Arrival of an assistant

Posted on 24 Nov 2020 @ 10:41pm by Lieutenant JG Rosaline Belikov
Edited on on 17 May 2021 @ 6:05am

Mission: R&R - after facing the Planet Killer
Location: Chief of Intelligence Office
1742 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

The USS Andromeda had docked at Starbase 308, and people started to file off. There was a lone figure seated at a nearby spot watching. He always found it fascinating to see the different sorts of people who came and went. It was one of his hobbies, people watching. he looked down at his PADD, gave a little bit of a smile. This was his new assignment, another ship and crew to be a part of. He was told to report to a Lieutenant Rosaline Belikov, and so he would.

He rose from his perch on the back of a bench, his wiry frame moving with great agility to keep from knocking into anyone. He paused for a moment before entering taking a deep breath, then letting it out slowly. Well, this was it.

He followed the directions of the map of the ship he possessed. He wasn't certain if she would be there in the office or somewhere else. Ethan shrugged, either way if she weren't in her office, she would be found somewhere else

Arriving there, Ethan pressed the chime seeing if there would be an answer.

Half asleep on the couch in her office, Rose was jolted awake by the sound of the door chime. With a sigh of resignation, she got up and walked over to answer the door, “yes? What do you want?” She asked gruffly.

Ethan looked up at Rose, "Greetings, I'm Lieutenant Ethan Smith, I've been assigned to this ship as an assistant to the Chief of Intelligence, which is you."

“Hmm, I didn’t ask for one, but I’m sure I could use one. Come on in” Rose said, turning around and walking back into her office. “So, tell me about yourself, Lieutenant”

The dark blonde man, with dark brown eyes, followed Rose into her office, doing a quick glance around, as he did so. He then answered Rose,

"I'm from Ucon, Idaho, a small town there. I joined Starfleet, following in the footsteps of my older brother, Henry, he's in security. My mother, Jasmine, is a diplomat and my two sisters Eileen and Audrey, they work with my mother. My father, Edward, unfortunately was a casualty of the Dominion War. "

"I've served on two ships and on Starbase 308 as an intelligence officer. It was a surprise to me to be transferred to the USS Andromeda, apparently though, someone wished me to be on her. Probably due to what went on with the Planet Killer."

Ethan looked at Rose to see if she wanted to know more.

Rose nodded, “so what would you have done differently?” She asked, trying to see how much he actually knew.

"What would I have done differently? That remains to be seen." Ethan answered truthfully. "I do know there are issues that need to be looked into, but its all about what the brass has to do. They have to determine what course needs to be taken where taking a ship into the mouth of a planet killer is concerned. You were in the thick of things; what would you have done differently?"

Rose smiled, “you haven’t been playing the game long have you Lieutenant?”

"And what game is it that you are talking about?" giving a little bit of a smirk. "I'm just being upfront as to me being sent here by some brass, for some investigative purposes. Or just to get me out of their hair." giving a bit of a chuckle.

His eyes grew more serious. "I'm here to help where needed, and when needed."

Rose nodded, “that’s good to know. Do you have a particular area of expertise?”

"I am good a cracking codes, picking locks aka security systems. I am also able to just blend in the background, when needed. I also know how to defuse bombs, and make them. I can fit in small spaces. I also know several languages two earth languages French and Spanish. Three other languages, Klingon, Vulcan, and Romulan. I am versed in hand to hand combat, and armed combat, aka knives and short swords. Also good with phasers. " Ethan stated.

Rose smiled, “is that it?” She said coldly, “codes, stealth and basic combat? Surely you have some skills that can’t be taught at the academy”

"Oh, but I do have other skills besides those that I learned in the academy." Ethan replied, his voice sounding much like hers, including her cold tone. It also was coming from the other side of the room; even though he was standing right next to her.

Reverting back to his normal voice, Ethan stated, "I am also a skilled tailor, a cobbler, a gadgeteer, a stage magician, a worker with metal and I craft jewelry. I also can read lips."

