Posted by Ensign Able Nightroad (Engineering Officer) in Arrival onboard the Ship

Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Arrival onboard the Ship

Posted by Ensign Able Nightroad (Engineering Officer) in Arrival onboard the Ship
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Able nervously stepped off the shuttle craft and looked around at his first assignment since graduating from the Academy. He thought, ‘I hope things are different than my Academy days where I was measured up against my brother’s achievements.’

As he was thinking this someone near the bulkhead yelled, “You need to report to your Department Head asap. They are waiting for you.” Able grabbed his bag at these words and said, “Aye Sir” as he hurried though the door and off into the ship’s interior; nervous about what is next.

Ens Able Nightroad
Engineer

As Able moved though the door, he thought he was coming out of Shuttle Bay 1B but looking at the wall it showed “Deck 20” which meant, ‘I came in at Shuttle Bay 2b not 1b.’ he thought.
Regaining his bearings he rearranged the ship schematic memorized in this brain; he knew he needed to get to a turbo lift and then to Deck 10 where Main Engineering would unfold.
Able hurried along the corridor dodging people as they moved towards him, the though, ‘I need to make a good first impression!’ screamed in his mind.

Ens Able Nightroad
Engineer

Able was able to get his bearings of the ship and found his way towards the turbo lift. As the doors opened, his eyes looked up and saw someone in the lift waiting for him to enter. In the back of his mind, he tried to figure out the next words to say and stuttered, “Good Morning S…, I mean Ma’am, I mean Sir.” Able wanted to slink back into the deepest part of his world with that one.

Ens Able Nightroad
Engineer

The Orion XO stood in the lift. Her command red uniform was a striking image against her lime green skin and electric blue eyes. She would have been in the shuttlebay when the newest Ensign arrived, but prepping ship and crew for space dock, repairs, and shore leave tended to go sideways. It was expected. So when the lift opened to let her off to make her way to Shuttle bay 2b the Ensign was standing in front of her.

He seemed nervous. Well, she remembered those feelings from arriving at her first assignment. She smiled gently. “Welcome aboard En Nightroad.” She stepped to the side so he could enter. “Sir or Ma’am is fine. Whichever you are more comfortable with. How was your trip through the wormhole?”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Able got ahold of himself and said “Yes Ma’am.” as he moved into the turbo lift. Cain had told him about the Manhattan having an Orion XO, but had not told him anything about her. After getting settled in the lift he replied, ” It was my first time though a worm hole so I was in awe of all the surroundings.” Able shuffled a little bit and almost lost the PADD that he was holding.

“It is quite the experience. There is nothing else like it. Well, not that I’ve seen anyway. And there are more mysteries out there we don’t know about than we do,” The Commander commented.

“Ma’am,” he questioned, “Can you tell me a little bit about LT Kaia, I heard he is Galdori and want to make a good first impression with the Chief Engineer?” Able wanted to make a mark for himself and hoped not many people on board new his older brother.

Ens Able Nightroad
Engineer

“She,” Mal’athar corrected gently, “is quite brilliant. Lt. Kaia has been with the Manhattan for quite awhile. She’s very hands on and is usually doing work more than sitting back and supervising. She has a very unique perspective on the inner workings of the ship.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

The turbolift stopped and the doors opened. Standing just outside was a human man in a red command uniform. He was slightly above average human height with a lithe, athletic build. Jet black hair served to intensify the ice blue eyes set above a sharp, hawkish nose. But slightly more startling than the eyes were the four gold pips with a bar of gold beneath them on his collar: Fleet Captain insignia. And the only Star Fleet Fleet Captain in the Quadrant was the commanding officer of the Manhattan.

Cochrane looked at the XO and then the Ensign and he smiled and stepped into the lift. “I see you beat me to it, XO.” and he chuckled slightly. He looked at Nightroad and said “Ensign. Welcome aboard. How was your trip?”

Cochrane, CO

Shedda grinned slightly. It was always a toss up of who would get to the new arrivals first. It caused all kinds of wagers across the ship. “Captain,” Mal’athar nodded crisply.

Able looked at the pips of the person outside the turbolift and said, “Captain, I mean Sir!” In the back of Able’s mind he thought, ” Get ahold of yourself, it is just the Captain and First Officer.” Looking back at the Captain, he said, ” The wormhole, it was my first time, I was in awe the entire trip.” Able wanted to slap himself, he had just given the same response to the XO.

Able realized something the XO had said before the turbolift door had opened. ‘Female,’ he thought. His brother had failed to mention this point when they last talked. Able felt annoyed with himself that he had not realized something like this.

Ens Able Nighroad
Engineer

She smiled, “Well since the Captain has caught up with us, I will leave you both to it. Welcome aboard Ensign, and do let me know if you need anything.” She nodded to Cochrane, “Captain.” She stepped off the lift before the door closed.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Able watched as the XO moved off the lift and said” Thank you Ma’am, I will.” then looked back at the Captain.

Ens Able Nightroad
Engineer

“Well I’m sure the Commander already asked you about your trip, so I won’t bore you with the tedious questions over and over.” Cochrane said with a small smile. “But I will ask you the one question I ask of all new crew members: Why the Manhattan? All members of Star Fleet can decline assignments, so being here is a choice. So what brings you so far away from hearth and home, Ensign?”

Cochrane, CO

Able was not sure how to answer, he thought for a moment and decided to give him a honest truth about why he had chosen this ship. “Sir,” Able replied, “I joined this ship because it was far away and try to get out from under my brother’s shadow.”

Ens. Nightroad
Engineer

A shadow of his own passed over the Captain’s face for the briefest of moments. “Ah, yes… a not uncommon reason.” he said somewhat quietly. He turned slightly and looked at Nightroad and then said “Are you looking forward to being here? And what are your two biggest concerns or worries?”

Cochrane, CO