Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Man of Few Words

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( Captain's Ready Room - Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))

K'Wara had dropped by to deposit the newest member of their crew for the customary interrogation welcome meeting with the captain. After a simple "tell me about yourself" question prompted a response drier than the story which began "Call me Ishmael...," MacKenzie decided to move promptly forward.

MacKenzie: Why don't you try skipping over the info I can read about in your record and give me something a little more interesting?

The ensign straightened his posture slightly and pulled his shoulders back down.

Tarsan: Well. Uh... I blew up one of the physics labs at the Academy? I mixed up my protons with my anti-protons and ... boom!

Her eyes narrowed slightly, trying to recall information.

MacKenzie: And you're in the... engineering department? How's that been going so far?

She sincerely hoped it was better than that lab at the Academy...

Tarsan: Well that was my first year, don't worry, Captain, I won't blow anything up here! And I've not done so in uh.. the fifteen minutes I've been aboard. So that's good, right?

She fought the urge to let her lips curl into a grimace. 

MacKenzie: I suppose as good a place to start as any... I assume that, in the meantime, you've learned the difference between matter and antimatter? You know, to make sure we avoid any potential accidents.

Tarsan: Ah, not at all, I have my anti and regular matter all squared away now!

MacKenzie: Glad to hear that, Ensign. You actually picked a good time to come aboard - we've just started shore leave, so things are far less... chaotic around here than usual.

Tarsan: Yes, Captain. Lieutenant Commander K'Wara was just telling me about some of the opportunities for leave down on Rylor.

MacKenzie: Ah, fantastic. Anything pique your interest?

Tarsan: Response

MacKenzie sat quietly for a moment. The young recruit seemed to be a man of few words. That was either to his benefit... or not.

MacKenzie: Have you had a chance to meet Imril yet? He's one of the senior members of the department.

Tarsan: Response

She offered a courteous smile and a friendly nod.

MacKenzie: So, what can I tell about the ship that Lieutenant K'Wara didn't already divulge?

Tarsan: Response

Tag, and TBC!

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Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A

Executive Council Member

V239601AM0

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( Captain's Ready Room - Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))

Tarsan: Ah, well, they'd suggested there were some nice hiking trails around?

MacKenzie sat in the awkward silence, watching as Tarsan shifted from one foot of the other as if he was either trying to finish his thought, or trying to come up with something to say next. When MacKenzie was virtually sure that another thought wouldn't fall into the ensign's brain with enough time for this to be anything less than supremely painful, she decided she'd try shifting the conversation instead.

MacKenzie: Have you had a chance to meet Imril yet? He's one of the senior members of the department.

Tarsan: Oh, not yet, Captain. He's on my list of people to meet as soon as possible, though. Though I'm sure he's enjoying his shore leave as well.

She offered a courteous smile and a friendly nod.

MacKenzie: So, what can I tell about the ship that Lieutenant K'Wara didn't already divulge?

The commanding officer of the Artemis kept absolute control of her brow, demanding that it not furrow despite the new officer looking as though he might purge the contents of his stomach all over his boots and, more importantly, the floor of her ready room.

Tarsan: Well, uh, I guess anything on the specs I could just look up so... ::pausing to think about it:: ...what's your favourite thing about the Artemis?

Her eyebrows raised slightly. In all the years she'd served as commanding officer and in all the officers she'd onboarded, no one had ever asked her that question before.

MacKenzie: Well, if I answered honestly, I'd have to say the crew. We have some of the best and brightest minds in Starfleet aboard.

Tarsan: and.. I guess, least favourite?

She supposed she should have anticipated that question. She rocked her head back and forth, considering the answer thoughtfully.

MacKenzie: Probably this desk. I had a really nice one until a former first officer of mine blew a hole in the wall behind me here ::gesturing for dramatic effect:: and it got sucked out into space.

Tarsan: Response

She cocked her head slightly to the right.

MacKenzie: It's a shame the vacuum of space didn't claim him as well, but ::shrugging:: he moved on to other opportunities. 

Tarsan: Response

For what was not the first time in this conversation, MacKenzie let the long silence hang over the room until finally she rested her arms on the desk, clasped her hands, and leaned forward slightly.

MacKenzie: Has anyone ever told you you're a man of few words, Mr. Tarsan?

Tarsan: Response