Hello Bal

Posted on 21 Nov 2012 @ 6:43pm by Bal Kenyal MSc
Edited on on 21 Nov 2012 @ 6:44pm

1,037 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo, Deck 2; Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD 03 1525 hours

[ON]

After the attendants of the science briefing had all left, leaving Lieutenant Panne, Ensign Cho, and Mr. Bal Kenyal in the sudden quiet, Maenad looked away from the door. "This won't take long," she said reassuringly. Her full attention was then focused on the bajoran sitting halfway down the table from her. "You said that you are a former commanding officer, Mister Bal, so I do not need to remind you of the importance of coming to meetings on time." On the same breath, not wanting to spend any more time than she had to on making a point, she moved on. "Could you tell me about that? How did you go from captain to civilian scientist?"

"My surname is Kenyal," replied the bajoran, rubbing the tip of his nose gently with his thumb. His movements seemed oddly precise, perhaps he was nervous. His eyes shifted from the table to Maenad's and he offered he a full, warming smile. "The answer to your question is relatively simple, doctor; I retired from Starfleet service. I wanted to continue to work and took up a post with the Federation."

Maenad frowned. "You do not subscribe to the bajoran custom of putting your surname first?"

"No, I never have. I was fostered on Earth and adopted by human parents. Their surname became mine and I prefered to keep it simple. I wouldn't worry, it always tends to be a matter of confusion when people meet me. I should really have it noted in my file somewhere instead of hoping that colleagues will simply cotton on to the idea."

Maenad inclined her head. "Ah, my apologies," she said. "So, what made you retire so early? Forty is still young for a captain. By the looks of your file, you still had a long and promising career ahead of you."

That seemed to provoke a less neutral reaction from him, he cocked his head slightly and gazed at the desk again, his shoulders heaving with a sigh. "I suppose," he began tentatively, "it just wasn't for me. I never felt quite qualified enough to command the Voltaire, let alone run the gauntlet as first officer, a task that I was never assigned to. Believe me, four months of hurried training will never prepare you for the role. The burden was a little too much for me. I lasted thirteen months and I'm proud of those thirteen months but I'm happy to leave the responsibility behind."

Maenad nodded intently as Kenyal spoke. There was a certain calmness to his voice that showed a clarity of thinking that she appreciated. "There is a lot to said for people who know when to say enough. I believe it is one of the most dignified things that a person can do. Knowing one's limits, instead of continuing below the bar and burning yourself out, wasting years in something you know isn't right." Maenad shook her head. "It takes an honest person to do that."

She made a pensive frown. "You have had a distinguished scientific career as well. I've read your background, but I'd like to hear it from you. Tell me about your work, what drives you?"

Kenyal raised his eyebrows at that, seemingly unprepared for the question. He found an answer quickly, however, and his smile widened. "Oh, a little bit of everything, doctor. The satisfaction of proving a theory; cross-referencing information to find that it coincides with yours. All the little administrative pleasures. Besides that, I love people. I'm generally a celluar biologist and geneticist by trade but understanding how people tick seems to enhance that passion. From a young age, the idea that my heart sits in a different place from, say, your heart, has always fascinated me."

Being somewhat of a geneticist herself, she liked the sound of that. Understanding completely what he meant, she brightened a bit in her expression. Maenad was a little surprised, though; he seemed like a reserved man, a man of few words - he didn't seem like a people-person. She supposed idly that you could love people but not be a people person, per se, but she didn't want to start arguing philosophy with herself.

"Well, Mister Kenyal, I suppose that's it. I was only curious about you, you are free to go," she nodded pleasantly to him. "Unless there's anything that you have on your mind?"

"This is all somewhat...uh, I suppose this is new to me," he replied. "Yes, I've served on starships but usually with rank and a certain level of authority. Forgive me for my lack of punctuality; I can see you've let it slide. The vessel class is the same but the situation I've found myself in is remarkably different. More so than I had imagined."

Maenad nodded. The situation would be difficult, she thought. To go from commanding to officer to a civilian working in the science department, she could not imagine. She waved his apology aside, considering the matter closed. "I bet," she agreed. "My door is always open to you, if you start having difficulty," she said quietly. There was probably more to him than he was saying, she considered. Or, perhaps there was more going on with him than he knew himself. "If you are interested in taking on more responsibilities, I will have to further review your file and take it into discussion. I would wait and see how things are going once we get back into the air; maybe this sort of thing takes time, but I would certainly take it under consideration."

Kenyal quickly shook his head at the notion of taking on more responsibility. "Thank you for the opportunity but I'd rather take things slow, at least until I've settled in." he replied. Though he was well-versed in several other scientific fields, he preferred to remain as a biologist for the time being. That was, until he became more comfortable with Galileo and her crew.

"All right, then, you're free to go. Thank you," she said with a distant smile.

[OFF]

Lieutenant (JG) Maenad Panne
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Bal Kenyal MSc
Biologist
USS Galileo

RSS Feed