[Gar] Capt. Cassandra Egan Manno: Captaining, or Something Like It (T'Vai)

[Tony]

(( Bridge, USS Garuda ))

:: Not even a full mission, and already her crew was out on leave. Of course, Cassie reminded herself that her crew, such as it had been, was now mostly replaced by the Mercury's senior staff. The senior members who'd remained from the Garuda's last tour of duty couldn't have been happy about that, but she was at a loss regarding how to explain it to them; she'd imagined that being a starship captain meant having more control over your personnel choices and ship assignments than an ensign, but so far that had not been her experience. Maybe she was unique in that? She could only hope.

In any event, following her conversation with Admiral Moday, she definitely needed to speak with the Mercury's senior staff members -- and indeed, it wasn't something she could avoid for long, because she also had to give them the service ribbons they'd earned from their latest missions. It wasn't a task she relished, not because she thought them deserving -- quite the opposite, in fact -- but she was not the one to do it. Commander Ross or Captain Reynolds would have been a better choice by far, but while she thought she might consult them, there was no way she would press this act upon them, no matter how awkward she found it to be. She was a professional, a Starfleet captain, and she would reward the men and women under her command for their service -- even if that service hadn't taken place under her command.

It was time to make the first overture, that was certain. And, in fact, as the former Mercury crew had been passing through almost reverently ever since they'd arrived, Cassie had possessed many chances and taken advantage of few. But now, with one of the Mercury's medical officers unexpectedly present on the bridge, Cassie seized the opportunity. She smiled in her customary manner, which she'd been told looked remarkably tight. She didn't care for that description; it was her smile; what else could it be? ::

EGAN MANNO: Doctor -- T'Vai, isn't it?

T'VAI: ?

EGAN MANNO: Captain Cassandra Egan Manno. I wanted to welcome you aboard the Garuda. Are there any questions I can answer for you?

:: That, Cassie realized as she asked, was the question, of course: Were there any questions she could answer? ::

T'VAI: ?

Tag! and TBC!

Captain Cassandra Egan Manno

CO, USS Garuda