Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Arriving at Shuttlebay

Posted by Ensign Kajhel (Security Officer) in Arriving at Shuttlebay

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Arriving at Shuttlebay
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It had been a long trip. Just graduated from Star Fleet Academy, Kajhel hardly had time to say good bye to his classmates before already receiving his first mission. He was elated and excited. But it was a long trip from San Francisco to the USS Sentinel via three other Starfleet ships and four shuttle rides. Then, sitting in the fourth shuttle, leaving that last starship to go on the Sentinel, he could feel the presence of the Sentinel coming closer and closer, and the excitement in Kajhel’s body grew.

Finally, the shuttle arrived, and Kajhel departed the shuttle in shuttlebay. He moved his head around, trying to take in the way the shuttlebay was constructed, what objects and ships were there, and what people were there, and where… He sensed the many alien minds around him, but, the good Aenar he was, refused to use his curiosity to read their minds. Feeling their presence was enough. In a way, it made Kajhel feel safe, like he was part of a big family again. He smiled.

But now what? He knew he had to report to his department head, then do a medical evaluation, and then speak to the first officer. So much to do…

And there was a buzz of busy-ness in Shuttlebay.

For a second, he felt a bit anxious and invisible. What now?

– Ensign Kajhel (Security Officer)

Rand wasn’t familiar with the Aenear. She’d never met anyone. But she had read up and knew they were blind and extremely telepathic. That made her nervous. And that was horrible because she didn’t want this person to feel how nervous she always was or to find out her secret. She really really didn’t want to do this. It had nothing to do with the officer, she liked people even if she was extremely awkward, she just didn’t want them to know what she was really like…a total anxious mess.

She watched the shuttle land, power down and the access hatch open. She took a deep breath and tried to exude welcome and happy energy. How did one do that? She approached the new officer in security red, her boots clipping neatly against the floor of the bay. “Ensign Kajhel. I’m Ensign Rand, captain’s yeoman. Welcome to the Sentinel. If you have anything you’d like to carry with you we can get that, otherwise Chief Helpful will get your things taken to your quarters.” Helpful was the quartermaster on the ship and very efficient and had been around for a long time. The man was probably nearing retirement but loved the work. Heavy foot falls neared them with a feeling of calm and purpose. “Welcome aboard ensign. Anything fragile inside your crates?” Despite his age his voice was still deep and smooth.

Once that was settled Rand lifted her Padd, “If you can sign, Ensign. Acknowledgement of arrival and that your personal possessions arrived as well.” It was nitpicky paperwork that command insisted on, so Rand would make sure it got signed and filed. Did she need to show him where to sign? She didn’t want to assume and offend him or not help and offend him that way. Oh dear what to do?

Yeoman Rand

Kajhel moved his head in the direction of yeoman. He had learnt in his tween years in Paris that he had to move his nose in the direction of the speaker to make people understand that he’s actually listening to them. When among non-Aenar, that was his habit. It did not require much conscious energy to do so, but he was nervous now too, and feeling the nervousness of the yeoman made him feel even more nervous. He smiled for himself, thinking how they were both triggering one another, seeing the funny side in it. He took a deep breath. Humour is his way of calming down and defusing situations.

“Thank you! Very glad to meet you. It’s good to be here. I only have this one bag here,” he said, signalling to the rucksack he was carrying. He didn’t have many belongings with him, just a few pairs of “civilian” clothes, a small sculpture of his parents, and one of his best friend back home. The sculptures had the outlines of faces, so he could feel the faces or use his telepathic echolocation to see them. He already missed them. But he knew they were proud of him. Otherwise, the bag included some other objects of affection for him, like a few pebbles from Andoria, a stuffed ice-bore, which completely safe to touch but which would smell of his home… As a kid, he loved chasing ice-bores with his cousin and other friends – those were the good days.

When Rand asked him to sign, he laughed loudly. “I’m blind, I can’t sign anything like that.”

He dropped the bag onto the floor, and picked up his own PADD. It made letters stand out in relief so that he could read them through his telepathy. “Please just send it here to my PADD and I’ll sign it on my end. Would that be OK?”

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

The relief was palatable from her that he had a solution. “I’m sorry, truly. I was told you were blind, but wasn’t given any information on any accomodations. Let me see…your PaDD isn’t connected to the ship’s systems yet.” Rand pulled open the storage drawer in her PaDD and ran a connector cable between his and hers and transferred the forms over. “Sign the first one and then I am also sending you a map of the ship, duty schedule, department roster, galley meal schedule, and senior staff roster.”

Kajhel glanced over the documents Rand sent. He now had a touchy map! And a schedule, flow charts, etc. It was good. He felt happy, as if he’s part of it all. It was exciting to be on board.

After that was done, Rand led the way out of the shuttle bay. “We’ll start with your quarters so you can drop your bag off.”

Yeoman Rand

“Thanks!” Kajhel exclaimed, and walked half a step behind Rand but also being next to her. She’d lead the way, and he memorized the way corridors would feel and smell.

Rand led the way toward the lifts. “Five lifts circle the inner ring of the ship reaching all 12 decks. Access ladders can be found to the right of all lifts incase the lifts aren’t working. You’re on Deck 8.” The lift arrived and stepping on Rand grabbed a handle, twisted, and gave the destination.

While walking, he turned to her, “So how long have you been on the Sentinel? Is there anything I should know – like – off record?”

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

“Almost 2 years. I boarded at K7 when Sentinel was rechristened with the new Independence class.” Off record. “Cpt. Rogers has a background in tactical so you will see her a lot, she likes to do rounds of the ship so you never know where or when you will see her. She is very interested in her crew and can come off as intense. She’s a great captain though. Oh she has a cat. Black cat, super friendly and sneaky. Gets out a lot. So if you see her let me know and I’ll come get her. Name’s Willow. Cmdr Alden, our XO and CSO is a stickler. He has very high standards for everyone. He’s fair but he doesn’t put up with excuses. If you mess up, own it, and fix it. Don’t repeat. If you need help say so, and he will help you. His CSO office is on deck 9 but usually he is in the biology lab.”

Rand stepped off the lift when it came to a stop. “Chef Gorshin will ask what your favorite food from home is and he will make it. If you tell him nothing you will break his heart. He likes to cook for the crew.” She paused, “We were on lift 2. This is aft phaser control in front of us. Escape pods are every 3rd access panel on any deck. The gym takes up the forward section of this deck.” Rand turned left after checking her PaDD, “And this is you.” Rand had never paid attention before, but she was glad the numbers on the rooms were raised on the name plates. Most ships painted them flat, but it was a random aesthetic choice the designers of the specs decided on.

Yeoman Rand

Kajhel was grateful of the off-record notes from Rand. He felt like he could trust her. Maybe he’d made his first friend here today already. But then, maybe she’s just friendly to everyone? It’s her job, isn’t it? He decided to just wait and see. There was already so much happening. It’s all good.

“Thanks! I’ll remember all that!” He hoped he would notice Willow some time. Cats were the first Earth animal he noticed upon arriving in Paris as a kid, after his mother got a job at the Federation Council civil service. Curious little creatures, with tiny little legs. He’d never touched one though, only “seen” them blurrily through his telepathy. He never dared. He has too much respect for alien creatures, he wouldn’t want to impose on them. But he had a little desire that one day, when sitting down in mess hall, that cat would come up and jump up in his lap. He wouldn’t be startled (in his day dream; in reality he’d probably be terrified), and the cat would purr while he petted it across the back and belly.

He opened the door. He felt the size of the room, it was much bigger than he had anticipated.

“Will I share this room with anyone?” he asked.

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)