Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Arriving at Shuttlebay

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

Posted by Ensign Kajhel (Security Officer) in Arriving at Shuttlebay
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Kajhel hummed with relief to Rand’s explanation.

“I hope I’ll get to meet Willow one day. I’m rather fond of cats. I used to live on Earth a couple of years when I was a kid, and then at the Academy until… uhm… earlier today. I’ve met some cats… Curious, aren’t they? Have you ever had a cat? Or other pet?”

That question pulled a soft laugh from the yeoman. “Cats, stoats, lizards, birds, rodents, dogs, sheep. As a child I…um…collected strays and injured animals. Even ones I should have left alone.”

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

Junior officer quarters are half the size of the department head’s quarters in layout and contain a single twin sized bed, shower/bathroom sink, and a work area.

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

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

“No, all junior officers billet alone. So you will have this to yourself. If there is anything you need for your quarters you can let me or Chief Helpful, our quartermaster, know and we’ll get it for you.” Which reminded Rand to make a note to see if they could get a console put in that did the same thing as Kajhel’s PaDD so he didn’t have to transfer everything to a PaDD first. Rand did, but that was because she was always on the go.

The feeling that that answer gave in Kajhel confused him. On one hand, he enjoyed the liberation, freedom of being on his own, of having his space, uninterrupted by other beings and creatures. For the past 3 years he had had a roommate in the Academy, a Tellarite, Bark was his name, who was awfully cheerful (almost annoyingly so) and somewhat messy. Bark had been allocated to a different fleet even. He wondered if they’d ever see each other again. They had promised to stay in touch, but would they? None of Kajhel’s Earth friends from his tween years on Earth ever stayed in touch with him after he moved back to Andoria. It was just the way, we fade away from another when geography is our enemy, as his father had said.

“Thank you, once more,” he said, with nostalgia in his voice, from the memories of his long-lost childhood friends and the not knowing whether his friend Bark and he would stay in touch or not.

“You’re welcome Ensign.” Though Rand wasn’t sure what he was thanking her for, but social expectation was to respond politely to an expression of thanks.

When he was ready they took the lift to deck 2. “Torpedo and probe maintenance, storage, and control are up here. Escape pods are configured differently here than the rest of the ship because of the torpedo tubes and space they need. They are marked,” Rand pointed out one of the life pods and the label on the access hatch. Then Rand waited letting Kajhel explore a bit on his own and talk to any of the other officers on duty at the time.

Yeoman Rand

Rand was an excellent guide. She was so kind and patient with him. He tried to take it all in, memorize the details Rand gave him. It was a lot to take in. The ship was so clean, so sterile, that it was hard for Kajhel to find connotations as to what belonged where. Usually, something would have a little smell, a change in temperature, or something interesting across the echolocation, but the ship was annoyingly clean. It frustrated him a little, but he was certain people would be understanding of him. People always have. Why would the present be any different?

He moved his hand across the panels, and that comforted him. Ah, they have a particular feeling! Different uses of materials within panels, different sensations of temperature, texture and so on. He would figure this out. No one’s an expert on their first day.

“Will you introduce me to Mr Anders? I have been told to report to him. I’ve also been told to report to Sickbay for a medical evaluation. Which one should I do first? Or maybe we have more on our tour first?”

– Ens Kajhel (Security)

“Next stop is deck 5 which holds the security suite. If Lt Anders is there, I am happy to introduce you. There are a few more stops on the tour, and it ends at sickbay.”

“Very good, thank you,” he said. Why was he thanking her all the time? He was grateful, she was being more helpful than he could have imagined, but he hoped all this gratitude bestowed on her wouldn’t make her uncomfortable. He sensed she was a sensitive woman, with sensitivity to nuances. He hoped he wasn’t too overbearing. He decided to chill down a bit, for a while, keep a somewhat lower profile, but still show enough interest in the orientation. Verbal thanks weren’t perhaps as necessary.

When he was ready Rand led the way back to the nearest lift and down to deck 5. This deck would feel less sterile, had more personality. “The forward center section of the deck holds more JO and enlisted quarters. The rest of the deck is dedicated to the security suite.” This deck was more lived in and had more activity. “Armory and practice range, bring, security office.” Rand pointed out each as they passed them giving Kajhel time to investigate. Entering the security office was a woman with short light brown hair. “Rand! To what do we owe the pleasure?”

A brig! Kajhel felt the chills from it. There’s been some anxiety there. He supposed most people, no matter how “bad” they might have been, might feel uncomfortable through involuntary confinement. He hoped he would not have to use it… that there would be other ways to avoid danger, and commandeer those people who disobey.

The severity of the situation, of his actual mission, became obvious to him. This was no game any more. This was not training. This was the real deal.

“Lt. Tracey Morgan this is En Kajhel. He just arrived. We were looking for Lt. Anders.” Morgan nodded, “Welcome aboard En. He’s on rounds right now but should be back in about an hour.”

Yeoman Rand

“Ma’am,” said Kajhel while greeting her. He was a bit disappointed that Anders wasn’t here, he really hoped to get everything started as soon as possible. Ah well, he’d simply have to wait. What was an hour in the greater scheme of things, after all?

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

Morgan smiled, “Don’t worry ensign. By the time Rand has you to sorts the Lt will be back. You might run into him on rounds. He’s not the sort to sit behind his desk all day.”

A man of his own heart then, Kajhel thought. “Thank you,” he said, “I am happy to have met you. I look forward to working along with you later on.”

Rand stepped out of the office, “Alright, so our last stop is deck 9.” They took the lift and this deck seemed to carry even more detail. Stepping off the lift Rand made her way left, “The recreation hall is here and directly across is the Galley. Chef Gorshin is really outstanding, always has fresh meals on offer. If it’s not to your liking there are always protein cubes (OOC: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Unnamed_food_(23rd_century) food blocks) and Cook Haddon, who is the Gamma shift Galley Cook is talented as well. First time they see you they will ask about what you like to eat and your dietary needs. They take it very seriously. We can stop if you want something.”

Yeoman Rand

Growing up in the northern wastelands of Andoria, there was never an option for Kajhel to be peculiar about food. He always ate what he was served. But once he came to Earth as a tween, the food was so odd, and even if he never really enjoyed the Earth food, he did always eat whatever he was served. In the Academy, he tried eating some of the Vulcan and Andorian stuff – their flavour was always the least worst, but true to this story, Kajhel could not remember a time that he actually enjoyed eating. Food was always a means to an end. That said, he was quite aware of the dietary needs. The ratio of carbohydrates and fats and proteins and various minerals and vitamins. It is good that they will consider that.

“It looks like I’ll never eat anything more nutritious than here, I look forward to finally getting healthy,” he said, hoping Rand would understand the joke, even if the joke had several ounces of truth in it.

Rand nodded, “Well that’s true. I have found it’s also useful for being prepared for whatever we might be offered. Chef makes anything tasteful, but exposure to variety is good.”

“And no, thank you, I am quite full. Truth be told, I actually just ate, while on the shuttle on my way here. A full stomach, I find, helps me with my nerves. I was rather nervous until I met you.”

Rand was slightly taken off guard, never would she consider she was helpful in calming someone else’s nerves, though she was exceedingly happy she had been able to do so. She nodded slowly and said kindly, “I understand the feeling. I’m glad I could make the transition smooth.”

“But our tour isn’t done yet, surely?” said Kajhel hoping to lean on Rand a bit more… he wasn’t ready to try out his own wings just yet…

From the lab came one of the science officers, a young Ensign by the name of Amelia Scott came out, smiling a friendly smile. Turning to head down the hall, she stopped and her smile widened. “Rand! Hey!” She said excitedly, heading over to the Yeoman and the new Ensign. “Doing one of your new crew orientations, are you? And who’s this?” She asked, gesturing to Kajhel. “I’m Scott, I work in the lab,” she introduced herself.

~ NE Scott, Science

Rand was leading the way across to the recreation room when Scott bounded up to them. Rand didn’t even bother to answer except for a smile and a nod. She wasn’t going to get a word in edge wise anyway. But she totally dreaded what might come out of Scott’s mouth. The ship’s biggest gossip you just never knew.

Yeoman Rand

“Hello Scott,” he said, with the sound of smiling in his voice, reaching out his hand. He would only smile if his physiological instinct would tell him too. Emotions were more indicated by his voice, he had found. This woman seemed human to him, so it would be best to show cultural awareness and greet in the standard Earth way – at least the European–North American way (the only two continents he had lived on while on Earth). Thus he reached out his hand, waiting for her to shake it.

“My name is Kajhel, I am an ensign, just graduated the Academy and have come here on my first posting. Yesterday I was a student, today I am an officer. What kind of lab work do you do? Perhaps our paths might cross in the line of duty?”

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

“I’m a geologist, but mostly I help out in the biology lab,” Scott said, smiling brightly as she shook his hand. “I work a lot with the first officer, commander Alden. He’s usually pretty grouchy, I mean, really, a total stickler! But not after Rand here visits…”

“You’re not the only one to have warned me…”, Kajhel said with cheerfulness in his voice.

She smiled a great big smile, leaning in and whispering in a loud whisper, “They’re dating,
~ NE Scott, Science

Kajhel let out a long, but whispered, “ooooooh....” His thoughts went a buzz. Was that even ethical? Are people allowed to date colleagues? And someone in a command role over the other? So many thoughts and questions. Was this a secret relationship? Was this something he wasn’t supposed to know?

He’d been on this ship for less than an hour, and he was already getting a feel of some aspects of the “local” culture… Kajhel didn’t quite like it, while he did take some pleasure in knowing that things do go on behind the scenes, and that people have already begun opening up to him.

Perhaps he could make his home here after all…

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)