[Cmdr. Vanessa "Van" Caro]
Standing at the far end of the bright room, staring out at the view was a tall (relatively speaking) man. Her new captain. Van felt a small, small amused smile pull her lips and lift the corners of her eyes.
“Commander Vanessa Caro of the Starship Lexington, reporting for duty, sir,” she said calmly and clearly, enjoying the cadence of the words though her small smile neither grew nor faltered. It wasn’t the most musical thing she’d ever said, but saying the words ‘of the Starship Lexington’ pleased her immensely. It was going to be her home for the near foreseeable future, after all.
Van stood attention, waiting to be recognized.
Adams turned and faced her, smiling slightly. There was being polite and then there was stretching it. …Being a captain, he decided he might as well take the initiative himself. That in mind, he strode towards her, purposeful strides carrying him to her. He reached out a thick hand to her.
"Commander Caro, a pleasure to meet you. Com...Captain Ben Adams."
Van returned her new captain’s handshake firmly. She’d never appreciated soft, dainty handshakes although she’d use one if the situation called for it. Sometimes people were more willing to do what you asked when you seemed to be soft and dainty yourself. There were many times when Van had seen her mother go from ruthless haggler to dainty maiden in the course of an hour.
She returned her captain’s smile as well. Apparently this captaincy was very new, if that near slip-of-the-tongue was any indication. That he’d left the windows to greet her instead of compelling her to go to him was noteworthy as well.
"I apologize for being the lone member of the welcoming committee. It seems the rest of the senior staff is...well, not here at the moment. Hopefully that will be changing...soon."
Van’s smile slowly widened into an easy grin. “Actually, sir, I’m surprised we aren’t meeting on the Lexington. Captive audience, you know.” She released Capt. Adams’ hand, though her stance was still fairly formal. “Have you had a chance to take a tour of the ship, sir? I’ve reviewed the specs, of course, but it’s not the same as doing your own walkthrough. I admit I’m looking forward to reviewing the science labs.”
The doors behind them opened. Van’s smile reverted to her more usual expression of friendly curiosity. She noted that the other woman had, unfortunately, been saddled with a close-necked version of the dress uniform. If she remembered correctly, the skirt was less likely to ride up but the fabric was too stiff—and thus too tight—around the neck. It was enough to make you wonder who designed the dress uniforms. The standard, everyday uniforms were much more comfortable. Apparently there was something wrong with simply adding the appropriate embellishments to an already proven design.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Lieutenant Penelope Klein, RN, MSN
Finally, after two years, Penelope was getting back into space. According to her doctor there wouldn't be a better chance then this for years to come. Plus, Starfleet Medical had made quite the compelling argument that her expertise was going to waste making sure elective surgery patients didn't wander out of recovery. Her counter argument that she was demonstratively unfit for active service had been disregarded. So now she was tugging at the collar of her ill fitting dress uniform.
Damn thing was too tight at the collar and maybe a little tight in the chest. No time to fix that now, Penelope decided, Captain Adams had called a staff meeting that she was already late to. Patting herself down, the few medals she wore were properly attached, skirt wasn't riding up just yet, sleeves covered scars (more or less). Sighing, she checked her hair clip too, holding her auburn hair back over to cover her sickly pale.
Exiting her quarters, apparently the Lex had the space to spare for individual quarters for a Lieutenant, Penelope searched for the nearest lift. Ah, there it was. Taking a few brisk steps across the hallway, she dodged a passing service tech to reach her immediate destination. Securing a handle she twisted it forcefully before proclaiming, "Port airlock." A pain to have to leave the ship to report to a lounge to meet her fellow staff officers.... from the ship she'd just left.
-----
Penelope slumped against the wall outside what she sincerely hoped was the right door. Checking her watch, she decided she wasn't so late, plus her position wasn't vital enough to have delayed any important discussion. Standing back up straight, Penelope entered the room fully expecting to confront a small mob of chattering officers. Instead there were two. Just... two. A man in a Captain's dress uniform who was joined by a Commander in science or medical blue. Maybe this was her mysterious boss? Well, she'd let them finish talking before interjecting herself.
Damn thing was too tight at the collar and maybe a little tight in the chest. No time to fix that now, Penelope decided, Captain Adams had called a staff meeting that she was already late to. Patting herself down, the few medals she wore were properly attached, skirt wasn't riding up just yet, sleeves covered scars (more or less). Sighing, she checked her hair clip too, holding her auburn hair back over to cover her sickly pale.
Exiting her quarters, apparently the Lex had the space to spare for individual quarters for a Lieutenant, Penelope searched for the nearest lift. Ah, there it was. Taking a few brisk steps across the hallway, she dodged a passing service tech to reach her immediate destination. Securing a handle she twisted it forcefully before proclaiming, "Port airlock." A pain to have to leave the ship to report to a lounge to meet her fellow staff officers.... from the ship she'd just left.
