A Hero's Arrival

Posted on 28 Oct 2023 @ 6:08am by Petty Officer 1st Class Lysander Octavio & Master Chief Petty Officer Toren Vral
Edited on on 06 Nov 2023 @ 1:42pm

1,654 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 1, Conference Room
Timeline: MD19 - 1125hrs

[ON]

Vast stellar nurseries and a plethora of shining stars provided a dramatic scene which contrasted with the fairly sterile Starfleet conference room that they illuminated. It wasn't a bad 'office', even though it was only his when the brass collars didn't need it. Toren sat at the head of the large table with a host of PADDs in front of him - he'd spent the morning of his arrival catching up with the latest logs and casting a weather eye over personnel records for those who were joining the ship before departure.

An Ensign and a Lieutenant, both varieties of pointy ears, commissioned. Pass. Another Lieutenant, Cardassian? How things had changed in the past twenty years, he shook his head with the ghost of a smirk on his blue lips. Commissioned. He threw the PADD on the pass pile.

He slid the final file in front of him. A Petty Officer. The workhorse musicians in the orchestra of a ship. What would that be? Trumpeteers? Woodwinders? Drummers? Marching to a rhythm, beating things... They were in security so perhaps a drummer would be apt.

He flicked his eyes over the file, taking it in. As he read through the records his antennae twitched. An image of Lysander, resplendent in his official portrait, caught Toren's attention, and he grunted softly to himself. Looks like the Galileo had gotten themselves some kind of hero.

After some time the Conference Room doors slid smoothly open and Lysander walked in. He was tall, slender but well built. His hair was immaculate and the wide grin he gave Toren as he sighted him across the room seemed to glow. "Lysander Valen Octavio," He bowed his head slightly, then made his way over to Toren, extending a hand, "but I’m sure you’ve already heard of me."

Toren stood and grasped the mans hand, shaking it briefly and firmly. "Heard a thing or two," He flicked the PADD in front of him, causing it to rattle a little on the table, "Quite the reputation you've built for yerself." He gestured to a seat then immediately resumed his own. "Master Chief Vral. Chief of the Boat 'pon this fair vessel. Glad to see you made it aboard before the systems test."

Lysander sat down and immediately leaned back in the chair, his smile never faltering. "One does what one can to shine amidst the stars. It's only natural for tales of unparalleled bravery and dashing escapades to find their way around."

Toren did not look particularly moved, simply raising an eyebrow. "Well y'see Petty Officer Octavio, I have this," he prodded the PADD in front of him, "which is your file. It, of course, glows brighter than an overloadin' console." He prodded the PADD again, "Lots of very fine words from the gold braids back at Starfleet HQ," He flicked the PADD, causing the text to scroll, "Octavio method, some spruced up protocols. You have impressed some bigwigs indeed." He nodded slowly.

“All in a days work,” Lysander continued to smile, his black eyes fixed on Toren, “It’s been quite the journey as I’m sure you have read.”

“Hmm,” Toren flicked to the very bottom of the file, “You must have been 18 or 19 year when they came to Betazed?” Anyone who had lived through the Dominion War knew who ‘they’ were. Particularly those who had suffered under occupation. “I was there myself. ‘75. Looked a bit hairy for a time but I’ve never seen such relieved faces as your people when we turfed ‘em out.” He tapped the PADD a few times. “Says here you provided some important intel. Let the gold braids devise a proper strategy.” He gave a respectful nod to that.

“I have a knack for finding myself in the right place at the right time,” Lysander gave a twittering laugh, “Or the wrong place at the wrong time in this case.” He grinned again, “I learned when I was young that you have to seize upon opportunities that present themselves,” And back the winning team where you can, he thought privately. “Was it easy to get that intelligence? No it was not. Had to put my neck on the line for the Federation, for my people,” He arranged his features into what he felt must have been a most noble expression, “Would I do it again? In a heartbeat, without a doubt. Some called me a hero back then - what are heroes but people who take those extra risks for the betterment of all.” The sincerity in his words was well-practised.

