The Asset

Posted on 19 Aug 2024 @ 6:02pm by Commander Morgan Tarin & Lieutenant JG Rafe Caradec & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kalliste Bacri

3,039 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 20 - Reconstruction
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 2, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD 02, 1507 hours

[ON]

Rafe was going over some possible improvements to the NAV console in its layout with the Captain when the chime sounded at the door.

Kalliste (Kah-list-eh) managed not to fidget while she awaited the door to open. The computer had told her that Lieutenant JG Caradec, the chief CONN officer was within. It seemed to be the best decision to get all the meet-and-greets out of the way. In her mind, getting this done was more important than obtaining berthing...her new home wasn't going anywhere, but the opportunity to make a--hopefully--good impression was a small one in her experience.

The doors hissed open and Kalliste stepped in and saw that the Lieutenant was talking with...ah, a commander. "I hope I am not intruding on anything important," She began, dropping her seabag to her side and straightening herself up quickly. "Chief Warrant Officer Kalliste Bacri - I have been known to fly ships from time to time."

USS Galileo-A's captain, Commander Morgan Tarin, wasn't one who enjoyed much company - certainly not close quarters meetings with her senior conn officer who'd spent the past five minutes attempting to explain the intricacies of helm LCARS configurations to her alongside proper optimization. And the new department arrival...well, the die had been cast and the three of them were now in the command office for the foreseeable future.

"At ease. Have a seat, Mister Bacri," greeted Tarin in her dry tonality with even inflection. "I assume you're familiar with Lieutenant Caradec, our senior conn officer?" she curtly introduced with a light wave of her hand and little time for casual banter.

"You can call me Theodore.", Rafe said with a complete straight face, albeit with an almost imperceptible smirk, except to the Captain.

There was a lot to unpack in that moment. Ordered to relax was not a problem. She walked over to the nearest chair and took a seat.

"I don't think that would be appropriate, sir. I will stick with Lieutenant, if you don't mind?" Kalliste responded with a subtle accent which was smooth, flowing, and held a slightly nasally quality, similar to something called 'French,' if what she had been told was to be believed.

"I can return at a more convenient time if I have interrupted?"

"No, that won't be necessary," stated Tarin with a dismissive shake of her head. "And we're not on a first-name basis aboard this ship, last time I checked," she lightly scolded the senior conn officer. First impressions were important and there weren't any re-do's; the tone of her command - professionalism and behavioral expectations - needed to be immediately conveyed to all new members of her crew. "I hope your journey here was uneventful," she then continued to the red-haired chief warrant officer. "We're a long way from your homeworld."

"As uneventful as a six month journey aboard a transport vessel could be sir." Kalliste responded in a polite tone. Such was the way of such first meetings. "And yes, quite far...although I imagine all of us are a long way from home."

A light tilt and half-shake of her head preceded the captain's reply. "That depends on a person's definition of home. It requires a certain type of individual to accept an assignment here - isolated out in the new 'final frontier', as Command calls this region of space. Tell me: what brings you to Galileo?"

Kalliste blinked as she struggled to keep the now growing nerves from showing on her face. Interviews like this made her uncomfortable as she did not like to talk about herself, however that was a Bacri problem and she would deal with it as she dealt with every challenge. Get through it.

"I suppose you are right, sir. Home can be a lot of different things to different people. I feel at home behind the helm. It's...my place in the 'world.' As to how I got here? I was given orders to come out here. Accepting them was the only option. The trek out here was less than optimal, however."

Tarin observed the woman, including both her body posture and facial inflections. She silently watched and observed. Judged. Evaluated. "I see. And the Pleiades Cluster? What do you know about it...and our operations in this sector?" Hopefully this new conn officer wasn't coming in completely blind to the local navigational challenges. But if so, she'd have to have another word with Starfleet Command. One more in a long list of many.

"This is the frontier. I have heard it called the 'Wild West', however I have no idea what that means. The Gul..., I mean, Galileo is a ship devoted to science and exploration - here in a minimally explored section of space as far was one can currently get from the core. The mission reports, the ones I was allowed access to, paint a rather interesting picture. It sounds exciting." Her green eyes lit up in a sense of anticipation.

"Exciting?" Tarin did her best to suppress an amused chuckle at the expense of the chief warrant officer. The last two years she'd spent aboard Regula I as its assigned strategic officer had been the polar opposite. So monotonous, in fact, that she'd fully embraced this new less-than-ideal command of USS Galileo simply because it afforded her the opportunity to return to starship life and once again explore the stars. "Perhaps. But when we recently recovered Mister Caradec here," she gestured to the tall brown-haired senior conn officer, "he was having a less-than-idea time. To say this region of space comes with perils would be a drastic understatement."

