[BACKSIM] Ensign Ollie Bergmen - Unable to find a straightforward answer

[CPT Arianus]

(( Captain’s Ready Room – Deck 1, Artemis-A ))

Ensign Bergmen sweetly smiled, stood at attention, and attempted to gauge the superior officer's reaction and satisfaction with his answers from their expression.

He wasn't an empath or a telepath, and interpreting humanoid body language wasn't his strong suit. As Gideon, he presented himself as poised and genuine, but he understood that his people were quite different from other species. However, since they didn't ask him to leave nor did they raise their voices, he was convinced that he had been performing satisfactorily, if not well.

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.

Ollie flinched as the captain stressed a particular word, and rather glanced at the first officer - who pointed back to the captain’s direction.

Dakora: That’s good advice. Though I will say in the couple of years since we launched, our missions have run the gamut. The Borderlands are a complex region and our missions reflect that.

Ensign nodded at the captain, then turned to Dakora and gave a quick, confident nod to show that he was pleased with the answers.

Bergmen: Understood, ma’am ::to Dakora:: Sir…

Ollie paused, waiting to see if his superiors wanted to add anything. As he knew, most officers loved the sound of their voices, and if given the chance, they would always have more to say.

oO Will I be the same, after some time? Oo

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.

Those words seemed like a clear indication to Ollie that his time to report was running out, and that he should leave soon - unless he was already staying too long. Ensign glanced briefly at the first officer, who was preoccupied with inspecting the recently refurbished observation window - perhaps another sign that gossips regarding the tour of duty on Artemis were true—the fact that posting there could either lead to receiving a shiny promotion and medal or, more often, a somber return in a flag-draped titanium box as a result of a mission gone awry.

Bergmen: Aye, ma’am. Will do as ordered.

The first officer walked up to Ensign Bermen and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. Perhaps a hint of Ollie's thoughts reflected on his face as Ollie endeavored to maintain an appearance of enthusiasm and positivity. Or maybe the first officer was simply attempting to balance out the commanding duo.

Dakora: Again, welcome aboard Mister Bergmen. ::He smiled.:: You’ll get used to it.

Bergmen: Thank you, sir. I’ll do my best, sir.

The captain's curt nod signaled that his time was up.

MacKenzie: Dismissed.

Ollie stood up, nodded briefly to the captain and the first officer, then swiftly turned on his heel and left.

After the door closed behind him, he took a deep breath and clenched his fists to steady his trembling hands before making his way down the short corridor back to the bridge.


END SCENE FOR OLLIE

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Ensign Ollie Bergmen
Operations Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
A240009JC1