Ensign Ollie Bergmen - Nothing is so perfect
CPT Arianus
(( USS Griffin - En Route to Kahines II ))
To an outsider, Ollie's attempts to reach out and bond with Filistrien may have appeared clumsy at best. But one was more than visible - Bergmen's gaze locked onto Filistrien with a spark of recognition that spoke volumes.
Bergmen: Interesting… ::makes eye contact:: I did not see you much onboard. Are you staying late in that secret department of yours? Or do you go out sometimes?
Filistrien: I suppose the journey back and forth between my quarters and the Intel Hub counts for ‘out’? ::lopsided smile:: I’m sure, as an Operations officer, you are not unfamiliar with the amount of crew aboard the Artemis plagued with workaholism.
Conversely, Filistrien seemed indifferent to the ensign's enthusiasm, whether from deliberate disregard or simple inattention.
At that moment, Ensign Lyara intervened, and Xandeus turned to face her.
Lyara: Alright love birds, if you’re up here you can help out with the navigation.
The Petty Officer looked taken aback by the Ensign's comments, his eyes blinked in disbelief. Meanwhile, Ollie's gaze seemed to be... disapproving.
Filistrien: Of course, Sir.
Bergmen’s eyes had a way of conveying a tale that could be easily captured in a single phrase— “Stop pretending to be my chaperone.”
Lyara appeared unfazed by Ensign Bergmen's stare and directed their attention to their work consoles, first gesturing towards Filistrien's and then towards Bergmen's.
Lyara: I don’t mind if you multitask at least, never said you can’t work and talk.
Filistrien seized the opportunity to dive back into his work and his own thoughts, even though he appeared a bit uneasy from the two.
Filistrien: ::solemn nod:: Communications work rarely lends itself to multi-tasking, Ensign Lyara, but I’ll make an effort.
Bergmen scowled at Lyara and turned his attention back to the glowing screen of his console, fingers moving deftly over the controls.
Bergmen: Aye, cap. As you say - aviate, navigate, communicate.
Lyara: Response
(( Two Days Later - Wallace Colony, Kahines II ))
Griffin was too small for Filistrien to hide from Bergmen, but Ollie faced the same problem when he thought he could continue courting the petty officer. Other mission members somewhat interfered with Bergmen's chances of having a private moment anywhere he moved.
They faced two long days of travel, but after just a few hours, the ensign threw in the towel. Instead of giving in to his chaotic urges, Bergmen chose to heed the quieter voice of reason in his mind. He devoted himself to his work and responsibilities, focusing his energy on productive endeavors rather than being led astray by his passions. Surprisingly, the remainder of the journey to Kahines II was then uneventful in this regard.
As they touched down on the planet, a welcoming committee was already on hand to greet them. The Colony Administrator promptly took Lieutenant Sadar and Ensign Imril under his wing, guiding them into the negotiations with the Klingons. Meanwhile, Pettry Officer Filistrien, along with Ensigns Lyara and Bergmen, were accompanied by the Administrator’s aide, who was tasked with showing them around the colony.
The Bergmen had expected a brief moment of rest to settle in, but they seemed to be expected to jump right into work, so they received a short briefing and Q&A on the task ahead.
Following applause was fitting, and Mx. Fiell, the Xindu-Primate and their guide, seemed genuinely pleased with the team's mindset; that much Ollie could discern from Fiell's reaction and following words.
Fiell: Ah, you’ll want to speak with Barto and Hazel then. They are the ones who first found the ruin. They’re on Silo duty today, if memory serves, so we should be able to fetch them in quick order.
Bergmen: Perfect. Visiting them sounds like a great place to start.
Lyara: Response
Fiell: It’s no trouble. It can double as a bit of a guided tour for you all. The Klingons have been here a bit longer than you, so they know their way around already. We should get you up to speed.
The journey didn't seem like it would take long. The colony resembled more of a border outpost than a full-fledged, thriving human community. It consisted of clusters of small habitats adorned with solar panels and a few larger buildings dedicated mainly to community, scientific, or administrative purposes. From what he could see during the descent, he estimated that it likely housed only a few hundred residents at most.
The buildings appeared well-maintained, and the people exuded a sense of happiness. Small shops and stalls lined the streets they wandered through, bustling with activity. The steady flow of passersby made it clear that they were thriving. However, some uncertainty lingered not only in the ensign's mind, as Bergmen observed from Filistrien's expression.
Everything about this situation seemed too good to be true, almost as if it had been staged. This was especially striking given how much their briefing back on Griffin focused on the mounting tension between the local settlement and the Klingons.
Bergmen: ::whispers to Lyara:: They don't seem like the Klingons would bother them much, does it?
Lyara: Response
Bergmen nodded and addressed their guide.
Bergmen: Klingons are cutting you some slack? I expected we would meet some of them by now.
Fiell: Not much, I’m afraid. They tend to stick to their Ship when they’re not at the digsite.
Filistrien: They haven’t accepted your kind offer of accommodations within the colony?
Bergmen smiled when Xander joined their discussion.
Fiell: We are a small colony, and their Ship serves their needs much better than the meager accommodations we can provide.
Ollie realized what their intelligence NCO was trying to convey with that question and decided to take advantage of the opportunity while he could.
Bergmen: Where does that ship dock? I didn’t see it on the landing pad.
Fiell: Response
Bergmen nodded with interest on his face. That answer was clearly left for the next direction of thought, but for some reason, he chose not to let the topic develop.
Lyara: Response?
As the group approached the corner of a shop, they could see a building rising ahead, indicating that they were nearing the end of the road. Ollie quickened his pace, matching the steady stride of Petty Officer Filistrien as they walked side by side in the casual moment of their shared walk.
Bergmen: ::whispers:: I believe it's important for us to have a conversation with Mr. Barto and Hazel privately, without our chaperone. Do you agree?
Filistrien: Response
Bergmen: I will handle it.
Bergmen smiled and slowed down as they approached Silo to see a Caitian, dressed in work clothes, skillfully fast-roping down the structure, while an older man, who appeared either human or similar, secured the climbing rope from the ground.
Bergmen: Looks like we find the place. Thank you, Mr. Fiell.
Fiell: Response
Ensign stopped and turned to face their guide directly in his path, while he put his arm around Fiell’s shoulders and smiled at him warmly.
Bergmen: If I may, we planned to go to lunch after the talk with those two gentlemen. Since you’re familiar with the area, could you please help by making a reservation for us at a good restaurant? We would really appreciate it. Once we finish here, we’ll give you a call.
Fiell: Response
Bergmen: Thank you, you are our savior.
Ollie released Fiell from his firm grip, immediately turned, and quickened his pace to catch up with Lyara and Filistein, who were just a few steps ahead. As he reached them, he turned to take one last look for Fiell, but, as expected, he was nowhere to be seen. It had all seemed almost too easy, leaving Ollie to wonder what challenges lay ahead.
Lyara/Filistrien/Barto&Hazel: Response
TAG/TBC
–
Ensign Ollie Bergmen
Operations Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
A240009JC1