Babyface Steps

Posted on 11 Mar 2016 @ 10:55am by Lieutenant Oren Idris Ph.D. & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm

1,240 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 7, Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD 90 - 1215 hrs

[ON]

Lirha watched as Tuula rolled herself out of the expansive observation lounge following their prior discussion. It had been a strange conversation and the two of them didn't have the greatest history of getting along, but all things considered, she felt the junior lieutenant's performance review had gone well enough.

The Orion now waited for Oren to enter the room for a similar evaluation after having summoned him for a 1215 meeting. Hopefully, fingers crossed, the young boyish-looking officer would take her feedback and considerations under advisement. It was, after all, always important to check in with senior officers from time to time.

Always on time, Oren gave Tuula a small smile and wave as she passed him in the corridor. Giving her shoulder a casually affectionate squeeze as she rolled by, Oren paused before the door sensor could pick up his presence. Making sure his uniform was as drone-like and pristine as possible, he finally came through and greeted the Rear Admiral with a kind smile before stopping in front of her.

"Lieutenant Idris reporting, Rear Admiral," he said in about as formal a tone as his high voice allowed.

"Yes, Mister Idris, thank you for coming," Lirha replied with a small yet friendly smile of her own. She clasped her green hands behind her back and casually walked towards him before stopping several feet away. "How was your shore leave? I hope you had time to enjoy yourself for a few weeks?"

"I did, thank you," Oren said with a nod, grateful for her show of concern, even though he imagined it was simply a way of being polite. He didn't miss the fact that she didn't address him by any title, but didn't feel as annoyed as he might have in his youth.

"I hope you took some time to yourself as well, Admiral. A person in your position needs her rest," he replied instead.

She nodded in reply. "I did. Risa was quite relaxing." In fact, it had almost been too relaxing. Weeks spent on the sunny resort planet had made her almost forget about the drab and cramped corridors of Galileo. Almost.

"I called you here for a performance review, of sorts," she added, getting straight to the point. "I believe it has been a while since your last one and, considering your new position as research chief, I wanted to see how your department has been coming along. Are you pleased with your own progress thus far? And that of your colleagues?"

Oren pursed his lips, thinking on her question as he swayed in place. "Well, I was only appointed to the position during our last mission and we both know how that mission went," he explained solemnly. "We didn't have much occasion to be very creative with our scientific endeavors beyond finding a way back to our universe and I'm very happy with that.

"I'm also really happy with how the presentations at the symposium went, excluding the few minor incidents, but that always happens at every symposium. I'm surprised we had no confrontations about infidelity," Oren rolled his eyes. "At the last symposium I went to, there were three."

She nodded in understanding, knowing too well what happened to some of the over-opinionated members of the Federation community, "Science is a broad and loose arrangement of many disciplines which fall under a general umbrella. If there were no confrontations or disagreements, then little progress would ever be made," she said with her own version of Orion wisdom.

Her eyes glanced down to her PADD and she paused for a short moment to read some entries before speaking again. "Your colleagues have gone on record to say that they are impressed with your work. And candor. It seems you have gained their respect despite being a former civilian..."

"Well, technically I'm still a civilian," Oren pointed out with a soft smile, though felt slightly wary of her statement that apparently he gained respect despite being a civilian, as if the fact that he hadn't pledged his life to Starfleet service made him less worthy of it. Still, on the other hand, he acknowledged he might be reading too much into it.

"My work would have meant very little if it hadn't been for the success of the other members of the department, so I can't take much credit for it. Though, I do appreciate their approval," he added. After all, any group was only as strong as it's weakest link and, as far as Oren knew, there were no weak links in the science department.

Lirha tilted her head slightly to the side to refute the young El-Aurian's claims. "I believe 'technically' you are a provisional officer aboard a Starfleet vessel," she corrected. "And because of your service...and the recommendations given to me from your colleagues, I believe you have gone above and beyond your expectations."

The rear admiral reached into her pocket and retrieved a small, specialized rank insignia with two gold stripes, then held it up for the junior lieutenant to see. "Please step forward, Mister Idris."

"Uh..." Oren let out embarrassingly before doing as he was told. Unsure of what was happening (or repressing what he knew to be happening, he wasn't sure), he stood there awkwardly, trying not to fidget too much.

Reaching out towards the man's collar, she briefly fiddled with it in order to remove the old insignia and replace it with the new one, then stepped back to double-check the alignment. Satisfied with her work, she nodded to herself. "Congratulations. You are hereby promoted to the rank of provisional full lieutenant with all the rights and privileges therein," she said with a smile.

As he stepped away, Oren selfconsciously reached up to touch his new pips, as if trying to feel what was happening was real. How could he get promoted? Could provisional ranks even be improved upon?

Apparently so.

Either way, Oren was baffled by it. He'd considered his rank to be just a title and nothing more; something given to him for appearances sake now that he had such an important function on a ship like this. The fact that he now had such a high rank and position felt intimidating.

"Thank you, Read Admiral," Oren finally said, remembering himself. He returned the woman's smile. "I'll do my very best."

"I am sure you will, and your best has proven to be enough. Do not thank me, you have earned it," she said, complimenting his work ethic and performance. "We have a few new science officers who have recently joined the crew. I hope to see you acclimating them to our starship and its methods. Do you have any questions for me before you are dismissed?" she offered.

"Uh..." Still caught off guard by his promotion, it took a moment before Oren finally shook his head in the standard Human signal of no. Clearing his throat, he smoothed his uniform down and gave the Admiral a smile. "No, Rear Admiral."

"Very well, then." Lirha had a soft spot for the young El-Aurian. Watching him grow as a civilian-turned-officer had been a pleasure for her to witness over the years. If only he would just age faster. In appearance. "Dismissed, lieutenant."


[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Oren Idris
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

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