Ensign Amelia Semara - Enterprising Ensigns

[Max]

(( USS Khitomer, Earth Orbit - Deck 9, Corridor ))

It was perhaps the most peculiar human saying: "have your cake and eat it too."   But, as Amelia understood it, it applied rather well in the circumstances.  If she had to take more tests just to keep her place aboard Khitomer, she had every intention of taking every advantage of being where they were.  And there were glorious old ships just sitting there with her name on them.  Well, not actually.

Actually, they had the name "Enterprise" on them.

Semara: I'm sure you were looking forward to a bit of shore leave, so I can always find someone else to visit the fleet museum with me if you're busy...  :: A sly, growing grin. ::

She knew the XO had been a former engineer.  And engineers had a particular reputation for certain likes and dislikes that stuck with them whether or not they still actually beat conduits and computer circuits into submission.  A reputation she was banking would get her the interest she wanted in this little endeavor.

Then again, what she had in mind would probably excite just about any Starfleet officer with a pulse.  Hence her own bubbling enthusiasm.

Hobart: The… Fleet Museum? You’re not gonna do this on Khitomer?

Semara: Yessir, the holodeck is an option, but I did a bit of digging.  'Fore holodecks, the proctor could use any nearby ship without active orders for the recertification test.  They never changed those rules, and the museum is just around the corner with a bunch a' ships that don't have orders…

Her sunny smile brightened with the Commander's own dawning realization.

Hobart: And let me guess. You already have a bridge reserved?

Good.  He didn't need to have it spelled out for him.  That was an encouraging thing in a first officer.

Semara: There's really only one option for an :: She cleared her throat :: enterprising ensign, right?  :: beat :: And of course I checked availability.

Less good was the way he waved, chewing his cognitive cud.  Seriously?  Normally there was a "no touching" rule on those old ships.  What Starfleet officer needed prodding to spend time actually getting to use the hardware, even if the resulting actions were all simulated?  He dawdled on the decision, and she gave him an expectant look of, "really?"

Hobart: You’ve got your sights aimed high, Ensign. ::pause to think:: What time is the reservation?

Semara: The museum closes at twenty-hundred hours local, so that's when we get her.

More waiting.  Fine.  She'd spell it out after all.

Semara: Oh, come on.  We're talkin' 'bout the Enterprise-A!  How many folks get to say they manned the same bridge as Captain Kirk and Spock?  Sure it'll all be simulated, but technically, accordin' to the rules, we'll be bridge crew of the real thing for an evenin'!

Hobart: ::grimacing:: Alright, I can give you three hours starting now. But then I have other obligations.

Yes!  She lit up.

oO Here I come, Enterprise. Oo

But then the number sank in.  She refused to be grumpy about it, but she'd already gotten one win.  What was the harm in a little joking negotiation?

Semara: Three hours!?  :: A sly smile :: But everyone knows that's not even enough time to do laps in a shuttle around the old girl with the holocamera!

For some reason, holofilms always spent way too much time giving you glamor shots of the ship.

Hobart: Response

She shot a look, then laughed.

Semara: Oh, fine!  I'll take beauty shots beforehand.  ::Beat:: If you're going to be like that, sir, we'd better make our meeting time 20:30 hours, at the museum, so I can set up.  I want all the time I can get.

Hobart: Response

Semara: :: A grinning nod :: Deal.  All the old simulation kit is still set up for the viewscreen and instruments, and they installed holo-emitters a while back to do little shows of the original crew and noteables, so we can use those to program whatever we need.  Still, I'm gonna to see if anyone else wants to come along.  I know it's my test, but it's also the Enterprise!

Hobart: Response

Semara: In that case, I'd better let you get going.  See you tonight, sir.

Amelia made ready to let the beleaguered Commander go, beaming as she practically waltzed down the corridor.

Hobart: Response

She turned halfway down the hall, a smile quirking at her lips again as she let her parting shot fly.

Semara: Oh, one more thing, Commander.  I'm replicating period-appropriate uniforms, I'll send you one!

If they were doing this, it was going to be done right.  She all but skipped away.

Hobart: Response

Semara: :: Shouting down the corridor :: Sorry, I can't hear you, Commander!

This was going to be good.

(( Brief Timeskip ))

(( USS Khitomer, Earth Orbit - Deck 8, Security Suite ))

Of all the people she'd briefly met, there was one person she already had in mind she imagined might particularly enjoy this little field trip.  The chief problem?  Apparently everyone was in weird places aboard the ship today.  Rhythms changed when a ship went on shore leave, she supposed.  She poked her head into the security suite, where Ensign Forza was - or at least where the computer claimed he was a moment ago.  Instead, she was now face-to-face with a gold-collared Trill officer with a lightly tousled head of longish brown hair.  One that both looked and felt like he was in desperate need of someone to pry him away from his desk and push his nose into something far more fun than another padd.

A service she was all too happy to provide, if he was willing.

Semara: Hi!  I'm Ensign Amelia Semara, how do you do, Ensign...?

Zerva: Response

Semara: Delighted to meet you.  :: A big smile. :: I was looking for Ensign Forza, but seeing I found you, how'd you like gettin' to know each other on a field trip?

Zerva: Response

She turned to see the tactical officer's youthful face, and smiled to show her pleasure at seeing him again.  He gave her the same sense it had when she'd first met him on the bridge.  This was a man that enjoyed his time with technology far more than his time with people.  Nothing quite like a gregarious Betazoid socialite she was to get a man like that out of his shell, if she had her way.

Semara: Ah!  Nice to see you again!  :: Beat :: I'll get straight to it - how'd the two of you like to spend a couple hours this evening with Commander Hobart and myself aboard the USS Enterprise?

Zerva/Forza: Response

Fine, it wasn't completely without a catch, but the "catch" was the thing that was going to let them have the ship in the first place.

Semara: Okay, technically, it's only a simulation for my bridge officer recertification test, but it's the Enterprise!  You know.  Kirk and Spock's ship!  And we get it all to ourselves!

Zerva/Forza: Response

So maybe her enthusiasm was hurting more than helping her case at the moment, but seriously - who hadn't already heard of the way the man had lovingly pet the trim at his station the first opportunity he got?  Sure, there weren't many people in Starfleet who disliked technology, but it took something special to have the rumor mill going around with the name "console guy."  If she hadn't seen it herself, she'd scarcely have believed the depth of intimacy in the act.  She implored him to think about what she was offering.

Semara: Come on, think of all the historic buttons you can press and dials you can turn!  :: To Zerva :: The view out the screen as we pretend to take her out of dock...  :: Back to Forza :: That's gotta be worth the cost of goin' out together after I pass.  :: A widening grin. ::

Zerva/Forza: Response

Tags/TBC...

Ensign Amelia Magnolia Semara

Science Officer

USS Khitomer - NCC-62400

A239710MA0