Ensign Morro Caras - Killer butterflies
Morro Caras
((Earlier that day on Shuttle from Deep Space 14 to USS Octavia E. Butler))
Morro made a low grunt to himself, something he only saw when he saw a particularly impressive piece of hardware, and he was staring at one of those right now. The USS Octavia E. Butler was now in his sights, and what a sight it was. The OEB was one of the newest ships he had ever seen; he felt privileged to serve on it, and he hadn’t even set foot on it yet.
His shuttle pulled into one of the four bays on the Butler, and he marveled at the ship. When it came to a stop and he disembarked, he let his pack slide off his broad shoulders and touch the bay floor. The butterflies or whatever his academy roommate had called them were beating him up from the inside. He hated them. He whispered to mostly himself, but he couldn’t be sure someone overheard him.
Caras: :whispered:: welcome to the rest of your career.
((Engineer's Table, The Writers' Room, Deck 8 Saucer, USS Octavia E. Butler ))
Caras had been mostly lost all day. Shuffled from place to place aboard the ship. Now he was in the ship's crew lounge, The Writer’s room. It seemed that after his arrival there was an awards ceremony. He had watched the acting captain read a passage from the starship’s namesake and his new chief get his new pip. Caras had settled in with the rest of engineering and was making small talk with the rest of his new crew. So many new things.
Herrick: ::looking across the table:: We’re glad to have you on the team Mr. Caras; I think the team would all like to get to know you better. How did you find your time at the academy?
Caras: ::he adjusted his muscular frame in his chair, now being asked a direct question:: It was quite a different experience than what I was used to. Everyone was so helpful and hopeful; all of the time! Except for the professor I had for Nanotechnology 1, I felt like the world stopped in that class. It was like being in an endless, microscopic pit of despair where I was going to die of boredom.
Johnson(s?) / S. Sherlock / Cabrillo: Response
Herrick: (chuckling) I had that professor too, I used to play their recorded lectures at night to help me sleep. How someone can take a topic like that and dull it down the way he did will be a mystery. Did you specialize in any particular area?
Caras: I guess systems architecture.(beat) I like taking things apart, and identifying key components. I would say overall I’m more of a reverse engineer than an engineer. ::he let out a light chuckle::
Johnson(s?) / S. Sherlock / Cabrillo: Response
Herrick: I’m a bit of a book worm, so I dabbled around a bit more than the average person — things like replicators, warp systems, holo- and LCARS programming.
Morro wondered why he corrected himself at “holo”, was he a holodeck enthusiast? That had always fascinated him. Suddenly he noticed the energy in the room shift as applause died down from a nearby table. As the captain approached, Morro hastily stood before coming to full attention. He hadn’t expected the captain to approach them in a small group. This was too intimate. When she sat, he sat back down, a nervous flop sweat started to develop on his green brow. His hands felt clammy. Butterflies again.
Rouiancet: Lieutenant Herrick, chief engineer. (beat) Josh, congratulations again.
Herrick: Thank you again, Captain.
Caras put on a nervous smile. He was happy to see the captain be more casual with one of her officers. A little bit of his flop sweat trickled down into his uniform.
Rouiancet: There's something more, actually.
Herrick: (shocked)
Morro looked at his new Chief’s surprised face, then at the captain. What could come after a congratulations for a promotion? A commendation!? Caras used the tense moment to wipe some of the sweat from his brow. It felt tense to him. No one else looked tense and that made him more nervous.
Rouiancet: I was able to benefit firsthand from your knowledge and experience at Cheyd'lang, from your work on the bridge and your observations, to your presence in those first meetings with the UDP, to your actions on the surface when we encountered the King's Path and learned of the Mongar. You acquitted yourself magnificently, and that was part of the reason that I suspected that you were ready for the promotion and leadership of your department -- because you are able to make the best of any situation.
Herrick: ::taking the ribbon while smiling:: Thank you, and it’s been a distinct pleasure serving with you on this mission. ::holding his hand out to shake hers::
Rouiancet: Response
Herrick: Oh yes! Have you two had a chance to meet yet?
Morro Caras balked, suddenly being put into the center of attention again, and in the direct line of the acting captain no less. The butterflies were rioting.
Rouiancet: Response
Herrick: I make no promises, but we’ll try to go easy on him ::winking to Caras::
Caras: ::practically stammering:: No need to go easy on me sir. You can go hard on me. I can take it.
Caras said all of this with a straight face and no humor. His nervousness worn on his sleeve, much like his sweat.
Rouiancet / Johnson(s?) / S. Sherlock / Cabrillo: Response
Caras: Pleasure to meet you Commander. er.. Captain. Er….Acting Captain. ::he shook his head a little to shake himself out of his nervous loop:: Ma’am. My hope is to not let you down. ::he turned his gaze to Lieutenant Herrick:: or you sir.
Herrick / Rouiancet: Response
Caras: Yes, well I will ::he took another nervous pause:: do my best to do so.
Rouiancet / Johnson(s?) / S. Sherlock / Cabrillo: reponse
As the captain turned to greet the others at the table, Morro looked around nervously looking for some kind of comfort or something to keep himself busy after sounding kind of like an idiot. He was used to meeting important people, but not like this.
Caras: oO Things are different now, you’re not with pirates anymore. These are people you can respect, that expect things from you. This woman commands a starship in Starfleet, your ship. Oo
Caras turned to the other Orion at the table, his eyes screaming for help as he took a nervous drink from his glass.
S. Sherlock: response
Tags/TBC
Ensign Morro Caras
Engineering Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
O240106MC1
he/him/his (player/character)