Rafe piped up and said, "Yes, definitely an understatement." He got up and moved to look out the window, thinking about that Godless sector of space. "I came to the Galileo under, shall we say, unusual circumstances." He turned to Kalliste and said, "You passed your first test in not calling me by a first name. And I'm sure you knew that wasn't it anyway." He came back and sat down. "It was under those unusual circumstances that I realized the importance being ready, at all times. Tell me, what is your belief of personal development and what you think your commitment should be to it?" Rafe was starting to get serious, probably much to the satisfaction of his commander.

Ah. Dreaded interview-type questions. Kalliste hated talking about herself. As the youngest of 8 children, she had very little bandwidth to express herself so instead spent much of her childhood roaming the outdoors...and then getting into trouble.

"I figured sir...you don't look like a Thee-oh-door." As if realizing what she had just said, Kalliste cleared her throat and shifted slightly. Let's not forget where we are, Bacri. Kalliste chided silently.

"I believe that complacency is entropy. If you are not challenging yourself for growth, then you are dying. I'm sure my personnel file has documented that I have consistently exceeded all required flight hours, and have achieved meets or exceeds standards on my required flight tests. I'm rated to pilot vessels < 1,000,000 tons. I'm happy with that. I think you lose something intangible on the big ships. It certainly will impact the trajectory of my career. I'm okay with that."

Tarin leaned back in her chair while crossing one of her long legs over the other beneath the table and intently studying the Alpha Centurian woman. She appeared well-spoken and articulate - obviously a qualified and competent pilot, otherwise Starfleet wouldn't have sent her to this new duty station. "Yes, I've read your file. Your record is clean enough and you're certainly qualified to helm Galileo. Don't discount the benefit of this assignment, however," she cautioned with a light shake of her head. "Your career is what you make of it. I was a conn officer aboard USS Yeager for six years after graduating from the Academy. Then I spent another eight years as first officer aboard Lexington before being transferred to Regula I and then Galileo. You're a Command officer - doors are always open to you."

"Oh. I'm not, sir. Discounting this assignment. I prefer smaller spacecraft; There is something to be said about the maneuverability. I do hope your crew have strong stomachs." Kalliste smiled warmly at the thought of pushing the inertial dampeners to make people 'feel' it. "It's more the...ah...location? It was a quite a trek to get out here. Regardless, It wasn't like I had other plans. I hope to be a value-added to the ship and the crew."

"You being an asset to us will depend upon you and may need time to develop. However, that's not what I'm talking about.", Rafe stated in a matter-of-fact way. "I want to drive home something that was burned into my brain, dare I say scorched there...indelibly, not too long ago. The asset of which I speak is not you. It's not any one person. It's all of us...together. The team and the bond we have is the asset. We must be able to depend on each other concretely and without doubt. If Captain Tarin gives me an order, she needs to know, without doubt, that the order will be carried out when given. And I have to trust her in her orders and never second guess them. You have to know, without doubt, that we have your back. From the start, that is what we expect from you, to have our backs. Your record is exemplary and I can say truthfully, that this is the finest crew I have served with to date. Given time, I hope you will come to realize that as well, Chief Bacri." Rafe looked over to the Captain.

"Copy that, Lieutenant." Kalliste responded. It wasn't the first time she had heard this speech, or rather a version of it. "Trust is paramount. You have my personnel file, but you don't know me. I am not an exceptional individual, but I am willing--and able--to contribute to what I hope is an exceptional crew aboard a rather sexy ship."

The captain performed a discreet double-take at the colorful description of Galileo. 'Sexy' wasn't necessarily a word Tarin would use to describe their vessel but she couldn't deny the Nova-class was one of the more unique and elegant starship designs currently in service.

Rafe wasn't sure he liked the cavalier reference. However, he had to admit that the ship was a tough little cookie. It seemed to him that Kalliste wasn't taking this as serious as he felt she should. At the same time, he didn't know her at all so maybe this was just her way. Well, they would get to know each other well over the next few days. He would see what mettle of which she was made. "I extend to you a warm welcome, Chief Warrent Officer 2nd Class, Bacri, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. I look forward to working with you.", Rafe concluded as he looked towards the Captain.

"Yes, your presence is a welcome sight," concurred Tarin. "One of Galileo's other conn officers recently transferred to a new assignment leaving us short in an already-small department." Chief Warrant Officer 2 Oliver Sylver's departure hadn't been entirely unexpected, but they were fortunate for Bacri's arrival at such an opportune time. "Our crew complement isn't large and we only have three conn officers: Lieutenant Caradec, here," she gestured to him again, "Chief Warrant Officer Darius, and now you. Between helm and shuttlebay duties, there's a lot of work and not many bodies to perform it. I hope you don't mind being thrown into the fire, so to speak."

Rip tides, she'd really gone and done it. Frontier posting out in BFE and in a department 1 of a whopping 3. How exactly was this all going to play out? Well, it's not like she had any other viable options here.

"I remain par-crispy at all times, sir." Kalliste replied with a rogue's grin, knowing her answer was slightly irreverent. But what conn officer worth their salt wanted doldrums and calm seas?

