A new face in a busy crowd

Posted on 08 Jul 2020 @ 5:48pm by Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant Xu Chang Lau

Mission: Mission 4 - Race against the machine
Location: Bridge
Timeline: After first attempt to stop planet killer - MD5 16:00
1456 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

The mood on the bridge had sunk to levels Jon had not felt before. People were frightened quite rightly and demoralised at the appearance of this new party in things. The dark ones. And that they had not been successful.

Around them engineering and medical staff scurried around fixing up the mess. Jon watched them idlily for a minute when his eyes fell on a new face.

"Security keep me posted on how the Europa and Merlin have fared with repairs from what just happened. Put either of the captains through to my ready room if/when they want to discuss our next move," he stood up while speaking to Hawkins.

He walked over to the new face. "I believe your my new science officer, just beamed over. Sorry this has not been the best welcome. Shall we have a quick chat?" he indicated his ready room. "Catch you up and so I can get to familiarise myself with you?"

Dishevelled and sweat clinging to her every pour and this was the moment the Captain decided to introduce himself! She couldn't help but laugh at her own misfortune at first impressions in the last twenty four hours. Her hands still dancing across the console like a well practised pianist manipulating the keys in such a way to create music, only this wasn't music, this was desperation on her part.

"Captain, of course!" she turned to the terrified looking non commissioned officer next to her. "Finish the analysis for me and get the reports to Lieutenant Datari the moment you have anything!"

"I'm all yours Captain!" she said as she gracefully stood from the seat and began to shovel the loose hair back into the now ponytail held together by her jade hairpin.

Jon indicated she step in before him politely and followed through. He went and sat at his desk.

"At ease Lieutenant. The XO and I have a policy to try meet all the new staff. Sorry it wasn't a good time. But better time than any I suppose. Captain Jonathan Reynolds. Welcome to the Andromeda. Has anyone brought you up to speed about the big weapon on destruction out there?" he asked.

"Picking things up as I go Captain!" she grimaced a little only now feeling the bruise that was starting to form on her cheek after the weapon had decided to bounce the Andromeda around somewhat and had toppled her with little effort into the side of the console. "I've been trying to access the weapons systems, see if I can at least try and decipher the language it uses... I've not had any real success!"

"Well its something to keep working on. Is your face okay?" he asked sensing her pain.

Reflex brought a hand up to her cheek, prompted by the Captians question... was he an empath? She took a second to take in his eyes, searching for the tell tale dark eyes of a Betazoid. Some hints but there was also green in his eyes. Just a genetic trait of his heritage or perhaps he had some Betazoid descendants.

"Just a slight bump from the to do with the weapon. Its nothing serious sir!"

"Well get it checked out," Jon nodded. He could sense her wondering what he was. "Half Betaziod. Empathic," he told her. "You were wondering."

Her cheeks reddened again, feeling guilty for having her curiosity being caught out. She pushed it aside despite the slight burning of her cheeks as the Captain pressed on with bringing her up to date.

"So we have a few parties in play. A group of SoNa never reunified who call themselves the Cetea seem to be connected to this weapon. A mirror universe version of a colleague who apparently sold them the planet killer. And now these dark ones who we encountered reference to them in our maiden mission. There was a monolith, we got a sample. Might be worth catching up with your boss on that one as I'm sorry I'm security by nature, not a science man," he told her. "What's your background then Lieutenant?"

"I have spoken to Lieutenant Datari already but it was focused on the current situation... I think I may request another meeting soon to discuss the rest!" her eyes going wide again as more information dropped into her lap. "My background is Forensic Anthropology... I work with bones. The last several years I have been on Cardassia helping to sift through..."

Her words trailed off, the weight of the Andromeda's situation being over shadowed by the magnitude of her unenviable task on Cardassia. "I was helping the provisional Government on Cardassia reunite loved ones with lost family for a proper funeral... There are decades of work to do to help them, possibly several lifetimes..."

She forced back the wave of emotion welling up behind her eyes but she could already tell the Captain had sensed her regret, sorrow and upset that the work had been so slow going, so many people with no voice that she had been forced to leave to rescue her own mental health. She changed tack as quickly as she could.
"I am a linguistics and communication system specialist, I am also a level three pilot."

"What made you decide you wanted an assignment back in space?" Jon asked curious.

She paused a moment to consider her options. Did she tell him the truth, how she really felt about her position on Cardassia or did she give the more correct answer, something you would usually say when faced with this kind of cross roads. Ultimately, and because of the Captain latent Empathic abilities, would not telling the truth serve her well?

"In all honesty Captain, the assignment on Cardassia, sifting through so many remains, putting faces to the dead, giving them voice again... It was taking a toll. In my field of expertise you normally deal with one, maybe two sets of remains that have been long dead. Knowing that these... people..." her voice caught in her throat for a second. "Knowing that they had been innocent of any wrong doing yet they paid the price, so many... so, so many. I was the one, one of a number of officers that had to put families back together... Lets just say that after a long four years I needed a change".

Jon nodded. "I can understand that. Well hopefully this is the right change for you. I won't keep you. Too much to do right now and" .... he looked at his PC which was lighting up with messages, "Im sorry. I have the other 2 captains wanting to discuss things. I'm sure we will get an opportunity to talk again."

"Thank you Captain" she offered, glad he didn't press for more. She already knew he would be able to sense her emotional state and the last thing she wanted was to lay it all at his feet. Perhaps she needed to make time to see the ships Counselor. She started to rise and move towards the door.

"Oh and Lieutenant," Jon called after her as she got to the door. "Chief Stevens .. He and I go rock climbing together. Hes a nice guy. Seems you made an impression on him." he told her. He knew he had put the fear of whatever deity she might believe but his friend had already sent him a message worrying he had upset the new science officer. Mind you his mate might not be overly happy at him saying that. Sometimes Jon just couldn't help himself and jump in helping his goddesses Astraea's work.

"Oh", she couldn't smother the alarm that started to tug at the tone of her voice, "That bad an impression that he told the Captain!"

She reddened again, the heat illuminating her cheeks once more. "Looks like I may have some damage control to do with the Chief!"

"Bad impression," Jon said confused. "I would say it was quite the opposite. Although Im sure he would like to speak with you again. He doesn't get a lot of time to socialise with colleagues in his role."

"Oh", she repeated but this time a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I will make a point to see speak to him. Now, If you will excuse me I'm sure Lieutenant Datari has a multitude of things on his plate that I could help him with"
she smiled once more feeling suddenly much better about this assignment than she had been before.

"Yes of course. Dismissed Lieutenant."

OFF:

●●●● Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Captain
USS Andromeda


○● Lieutenant JG Xu Chang Lau
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Andromeda