Lt. Cmdr. Lhandon Nilsen - Getting To Know The Scientists
Lhandon Nilsen
((OOC: The time stamp for this scene is the latter part of shore leave, so if you want to have fun with your alts, this won’t get in the way. Jess, James, Brent, this is very much your mini story so I hope you folks have fun with this...there might be a little twist soon ;) ))
(Cockpit, Runabout Kindred)
With the Unity Dow supporting them while the OEB remained at Cryethren, Lhandon helped coordinate a fleet of shuttles borrowed from the Dow and the OEB. They had flown towards the incursion point where their universe was once connected to the collectors' universe. The goal of this task force was twofold: first, to study the remains of the wormhole, and second, to investigate if there was a way to send all of the alternate universe people to their home universe.
Lhandon's main job, however, was to manage the people.
He had found that his diplomatic role was really suited to this. While he was not dealing with a hostile government or a belligerent ambassador, he had to keep the people calm, seeing to their needs, giving them a voice where needed, and help to settle arguments and fights in a diplomatic way. He also found himself acting as somewhat of a liaison between the science teams and the assembled Alts wanting to go home.
His piloting skills were also useful here, and he sat in the Kindred with Morton, Tasen and Brzezinski and Iliac. The Type 17 heavy cargo shuttle was full to the brim with enough scientific equipment to give any scientist the joy a child would get when allowed to pick out any toy in the toy store.
Nilsen: We've still got ten minutes until we arrive at the coordinates. Have you folks got everything?
Tasen/Morton/Brzezinski/Iliac: Response
There was something that felt like home here for Lhandon. Not the equipment. Not even the company, though he was enjoying their presence, but rather, the flight. It was quiet, he was in a loose formation, he had people watching his six, and in turn, he was watching theirs. One of their tasks was triangulation.
Nilsen: Well, we can't really turn back now, I think we can bash something together. V, I meant to ask, how did you end up with our lot?
Tasen/Morton/Brzezinski/Iliac: Response
Morton had already received a nickname from Lhandon; she was now called "V," which was often a good sign. Moreover, Lhandon was curious about the new science officer; people were interesting, and someone with Toxin's seal of approval was worth getting to know. Lhandon's voice sounded somewhat Russian to an untrained ear; his home, Gault, which wasn't far from the Klingon border, had originally been settled by a group known as the Siberian Collective, consisting of many individuals of Russian and Ukrainian descent who had wished to return to an agrarian way of life following World War III. Some of the accent remained, centuries into the future.
But their biggest claim to fame was that it was the adoptive home of Worf, and taking one look at Lhandon, the 6-foot-4 rugby player in his purple diplomatic uniform, one might have been forgiven for thinking that Lhando was the human version of that famous Klingon. He'd heard the commentary before, he didn't mind the comparison.
Nilsen: That stuff in the OC at the end of the mission with the crystal sounded trippy. What about you, Tasen? Did you request the OEB specifically?
Tasen/Morton/Brzezinski/Iliac: Response
He was also curious about Tasen; he had met her very briefly at the end of the mission, but they hadn't had time for pleasantries as they were mid-crisis. He was impressed by how quickly she had gotten to work. He knew she and Saa had a connection, but he didn't know what that was. Still, a friend of Saa was a friend of his.
Lhandon had learned that his role as diplomatic officer didn't just involve connecting with other governments and representing the Federation and Starfleet; it also involved knowing his crew, knowing their cultural practices and sensibilities, and knowing how to navigate any conflict that might arise because of them. And perhaps, if he knew this, then he would be able to know whom in the crew to go to when he needed guidance on certain societal norms or cultures.
So while he was on a science mission, he was still carrying out his diplomatic role. He made a mental note to mention this in his next letter to Del Vedova.
Lieutenant Commander Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Diplomatic Officer
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)