A New Day

Posted on 04 Feb 2013 @ 7:09am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Keval zh'Erinov & Amril

1,418 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo Ops Office
Timeline: MD 17-1300

Keval had decided to leave Talla in his cabin. He didn't want to show up for his first day on a new ship with the large Savannah in tow or in her favorite place drapped over his neck.

There was no need to tug down on his uniform tunic, he had already smoothed it upon leaving his cabin and he had already checked it after exiting the turbo-lift. He did however run his fingers through his short white hair, before walking into the Operations office. He looked around, looking for the Chief or someone that could point him in their direction.

The chief of operations had his back to the door, standing in front of an LCARS wall display with a PADD in hand, analyzing the utility systems on the ship with remarkable rapidity. Hearing the door open, he stopped and turned to face the newcomer.

"Ah, hello, what can I do for you?" he asked with the expected vorta exuberance.

Keval gave the man a once over, he couldn't help himself. It was part professional and part personal, then he saluted, "Ensign Keval Greysan reporting in. I'm your new ops officer. I know you were expecting T'Janik but his transport was delayed and I'm his replacement."

"That's quite all right, Ensign," Amril assured him, "I have no doubt about your competence. Welcome aboard. I'm Amril- ah, Lieutenant Amril now, I suppose."

"Thank you sir," the Andorian said, "But I'm not so sure your XO thinks I'm competent?"

"Oh? Why's that? What did you say your name was?" Amril went over to his desk to pull up a roster.

"Keval Greysan, I am last minute replacement for T'Janik. His ship ran into an ion storm which delayed him. So you got me instead, but that's okay. I'm better than him and probably cuter too."

"Ah, well, I will take your word on the latter," Amril said, glancing over the personnel file he found. "We vorta have no sense of aesthetics. I will place you in the duty roster in forty-eight hours. I believe you are entitled to that time to settle in." He was not entirely used to the operations of a Federation starship. A Jem'Hadar would not need forty-eight hours before going on duty. What did they do for two days, anyways?

"With all due respect sir, I'd rather get started sooner rather than later. I'm pretty organized. Could you fit me into tomorrow's shift? And I would prefer Alpha or Beta shift."

"That's quite commendable, in my estimation. If you would begin at 0800 hours by recalibrating the communications arrays, that would be most helpful, Mr. Graysan."

"Thank you sir, and that is really my main area, that and security systems. I will start first thing in the morning.

"Oh and answer your earlier question, I really wasn't expecting to be assigned here so I was out, partying picking up or trying to be pick up a cute little Vulcan when I got called away. I'm afraid I wasn't exactly in uniform when I got here."

The Vorta cocked his head curiously. "Oh...? Picking up?" The purpose of the petty officer's words obviously escaped him.

The Andorian's left brow quirked forward slightly. "Sorry Terran figure of speech, I was planning on going back to my place to possibly have carnal relations with."

"Ah, you're looking for a mate," Amril guessed, interpreting the man's words as best he thought he could. "I am not familiar with Federation courtship rituals, but if you would like assistance I am sure I could help." How, he did not say.

The Andorian lips curled into a smile, "Not exactly. I mean yes eventually I am, but I was mainly looking for a piec, I was mainly looking for a temporary mate."

"Ah, well, there are sure to be several suitable females on the ship."

He smiled at him, his antennae curling up slightly. " That is all well and good. It's not females I'm attracted to, however."

"That would make it hard to find a mate..." Amril observed, apparently losing interest in the subject at last, for he turned his attention back to the LCARS display on the wall. "So then. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No, nothing I can think of. I believe we've covered everything."

"Well, I believe I am supposed to dismiss you then."

Keval gave him a slight smile, "I guess so sir."

"Hm... you are dismissed."

Keval turned to go, "You seem a little different, sir. I kind of know what that is like. If you need a friend, someone to help you integrate, I'd be happy to do that for you. I'll even be a good boy and not flirt with you."

"Oh?" Amril asked, looking slightly confused as he turned his head to look at Keval. "That is very thoughtful of you, Mr. Graysan." He wasn't sure if that was the right response. He was a diplomat, not a socialite.

The Andorian looked over at his superior officer, not quite sure if what he was saying was really making sense or getting through. "It's the least I can do."

"What does your suggestion involve? Social activities?"

"Yes, totally platonic ones. Time in the lounge, the holodeck and I play a pretty decent game of chess. But it's not about me. The whole proposal kind of hinges on doing what you like to do as well. I can't very well ask you to step out of your comfort zone right away."

Amril regarded him for a moment, going through the limited knowledge he had of the things mentioned. "I do not know what I 'like to do,' " the admitted, "at least, not regarding social activities. I usually spend my time analyzing data, or learning new languages. I do enjoy reading, politics, and exploration, however."

"Well I enjoy the things you mentioned as well, especially the reading and exploration. Since those things seem to be your comfort zone, perhaps we should start there. Then maybe branch out into social activities. You might find that social activities increase your efficiency.

"My comfort zone? I'm not familiar with that idiom."

Keval pursed his lips and his antennae curled forward. "It is a pattern that you are familiar with. Something that you enjoy and makes you feel at ease. When something new and outside that pattern, something unfamiliar comes up, and adjustment has to be made. People often have difficulty in adjusting to that new situation. So those things that we have grown accustomed to and are easy for us to deal with are said to be in our comfort zone."

Amril noted the curling of antennae and the expression on the man's face. The extra appendages were indicative of emotion, he realized, taking note of that and considering the intricacies of movement from the context and the rest of the man's body language. At the same time, he contemplated Keval's explanation. "I am not sure I have a comfort zone, then," Amril said, not entirely sure if this would be considered a good or bad quality. "I am designed to be highly adaptive and versatile. A comfort zone would be a disadvantage in vorta genetics. To a vorta, new circumstances are evaluated and if they prove to have a benefit, they are taken advantage of. We cannot afford to reject anything without a cause. In order to operate more efficiently, I must better understand the crew, so socialization is well within my comfort zone."

"Well being versatile is a good quality in a man, or at least I always thought so, " Keval quipped, pretty sure that the double entendre would be lost on the Vorta, "And I'm glad to hear that it is in your comfort zone. Perhaps we can start by having dinner and a drink. And take it from there."

The subtleties of Keval's tone did not escape him; a vorta was skilled at picking up the details or communication. The meaning of this particular subtlety he did not know, however, so he stored the memory away for later. "Dinner and a drink? Very good." He gave a nod.

"Good, well if you excuse me I'm going to go finish stowing my things away, then I'll be ready to start my rotation."

"Of course."

"Good night sir," the junior officer stated as he walked away. ~Things could get very interesting here~ he thought to himself, ~very interesting indeed.

[OFF]

Lieutenanat Amril
Chief Operations Officer
USS Galileo

PO 1
Keval Graysan
Operations Officer
USS Galileo

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