Captain Vetri and Lt Cmdr Sorani: Branching Out

[Luran Sorani]

((USS Avandar, Sorani’s Quarters))

:: Sorani checked herself over in the mirror and sighed as she clipped the last of her braids into place. She still felt quite dismayed that ill winds had kept her from joining the away team in the last mission. Worse still, she hadn’t managed to contribute anything useful at all the whole time due to being incapacitated. ::

:: While she hadn’t made the kind of impression she had hoped to, she knew there was no point dwelling on it. If you did not continue to reach up to the sun and moon you’d become knotted and gnarled. Now that she’d recovered it was time to go and see the Captain and see about making good progress again. Sorani was always motivated to keep trying and learning, so once she was happy that everything was in order she went to the Captain’s ready room and chimed at the door. ::

((Captain’s Ready Room))

:: Sat behind her desk, plodding through the interminable datawork that came with the job, Della almost jumped for joy when the door chimed to announce someone waiting to come in. Compared to the somewhat depressing reports of the state her ship was in, she’d even take a visit from a ravening targ over carrying on right now...::

Vetri: Come in.

Sorani: Fair weather Captain, may I have a few minutes of your time?

Vetri: ::waving toward one of the chairs:: Take a seat. You feeling okay? From what I hear you had quite the bump.

::Sorani crossed the room quickly and took a seat. She rested her hands in her lap, sitting ramrod straight.::

Sorani: It was most inconvenient. ::Complaining.:: I’m not too sure what happened as the blow took me from behind. ::Adding with a shrug and a smile:: I live to grow another day.

Vetri: Well, I can bring you up to speed on what you missed if you like. Or you can review it later - your call.

Sorani: I’d rather know, if you don’t mind.

:: Sitting back in her seat, Della gave the Al-Leyan a brief run-down of events that she’d “missed”, answering any questions she had in the same matter-of-fact way in which they were asked. Presently, she got to her feet and headed over to the replicator, ordering up a coffee for herself and sending an inquiring look Sorani’s way.::

::Sorani really had a taste for Lil’yapp tea but didn’t expect the replicator could produce it. They didn’t seem to have the patterns for much of their cuisine so she was always having to try different things. It wouldn’t be so bad but she found that 75-85% of the things she’d tried were all completely bland. After a bit of thinking she managed to remember a terran drink she’d liked.::

Sorani: Masala Chai tea please. ::Looking round at Della::

:: Calling it up, Della handed the cup over before settling herself into the nearest chair - she didn’t much like the idea of being behind that dratted desk again right now... After taking a moment to enjoy the aroma wafting up from her mug, she got herself back on track.::

Vetri: There’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about, but you first. What was it you were after?

Sorani: Thanks ::Taking a sip of the tea.::

::Sorani was feeling pretty nervous now and wondered what the Captain wanted. She explained her visit a little sheepishly.::

Sorani: Oh, well I only wanted to tell you I am up and running again. Ready to resume control...

:: When she sensed the bubble of nerves from the Al-Leyan, Della wished she’d worded her last statement a bit differently. Unfortunately, there was basically nothing she could do about it now but try and fix the damage she’d managed to accidentally cause.::

Vetri: Fair enough, and thanks for taking the time. Most folks just rely on the reports to do that sort of thing, and a personal touch is a pleasant change of pace. Now... ::Taking a sip of coffee:: I’ve got some things I need to get sorted out, courtesy of of those who ride desks for a living back at HQ, and a review of your file suggested that you might well be a good choice to help cover some of it. How familiar are you with the functions and procedures of the other departments?

:: There’d been a couple of other little nuggets in that file as well, but now wasn’t the time to bring them up. She’d disturbed the Al-Leyan enough already in this conversation, and she had a feeling that what she was planning to do would just add to it - no need to load *more* on as well.::

::Sorani’s brow furrowed and her lips pursed together. She was quite puzzled and unsure where this was heading so her answer was reserved and cautious.::

Sorani: As a Starfleet officer I have a basic understanding of the basic operations of all departments. ::She could even fly a shuttle if she was REALLY pushed into it, just not in the straightest line perhaps.:: As from a more managerial perspective the skills are transferrable. ::Stated matter of factly.::

:: Pretty much exactly the response Della had been expecting, which meant that she didn’t have to vary herself much from what she’d been planning to say.::

Vetri: True, but a tree rarely suffers from deeper roots. I’d like you to take on a different role to your current one, a role that will involve far more interaction with different aspects of starship operations. Does this sound like something you would feel able to do?

::Sorani’s face fell, she was completely taken aback and didn’t really like where this was going.::

Sorani: You can’t do that! ::Protesting strongly and nearly spilling the tea:: I’m a scientist, it’s what I do. It’s my branch!

::She didn’t think she had done that bad of a job managing the science department. Surely the captain wasn’t going to hold it against her that she had been incapacitated, that would just be cruel.::

Vetri: And I am a Counselor, yet I seem to have avoided wilting in my current role. ::Smiling:: Believe it or not, Luran, this is meant to be of benefit to you. With a wider understanding, you will be more able to build a solid base to whatever role your growth takes you to in Starfleet.

:: Honestly, the way the Al-Leyan had almost leapt out of her skin at the suggestions was.... kind of funny. Not that she was meant to be taking *any* amusement from this at all. She blamed T’Lea entirely for the more perverse turns her sense of humor took nowadays...::

Vetri: I will not force you to take the job, as that would undermine the whole point of it, but - within limits - you’ll find that there’s not all that much I *can’t* do if I feel the need. Offering you a chance to grow is one of those things I am well within my rights to do.

Sorani: I’ll need to seek advice. ::Anxiously slurping her tea down.::

::Sorani never made big decisions without consulting the texts of the Fallen Branch and her mentor. She did not want to be outcast by her people for abandoning her branch but if they approved of it then she’d have no reason to decline.::

Vetri: ::nodding:: I quite understand, and I’m not expecting an immediate response. You’ve got a few days to think it over, but I honestly and truly believe that it is a good path for you. ::smiling again:: If anything, your scientific background will be an asset - you’ve got the habit of looking at problems and finding ways to fix them. And, speaking personally, I would have *loved* a chance like this myself. There’s a whole lot I’m still getting to grips with about the way some of these people work.

Sorani: ::Looking into the cup of tea that she was absently swirling then nodding sincerely:: I will give it fair and due consideration.

Vetri: ::flashing a grin:: All I could ask you to do. ::smile fading a little as she looked back at her desk:: And maybe if you take the position, you’ll find some way I can avoid all the administrative dren that’s sat over there waiting for me...

Sorani: Administrative dren? ::Looking half confused and half curious and she finished her tea.::

Vetri: You would not *believe* the hassle involved in explaining how you managed to get a hole in your ship. I swear, some people must get off on making these hoops up for us to jump through... ::shaking it off:: But that’s my problem, not yours.

TBC

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Captain Della Vetri
Commanding Officer
USS Avandar
http://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Vetri,_Della

"Understanding is a three edged sword - your side, their side, and the truth."

and

Lt Commander Sorani
Chief Science Officer
USS Avandar