[sb118-ronin] Ensign S'tek - Unanswered Questions
Shakeel Hussein
((Conference Room, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
S’tek: Captain. Commander. Ensign S’tek reporting.
Niac: Ah Ensign S'tek, good, I wasn't sure if you would make it before our hasty departure from Lolagi IV. I'm Fleet Captain Niac and this is Commander Raga. Welcome aboard.
Raga: Welcome aboard the Ronin. I take it you’ve managed to get settled?
Ensign S’tek, not bound by the emotional disciplines of the Vulcan people, let a weak smile curl at the edges of his lips. For a moment, he looked between the bearded Captain and the beardless Commander, trying to assess and analyse what he could based purely on the few seconds of seeing the two men. Deciding he couldn’t glean all that much, he simply inclined his head, hoping their words or actions would give him more to go on.
S’tek: Yes, Sir.
Niac: You just missed your new boss, Lieutenant Kessler. He'll be briefing the security team about our upcoming mission in a few minutes, I'll let him know you're coming so he doesn't have to repeat himself. Hope you arrived ready to work, Ensign, because in about three hours we're going to be right in the thick of it.
Raga: You’re part Vulcan, are you not, Ensign?
S’tek: Half-Vulcan, Commander. My father is Human.
Niac: Then I imagine you'll find some friends among the crew, Ensign, we've no shortage of folks who have familial connections which span worlds. Much as I'd like to give you a proper introduction to the ship our limited time before arrival means I must keep it brief... hopefully once things calm down, we'll get a better chance to know one another. Any questions for either of us before we send you in Lt. Kessler's direction?
Raga: Ask away.
S’tek glanced between Commander Raga and Captain Niac. Two simple words – which he doubted were meant to provoke anything – had the Tactical and Security officer feeling like a first-year cadet again. Any questions. He had many. More than he could sift through. In the end, with his brown-eyed gaze settling on the more seasoned commanding officer, one of those many questions pushed its way forward from the recesses of his mind, landing on the tip of his tongue.
S'tek: Do you have much of an idea as to what exactly we’ll be in the thick of, Captain?
Niac: Good question and the answer is... not much. Mr. Kessler can give you the details when he briefs his team but the long and the short of it is that we're on our way to study a large, potentially dangerous spaceborne organism. I realize it's a long shot but any chance you took a few extra Academy classes on astrobiology or biomechanics?
Raga: As if we’re that lucky. ::he chuckled::
Possibly influenced by the relaxed atmosphere that the Captain and his First Officer seemed to create, Ensign S’tek decided to mirror Commander Raga and let out a chuckle of his own – although his was more apologetic in nature.
S'tek: I’m afraid not, Sir. I’d say luck isn’t on your side in that regard.
Niac: Fair enough. I'll let Lt. Kessler get you properly briefed... our Security Complex is on Deck 11. Sickbay is on Deck 10... although I hope it'll be a while before you need it. Get yourself going Ensign, wouldn't want to be late for your first day on the job.
Raga: Since you’re fresh from the Academy, I think Doctor Beck won’t mind you delaying your medical check-in since your medical records from the Academy have already been sent over. Cool winds to you, Ensign. You’re joining a solid department.
S'tek: Thank you, Commander. ::pause, nods:: Captain.
After offering a faint nod of respect towards his senior officers – much like the one he’d initially used to greet the Captain and Commander – S’tek swiftly turned on his heels and headed for the door of the Conference Room. As he continued walking, crossing the Main Bridge and shuffling down the slightly sloped floor towards the port side turbolift, the plethora of questions were replaced by a rush of racing thoughts. Each thought seemed harder to control than the one it had replaced. How would he fit into the solid department that First Officer Raga had just mentioned? Would Chief Kessler, a recent recipient of the Medal of Valor, consider him to be a worthy addition to Tactical and Security? When, if ever, would he get an opportunity to work on the Bridge?
S’tek had no answers, only more questions; and that annoyed him. He’d worked hard to be sure of himself – yet as the doors to the turbolift sealed closed in front of him, he was feeling very far from it.
S’tek: Deck 11!
[End scene for S’tek]
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Ensign S’tek
Tactical and Security
USS Ronin NCC-34523
A240012CM1