LTCmdr Promontory, LTjg Nilsen - Grand Ol' Time Part 3 (of 3)
Lhandon Nilsen
((Present Day, Senior Officers’ Mess, Deck 2, USS Octavia E Butler))
Avander rose and motioned the junior lieutenant to have a seat by him. They were alone–a nice perk compared to the more used Writer’s Room on Deck 8.
Promontory: Lhandon! Before we get into it, I have to ask you about your grandmother…
Nilsen: My grandmother?
He didn't speak defensively, far from, he was more surprised as to why Promontory was asking?
Promontory: Your record mentioned a forebearer in the fleet
Nilsen: ::smiles:: Oh Grangran, she was the best. Why ya asking about her? You better not be telling me we’re distant cousins or something like that ::laughs::
Promontory: No. Not that I’m aware of. (beat) Although, I suppose if you go back far enough, we all are.
Even across the different species, Avander supposed, not that it was a time to get into that.
Nilsen: We all…wha?...anyway I know she did a lot of ops stuff, she was a test pilot at heart. Erm, her claim to fame I guess would be the variable warp field geometry program back in like the 70’s I think.
Promontory: Good times, I’m sure she did great.
Avander worked hard to keep a straight-face and not give anything away.
Nilsen: Well records say it worked, she stayed on the St Albans for a few more years before she retired. I’d love to see that ship one day, it’s still in mothballs last time I checked. The excelors are gorgeous ships, have you seen the Excelsior II’s??? They are just as pretty.
Lhandon realized he was yabbering on a bit and getting distracted.
Promontory: Sure. (beat) Not as pretty as these Sagan classes though. (waving at the ship around them) But it sounds like this one’s giving you some trouble.
Nilsen: :smiles:; okay, present company excepted, these are pretty too.
Lhandon picked up his PADD and brought up a file, it was information on the St Albans. An image of the ship was at the top.
Nilsen: quietly:: Those Excelsiors are so pretty.
He then scrolled and spoke at normal volume
Nilsen: here it is. So the tests failed the first time due to what was reported as sabotage, but then there was a second run and that run was successful and erm ::scrolling to the bottom:: oh sweet, I didn’t realise it was this successful, the data helped to design the next generation of nacelles and were applied to the Intrepid class
Promontory: An important historical effort!
Nilsen: But yeah ::getting back on topic:: She’d joked about the computers a lot, she’d always say they’re never on her side. I wonder if she had a curse that I’ve got now ::Laughs::
Promontory: A ghost in the machine, perhaps, come back to haunt you?
Nilsen: What like the curse, is actually real? You know us farmers have our superstitious
Promontory: Just because you’re paranoid, doesn't mean they’re not out to get you!
Nilsen: ::laughs:: I mean…oh don’t say that Promo, half the ship already wants to throw me out of the air lock.
Avander cocked his head. From what he had heard the ensign lieutenant was well-liked across the ship. Perhaps a mite over-enthusiastic, but surely no one actually meant him harm. A joke then. Avander also didn’t understand the practice of exaggerating negative comments about one’s self, but a tease, that he could lean in to.
Promontory: Call me “promo” again and I might ensure it happens.
Lhandon let out a “ha” but then realized that Promontory could probably get away with it.
Nilsen: But yeah, ya never said why you wanted to know about grangran, and what she’s got to do with my computer issues.
Promontory: Sometimes we carry with us more than just our ancestor’s genes.
Then Lhandon smiled, something about Avander’s response amused him.
Promontory: What is it?
Nilsen: Nah, it’s nothing, it’s just :beat:: the way you mentioned her just now makes me almost think you know her. Let me guess, you went back in time and you’re now my granddad or something ::Laughs out loud::
Avander felt a surge of panic–had he said too much? But the other officer was laughing and the best cover would be an extension of his own incredulity.
Promontory: I can 100% guarantee that I am not your grandfather.
Avander gave a quick thought to potential future time-traveling adventures and added, just to himself, oO That I know of! Oo
Nilsen: Laughs:: good, cos this would be weird otherwise, we’re basically the same age right?
Avander arched his eyebrow and made a face to convey that “yes, that would be weird.” Aloud, he simply said:
Promontory: An El-Aurian never tells!
[End]
Lt Cmdr Avander Promontory
Director of Intelligence, Gamma Quadrant Flotilla
USS Octavia E Butler
O239910AP4
&&
Lieutenant JG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
HCO & Acting Asst. Chief
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)