-----
Penelope slumped against the wall outside what she sincerely hoped was the right door. Checking her watch, she decided she wasn't so late, plus her position wasn't vital enough to have delayed any important discussion. Standing back up straight, Penelope entered the room fully expecting to confront a small mob of chattering officers. Instead there were two. Just... two. A man in a Captain's dress uniform who was joined by a Commander in science or medical blue. Maybe this was her mysterious boss? Well, she'd let them finish talking before interjecting herself.
Meeting the Crew I
The captain had been lost in thought, forehead leaning on his arm as he peered out into the cool grey mist of the Bay. He let out a breath, briefly fogging the transparent titanium which comprised the wide expanse of the wall at Headquarters. The eyes reflected there narrowed a bit. Admiral Waverleigh had put him in a position. A bad position.
He knew first-time starship commanders never got to pick their new command crews. He knew that but still, to have to say to his friends, his comrades, the men and women who had saved his ass time and time again that on this, the moment of his greatest achievement, he couldn't share the moment with them was disappointing, to say the least. Instead, he was being drawn in with a bunch of strangers. He had no idea what to expect from them. Obviously they were all competent, otherwise well, they wouldn't be here.
Speaking of them being here, where.... a voice called out, breaking him from his thoughts, a firm feminine voice.
Commander Caro, hm? Adams turned and faced her, smiling slightly. There was being polite and then there was stretching it. She probably hadn't wanted to bother him and instead opted for the loud voice style of introduction. Interesting. Being a captain, he decided he might as well take the initiative himself. That in mind, he strode towards her, purposeful strides carrying him to her. He reached out a thick hand to her. Some traditions die hard.
"Commander Caro, a pleasure to meet you. Com...Captain Ben Adams." He smiled but winced inwardly. Damn, that half stripe of braid was taking some getting used to. He sized her up. Short, but not overly so. Pleasant enough face, strong voice.
"I apologize for being the lone member of the welcoming committee. It seems the rest of the senior staff is...well, not here at the moment. Hopefully that will be changing...soon." If she was adept at all at reading somebody's body language, she might notice a little tightening of the muscles on the last note. Obviously the captain was not thrilled at the situation he found himself in.
He knew first-time starship commanders never got to pick their new command crews. He knew that but still, to have to say to his friends, his comrades, the men and women who had saved his ass time and time again that on this, the moment of his greatest achievement, he couldn't share the moment with them was disappointing, to say the least. Instead, he was being drawn in with a bunch of strangers. He had no idea what to expect from them. Obviously they were all competent, otherwise well, they wouldn't be here.
Speaking of them being here, where.... a voice called out, breaking him from his thoughts, a firm feminine voice.
Commander Caro, hm? Adams turned and faced her, smiling slightly. There was being polite and then there was stretching it. She probably hadn't wanted to bother him and instead opted for the loud voice style of introduction. Interesting. Being a captain, he decided he might as well take the initiative himself. That in mind, he strode towards her, purposeful strides carrying him to her. He reached out a thick hand to her. Some traditions die hard.
"Commander Caro, a pleasure to meet you. Com...Captain Ben Adams." He smiled but winced inwardly. Damn, that half stripe of braid was taking some getting used to. He sized her up. Short, but not overly so. Pleasant enough face, strong voice.
"I apologize for being the lone member of the welcoming committee. It seems the rest of the senior staff is...well, not here at the moment. Hopefully that will be changing...soon." If she was adept at all at reading somebody's body language, she might notice a little tightening of the muscles on the last note. Obviously the captain was not thrilled at the situation he found himself in.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Commander Caro
Vanessa "Van" Caro tugged at the bodice of her blue dress uniform as she strode down the hall in the company of an ensign. She might have made a face, too, but she was fairly certain that the ensign looming over her (it was tough being 1.5-plus meters in an often 1.8-plus meters world) was part of her new crew and wouldn’t understand. It also wasn’t a good way to inspire confidence. He’d been glancing at her from the moment she first stepped out of a small gathering of officers, all waiting for their assignments.
“Commander Caro?”
She’d dimmed the smile she was flashing at Lieutenant Commander Felix and turned politely inquiring eyes on the blond young man in red. “That’s me. You my escort?”
The poor young man had tried to hide his surprise with mixed results. “Um, yes ma’am. I’m to take you to meet Captain Benjamin Adams.”
“Aw, Van, leaving us so soon?” Felix had crooned. A chorus of laughter had followed
She’d joined in, turning briefly toward the group. “As if you won’t be sorry to see me go, Jorge. You still owe me from that last game of poker,” she’d said, eyes flashing.
“I was hoping you’d forget.”
“Ha! I’m expecting my winnings plus interest when I see you next. In five years.”