Toren was not an empath like the man sitting opposite him but he had honed, trained and carved, through experience, a reliable gut. And his gut said something was off. Of course it couldn’t be denied that this officer's record was exemplary. Too exemplary? Absolutely. Felt like it might have been cleaned up along the way. But it was all he had to go on. “Well Petty Officer Octavio I am glad to hear that I must say,” his mouth twisted into a smile as he gestured to the window, “What do you know about our cosy new home, the Pleiades?”

Lysander had not read the briefing pack he was handed with his transfer orders. Why would he? They were frightfully dull and details were for other people. He’d tried of course, but then he’d got distracted by much more constructive pursuits. That old Admiral he’d worked with… what was his name? Oh it didn’t matter. He had provided the opportunity for a rather languid journey to the frontier. Lysander had made sure to stop on a few world's renowned for their fine vintages, as well as to gather footage for his latest holo-novel. Then he’d spent a lot of time working on that, as well as wooing a few deckhands on the way of course.

“The vastness of space is always hiding new opportunities and dangers,” He began dramatically, maintaining his signature smile, “I think it's fair to say the Pleiades hosts a fair few of them. Surely the great man himself, James Kirk, put it best - strange new worlds, civilizations, what was it… bolding going where noone has gone before!” He pointed to the window theatrically. That would probably do for this ‘old salt’ type..

“Well you ain’t wrong there Officer,” Toren continued to smile, “Y’see I met the captain earlier on and I am assured that we are most certainly boldly going where noone has gone before. This here is untouched by the Federation mostly. Some of it charted by long range sensors, some of it not. Plenty of new worlds and,” his mouth formed into a wide grin, “Plenty of opportunities to put that neck on the line for the crew and the Federation herself.”

Being a betazed sometimes gave an edge in conversations like this, but Lysander realised that this ugly old Andorian had a certain tenacity and weariness that meant he was hard to read. “Well here’s to that. I am sure I will be an asset to the crew.” He mimed raising a glass in a toast.

Toren’s grin did not go anywhere, “A toast, hm, well they will be vanishingly rare once we’re underway I’m afraid. Captain Tarin runs a tight ship, Officer Octavio, and I regret to have to tell you that your…” He grabbed a PADD from in front of him and waved it in the air, “wines have been impounded in secure storage aboard the Galileo until our return. Dry ship y’see.” he placed the PADD down, “I hear tell of morning PT on the horizon and I imagine other discomforts besides.” His mirthful expression did not alter in the slightest, “And I have pledged to ensure that the enlisted officers in my care tow the line and in fact I take personal pride in ensuring every last musician in the orchestra that is the Galileo is a virtuoso.”

Lysander blinked. His wine. He wouldn’t have his wine. What sort of cruise had he signed up for. Outrageous! It took all his strength to maintain composure. That’s what this uninspired blue cronie wanted, for him to show a vein of weakness, so he could chip away at him and find a way inside. I’m too clever for that. “Well I… welcome such an antique approach to discipline,” he raised his eyebrows, “Some say the old ways are best so why not,” Idiots say that, “And a dry ship. All the better to keep us focussed in the abyss. In any case I am sure once they know they have an officer of my calibre aboard morale will be buoyed significantly.” He gave a sharp nod to Toren, sealing the fact that he had, in no way, gotten to him.

“Well I am glad you will be taking all of this in your stride, Petty Officer Octavio,” Toren closed the personnel file and pushed it away, “I am expecting you to be maintaining your heroic standard aboard, and we’ll add a few more adventures to this before we’re through.” He pointed to the PADD as he got up.

Lysander matched Toren’s movements, “Thank you, sir. I am certain I will exceed your expectations.” He grinned and gave a nod - this Andorian was going to be a problem. He mentally added him to the list. “If there is nothing else I will go and organise my affairs.”

Toren gave a nod, “Petty Officer Octavio, you are dismissed,” and he watched as the Betazed walked through the door. He was one to keep an eye on…

[OFF]

--

Master Chief Petty Officer Toren Vral
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Vala]

Petty Officer 1st Class Lysander Octavio
Security Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Vala]

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