Well I've Never Seen This Face Before

Posted on 23 Feb 2015 @ 4:45am by Commander Scarlet Blake & Ensign Arandon Khnailmnae Ph.D.

1,125 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 2, XO's Office
Timeline: MD 43 - 1300

ON:

Arandon was still carrying his bags through the Galileo, light as they were, it was still hard with his somewhat natural clumsiness to navigate the cramped hallways from the docking ports to the executive officer's office. He had plowed through a row of new crewmen back on Deck 4, unintentionally, but it still was far from making the best first impression.

Arriving at Commander Blake's office on Deck 2, Arandon found both of his hands occupied with his bags. He could have tried to set them down but that would have led to a topple of heavier bags onto his thin arms. Not to mention he was still carrying very sensitive soil samples in stasis. So, with a bit of a wince, Arandon lightly threw his shoulder against the door chime to Commander Blake's office. As the door chimed though, he grimaced at the fact that his transfer orders were in one of the bags. He would have to set them down anyway to get them out.

"Enter," Scarlet called out from behind her desk, reaching for her coffee cup but only sighing as she realised it was empty. Particularly difficult when it was her current reward system for getting through chunks of paperwork.

Arandon had to linger in the Commander's doorway for a moment, both as he sized the woman up and as he struggled to move from his stationary position. Shuffling into her office, Arandon set some of the bags down to pull out his transfer orders.

Looking up to the man as he moved into her office, Blake arched an eyebrow with mild surprise at the sight of him carrying his bags. "Moving in to my office, Ensign?" she said lightly, her features neutral but the lightness in her voice betraying the jest.

Arandon looked up. "Oh, no Commander, I... just came from the docking port. Protocol states I present..." Arandon shuffled around in one of his bags. "...this to you upon arrival." He walked the short distance to her desk and handed her the PADD.

"Thank you, Ensign....?" Scarlet trailed off at the end to hint that he should introduce himself as she took the PADD from him.

Arandon breathed for a moment, yes, he had forgotten to introduce himself. "Ensign Arandon Khnailmnae, Commander Blake, I'm a botanist."

"Botanist," Scarlet nodded as she looked over the PADD, skimming the information on there as she retook her seat and motioned for him to take the one on the other side of the desk. "Take a seat, and you can tell me more about yourself."

Refusing that kind of invitation was certainly not an option, both social graces and Aradnon's own firm sense of protocol demanded it, no matter how much he would want to avoid it. Still, he had proven that he could do small talk quite well, superficial conversation came naturally to a man who grew up on a planet filled to the brim with tourists. "Thank you Commander," he said, taking the seat offered to him. He adjusted and shifted himself around in the chair for a few moments, both getting comfortable and buying himself time to line up several blas facts about himself. "Well I've spent the past four years on Mars, doing terraforming research, during that time I earned my Docotrate from McKay University." He stopped for a moment to consider what other trivial fact would satisfy the needs of this exercise. "I'm from Risa, grew up in Suraya Bay."

Scarlet nodded as she sat back in her chair and crossed her legs, watching him rather than looking over his file she'd brought up on the computer screen. "So what would you like to achieve here? If you've been working on terraforming research so far," she asked, curious as to whether he saw himself staying in the realms of research or venturing into more hands on practice or perhaps even another area.

It was a fair question, though not one Arandon thought he could answer to the Commander's satisfaction. He hadn't been assigned to the Galileo by choice, nor had he requested such an abrupt and lengthy transfer. "I simply wish to see more of the galaxy Commander," Not the best of answers by far, but perhaps one the Commander was willing to buy. It wasn't exactly a lie either, he did have some minor sense of exploration and wonder, but perhaps not the kind the rest of the crew had.

"Hm," Scarlet nodded slowly, motioning with a hand and a light shrug at the answer. It was reason enough for many to join Starfleet in the first place after all, but it wasn't exactly what she'd been looking for in terms of getting an idea of his career plan. Still, perhaps it wasn't something he had thought about yet and was waiting to see what his new post brought him. "Well you will have a great many resources here for you, whatever you have in mind to focus on. Two such resources are the Chiefs in Science. You have both the Chief of Science, Lt. Commander Stace and Chief of Research, Lt. Commander Kohl who you should introduce yourself to...after you've got yourself settled of course," she motioned to the bags.

"Of course Commander," Arandon said with a respectful nod. He rose from the chair opposite the Commander, "If there isn't anything else I'll work my way down that list." He said respectfully, though attempting some minor measure at humor.

Scarlet arched an eyebrow at his inviting himself to leave rather than waiting to be dismissed. She sat back, nodding lightly. "You will also need to report to Medical for a check up and to Counselling for an evaluation."

"Well suffice to say I am booked Commander," If it were anyone else it would be humor, but when it was Arandon it was more like a statement. Arandon once again nodded his head respectfully and turned to grab his bags, making several small noises as he hoisted them off the Commander's floor. On his way out the door with a strained voice he said, "Thank you once again Commander."

"Welcome aboard, Ensign, you know where I am if you need me," Scarlet replied easily, chuckling softly as she shook her head gently to herself, already on her feet to grab more coffee. Priorities.

Next Arandon was off to drop his things off in his quarters, which he apparently shared with a Doctor 'Mott', a Bolian medical officer. Arandon had, had roommates before and he had a most agreeable relationship with them, so hopefully it would be the same on the Galileo. If not, he had... resources at his disposal.


[OFF]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

&

Ensign Arandon Khnailmnae
Botanist
USS Galileo

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