Capt. Lia Rouiancet: All in Motion

[Tony Colella]

(( Main Engineering Lower Level, Deck 11, USS Octavia E Butler ))

The Butler crew had experienced some loss recently. Not in terms of deaths or debilitating injuries, thank the stars, but in terms of personnel transfers and leaves of absence. The marine complement was down a couple of senior officers, for one, and that wasn't even taking into account Lieutenant Sh'shelor's recovery -- but it was taking into account Wes's reassignment to DS14 for the foreseeable future to better oversee the flotilla ships with marine detachments. It wasn't entirely different from Avander's reassignment to DS14 to head up intelligence operations for the flotilla, and Lia was realizing that she needed to have serious words with Commodore V'Airu. Specifically, "stop stealing my senior staff."

But that was neither here nor there with respect to what Lia and Lhandon had chosen to do for their newest officer, Ensign Boran Jaz, a Bajoran engineer. They had trekked down to Main Engineering to officially meet the new engineer and make sure they felt welcomed, and unless she missed her guess, she thought it likely that Kimonzi would be doing the same. Indeed, as Lia trotted in with Lhandon looming over her shoulder, it was to find not only Kimonzi waiting--

Nilsen: I’m surprised you’ve hidden the mallet away, Lahl. Is this a new management style for you? Don’t tell me Alex has softened you.

--but also the new ensign already there.

Nilsen: Hello there, Ensign. I’m Lieutenant Commander Lhandon Nilsen. This is our commanding officer, Captain Lia Rouiancet. Welcome aboard.

Boran: It's great to meet you, sir. I'm Ensing Boran Jaz, new Engineering Officer and I look forward to working with you all!

Lahl: Well, we’re glad you’re here.

None more so than Lahl, perhaps, who had put in a request for more engineering officers as soon as Lieutenant Commander Peters had indicated that he would be taking a leave of absence. That was no surprise -- not just for Kimonzi, since every department head was usually gunning for additional personnel to use their many hands to make the work lighter for everyone -- but the fact that Boran had been assigned so quickly was serendipity. Or, more likely, personnel assignment administration working as it ought to. 

Rouiancet: We certainly are. Welcome, Ensign Boran. 

Nilsen: I’m sorry we weren’t able to meet you in the transporter room when you arrived, but I’m glad to see you’ve settled in. How are you finding engineering so far?

Boran: Honestly, sir? Loss of words. I'm having a great time nerding out and brainstorming the many ways I can be of use.

That was certainly a new officer's response, alright. Lia almost thought that it was a reaction that could be applied to any new crewmember -- but then she recalled Lohkina's first few days, and the utter contempt in which she'd held Starfleet bureaucracy, and grinned to herself. That was easier to do, as she'd put on one of her heirloom scarves for the meeting, one in deep hunter green with understated crimson embroidery. 

Lahl: Oh trust me, there’s plenty of places that we can use you. I’ve already started thinking of where you can get to work.

Rouiancet: There's never a lack of opportunities for an ambitious officer.

Which was true, but also a platitude, and Lia's self-grin turned into a self-frown. She could do better than that, even if she didn't know Boran at all yet. Lhandon seemed to be thinking along the same lines, and moved to correct their ignorance. 

Nilsen: We’re far from DS14 and the wormhole, so we try to make this a good place to be. What’s your specialisation?

Boran: Power and propulsion engineering, Commander. But if I'm being honest, I'm enchanted by all things engineering. (beat) Growing up, I used to take apart anything I could get my hands on just to figure out how it worked. Sometimes I even managed to put it back together afterwards.

Lahl: (a laugh) Sounds very familiar.

Rouiancet: (slight raised eyebrow) As long as you've learned to put everything back together now.

Nilsen: Response

Boran: Most of the time, anyway.

Lahl: Same.

That was perhaps not as reassuring as Lia would have liked, but as long as Boran and Kimonzi seemed to be on the same wavelength, then Lia was willing to tamp down her anxieties around finding the propulsion systems totally disassembled when a crisis struck. 

And speaking of...

Rouiancet: Why power and propulsion, Ensign? 

Nilsen: Response

Boran: I like power systems because they're the heartbeat of a ship. No power means no engines, no shields, no sensors... no anything. But honestly, if something breaks, I want to know how to fix it. Also, fair warning, if I disappear for a few hours, there's a decent chance I got distracted exploring a Jeffries tube somewhere.

Lahl: I will keep that in mind. As long as you don’t get stuck.

Lia's face froze for about half a second. Was that likely? No, no, surely not.

Nilsen: Response

Boran: So what's Butler engineering's biggest headache these days? Every ship has one.

That was a question for Kimonzi, since she was the one who kept it all running. She scratched her spots absently as she considered.

Lahl: Well, the computers keep getting taken over.

Rouiancet: Yes, that certainly is a headache.

Though it wasn't particularly fair to lay it at the engineering department's doorstep. There was no way they could have meaningfully prepared for the Zet virus and the machine intelligence that had been the Kevara Continuance. True, it was very unlucky that their computer architecture had been totally compromised twice within a short period, but that was just the luck of the mission. Other ships probably kept losing their nacelles or some such. 

Nilsen: Response

Lahl: I’ve been trying whenever I can to improve the computer security, but sometimes it gets away from me.

Rouiancet: (bracing) You've had a lot of practice. The Butler's computer security is probably the best in the fleet. 

Even if Kimonzi didn't think her efforts were up to scratch, Lia was absolutely positive that wasn't so. 

Boran/Nilsen: Responses

Lahl: (idly spot-scratching again) Besides the computer, we’re also always trying to improve the power efficiency on the Octavia E. Butler.

Which sounded like it might well be up their new ensign's alley.

Rouiancet: I'm sure you can help with that, Ensign. Are you familiar with the Butler's updated specs?

Not that they were all that different from a standard Sagan-class ship, but needs must. The Butler's computer takeovers were a perfect example of that. Their computer security would be better than most now simply because they'd dealt with too many hostile takeovers recently. 

Boran/Nilsen: Responses

Lahl: Absolutely, that sounds like a great idea.

Rouiancet: And speaking of great ideas, what do you want to do in your time on the Butler, Ensign? (beat) I mean, more than (another beat) "nerding out," as you said.

Yet even as she asked, Lia frowned to herself. Boran certainly didn't need to have their whole career figured out, did they? Yet Lia was curious, since Boran certainly seemed to have more than a few things clear.

Boran/Nilsen/Lahl: Responses

Rouiancet: Certainly not. Only -- I'd like to know. Every one of my officers and every member of my crew is in motion, after all.

And she meant that more than literally. The Butler might well end being the ship where each member of crew served for weeks, or months, or years -- but no matter where they went afterward, the large majority of them would be going somewhere. Lia wanted to help them make that move to their next somewhere as intentional as possible.

Boran/Nilsen/Lahl: Responses

Rouiancet: Well, we all have a story, don't we? Commander Nilsen, for one, didn't expect to end up in a violet uniform as my first officer, (to Lhandon) did you?

Boran/Nilsen/Lahl: Responses

Tags! and TBC!

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Captain Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer 

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0
she/her/hers (this character)