“So you chose not to specialize. I guess that can be respectable” Rose said, somewhat impressed by the list of occupations being rattled off, “do you plan on jumping streams to command one day?”

"A command? That all depends on where I would be most useful." Ethan replied, "Those occupations that I listed, have served me well in gaining information and keeping a finger on the pulse of what is going on in different places. How about you, do you intend on going into a command post?" giving a Rose an assessing once over. "You would be good in a command position." he smiled.

"As for me, I may not seem like I have an ambition to take command of anything, but in truth, sometimes a so called cog can be the most powerful."

Rose grinned, "Oh no, I am not suited for command. As for a cog being powerful, I guess when you finally find your fit, it lets us work to our potential"

Ethan nodded, "That is so very true. I am hoping that you and I will be able to work well together. I am already liking this ship and it has a good feel to it." giving a definitive nod. "So...what do you like to do when off work. Though, an intelligence officer truly isn't off work even if they have time off."

Rose nodded, “that’s true, the devils work is never done” she said, relaxing in her chair a little, “as for what I like to do when off duty, I spend as much time as I can with my daughter.”

"You are so fortunate to have a child." Ethan said with a gentle wistful smile. "Children can bring such joy, even when they are in the midst of turbulence." he briefly closed his eyes for a moment as if to collect himself, then opened them up once more.

"I remember coming across a rag tag bunch of children while on an assignment. They had lost their parents, due to a natural disaster. They were trying to make their way to their nearest kin, but had come across some difficulties they couldn't overcome. Some slime balls had captured them and were ready to sell them into slavery." his brow furrowed as he continued on. "That didn't set well with me, not one bit. " he growled, his face twisted in anger at that memory.

He stopped, and took a deep breath, his expression of anger subsiding to one that was calm and serene.

"To make a long story short, the children were able to make it to their other relatives, and their captors were never seen nor heard of again. The last time I had contact with the children, they were doing well. Especially the youngest one, she is five years old now, still adorable. She let me know she loved her new shoes."

He chuckled at that memory, "She threw her arms about my neck and the cherub had kissed my cheek." his hand reaching up and touching the cheek which had been kissed. "Told me that she loved me."

Rose smiled, "I've been told that it is quite a thing to hear those words from your child. Ziva has yet to start speaking, but i do look forward to that day"

"I wish she were my child, but sadly she wasn't." a wistful expression. "Even if she isn't my child, it still warmed the heart." Ethan replied. "Perhaps, sometime, I can meet your precious one? That is if you are willing."

“One day, perhaps. For now we should get you familiar with the set up. Have you ever used a completely holographic interface before?” Rose asked, knowing that even now such interfaces were uncommon.

"Aye, I have done so a couple of times or so." Ethan replied, not giving a huge amount of information there. "I won't touch your set up unless given permission. As I well know that there are those who are... particular as to someone touching their equipment."

"feel free to set up your own preferences, the VI I have running in the background is more than capable of memorising and running several profiles" Rose said as she activated the holographic displays. after a moment, several transparent orange coloured floating displays materialized around the room. Each display had a different intel feed on in ranging from Starfleet's non-classified data from HQ to intercepted Dominion messages from the listening post in the gamma quadrent. "take a look"

Ethan got up and walked to where he could view the displays. "Very impressive set up. Have you had any information from the Agora Crossroads? The latest rumors I had picked up, they had been worried about the Planet Killer. I heard there was a barkeeper named Jotan who was good to find out information from. " turning to look at Rose. "I hadn't been able to get there to setup shop. I had been in the process of doing so when I got word I was to come here."

"I already have contacts on the Crossroads, though I will reach out to this Jotan. it's always good to have more people" Rose said, making a quick note, "are you familiar with the Crossroads? spent a fair amount of time there I'm guessing"

"I've been there, beggars are ignored at times. And who will pay attention to a local drunk." he stated with a slight smile.

"only those who know what they're looking for" Rose replied, watching Ethan walk around, "so, you feel ready to get started?"

Ethan chuckled, "And you would know what to look for." after looking once more at the images he nodded. "I'm ready and let's get things started."