Career Move
Posted on 20 Oct 2022 @ 7:35pm by Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Lieutenant Ileyana Haistro
Mission:
Through the looking glass
Location: Medusa's Head
1596 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure
ON
Ileyana's day had started by finding out the Andromeda had been thrust into an alternative universe, not something one could boast rather often, but before the ship had crossed over a communication had come in with a possible offer from her Brother. The first thing to have caught her was the promotion he had received Commodore! And he had kept it quiet from her. The next thing had been how their mother, who had been missing and suspected dead for many years had appeared alive and well and then an offer of a new assignment, one supporting a ship that had travelled between universes and was now seemingly stuck in her own universe. It was a lot to take in and her mind was whirling with everything she had been told and heard. She needed someone to talk to but she could say that the only two people on the ship that she could call friend were Commander Datari and Lieutenant Hawkins.
She had called them both asking for them to meet her if they had the time, in Medusas head. She was now weaving her way through the crowd to find an empty table with a drink in hand. She dropped down finally into a chair just as she caught sight of one of her friends and waved them over.
"Here, I have us a table!"
The Trill science chief smiled as he approached, carrying a toddler on his arm. "Sorry for bringing Saeri, I didn't want to leave her alone this moment. Sherlock's off somewhere, and well...I do need to spend time don't I? I hope you don't mind?"
"Of course not!" Ileyana smiled at the infant before cooing and waggling a finger for the toddler to play with. She had not met Saeri before now and all she could think was how cherubic she was.
"Do you want anything, or little Saeri here? I can go and get something... or at least flag down a waiter!"
"Don't get up on my account," the Trill smiled as he settled the hybrid girl on his lap. "It's easy enough to flag a waiter, that's what they're here for. I'll have frozen sweetened tea for myself, and uhm...formula for her. She's onto solids now but she still needs supplements doc said. Thankfully she's an easy child, though I'm sure she must miss her mommy at times. If she remembers her at all."
"Well, once Lieutenant Hawkins arrives I would like to talk to you both about a few things that have happened... I could do with a friend or two at the moment!" Ileyana offered a smile but it wasn't reaching her eyes as they usually did. Some of the news was weighing heavy on her made worse by the predicament Andromeda found itself in now.
"That bad?" the Trill asked quietly, "did something happen to you, or your family?"
Michael soon arrived, he had paused for a moment to gaze towards Ileyana and then at Aidan and his wee one. Then his eyes went back to Ileyana, striding up he gave a bit of a smile. "Hello there, sorry to have been so late. I've been chasing down Chroniton particles." easily sliding in the seat next to Ileyana. His blue eyes took in Ileyana's demeanor. He may not be a betazed but he was able to pick up the signs of something troubling her. "Are you alright?" his voice soft and low.
"Complicated answer!" she said with a thin lipped smile like grimace. "My brother has been promoted to Commodore and didn't tell me. I find out in a communique that I've not had chance to watch until today, my mother has shown up from the dead and I have a new assignment waiting for me once we get back to our own universe... The usual kind of thing one finds when working for Starfleet!"
The Trill nodded in understanding. "That's usually the way," he agreed. "How do you feel about this news?"
"That is a bit of stunning news there." Michael processing what Ileyana had just told them. "Um your mother has returned when it was thought she was dead... Okay, you may need a strong drink for this." Michael motioning for one of the servers to come to the table. "What would you like, Ileyana?"
"Excited about the job offer... I wouldn't want to leave you in the lurch though Commander!" Ileyana grimaced realising she had blurted out the information before she had even spoken to Aidan about it. "I can decline the offer if you need me here... Once we return to our own universe that is!"
As for the rest... She was still processing. "How am I supposed to feel... I never knew her, only by reputation and from Stories that Keiben and Osil would tell me. I was so young when she went missing!"
"We can't tell you how to feel," Aidan told her, "I can't even tell you how I feel and I don't remember my mother either. As far as the job offer goes, take it. I would never hold you back if you have a chance to advance."
"I appreciate that Commander... I may call you for advise once I get settled in to my new position!"
Ileyana reached out to squeeze her superior officers arm in a friendly gesture. He had become her only real friend on the ship along with Lieutenant Hawkins and she was very aware that Hawkins had been very quiet the entire time. She levelled her gaze on him, waiting and fearing that he would disagree with her career move.
"Ileyana, I think that you are making a good move." Hawkins having made a decision on his drink and once the server got the orders and moved on, Michael turned his gaze back to her. "You will be missed, that is for certain also though, its best that you do the best for you. If you do not feel you are being utilized to your best ability or even have room to stretch your wings then it is time to make a change. I know I've had to make that decsion before." the man holding out his hand towards Ileyana. "You have a great amount of talent, skills, so definitely accept the position. I do hope though that we'll hear from you and how you are doing."
"Don't you worry about that. I'll be making sure that the Captain makes regular stops at Starbase three zero eight or Deep Space Twenty One!"
The cheerful Betazoid said with a beaming smile. "Lets talk about other things... Spend time as friends before I go!"
Something she very much wanted knowing this could be the last time for some time that she saw them both.
USS Sarek
The transport had been pushing the limits of its warp capability to reach the USS Sarek in time. Her brother, Commodore Haistro, had given her specific orders, help integrate the crew into this universe... the rest of his communication had been about their mother and how she had come back from the dead. It sounded so simply, easy almost but then again she would be the only officer available on the crew of hundreds. These would be people who essentially had left their families behind and were now cut of from them, unable to return. In many ways she had started to wonder if her brother needed his head examining. The crew of Sarek would need a Counsellor not a scientific officer.
All that being said, she was here now. The transporter room not to dissimilar from the others she had seen in her years in the fleet. The blue shimmer released her, her carry bag over her shoulder containing all of her belongings from the USS Andromeda. Thankfully, with everything that ship had gone through she had been given little time to consider making it her home.
"Lieutenant Ileyana Haistro, my orders from the Commodore!"
Her tone clipped and professional as she stepped down from the transporter pad, passing the isolinear chip to the female Andorian in captain pips before her.
The Andorian captain nodded quietly. News did travel fast, it seemed. Very fast as it had only been a very short time since they had arrived here, and had actually learned of their own destruction. "Welcome aboard lieutenant," she answered pleasantly, while accepting the chip. This was certainly different from receiving a PADD with orders! "I trust your journey went without incident?"
"Entirely. Command have been a little vague about your position... all I really know is that you have transitioned from an alternative reality... I look forward to understand more. Primarily my orders are to help you transition to this universe and either help you all integrate or support your efforts in finding a way home... if thats even possible!"
She decided to omit that the term Command actually meant her own Brother. She didn't want them to feel as if Keiben needed someone on the inside to gauge the group.
"I'm happy to jump right in if you have need?"
"Interesting that news traveled so fast, since from our perspective it's only been a few days." The Andorian paused. "What is your specialty? If anything perhaps you could report to Doctor Darkron first, and see if he needs a hand... we seem to have encountered a species we've not seen before..."
Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer
USS Andromeda
Captain Talla H'Rhar
Commanding Officer
USS Sarek-A
Lieutenant Ileyana Haistro
Assistant Chief Science-USS Andromeda
Chief Science Officer-USS Sarek-A