Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Pre Sim: Checking in with the XO

Posted by Ensign Jorik Thoran (Navigator/Pilot) in Pre Sim: Checking in with the XO

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Pre Sim: Checking in with the XO
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Jorik stepped into the science labs, feeling immensely out of place. He wasn’t yet used to being on a starship, and that much was obvious, as he took to searching for the Chief Science Officer, who was also First Officer. The look on his face of confusion and curiosity would startle anyone expecting your typical stoic Vulcan, though his appearance was otherwise typical, even down to the hairstyle.

As he finally caught up to the CSO, he spoke up. “Sir, Ensign Jorik Thoran, reporting for duty. I was told to report to you upon arrival aboard.”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

The biology lab was where Alden worked regularly and it was there that Jorik was pointed to. Most of the space in the biology lab was taken up by specialized habitats, each housing an alien wildlife critter. Predators on one side, prey animals on the other. There were presently seven enclosures with animals in them. Science staff made themselves busy around the lab, one passing by Jorik with a quick “excuse me” as he rushed by.

If the expression of emotion startled Roman, he did not show it. Sitting at his desk in the corner of the lab, Roman had a stack of reports on his desk and looked rather grouchy about it. It was early in the morning, and Rand the yeoman had dropped off his reports and would be by later to pick them up when he was finished with them. When Jorik addressed him, he looked up, as if slightly annoyed at the disruption, but then the annoyance vanished and Roman rose to greet him. He stood with perfect posture. “Good morning, Ensign.” He said, offering a hand for a hand shake. “I am Commander Alden, first officer and chief science officer of this ship.” He had a crisp English accent, posh sounding. His hair was perfectly neat, not a spot or a wrinkle on his blue uniform. “Let’s move to my office, we can talk more privately there.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Of course, Commander.” Jorik said, following the other man into his office. He had caught the momentary annoyance the other man showed, but made no notion he had. If he compared himself to Roman, he felt like he was wearing a uniform that’d been sitting compressed under a pile of laundry for months, though he kept his uniform as wrinkle-free as he could manage, he was nothing like his mother at doing so, and honestly considered asking her to put a permanent press into his shirts, as it’d be better than trying to do so himself.

As he entered the office behind Roman, he caught a Vulcan’s look of disapproval out of the corner of his eye. With a sigh, he pretended he didn’t notice.

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Roman did not miss the look the officer gave Jorik, either. A scowl from the first officer, and the look vanished, the Vulcan going about his business. The CSO’s office was a quick jaunt down the hall from the biology lab. Roman sat behind his desk in a rather cushy looking rolling office chair and gestured to one of the other chairs in front of the desk. “Have a seat.” He folded his hands on the desk. “I was informed of your impending arrival. You are our new Navigator, is that correct?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Jorik took a seat, having gain a newfound respect for Roman after noticing the other man’s reaction to the Vulcan. It wasn’t everyday someone else noticed the looks he got, and even less frequently stopped them.

“Yes sir. I’m also certified as a pilot should the need arise.” Jorik couldn’t help but sound just slightly nervous as he spoke, almost like he was afraid he was going to screw up or make the other man dislike him.

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Roman had an icy stare that often set new officers on edge, and he was used to that reaction. Leaning back slightly in his chair, he relaxed his posture somewhat. “Good. Then we may have you pilot shuttles. Sentinel’s primary mission is exploration, so we do a lot of surveys, observation, the occasional scouting of a planet.” He looked at Jorik, “I can tell you do not… follow certain Vulcan principles. What made you want to join Starfleet?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

As Roman relaxed, Jorik did as well. “I wanted to follow my parents–both sets of parents–into Starfleet. And you are right in that I don’t follow Vulcan principles. I was raised by a wonderful human couple after my parents died in a shuttle accident.” He smiled, remembering his mom and dad, “they didn’t want to confine my thinking and wanted me to learn to think for myself.”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Roman nodded. “As valid a principle to follow as the logic homeworld Vulcans swear by. If anyone gives you trouble about it, I ask you come to command staff about it. We don’t allow that sort of behavior on this ship.” It was distracting to both officers and in an emergency, detrimental to the crew’s teamwork. Roman wouldn’t stand for it. “I am sorry for the loss of your parents. It sounds like you are lucky there was someone else to take care of you. What are your goals in Starfleet? What do you hope to achieve for yourself?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Jorik nodded. “Will do, sir. As for my goals. I’m not quite sure yet, what I want to do, or where I want my career to go. Right now? I guess I want to just see the universe. See what’s out there. Meet new people.” Jorik smiled at the thought. “Just kind of going where the universe wants me at the moment.”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

“I am sure you will come to enjoy your time on Sentinel.” Roman commented. “Medical is on deck 9 straight up the hall from here for your medical check in, my yeoman will meet you there for your ship tour once you finish your medical eval.” As he mentioned the yeoman he began to spin a stone black ring on his ring finger. The stone was a brilliant blue diamond, inlaid in the band to look like a blue star. “Do you have any questions about anything else? Anything at all?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Jorik’s eyes were briefly drawn to the ring, and nodded. “Just one, what’s your story?”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Roman glanced down at the ring, then back to Jorik, eyes twinkling. “I’m engaged. I proposed in front of a blue burning sun, so my fiancee face gave me this ring.” He wasn’t usually so open with personal affairs, but despite how grouchy reports made him he was actually in a pleasant mood.

He flipped his hand to show both sides of the ring. Besides the blue diamond, it was a plain, black band. The fit on his finger was perfect. On the lower edge of his palm, from the base of the thumb to the opposite side of the palm by the wrist was an unsightly, wrinkled scar from an electrical burn. Its presence didn’t seem to bother the first officer, nor did he make any attempt to hide it. He flipped his hand back over, the light glinting off the gemstone.

~ Roman

Jorik smiled himself, “it’s very pretty. Must be pretty lucky. I don’t have anyone, myself. No one has caught my eye yet, not sure if they ever will.” He cleared his throat after speaking. “If there’s nothing else, Commander?”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav