PNPC Ens Kawarda - Just a Pointy-Eared Teddy Bear
notyourfrog
((Shuttle Ector, Shuttlebay 2, USS Excalibur-A))
Kawarda knocked on the exterior hull of the shuttle Ector. It not only announced his presence, but demonstrated the nominal atmospheric pressure within the shuttle bay. Additionally, he thought it may "lighten the mood" for the trapped individuals in the shuttle.
Kawarda: Ensign Jovenan.
Jovenan: Kawarda? ::to Lante:: I guess we can open the shuttle door now.
Muffled sounds of voices and movement in the Ector followed by the movement of the shuttle's door revealed a crewman in a Starfleet Security uniform Kawarda had not met in person, but deduced to be Crewman Lante.
Lante: Sir, it’s good to see you.
Kawarda: ::inclining his head slightly:: Crewman.
Ensign Jovenan joined them outside the shuttle. She appeared to be in a mild state of distress, despite the situation now being within normal parameters.
Lante: Well Ma’am I believe you're in good hands now. Consider yourself evacuated.
Jovenan: Thank you, Lante! I hope I wasn’t too much of a burden for you.
Kawarda remained silent, observing the interaction. He found it puzzling that the officer could consider herself a burden to the enlisted crewman, but withheld comment, pending further observation.
Lante: Again Ma’am it was a pleasure to help you. ::Turning to the other Ensign.:: And thank you Sir. Now if you allow me I have to return to Security.
Jovenan: If I ever need rescuing, I’ll remember to call you!
Kawarda: Well done, Crewman Lante. Your adherence to duty in the midst of crisis has done you credit. You will be included in my report.
With a nod, the crewman returned to other duties. Kawarda noted the crewman mentally as reliably efficient. He turned to face Ensign Jovenan as she began speaking.
Jovenan: Thank you, too, Kawarda! It's so good to see you! It must have been difficult to restore the shuttlebay.
Kawarda: Hardly, Ensign. Most of the ship's systems are coming back online now. ::he glanced surreptitiously to the observation room where the situation had ... not been observed:: I merely had to reboot another.
Jovenan: Oh. Okay. Maybe the rest of the crew managed to get rid of the nanobots. I did send the bridge the method you had discovered, but as I said, I haven’t yet received confirmation if they got it, or if they had other means to incapacitate the bots.
Kawarda: Your assumption is correct, Ensign. Our efforts were successful. I believe it was the combined work of all departments that resulted in our regaining control.
The Vulcan watched as the information caused a marked shift in the blonde Ensign's expression. She appeared to be experience multiple emotions simultaneously: regret, relief, and exhaustion foremost.
Jovenan: ::distressed:: Everything seemed to happen so fast! The attack started so soon after I send the data, maybe they didn’t have the time to read it. If I had managed tell them what we knew, they could have prepared for what was about to happen. You and I, we worked so hard and took risks, but it seems we might not have made so much of a difference after all. If only I had been faster, I could have warned the bridge in time…
Kawarda: ::interrupting the flood of emotional debriefing:: Ensign Jovenan, may I speak freely?
Jovenan: Response
Kawarda: As the ranking science officer, your actions were in line with Starfleet guidelines of appropriate actions. You made decisions based on the data available to you, and I believe you made the correct ones. You placed the safety of your subordinates above your own, demonstrating a level of command maturity you do not appear to acknowledge. I furthermore believe you were successful in your mission to relay relevant information to the Bridge crew in a timely manner. Your actions may well have prevented the Excalibur from firing upon the Daisy, which would most certainly resulted in the deaths of the two missing officers.
Jovenan: Response
Kawarda interrupted her again before she could resume her self-deprecatory and underestimating flow of emotional consciousness by laying a hand gently on her shoulder - a gesture he had observed many species interpret as a communication of camaraderie and support. While his vocal intonation remained constant, he lowered the volume and tambour of his voice, emphasizing the importance of her hearing and accepting the following statement of fact.
Kawarda: Ensign Jovenan, you did a good job. You should be proud of yourself. ::a pause to consider:: Would ... you like a hug?
The question, while calculated (Ensign Jovenan was Edo - a race given to signs of physical emotional expression), was not one Kawarda was in the habit of asking, nor was the act of hugging one with which he had extensive experience. In this instance however, he thought the benefits to the other Ensign outweighed his own momentary discomfort.
Jovenan: Response