Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek: Old Friends and New
Lael Rosek
//Chief Engineer’s Log, Stardate 239709.20
It’s been hectic in Engineering since Commander Thoran announced that some of the crew would be transferring to a new vessel, the Chin’toka. It isn’t my first transfer and certainly not my first as Chief Engineer. However, something seems different about this one. Sadly, some of my engineering team have elected to stay behind to help with the Atlantis’s refit and still others have requested transfers to other postings for personal reasons. This has been hard on everyone regardless and I’ve seen some hard goodbyes exchanged.
Thankfully, the bulk of the team will be going over to the Chin’toka, including Ensign Lephi and Crewmen Ravesa and Brandie. We’re scheduled to receive a couple of petty officers and a few crewmen to replace those who are leaving. I’m confident that, despite the unexpected personnel changes, we’ll be able to get our new Akira-class home fine-tuned and purring over the coming days.
//
((Officer's Mess, Deck 11, USS Chin’toka))
She entered the Mess, tugging at the hem of her dress uniform jacket. She'd chosen to wear the trousers tonight rather than the skirt. She had no one to impress. Her reputation and her professionalism spoke for itself.
With Maddy in her mother's care for the night, she was free to relax and enjoy the evening for the first time since adopting Maddy. She loved the little girl dearly and would do anything for her. But even the most devoted mothers deserved a night off every now and again.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Lephi headed her way and grinned. Something about the woman's determined stride told her this wasn't going to be a social call.
Lephi: Good evening, Commander.
Rosek: ::inclines her head and smiles:: Ensign.
Lephi: This is quite the ship, and quite the party wouldn’t you say?
She hadn't been present long enough in either case to really say, but the first officer in her knew what was expected from an officer of her rank.
Rosek: ::smiles:: It is, yes. ::glances around the room:: And it looks like there may be a few familiar faces as well.
Lephi: I would like to discuss your plans for the engineering department here on the Chin’toka at your earliest convenience. I have ideas I would like to share.
Of course, the small talk didn't last long. The other shoe had dropped so to speak. Not that Lael was surprised. Lephi took herself very seriously. The Ferengi woman definitely felt she had something to prove. Honestly, she reminded Lael of a younger her.
Rosek: ::smiles and nods:: Of course, Ensign. In the morning. It is a party after all.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Jo Marshall chatting with two officers she didn't recognize and she smiled. The two women had spoken somewhat recently, but Lael wasn't about to miss a chance to talk in person.
Rosek: If you'll come with me, Ensign. There's someone I'd like you to meet.
Lephi: Response
Rosek: A colleague from my previous posting, the Gorkon. She was a jay-gee in those days and I was a Lieutenant. She's currently the first officer of the Gorkon.
Lephi: Response
She strode across the room, Toryn and his girlfriend also joining the trio.
Rosek: oO Well, this should get interesting. Oo
She had yet to interact with Toryn in a professional setting with Journs present. She was determined to be professional. From the little she knew about her, Journs would do the same, but it would be naive not to expect an undercurrent of tension between them.
She offered a wave when Jo looked in her direction and approached the group with a warm smile.
Rosek: ::to Toryn and Ishka:: Good evening. You’re both doing well I trust.
Raga / Journs: Responses
Rosek: ::inclines her head:: Good.
She turned toward Jo, a slight smirk turning up the corners of her lips as she offered her hand for her old friend to shake.
Rosek: Commander Marshall. Good to see you again. How’s your brother?
It was a bit of an inside joke between them. She recalled the conversation they’d started just prior to an Academy training class, but had never really finished. Jo had learned perhaps more than she’d wanted to know about just how familiar Lael was with Bear. She allowed the implication to linger, certain that Jo wouldn’t take the bait in such a public setting.
Marshall: Response
Rosek: ::smiles and nods:: I’m glad to hear it. He sounded happy in his last letter. ::looks at the two men:: Pardon me, gentlemen. I don't believe we've been introduced. Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek, Chief Engineer of the Chin'toka.
Lephi: Response
Marshall / Whittaker / Shayne: Response
Raga / Journs: Responses
Lephi: Response
She grinned. The Ferengi engineer had good potential. There were many ambitious officers in the fleet, but Lephi definitely stood out. With the right opportunities, she imagined the Ensign had a bright future ahead of her.
Rosek: ::claps her on the shoulder:: I've only been serving with her for about a month and she's already proven herself invaluable.
Marshall / Whittaker / Shayne: Response
Raga / Journs: Responses
Lephi: Response