Here we go again...

Posted on Fri Mar 20th, 2020 @ 11:07pm by Commodore Jane Saulitis & Lieutenant Orin Sempton

Mission: Cruel Meridian
Location: Captian's Ready Room
Timeline: MD 01: 1015 Hours
1109 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Orin stood outside the Ready Room doors, hand outstretched for the chime for what seemed like ages. He'd already played out this meeting about three dozen times in his head. Only one of them had gone even remotely well, and even then, that had involved getting hit by a phaser at low stun. Usually, he had time to research out his commanding officer before hand, but this time he'd be going in blind.

No time like the present. he sighed and hit the chime.

"Come in," Jane called as she turned off and tucked a PADD away toward the back of her desk. She glanced at the person interring, blinked and then offered a small smile. "Welcome Ensign, please have a seat." Gesturing to the chair across from her she suddenly stood up and walked toward the replicator. "Would you like anything to drink?"

Orin was momentarily baffled. This is not the sort of welcome he'd expected. He quickly composed himself before saying "N-no, Ma'am." and taking a seat. He shifted the bag he was carrying to the floor, and the thick tome in his left hand to his lap.

Jane glanced at him. He looked as if he might break if someone yelled boo loudly enough. "Relax Ensign. I don't bite. I'm generally a pretty easy going Captain, I like to think I am anyway. Haven't thrown anyone out an airlock yet, so there's still hope for that theory."

"Yes, Ma'am, sorry." He didn't feel like relaxing, especially after the airlock comment, which had been scenario 27 in his head. "It's just..." He paused to think of the right words. "First contact is difficult, being a new culture or commanding officer. Y-You never know what you'll get."

"Well that's true. But I think you have to have live with a certain amount of trust where Starfleet is concerned. They generally will put people where it best suits them. And in this case I'm assuming that's what they've done. So . . . Ensign, tell me about yourself."

"I- Um.... Hmmmm." Orin tripped over his own tongue attempting to figure out what to say next. "I grew up traveling Earth from one dig to another with my parents. Joined Starfleet when I was old enough to test in against the will of my father. Graduated and waited for placement. I have three papers published by the Daystrom Institute Archaeological Council, and five inventions having to do with the evolution of archaeological tools and equipment, including a version of side-scan sonar which allows for a more detailed scan of a site allowing for it to be digitally reconstructed on a holodeck. I was placed with the Renegade, where I was there only a few days before the-" He paused, swallowing hard before almost inaudibly finishing "Incident." Orin pushed up his glasses and rubbed his eyes, trying not to let the sound of wind, screeching metal and screaming come back to him. He shrugged his eyebrows and let the wire frames fall back into their position onto his nose before continuing. "I was on the Renegade for a while longer before they put the ship in drydock and was transferred to be Marine Archaeologist on the Triton Seabase on Amphitrite. The rest is, as they say, history, that you've no doubt read in my file, which I would assume is the PaDD sticking out at an oblong angle on your otherwise tidy desk." He winced, realizing he'd gone too far with his observation. He reddened and tilted his head a bit downward, his hair dropping over his eyes.

"Actually," Jane said with a smile still on her face. "It's a recipe our chef Patrick sent me for homemade ice cream, he knows it's my favorite." She showed him as if he wasn't likely to take her word for it. "But to be honest I read everyone's file before they board my ship, I was just curious what you'd have to say. One incident doesn't define who we are and everyone makes mistakes. I do believe in second chances so please don't feel like anyone on this ship is judging you, you're not the only one with a past." She said quietly but with no hint of anger in her voice. "I hope therefore you can look forward to joining our crew. We're an eclectic bunch but we get the job done."

As he read, Orin's jaw hung slack, before slamming together with an audible *clack*. His right palm fired up from his lap and slapped hard into the middle of his forehead. "Herr, wirf hirn von Himmel, oder steine hauptsache er trifft." was grumbled as his hand lowered, and his face radiated heat from the sheer embarrassment he felt. "Captain, I apologize. I-I..." He paused and swallowed hard. "I came in with the thought I'd face the same questioning of my abilities and derision I received before. I am so very sorry."

"No need to keep apologizing. When in Starfleet it's best to never assume." She wagged a finger in his general direction as if this was worth writing down, a fable or golden rule. "So, since we aren't worrying about your past, what are you looking forward to in the future on Majestic?"

"Ma'am, I just want to go back to work." He looked down at his hands, which laid open, palms up on his lap. "I haven't been allowed to do more than read for a while now." His eyes stopped moving around for a minute to look directly at the captain. "I've honestly been going a bit stir crazy. With luck, I'll be able to study or work on something we find soon. Maybe get some exercise on the holodeck."

"Absolutely. There's always something to investigate or study. Well, honestly, I see nothing that really needs going over in your file. We've already touched on the big issue." Jane said with a small smile. "You're free to get started anytime you like, just make sure you check in with the doctor."

With a nod, Orin stood, grabbing his bag on the way up. "With your permission, Ma'am"

Orin stopped before the door. "Ma'am, something you said before..." He turned halfway to look at the captain. "I dont consider what I did on the seabase a mistake. I joined Starfleet to discover new world, to meet new people and cultures. The extermination of an entire intelligent species goes against everything I believe in, and what I think Starfleet believes in. I would do it all again in a heartbeat." Without another word, Orin turned and exited the ready room.

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Captain Jane Saulitis
Commanding Officer

Ensign Orin Sempton
Alien Archaeologist/Anthropologist