"All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by." The humans had a way with words. John Masefield's poem had really spoken to Kalliste the first time she heard it. See, some people thought a Centauran pilot was incongruous...someone from a water world wanting nothing more to fly? But what did they know? What else was space but and endless sea to explore?

The new helmsman's enthusiasm was welcome yet also required a presumptive warning. "You'll get your wish, Mister Bacri," approved Tarin with a curt nod revealing her absolute certainty regarding that specific element of duty. "Will this be your first time piloting a Nova-class starship? Outside of simulations, of course," she then asked.

"That would be affirmative, sir." Kalliste responded, pushing down the rush of unease. She could do it, she just hadn't done it yet.

"Very good." Tarin then glanced over to Caradec, to the large viewport and out into space, then back to the Alpha Centaurian. "Caradec can begin your orientation tomorrow. In the meantime, get yourself stowed away. Have you checked in with ops and medical for your quarters assignment and updated physical? I understand you haven't been on board long but we're not in the habit of wasting time."

"Cabin assignment, yes. Medical...not yet. I suppose that may happen next." Ah yes, the transfer to-do list.

Tarin raised her eyebrows then discreetly tilted her head to the side. "Make sure that it does. We all have busy days ahead and several resupply evolutions to perform in addition to external hull inspections and microfracture repair." Her thoughts drifted to the small yellow support craft current housed within Galileo's auxiliary cargo bay, Celeste. "When was the last time you took a workbee out?"

"Well, at least a year, actual. However, I kept up on my hours in simulation. Having half a year off due to PCS...all of my hours in that time have been virtual. The skipper of Yuron didn't allow for anything else." Kalliste responded easily.

Tarin softly thumbed her bottom lip before muttering to herself, "Yes, of course." There couldn't be much in the way of genuine flight ops considering the long distance and time constraints imposed upon the resupply vessel. "Well, there's no better time to refresh your skills than in a practical environment." She looked over to Caradec and gave him a subtle nod. "Make sure she gets some flight hours immediately and remains current on all of her quals." Her attention shifted back to the new chief warrant officer. "Any questions for either of us before we toss you into Niagara Falls?"

Rafe nodded in agreement to the Captain. "Aye, Captain. I'll have her fully qualified on everything flyable that we have within the next 2 weeks. I'll put emphasis on getting her up to speed on the more critical issues first, of course.", Rafe stated. Looking back at the Chief.

Kalliste looked between Tarin and Caradec with an open expression. This was a rather unusual first meeting, but she had also never been away from the conn for six months before to transfer duty stations. "Niagara Falls? I'm sorry, I don't understand the reference...and what are the more critical issues?" She replied, finding everything else to be rather straightforward for the moment.

"I can't speak to the latter," Tarin gave Caradec a subtle sideways glance, "but in reference to Niagara Falls? It's an euphemism for getting thrown into the deep end of a swimming pool before learning to swim; to learn on your feet in an unforgiving environment. I hope that won't be a problem for you."

"Oh..." Kalliste's brows furrowed slightly as she considered if her culture had a saying that was similar...nothing immediately came to mind - but the commander didn't seem like she was one for such banter. "No. Unforgiving environments are not a problem. I've been in a number of them in my career, as I'm sure both of you have."

"Excellent", Rafe said as he stood up. "Captain, please excuse me as I must excuse myself to update the duty roster."

The senior conn officer's self-dismissal was returned by a curt nod from the commander, as well as intrigue surrounding whatever new priority demanded his presence more so than here in this moment. "Of course. I'll see you back on the bridge tomorrow morning at 0700 sharp."

Turning to Chief Bacri, "Chief." Rafe nodded and walked out of Captain's Ready Room.

The administrative office's door swished open then shut behind the tall brown-haired lieutenant as he departed the room leaving only the two women remaining. Tarin focused her attention back to Bacri. "The lieutenant might occasionally come across as eccentric but he's a fine officer by all metrics I've observed," she casually commented before gesturing with an open hand to the new conn officer. "You've come a long way to serve here. Now make the most out of it. Welcome aboard Galileo, Mister Bacri." She rose from her chair and formally extended a professional hand for the woman to shake.

Kalliste immediately stood and succeeded in looking rather a bit like a cadet on review. Her mouth pulled in a slight grimace, but she compensated by taking a hold of Tarin's hand and 'shaking' it. "Thank you, sir. That's always the goal."

"Dismissed. And I'll see you tomorrow morning for the ship's daily officer PT session." The captain performed a final once-over of Bacri's appearance and pixie hair-framed facial features before returning to her chair where she familiarized herself with the next important task on her long list of administrative duties. One thing was for certain, it was going to be an eventful evening.

[OFF]

--

Lt. JG Rafe Caradec
Senior Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kalliste Bacri
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC M'Lyr'Zor]

CMDR Morgan Tarin
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A

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