Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Alt Sim-Meet the Captain at Captain’s ready room

Cleared for duty by the Chief Medical Officer, Thalos departed sickbay without ceremony. There was only one remaining obligation before he could formally assume his role as Chief of Security aboard the USS Merrimack—a meeting with the ship’s commanding officer.

He moved through the corridors with measured strides, expression neutral, posture composed. To any casual observer, he appeared entirely at ease. Beneath that exterior, however, a low current of tension coiled quietly—controlled, contained, but present. It was not fear, nor doubt, but the weight of responsibility settling into place. Command expectations. A new crew. A ship he did not yet know.

When he reached the captain’s door, Thalos stopped.

For a brief moment—no more than a heartbeat—the instincts of the Imperial Guard stirred. A flash of readiness. A reflexive assessment of angles, exits, threat vectors. His muscles tightened imperceptibly, antennae drawing forward as if preparing for a challenge rather than a conversation.

He recognized the response immediately.

And suppressed it just as quickly.

This was not an ice field. Not a command tent. Not a rival clan leader across a dueling line. This was Starfleet—where authority was earned through trust, not dominance. The tension eased, folded back under discipline, leaving only calm resolve behind.

Thalos straightened slightly, his antennae settling into a controlled, respectful posture. He raised his hand and pressed the door chime.

He hoped the captain had concluded their meeting with the XO. This was not a formality to be rushed, nor one to be witnessed unnecessarily. It was a conversation best held privately—measured, direct, and precise.

A clandestine meeting, in its own way.

Thalos waited, silent and composed, ready to step fully into his duty aboard the USS Merrimack.

The XO had departed the Captain’s room already, and Captain Glen called for the next person to enter upon hearing the chime.

He smiled upon seeing that it was the new COS. Glen had worked with several Andorians individuals aboard the Merrimack before. He had always found them to be a proud, militaristic, yet passionate people with a fierce martial tradition, and of course, he would have been extremely useful to have been aboard for their last mission, when they were sent to uncover the mystery that was later discovered to be a lost Aenar colony.

The doors slid open with a soft hiss.

With permission granted, Thalos stepped inside and advanced only a few paces before stopping precisely where protocol dictated. His boots came to rest shoulder-width apart, hands clasped neatly behind his back, antennae settling into a neutral but attentive angle.

“Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik reporting for duty, sir,” he said.

His voice was steady, respectful—carrying neither bravado nor uncertainty. Just readiness.

Thalos, for his part, held the captain’s gaze calmly, the last echoes of Imperial Guard instinct fully subdued. Whatever tension lingered remained buried beneath Starfleet protocol and personal control.

He waited—silent, composed—ready to hear the words that would mark the true beginning of his service aboard the USS Merrimack.

Glen began, “Welcome aboard the USS Merrimack, Lieutenant; or the Merri, as many prefer. I hope you’ve settled in already. Please do take a seat.”

Glen continued, “You are taking over from M’Mera, who has now become our Chief Engineer, so literally big boots to fill, but you have the advantage of her wealth of experience here already. I heard she was running those security officers ragged down there with her exercises. And I don’t want you to feel too insecure that everyone is watching, but Joe, the barman down in the Dragon bar, is another former COS here too. Don’t hesitate to ask the veterans for advice, but I’m also looking forward to seeing how you put your own stamp on things. It’s a tough job, so don’t let it chew you up… So.... If you haven’t see her yet, Dr. Cross, or one of her staff will want to give you a medical clearance. That doesn’t seem that important until you take someone on a landing party and they fall ill… ahem… yes, Dr. Cross never let’s me forget that. …After that, our new XO, Rana Singh will take you through the human resources box ticking. I have no time for that myself.”

“Anyhow, it’s great to have you here aboard the Merri. We will soon be entering into the Caradthian Expanse itself, so please join me on the Bridge for our first look at that. With the Caradthian Expanse ahead of us, there will be plenty of opportunities to show your mettle. Welcome again, and let’s make this journey one for the history books to remember,” added Glen.

• Glen, CO

Thalos took the seat gestured to him by the Captain

“I have already had… had the pleasure of meeting Doctor Cross,” he said evenly. “I’ve been cleared medically.”

A pause followed—brief, deliberate. Beneath the surface calm, memory stirred. Cold metal. Emergency lights. The sudden, violent silence after impact.

“I’m not nervous,” he continued, voice steady. “I spent a number of years in the Imperial Guard, in command of my own squad… until a shuttle crash took them all from me.”

For the briefest moment, his antennae dipped—an involuntary reaction quickly mastered.

“Still,” he added, meeting the captain’s gaze, “I would be a fool not to draw upon the experience of those who came before me.”

The warrior instinct was still there, buried deep—sharp, ready—but tempered now by loss, discipline, and purpose. He sat composed, present, and resolute, ready to serve the USS Merrimack not as a blade alone, but as a protector.

“Do we know anything else about this expanse?”

Lieutenant Thalos ch’Ravik
Chief Of Security
USS Merrimack