Commander Lia Rouiancet: Operational Requirements

[Tony Colella]

(( Captain's Ready Room, Deck 1 Saucer, USS Octavia E. Butler ))

Just as Lia had been glad to start her round of meetings and interviews with Zarah Johnson, she was equally glad to end with Lhandon. There was something about him that spoke of mischief, though his demeanor upon coming in had seemed normal enough. Nevertheless, she was ready for anything.

Nilsen: (with a smirk) Captain, if I was to say that I’ve identified a major operational need that affects the running of this ship, would you give me broad authorisation to deal with said need and rectify it before our next mission?

Rouiancet: Well, I suppose I'd want to know a little more.

Nilsen: Come with me.

Rouiancet: (flat, but not unamused) How did I know you'd ask?

Nevertheless, she gave in to whatever devilry he was up to and rose, to accompany him out of the ready room, down from Deck 1, and away from the ship entire.

(( Souv-lucky Day, Promenade, Deep Space 14, in orbit of New Bajor ))

This was Lia's first time as a tourist on the station, though she'd been down in its new cargo bays and storage spaces as she'd organized the refugees. She half-suspected that Lhandon simply wanted her to see the station's promenade deck, but he didn't slow even as he wove through the crowds. Lia struggled to keep up, but it wasn't difficult to keep her eye on him, since he was nearly half a meter taller than her and, except for a fraught moment when he passed behind a knot of Nausicaans, he stood out well. Even so...

Rouiancet: Lhandon! Where are we going? (beat) What does this have to do with ops?

If this excursion had any bearing on the ship's operations, which she was beginning to doubt it did.

Nilsen: Yeah, it’s simple Ro, Ops concerns itself with the people on the ship just as much as the operations of the ship. You are the major operational need. You’ve not had a break since we arrived here, and we never got to finish our conversation on the 'Oumuamua because we got so rudely interrupted by an exploding mission pod. Come on, I’ve been meaning to try this place out.

He led her not to an establishment housed in one of the station's spaces off the promenade deck, but to a shuttle that had been relocated into the midst of the promenade itself and converted to a kind of restaurant. She'd never seen such a thing, and blinked at him.

Rouiancet: All right, then.

He wasn't wrong, and she was grateful, but -- no, there was no "but," was there? She'd already fallen into the trope of the overworked captain, hadn't she?

They ordered (Lia went with the keeper's recommendation, bougatsa krema, which turned out to be a sweet pastry filled with a thick custard), then walked and talked as they snacked.

Nilsen: So I never said…Oh my god this is so good. (another bite, then:) What I meant to say is thanks for the pickup from the mine, that’s twice now you got me back home. I don’t plan on making this a habit, yeah?

His tone was light, but Lia sensed the feelings behind the thanks. He was, she thought, somehow holding himself in her debt, and she shook her head, more to herself than to what he'd said.

Rouiancet: (also lightly) I wasn't going to leave you down there.

Besides, she hadn't rescued him, or anyone else, for that matter. She'd been no more than as aspirational rescuer on Cheydalanga, thanks to the complicated politics that had unfolded.

Rouiancet: (a little more serious) I hope you've been able to fit in some counseling time.

She might not be a counselor herself, but she'd served as a physician and medical officer for twenty years, and it was impossible to entirely ditch the inclination to care about the holistic well-being of the people she cared about.

Nilsen: Eh, it’s all good. I don’t remember much after the broadcast but some good stuff came out of it. It’s early days but…I’ve been working with Lt Martinson and Ensign Taggart, and I don’t know why, but purple feels right.

He hadn't quite answered the question, and she raised an eyebrow at him as she took another bite. She trusted him to do what was right for him, and could also take a hint.

Rouiancet: Diplomacy, huh? I could always use some more insights from good diplomatic officers.

In fact, she very much respected that specialty. With her recent background in strategic operations and Avander's in intelligence, not to mention their inroads with the UDP, she suspected that the Butler would receive missions geared more toward political intrigue and diplomacy, and having more experienced diplomatic officers would never be a bad thing.

Nilsen: But, I’m boring, and nothing dramatic has happened to me since the last mission…which is good I think (laughs) How you doing now cap? Is the big chair comfy?

Rouiancet: No. I'm thinking of resigning.

She walked on, straight-faced, for another few steps, then took another bite to keep her face from cracking. When she finally swallowed and looked over at Lhandon, she burst out laughing.

Nilsen: Response

Rouiancet: Sorry, I couldn't help myself! No, truly, it's been fine. Not exactly what I expected, but then, what ever is? Our first mission seems to have been a success, and I suppose that's my most accurate metric now.

Nilsen: Response

She considered that for a moment, then peered up at him. She ate the final bite of her bougatsa, chewed carefully, and swallowed before she spoke.

Rouiancet: You might be better able to answer that than me, since you're one of my officers. What do you think about your new captain?

She trusted his judgment, as she'd thought just a few minutes before, and she thought that their prior relationship likely bought some honesty. Not that she expected him to have anything negative to say, but -- you never knew.

Nilsen: Response

Rouiancet: (a smile) No, no, you don't get out of it that easily. What was that about looking good in purple? There's diplomatic, and then there's dodging the question!

Nilsen: Response

Tags! and TBC!

--

Commander Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)