More Than Stars In Her Eyes

Posted on 13 Mar 2015 @ 7:00am by Commander Andreus Kohl & Ensign Jaana Voutilainen

1,446 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: USS Nautilus - Deck 1, Briefing Room
Timeline: MD -03 - 0715 hours

[ON]

"Please accept my most effulgent apologies, Ensign Voutilainen," was the first thing Andreus Kohl said. His voice and image were being transmitted by subspace communications frequencies, and displayed on the centre of an LCARS panel on Galileo. He was seated at a rather nondescript table in a nondescript Miranda-class compartment, which served as a briefing room. His sapphire eyes were locked onto Jaana, as best they could do through subspace communication. Kohl said, "I scheduled and cancelled this meeting of ours so many times, I missed my opportunity to meet with you in person. For that, I am sorry."

"Not a problem at all, sir" she said, curious to the nature of this conversation. "What is it I can help you with?"

"To be honest, there is quite a lot you can help me with. Quite a very lot," Kohl said, and he put heavy emphasis on the lot. For good measure, his eyebrows rose up his forehead. "As you may know, I was recently promoted to Chief Research Officer, but then promptly released from my duties to shore leave. In the time when I expected to be preparing for my new position, I have been caught up in the installation of the new auxiliary deflector system. And now, as you can see" --Kohl waved hand to indicate the briefing room around him-- "I have been seconded to the Nautilus."

She was surprised hearing that. How could she help him? She was just a Astrometrics Scientist. "I have indeed heard that. My congratulation on your promotion, sir."

Kohl had been about to natter on about the metaphorical waters rising above his head, but Jaana's words of encouragement stopped him. He looked up at the ceiling for a moment, as he thought about what she had just said. "Thank you," Kohl finally said, and he met Jaana's eyes again. "I appreciate that." He offered Jaana a tight smile, as he lifted a widescreen PADD into view. "My to-do list is far longer than my PADD right now. I'm going to delegate several of my duties to you," Kohl said, recalling the directive approach Norvi Stace had recommended.

"For the most part," Kohl explained, "I need your support in maintaining the Astrometrics laboratory - training, direction, discipline. Given your expertise in stellar cartography, you are the Science Officer best suited to keep Astrometrics operating through the NIMBUS exercises. Although, also..." --His gaze drifted down to his PADD, and he swiped down through the list on his display-- "How was your bridge certification exercise, Jaana?"

Jaana was still staring at the screen after the shock of hearing of having to lead the whole astrometrics division when she heard him mention that awful exercise. She let out a nervous chuckle. "Couldn't have gone any worst. Not very surprising. I don't know who's brilliant idea it was to put me behind a tactical console. I'm a researcher, not a tactical officer." She had no idea why she was telling him all of this.

With the faintest smile of amusement on Kohl's lips, he said, "I can't take credit for assigning you to tactical; I can't take that. But I did throw in a nomination for you to participate in the Bridge Officer certification. I think you're going to need it."

"Why?" Jaana said a bit louder then she'd meant, but the truly couldn't understand why he would have nominated her for that. Wasn't she doing her work at astrometrics good. She assumed she had. She'd been in Starfleet long enough to know that superior officers wouldn't lie during evaluations, so she had to accept those evaluations to be true. Even though she didn't always agree with them. The standard she had given herself, unintended was higher then what people expected of her, resulting in positive evaluation while she thought the result of her work was mediocre.

"Your keen eye for astronomy is why," was Kohl's answer. He waved a hand at her to emphasise his point. "When the Captain is making decisions that will impact the ship, we could use your perspective -- your analysis. I'm increasing your rotation to Bridge duty at the secondary science stations."

She didn't know what to say, again... "Bridge duty... Are you sure?" Did he really read the result of that simulation properly. "Well, I guess as long as you don't put me behind a tactical console it should be ok." Her nervousness was getting to her ability to speak. Why did she say that out loud. When the initial shock of her new assignment went away she realised something. "But how about my research? I already have a hard time combining that with the normal research for the ship."

"Jaana," Kohl said in a timbre that implied please slow down and listen to me. He didn't say anything more right away. He watched Jaana and he waited for her attention. "When you finished writing your application to Starfleet Academy," Kohl said, "When you triple-checked you had all of the educational requirements, and you proof-read every sentence you had written, what made you decide to press the last control contact? What made you submit your application to Starfleet Academy?"

She looked at him quizzically. "Because Starfleet gave the opportunity to see the things I studied for years in real, without giving up my dream to get my doctorate." she replied.

Kohl shook his head, and looked back at Jaana just as quizzically. "Starfleet holds no monopoly on the practical application of your research," Kohl said emphatically. "Your talent would have been recognized by the Daystrom Institute or one of the Darwin Stations. You even could have enlisted in Starfleet as a non-com specialist, but you didn't. You applied to the Academy. Why the Academy?"

What did he want her to say? That she wasn't good enough for the Daystrom institute. She took a moment to think why she choose the Academy instead of the university Tuula went to. "Because as an officer I have more oppertunities then as an enlisted." She looked to the cieling for a second before continuing on a softer tone. "And because I knew that eventually I would be able to help others that have a learning disability like me."

After setting aside his PADD, Kohl leaned towards the screen, trying to close the kilometeres of distance between them. "Jaana, what better opportunity will you have to help others than by influencing the decisions of the command staff?" Kohl asked. He had been getting worked up earlier, but now he spoke slowly. He spoke softly. "That's what Bridge duty is for a science officer. It's your chance to take the Captain's ear. It's your opportunity to navigate our crew's destiny."

Jaana stared at him. He had a point and she didn't like that. She didn't like it he had found a logical reasoning against her excuses for hiding in her lab. She serving on the bridge. She felt anxious, but also was exited, although she wished she didn't.

"However, your very first assignment is to review this," Kohl said. He operated his PADD to bring up a document on Jaana's PADD. "It's a summary of all the resources being allocated to the research projects aboard Galileo. Personnel resources, energy resources, LCARS resources, hardware resources... I need you to prioritize the projects, and then work with 'Commander Allyndra to decide which projects will be put on hold to ensure the command staff have all the resources they need to operate the ship through the exercises."

She looked up. "You want me to determine what research should be stopped and which one should continue. But that's..." She didn't know how to continue. She took a deep breath. "Everyone worked hard to get the change to do their research here and you want me to choose what research subject isn't worth to continue."

Kohl tilted his head away, his eyes flickering around as he read something on his LCARS panel beside the visual link with Jaana. "Ensign Voutilainen, I have to report to the Bridge," Kohl said. He looked at her. "Please understand, it's not about worth. It's about resources. It's about which projects can survive a break, and which projects cannot. Our mission from Starfleet Command comes first. Always. Our mission is the only reason any of us have any chance to conduct research. Work with Allyndra. She can help guide you, but you'll know what to do. Be brave, Jaana. I know you'll be brilliant.

"Kohl out."


[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Andreus Kohl
Executive Officer
USS Nautilus

Ensign Jaana Voutilainen
Stellar Cartographer
USS Galileo

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