlands practically sensor blind. When Maquis were the thing,
they used the Badlands as a staging ground and a place to hide, navigating
through by using a practice called echolocation. However, this method did not
ultimately help them in the end, in early stages of the Dominion War.
Her eyes narrowed. The new officer had correctly identified the Badlands, but
had inadvertently (she hoped) confused it with their campaign regions: the Borderlands.
The two, while similar, were not in the same quadrant, let alone close to Cardassian
space or Bajor. She wondered briefly if Starfleet was sending her defective officers
who couldn’t interpret her questions: first there was Ensign-what was his name?
Tryon? And now, Ensign Bergmen wasn’t fairing much better.
She exchanged a look with Dakora. Perhaps she needed to pivot to a topic that
was more familiar to the Ensign…
MacKenzie: Alright then, Mister Bergmen. Tell me a little about
yourself. The things that go beyond what I can find in your dossier.
Bergmen: If you were to talk to any of our elders, they would claim that
our people have achieved enlightenment and perfection. Therein lies the irony
of living centuries, an irony that will one day kill us - not admitting that
the most challenging thing in this galaxy is to live in it. I do not believe we
attained enlightenment or perfection. The galaxy around us is in constant flux
- as the Federation encountered Borgs, Dominion, and numerous other unfriendly
civilizations. Gideon does not exist in a vacuum, and we must roll up our
sleeves and work to ensure there will be a Gideon tomorrow. That's why I
enlisted. I saw what's happening in the galaxy, and couldn't simply stand by
and bask in the comfort of our life in paradise.
She resisted the urge to crumple at her desk as the ensign once again avoided
directly answering the question. Fortunately, Dakora stepped in to save them
both.
Dakora: Response
Bergmen: No, I'm not personally religious, sir. Religion has had a
significant impact throughout the galaxy, just as it has back home. The
overpopulation issue Gideon faced three centuries ago serves as the brightest
evidence of what religion can take from the people..
Ollie watched the two officers closely to see how they would react.
MacKenzie: Insightful.
Dakora: Response
Ensign Bergmen smiled, and nodded.
Bergmen: Excuse me, sir or ma'am, can I have a question of my own?
::pause:: What kind of service can I expect on Artemis, and in your opinion,
what makes the experience of serving on Artemis special?
MacKenzie: I think, for those answered, you should best speak to one of
your colleagues. They would be better suited to give you a more pointed
answer.
Dakora/Bergmen: Response
Her attention waned and her focus was once again caught by the pile of PADDs in
the center of her desk.
MacKenzie: We’re going to be heading out of spacedock soon on our way
back to the Borderlands. If there’s nothing else, you should finish your
onboarding procedure as we prepare to get underway.
Dakora/Bergmen: Response
She nodded curtly.
MacKenzie: Dismissed.
Tag, and End Scene for MacKenzie!
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Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A
Captains Council Member at Large
V239601AM0