Lt. Cmdr. Lhandon Nilsen - Dear Del....got some good news, and not so good news!
Lhandon Nilsen
((Executive Officer Quarters, Deck 4, USS Octavia E. Butler ))
Nilsen was finally back in his new quarters at the head of the ship, right next door to his CO. Their viewports looked out over Deep Space 14 and the warm glow of the New Bajor sun beyond it. His things were still packed in boxes, scattered near where their contents would eventually go. He had been moving around all shore leave, with trips to Korelli, a visit to New Bajor, the weekly diplomatic fire to put out, and Eli’s passing, so he had hardly had a chance to unpack. He sat at his desk and started to type.
Attention: Captain Niccolò Del Vedova, Commanding Officer, USS Hirschfeld
Sender: Lieutenant Commander Lhandon Joseph Nilsen, Executive Officer & Senior Diplomatic Officer, USS Octavia E Butler
Subject: Good news, not so good news!
It’s me again. I’m coming to you with a mixed bag, and I’ve written and rewritten this message to avoid dumping all of it on you. The bad news is that my former partner passed away. It was unfair, and I was the last person he messaged before he went. As it turns out, we still loved each other, and we were idiots for ending it.
I don’t want to dwell on Eli’s death. I’ve got sessions with counsellor Salo that I’m attending, and I can’t forget that good things are happening...
As you might have seen in my sender info, I’m now the Executive Officer & Senior Diplomatic Officer, USS Octavia E Butler. Dual-role XOs seem to be coming back in fashion, and if Spock and Una Chin-Riley were also dual-role XOs, then I like being in that little club.
I’m not sure I love how I got here. I ended up in this role by default. Toxin Arlill, our former XO, left to deal with family matters, which is to go and join his mother in the “Zet resistance”, a group of Zet and others who are trying for peace between the Zet and the Federation. If he comes by the Hirschfeld, help him out…but maybe make him scrub the plasma manifolds, or clean out your holodecks first for me. I don’t like that he left while I was asleep.
In also happy news, my nagging at the FDC has finally paid off (or someone just said yes to shut me up). I’ve been able to commission a new ribbon, the “Caretaker of the Prime Directive Ribbon”, and as I type this, the first recipients, Peri Katsim, Riley Delar, Anton Richards, and Jania Nis, will find said ribbon given to them by my yeoman. He’s a great kid, scared of his own shadow. I would not be surprised if he knocks and then runs like hell. I’ve attached the public records of our mission with the Kevara Continuance, which inspired the ribbon if you’re interested, so enjoy....that adventure that I never, ever wish to repeat.
I’ve also been working with the Danni. There have been some operational concerns regarding the supplies we send them, and I got to visit Koreli IV again, which I jumped at the chance to do.
So yeah, that’s a mixed bag. I’m trying to be optimistic and be there for the crew, as Eli was a former crewmate; word spread way too fast for my liking, which brings me to my last thing and the question that I have for you.
At the Academy and in the classes I help out with, we are taught that a captain and the command staff are expected to maintain a certain distance. Maybe that’s what I need to do, but I don’t like it. I don’t want to be a distant XO, but I noticed this when I got to 2O, and I notice it even more now; it’s there. I’ve tried to counter it. Ragh, Nis and I enjoyed a hike up Mount Maljar (pictures attached) to celebrate Ragh’s promotion. I played Parries Squares with Woolheater and Riley, and yet…
Should there be that distance?
Yours with gratitude
Lhando
Lieutenant Commander Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Executive Officer & Senior Diplomatic Officer
USS Octavia E Butler
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He/Him/His (Both player and character)