Improve the Spark

Posted on 06 Apr 2016 @ 1:21pm by Lieutenant Wilhelm Von Haeften & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm

915 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD 94 - 0920 hrs

[ON]

As early in the duty shift as it might be for the young Orion, Lirha now found herself overwhelmed with an influx of new administrative work and personnel transfers to process. Less than 24 hours remained before Galileo would depart on her new mission to the Celes system, but before the ship and crew could officially get underway, several unattended matters needed to be addressed.

One such matter related to the new science chief, von Haeften, who had recently come aboard. His departmental status needed to be finalized which meant a call to the CO's office to process the finer details of his new role aboard her starship. "Mister von Haeften," she said through her commbadge after giving it a soft tap, "please report to my office."

Wilhelm Von Haeften was already enroute to his duty station at Science I on the Bridge, and it was a short jaunt to the Admiral's office.

The German checked his uniform, per his habit, before hitting the entrance chime.

"Enter!" called out Lirha who had her head now buried in PADDs while typing furiously on her console to enter information at the speed of an advanced warp-secretary. "One moment, lieutenant..." she mumbled when he stepped inside her office as she continued to finish filing the document in front of her.

She then tapped the green 'send' button and transmitted the inventory to Jupiter Station, then looked up towards the familiar blue-collared Human she had been seeing more and more of lately. "I have been taking a look at your department as well as your own personal service record, lately," she began obscurely.

"Yes ma'am." Von Haeften said simply, remaining at attention until ordered or asked otherwise. He was unsure if what the Admiral meant was trouble for him or his department, but he felt it safe to stand rigid just in case.

"At ease," she quickly said to dismiss the notion of formality for this occasion. "Let me find the right one..." she mumbled to herself when she began to sift through the pile of data pads on her desk. "Ah yes..." She retrieved the one with his service record listed on the front page and briefly scanned over it once more to make sure everything was in order. "It seems you have been serving in Starfleet for quite some time now -- both in the Reserve and active fleet. And yet, it has been some time since you last were afforded a promotion." It was as much a statement as a question, and Lirha was curious to know why he had been an officer in Starfleet for eight years and still held a junior lieutenant rank.

The German stood at ease as ordered.

"Promotions in the Reserves are slower than the Active Fleet ma'am. The timeline for promotion becomes somewhat confusing when factoring in both active and reserve service. If my math is right, I should be due in the next two months or so....I think." Wil said sheepishly, uncomfortable talking about himself.

"Yes, I have noticed," replied the rear admiral. "In fact you are actually due for a promotion according to Starfleet regulations. That is, unless you object and feel that you would prefer your junior lieutenant status?"

"Uh...no ma'am." Wil said almost immediately.

"Besides," she nodded, "it would not be appropriate for you to be outranked by one of your subordinates within your own department." The finer logistics of the fleet's rank structure were in place to preserve the chain of command, not complicate it. "Well," she reached down into one of the drawers in her desk and fumbled around for a moment, pushing aside a variety of items before retrieving the one she was looking for, "since we are both in agreement, you are hereby promoted to the rank of full lieutenant with all the rights and privileges therein."

Wil came to a rigid attention as he recognized the formalities of promotion.

She rose from her seat and walked around in front of him where she came to a stop and extended her green hand for him to shake.

He took the proferred hand and gave it a quick pump before releasing her. Once his hand was back at his side he gave a salute.

"Thank you ma'am for this opportunity." the CSO said.

"You have earned it with your time served," she replied, "and from the brief work I have seen you do here aboard this starship, I feel it is well-deserved." She gave the German earthling a small smile to help convey her thoughts. "I trust I will see more of your talents on display in the future?"

"Absolutely ma'am." the CSO replied with a smile of his own, wondering too late if that remark sounded of vanity.

"Dismissed, then." Giving him a gentle pat on his shoulder while looking up at the taller man, her thoughts then turned towards his upcoming duties. "We depart Jupiter Station tomorrow evening...I would like for you to coordinate with Mister Oren to make sure your department is in order."

"Already underway ma'am; rest assured that SCIDEP will be ready to go at the appointed hour." When the admiral waved him on his way, Von Haeften came briefly to attention, saluted crisply, turned on his heel, and went into the corridor back to his department.

He couldn't wait to tell Rebecca.

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

&

Lieuteant Wilhelm Von Haeften
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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