Discussing the Selection

Posted on Wed Oct 30th, 2024 @ 3:52pm by Lieutenant Lisald Vaat & Captain Erik Larsen

1,300 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 0: The Fire & The Song
Location: Captain's Ready Room, USS Goddard

ON


After being given the green light to enter, Lisald stepped into the Captain's office. It was the first time he had been in here. It struck Lisald how spartan and small it was compared to Captain Bane's Ready Room on the U.S.S. Cygnus. Of course, Captain Larsen was new to command, where Bane had not been, and Bane probably had a lot more time to decorate. Plus Bane's ship was considerably larger than this one. Lisald waved at his new commanding officer. "Did you get my selection for my senior staff in the Science Department?"

"I did," said Larsen neutrally. He folded his hands on the desk in front of him in a casual, nonthreatening manner. "Obviously you know these persons better than I do...so why don't you walk me through your reasoning for them?"

Lisald nodded. "Of course, sir." Lisald had expected that his former Executive Officer and now-Captain would have already done the research himself. Vaat chastised himself for assuming that; the Captain was undoubtedly busy. He wondered if his new Executive Officer had the time to look his selection up and sign off, or if she was even going to do so. For all Lisald knew, Larsen was much more hands on than Captain Bane had been. Well, at least with Lisald.

The Bajoran Science Officer leaned forward and turned the PADD sideways so they could both read from it. My choice for my First Officer...er," he blushed, "That is, for the Assistant Chief Science Officer...." Lisald cleared his throat. "Sir, I intend to run my department much like you and Captain Bane ran the Cygnus. Chain of command, specific duties, a hierarchy. Just, at the microscopic level," he stated using a pun. "Is that ok with you?"

Larsen grinned lopsidedly at the pun. It was corny, but still a little funny. “Vaat, as long as you are operating within Starfleet protocol, you can run the department in whatever fashion you deem fit. This is a small ship, so our crew is probably going to to be pretty tightly knit. And in case you haven’t figured out yet, I’m a lot less formal than Captain Bane.” Erik almost felt guilty saying that; Captain Bane Plase had taught him a great deal and was a valued friend. But if Erik Larsen was going to stand out from the crowd, he needed to cultivate his own unique style.

Pleased, the young Bajoran nodded. "Thank you, Captain. I appreciate that. Captain Bane and I...well," he paused, then thought better of it, "Well, that is behind us now, isn't it. Anyways, I've selected for the Assistant Chief Science Officer Lieutenant junior grade Siva Zh'achyrros, a female Arbazia. I selected her because, in my opinion, she has earned it. Plus, I really like how she challenges those over her. Not, that I can tell, in a disrespectful and disobedient style, but instead to check, double check and ensure everyone is on the same page, and correct. I am not ashamed to admit that I do not know everything, sir, and would absolutely appreciate someone with me that can get me closer to that impossible goal."

"She sounds...formidable," said Larsen neutrally. "I appreciate challenging the status quo as much as anybody else, as long as she will respect your authority. And mine. Please, continue."

Pleased that the Captain approved of the Science Division Executive Officer, he pushed on. "Thank you. For the Astrometrics Officer, I chose Lieutenant junior grade Vastri Osaalbril, a Huradite. She got in trouble on her first assignment and torpedoed her own career for a while. She has been in the Fleet about five years longer than I, but only recently got promoted to Lieutenant, junior grade. She has kept her nose clean since that incident and has moved on, I think. I'd love to give her a chance here on the Goddard. Plus, with the missions I am assuming we will take, having a Huradite aboard will be very beneficial, especially in Astrometrics." Huradites, Lisald did not need to explain, were masters at stellar navigations. Pitted side by side to Bajorans, Huradites were traversing their oceans using stellar navigation while Bajorans were still trying to figure out how to clothe themselves.

“So few Huradites serve in Starfleet,” said Larsen after taking a small sip of his espresso. “We are quite fortunate to have one. I’ll never argue with one in Astrometrics.”

Lisald was extremely pleased. In his career so far in Starfleet, he had not had so many things go the way he had planned them. Things had never seemed so....right. "I thought so too. For the next position in my department," he began from memory, "I hold it near and dear to my heart. It is my specialty, and where I started out on the Cygnus when Captain Stafford was still in command, long before you came aboard, sir. The Alien Archaeologist and Anthropologist I have picked is Ensign Graifer Tarilar. He is a Tessen, and fresh out of Starfleet Academy. Tessen III is a new member world, only came into the Federation a few years ago, actually while Ensign Tarilar was in the Academy. He has this....I don't know...." he said, pausing, looking for the right word or phrasing, "I guess...a certain knack for being able to see beyond the data, and extrapolate information about races long since extinct."

“Vaat,” said Larsen, holding up a hand in mock protest. “I hope you understand that I asked you to come to the Goddard because I have faith in your decision making process. I do not think it necessary to dissect all of your choices. You have good reasons for these selections, of this I have no doubt. Consider the entire list approved."

The Chief Science Officer opened his mouth, opened it again, closed it a second time, very much imitating a fish out of water. And that is exactly how he felt, out of water. On his previous assignment, literally everything was questioned and second-guessed. He hated it, but had to acknowledge that maybe Captain Bane had been trying to teach him a thing or two, in his own way. Lisald hated it, but accepted that was the way it was in Starfleet. Perhaps that belief wasn't true, if things were the way they were shaping up to be here on this ship. "I...uh...thank you, Captain. I'll, uh, I'll submit these to the Chief of Operations so he can put in the transfer requests." Suffice it to say, his ghasts were completely flabbered.

“You will have the department running and analyzing before anybody else’s,” said Larsen with a smug smile. “That will bode well in your next performance evaluation.” In truth, it pleased the Captain greatly to see his young friend in an environment where his leadership skills would be honed and that he could thrive. Bane Plase was an exceptional leader, this Erik Larsen truly believed. But an officer like Lisald Vaat needed a bit softer touch that the fatherly Bane could not provide. Erik was happy to be that Captain.

“If there’s nothing further,” said Erik. “Then you’re dismissed. Our new Ops Chief should be aboard shortly, and these requisitions will be his first order of business.”

The Bajoran stood. "Thank you, Captain." He nodded respectfully at the senior officer, and left, nothing more needing to be said. As he left the room, the feelings he had yesterday were only reinforced - that his tour here on the Goddard would be enjoyable.

And long.


OFF

A JP between

Lieutenant Lisald Vaat
Chief Science Officer
USS Goddard

and

Captain Erik Larsen
Commanding Officer
USS Goddard

 

RSS Feed