Welcome aboard

Posted on 19 Nov 2019 @ 5:53am by Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Edited on on 19 Nov 2019 @ 6:05am

Mission: Mission 2 - The Agora crossroads
Location: Ready room
Timeline: MD4 PM
1074 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

The Andromeda was scanning the planet below for Trill life signs. The civilisation was pre-warp and only a few satellites which they had managed to successfully mask their presence was the only other thing out there with them. Sometimes Jon thought that pre-space exploration civilisations had it easy.

"Captain," the bridge communicated, "We have a Starfleet runabout approaching. Our new CMO is here."

"Excellent," Jon replied. "Have them beam them direct to my ready room and their belongings to their quarters."

He waited a minute as the Orion woman transported into view. Extending his hand, he reached towards here. "Dr Lae. Welcome aboard. I trust your trip over was uneventful?"

Maeve waited for the room to stop spinning. She didn't know what it was about the pheromone inhibitors but they really made the transporters uncomfortable to use. As the room steadied down she took a quick look around. This was the first Galaxy class ship she'd ever been on and if this room was any indication it was a lot more luxurious than Yatomi. Luxurious was definitely something she could deal with.

Finally, Maeve's eyes settled on the man standing with his hand extended and greeting her. She started to accept his handshake, then realized her right hand was still holding the padd with her orders on it.

"Oh! Sorry, sir," she stammered feeling embarrassed as she shuffled the padd to her left and and then finally accepted his handshake. Then she found herself blushing again at his use of her family name. "Darn it," she thought, "I should be used to that by now." To him she replied "it-it was a very, um, unexpected one, sir. Thank you, sir. I didn't even know I was being transferred until Captain Andrews called me to his office and then, whoosh, I was being bundled aboard a runabout."

"Well it was just as unexpected to us. A good surprise though," Jon said honestly. "I thought it would be when we got back to the Starbase for shore leave before we would have chance to take on new crew. Where do you hail from?" he asked her. He had of course read her service file but it was always nice to hear it direct from the person.

Maeve fidgeted uncomfortably and replied"I'm transferring from the hospital ship Yatomi, sir, but it's Doctor Maeve, sir, if you don't mind, sir. Orions don't normally use our family names. I'm originally from a small mining colony in the Orion systems." Despite having been a member of Starfleet for several years now, this was the first time she'd had to report to a new CO since she joined the Yatomi six years earlier and her first time ever aboard a Starfleet cruiser. Well, as a member of her crew at least. She found herself suddenly feeling like a teenager again, walking into the Academy for the first time. Looking into her new captain's eyes, she felt like she needed to add more and continued "my aunt Ember got me into Starfleet, sir. She's a senior officer on USS King George V, in the Gamma Quadrant."

She was nervous. Jons empathic senses picked that straight up. "The Gamma Quadrant," Jon said surprised. "Is she on a vessel thats traveled there from Deep Space Nines worm hole?" he asked interested.

Maeve nodded and replied "Yes, sir. The George is part of Admiral Hall's expeditionary force; mainly exploration and diplomacy. Aunt Ember tells me that Admiral Hall is a big proponent of Starfleet's scientific mission." Grinning nervously, she added "I've heard he butted heads with the military side of Starfleet once too often so they sent him out there."

"What's your speciality Doctor Maeve?" he asked.

Here Maeve felt on firmer ground. At least medicine was something she felt she could talk about with some authority. "General medicine, Captain. Although I have made a special study of alternative medicines using alien plants and technologies." Maeve paused for a moment and then went on "is that okay, Captain? I hope you weren't looking for a specialist."

"I'm actually quite interested in that and would enjoy reading your study if you would share it. The alternative therapies stuff. My ex - wife was a big pioneer. So does that mean you need gardening space to grow some of these alien plants?" he asked. "Because we can get that organised."

Maeve brightened up and replied "Oh, that would be amazing! I'm sure I could get samples sent to us." Then she paused and looked pensive "But it would have to be a controlled environment. I wouldn't want any of my plants cross-contaminating the ship's fresh food supply. But if there is such a facility available then I'm sure I could make it useful. And, of course, I'll make sure you have access to all my prior and current research papers."

"If it doesn't exist currently go speak with Lieutenant Karakalakss and we will make it a project for her to build it for you," Jon said simply. He knew the Soliodaran was more than capable and such continued research might yield useful and interesting results. He was all for his CMO getting her teeth into doing research into what she was interested in.

"Thank you, sir, I'll do that," Maeve replied, beaming. "But first I suppose I should report to the CMO? If the Captain has nothing further, of course."

Jon looked at her confused. "Doctor, you are the CMO. I would suggest going to sickbay and acquaint yourself with your staff but you do not need to report into anyone further. There is one in particular, Doctor Syvar who has stepped up in the absence of us not having a CMO that I would like to personally ask you to mentor. He has I believe a lot of potential but needs some confidence building and tutoring to get there."

"What!?" Maeve squeaked. She wanted to add "but I'm just an ensign" or "I just finished my residency less than a year ago" but instead she settled for a dumbfounded "Oh" followed by a shocked pause before she finally continued "I-I guess I should go do that now then, Captain. Thank you, Sir."

"Dismissed then," Jon said, "And Doctor. You will be fine."

OFF

●●● Commander Jonathan Reynolds
Commanding Officer
USS Andromeda


● Ensign Maeve Lae
Chief Medical Officer
USS Andromeda