That had inspired another round of laughter, as Van got her things together. Lt. Cmdr. Felix had sighed, catching her hand as she turned away. “You wouldn’t be so mean, would you, Van?”
“If I give you a break, Jorge, everyone will want one.”
Van had left to the sound of laughter and promises to make sure Felix paid up, matching the strides of the (to her) very tall ensign who now had pink ears.
No, making faces as the strode down the hall would not engender confidence. She was glad, then, that she had gone for a more severe hairstyle than she might have chosen otherwise. Her black hair was pulled away from her face, braided and coiled close to the back of her head in overlapping figure eights. It was pretty enough from the back, but fairly austere and reserved from the front. She wore the bare minimum of makeup on her permanently sun-kissed skin—partly out of respect to Starfleet regs, and partly so that she wouldn’t have to worry about it later. Trying to remember that she couldn’t wipe her sweaty forehead with her sleeve or rub her eyes because of her heavy foundation was more trouble than it was worth.
They took another corner and Van found herself tugging at the dress uniform again. It wasn’t that she disliked dresses or dress uniforms, she had her fair share of booth in her wardrobe, however she preferred dress uniforms for less…mobile occasion. They had a truly annoying tendency to ride.
“Here we are, Commander.”
Van inclined her head and gave the ensign a reserved, professional smile, quite unlike what he had seen before. “Thank you Ensign…”
“Curtis, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Ensign Curtis. You are dismissed.”
He nodded. “Ma’am.” She watched him march off until he turned a corner, then entered the waiting room.
Standing at the far end of the bright room, staring out at the view was a tall (relatively speaking) man. Her new captain. Van felt a small, small amused smile pull her lips and lift the corners of her eyes.
“Commander Vanessa Caro of the Starship Lexington, reporting for duty, sir,” she said calmly and clearly, enjoying the cadence of the words though her small smile neither grew nor faltered. It wasn’t the most musical thing she’d ever said, but saying the words ‘of the Starship Lexington’ pleased her immensely. It was going to be her home for the near foreseeable future, after all.
Van stood attention, waiting to be recognized.
“Commander Caro?”
She’d dimmed the smile she was flashing at Lieutenant Commander Felix and turned politely inquiring eyes on the blond young man in red. “That’s me. You my escort?”
The poor young man had tried to hide his surprise with mixed results. “Um, yes ma’am. I’m to take you to meet Captain Benjamin Adams.”
“Aw, Van, leaving us so soon?” Felix had crooned. A chorus of laughter had followed
She’d joined in, turning briefly toward the group. “As if you won’t be sorry to see me go, Jorge. You still owe me from that last game of poker,” she’d said, eyes flashing.
“I was hoping you’d forget.”
“Ha! I’m expecting my winnings plus interest when I see you next. In five years.”
That had inspired another round of laughter, as Van got her things together. Lt. Cmdr. Felix had sighed, catching her hand as she turned away. “You wouldn’t be so mean, would you, Van?”
“If I give you a break, Jorge, everyone will want one.”
Van had left to the sound of laughter and promises to make sure Felix paid up, matching the strides of the (to her) very tall ensign who now had pink ears.
No, making faces as the strode down the hall would not engender confidence. She was glad, then, that she had gone for a more severe hairstyle than she might have chosen otherwise. Her black hair was pulled away from her face, braided and coiled close to the back of her head in overlapping figure eights. It was pretty enough from the back, but fairly austere and reserved from the front. She wore the bare minimum of makeup on her permanently sun-kissed skin—partly out of respect to Starfleet regs, and partly so that she wouldn’t have to worry about it later. Trying to remember that she couldn’t wipe her sweaty forehead with her sleeve or rub her eyes because of her heavy foundation was more trouble than it was worth.
They took another corner and Van found herself tugging at the dress uniform again. It wasn’t that she disliked dresses or dress uniforms, she had her fair share of booth in her wardrobe, however she preferred dress uniforms for less…mobile occasion. They had a truly annoying tendency to ride.
“Here we are, Commander.”
Van inclined her head and gave the ensign a reserved, professional smile, quite unlike what he had seen before. “Thank you Ensign…”
“Curtis, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Ensign Curtis. You are dismissed.”
He nodded. “Ma’am.” She watched him march off until he turned a corner, then entered the waiting room.
Standing at the far end of the bright room, staring out at the view was a tall (relatively speaking) man. Her new captain. Van felt a small, small amused smile pull her lips and lift the corners of her eyes.
“Commander Vanessa Caro of the Starship Lexington, reporting for duty, sir,” she said calmly and clearly, enjoying the cadence of the words though her small smile neither grew nor faltered. It wasn’t the most musical thing she’d ever said, but saying the words ‘of the Starship Lexington’ pleased her immensely. It was going to be her home for the near foreseeable future, after all.
Van stood attention, waiting to be recognized.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Doctor Brianna Summers
[On Earth]
"Me, a C-M-O? And of a Constitution Class Starship?" Brianna said in disbelief. "Please tell me you're kidding."
"Nope." Admiral Williams said with a smile. "Congradulations Doctor Summers."
"Wha...why?" Brianna continued to stare at this man in disbelief.
"A personal favor of sorts."
Brianna shook her head, "No, No, No, No, No, No, No...absolutely No!"
Six months, almost to this day, the Admiral had been misdiagnoised as having Saurian Fever. If he'd taken the medication, that was wrongly prescribed to him, he would've died. Brianna happen to notice the mistake, quickly got ahold the Admiral mere seconds before he was about to take his first deadly dosage.
"It's a choice assignment." he reassured her.
"I don't want a space assignment!" she protested. "I'm happy on Earth, in Sol...close to home." The home she was talking about was New Berlin, Luna otherwise known as the Moon. "I'm too young."
The last part she may have been right about. She was only two years out of Starfleet medical. To put her in such a positon, with no space experience, seemed proposterious to her.
"The original guy we had lined up retired on us. We don't have many options, you're available and I personally put you in the spot." Admiral Williams' voice was massive. The tone of it alone told Brianna she was stuck.
"And you didn't even consult me?"
"No, I didn't need too. I know you're a great doctor, you saved my life for crying out loud!"
"But..." She didn't want to admit it but the very idea of space travel made her queesy. She joined Starfleet, not to travel space, but to instead work at the Starfleet Sol instalations. Never in a million years did she expect she'd have to actually leave the solar system.
"I know, this is all new and scary to you Doctor, but you're the best of the available medical personal we have."
"But..." Brianna still was in disbelief.
"I'll make a deal with you Doctor. Give the assignment a month or so, or at least until the completion of the first mission. If you're still unhappy we'll find a replacement."
"But..."
"Me, a C-M-O? And of a Constitution Class Starship?" Brianna said in disbelief. "Please tell me you're kidding."
"Nope." Admiral Williams said with a smile. "Congradulations Doctor Summers."
"Wha...why?" Brianna continued to stare at this man in disbelief.
"A personal favor of sorts."
Brianna shook her head, "No, No, No, No, No, No, No...absolutely No!"
Six months, almost to this day, the Admiral had been misdiagnoised as having Saurian Fever. If he'd taken the medication, that was wrongly prescribed to him, he would've died. Brianna happen to notice the mistake, quickly got ahold the Admiral mere seconds before he was about to take his first deadly dosage.
"It's a choice assignment." he reassured her.
"I don't want a space assignment!" she protested. "I'm happy on Earth, in Sol...close to home." The home she was talking about was New Berlin, Luna otherwise known as the Moon. "I'm too young."
The last part she may have been right about. She was only two years out of Starfleet medical. To put her in such a positon, with no space experience, seemed proposterious to her.
"The original guy we had lined up retired on us. We don't have many options, you're available and I personally put you in the spot." Admiral Williams' voice was massive. The tone of it alone told Brianna she was stuck.
"And you didn't even consult me?"
"No, I didn't need too. I know you're a great doctor, you saved my life for crying out loud!"
"But..." She didn't want to admit it but the very idea of space travel made her queesy. She joined Starfleet, not to travel space, but to instead work at the Starfleet Sol instalations. Never in a million years did she expect she'd have to actually leave the solar system.
"I know, this is all new and scary to you Doctor, but you're the best of the available medical personal we have."
"But..." Brianna still was in disbelief.
"I'll make a deal with you Doctor. Give the assignment a month or so, or at least until the completion of the first mission. If you're still unhappy we'll find a replacement."
"But..."
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Voyage Begins Anew...
Adams ran a finger along the edge of his dress uniform's high collar. It might have been cliche but damn, he hated these things. Obviously dressing up must mean dressing uncomfortably. It was the only logical explanation.
Satisfied with being irrational, his thoughts turned to his new command. The Lexington. Constitution class starship, NCC...oh hell, he'd forgotten the bloody registry number already. Smashing.
He shifted uneasily on his feet, glancing at the chronometer on the wall there in Headquarters. Where the hell was his senior staff? His crew? Had the universe suddenly decided time no longer flowed in any semblance of a linear fashion? Was he very late? Very early?
Either way, waiting was not fun.
Neither were dress uniforms.
Satisfied with being irrational, his thoughts turned to his new command. The Lexington. Constitution class starship, NCC...oh hell, he'd forgotten the bloody registry number already. Smashing.
He shifted uneasily on his feet, glancing at the chronometer on the wall there in Headquarters. Where the hell was his senior staff? His crew? Had the universe suddenly decided time no longer flowed in any semblance of a linear fashion? Was he very late? Very early?
Either way, waiting was not fun.
Neither were dress uniforms.
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