PNPC Ensign Vailani Zoyara - More Than I Can Chew
Luxa Lorana
((Ready Room, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
Zoyara felt a sense of fulfilment as she'd made her thoughts known direct to the CO.
He suppressed a snort as his face hardened.
Niac: Those are some serious assertions, Ensign. And you felt you needed to bring these to my attention personally?
Vailani: Yes, it's my duty.
Karrod's eyes narrowed and all amusement fled from his face.
Niac: It's your duty to violate the chain of command on your second day aboard? I'll give you points for creativity, Ensign, but not many for intelligence.
Zoyara blinked with incredulity, as the slow dawning realisation that she may have just bitten off more than she could chew began to creep in.
Defiantly she straightened her back, squaring her shoulders.
Vailani: Uhm… ::crosses her arms:: What?!
Karrod slowly came to his feet and rounded his desk, never taking his eyes off the suddenly unsure young officer. His voice had a crisp snap to it when he spoke.
Niac: Stand at attention, Ensign, or did you skip that class at the Academy as well?
Zoyara immediately contorted her body to attention. She recognised the steel in his voice. It was the voice of command.
Vailani: Apologies, sir. I just :: reluctantly :: Sorry. I wanted to help.
Karrod paced around her slowly, examining her with a withering glare, before retrieving the padd off his desk. He began skimming through the Ensign's findings, tapping a few notes in as he went.
Niac: You missed the EPS regulators on Deck Eight. They're the wrong type for our plasma manifolds so the grid on that deck is constantly going to have surge issues. Hmm...ah good, you noticed the mismatched gravity plating on Deck Eleven...but you didn't note that the environmental controls are generating low levels of hydrogen sulfide. It's why that whole deck smells like rotten taspar. Sloppy.
Zoyara held her stance, yet her eyes flashed in a controlled rage to the captain. Her mind began to go back through the decks she'd been on, recalling the issues, he'd mentioned.
True, she had skipped the EPS regulators. It was sloppy. She couldn't bring herself to crawl inside, flashes of the recent attack on Artemis flooding back.
She could taste the blood in her mouth, the desperate push for survival in zero gravity.
She pushed the memories away and looked the Captain in the face.
Vailani: As I said, I've only just got onboard. Any … omissions from the task list … will be corrected.
Slowly, he stepped up the short stairs to his office's small lounging area and selected a beverage. He allowed the replicator to run its course and produce a lovely jumja tea which he took a small but satisfying sip of. Eventually, he returned his attention to the Ensign.
All she could do was observe this spectacle. Her father, too, was adept at the 'silent treatment'.
Thinking of Vailani Tovan made her shudder, of course he'd be appalled that she jumped the chain of command and, yet again, let her emotions get the better of her.
Niac: I would've thought old Tovan's daughter would've been more professional.
At that moment, Zoyara would have voluntarily airlocked herself.
Vailani: You know my father? :: oO no Oo :: I … I didn't know.
Karrod eased his glare down a notch or two but didn't diminish its intensity entirely.
Niac: As you've been speaking pretty freely since walking in I don't see why you should stop now, Ensign. Go ahead.
Vailani: I didn't know you knew my father? It wasn't on your service record?
Niac: I met your father when I was posted at Starfleet Command on Earth. Guy has an absolute hammer of a left cross. ::At her stupefied expression he offered a small measure of mercy:: Boxing term, Ensign. Your father and I sparred whenever he was in San Francisco. Really knocked one another senseless a few times too.
Vailani: I can't say I've experienced his left cross personally but I've witnessed him knock a Captain or two out cold a few times before :: apologetic, trepidation, fear :: Are you going to report me to him?
Karrod made his way back to his desk chair and sat heavily, tea in one hand as he kept his eyes on the uncomfortably rigid junior officer.
Niac: Well that's the thing, Ensign. You made three mistakes when you came into this office. One...::Karrod took a long sip from his tea before continuing.:: You brought enough attitude into my office to get the ship from here to Andoria and back. Two...this litany of problems is woefully incomplete. I've got a padd over on that pile there ::Karrod nodded towards the small table behind them:: that makes this one look like good news. And three...::Karrod stood up straight and his voice became steely::...you didn't trust your colleagues and supervisors enough to bring this them, as you should've. So now you've wasted your time, my time and the ships time when you specifically stated the three days we have to make all these repairs simply isn't good enough. Did I leave anything out?
Vailani: :: embarrassed :: No, sir.
Niac: You seem to be full of suggestions, Ensign, so why don't you tell me what I should do with you?
Vailani: :: looks at the pile of PADDs :: I can take some of those. You'll find that I'm more than proficient in systems design and shipwide infrastructure, I have experience in reprogramming computer systems :: nervously :: I'll also swap out the EPS regulators. I shouldn't have missed that.
Niac: Response
Vailani: Understood.
Zoyara looked at him, her eyes pleading. There was only one thing that Vailani Zoyara truly feared in this universe and that was disappointing her father.
Niac: Response
Vailani: Captain, I hope you understand that, although misguided, I only wanted to assist in the ship's proficiency. :: resolute :: I'll work every minute I can to make sure we're ready for launch ::beat:: On your schedule.
Niac: Response
Tags/TBC
================================
Science Officer
USS Ronin
A240004LL2