Coming Aboard

Posted on Wed Mar 21st, 2018 @ 6:07pm by Captain Taliserra Tigran & Lieutenant Mari Solvbakken

1,233 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Misson 1 - Rebirth
Location: USS Crow Wing, Starbase 54, USS Wolff
Timeline: 1st feb 2395

The USS Crow Wing was a standard Danube Class Runabout. It had been kitted out with crew bunkrooms. She and a couple others were being transported to Starbase 54 to report to their new assignments. The door to the compartment opened, the young Andorian pilot popped his head in.

"We are arriving in about 10 minutes" He announced.

"Ensign Merc, Chief Stevens, Hope life on the starbase suits you. It has been lovely traveling with you. Mr. Stevens, a chess rematch will be in order if we meet again." Mari had liked her traveling companions. She had not liked losing three straight chess matched to the grizzly chief.

"Good luck on the Wolff Ma'am." Stevens returned the farewell. "I look forward to the chance to beat you again, Ma'am"

"Good luck." Ensign Merc was a quiet soul. Her gentle rub of Mari's shoulder spoke much louder than her wish of good luck.

The trio moved into the control room just as the pilot was completing docking maneuvers. The sound and reassuring clunk of the docking clamps and releasing of the airlocks was as formal an announcement as they would get.

Mari grabbed her shoulder bag and left her larger trunk for later transport to her quarters. She was stepped onto the starbase.

"I'm going your way, can I walk with you?" The chief asked.

He was old enough to be Mari's father, this would likely be his last assignment before retirement. Mari thought he was very interested her well-being.

They walked in relative silence until they got to the docking ring where the Wolff was docked. "Farewell, Mari"

Mari spread her arms wide, it seemed like the right way to say farewell. The chief returned a very parental and firm hug. "Be well, Mari"

"Thanks Chief, you too." Mari started toward the ship and turn her head back for one more wave.

"Permission to come aboard?" Mari asked the young enlisted security guard, she handed him the padd with her order.

"Welcome aboard Ma'am. The captain is waiting for you if you could stop by the ready room. They are still reinstalling the door and fixing the plumbing in your quarters." The guard was well-informed, they obviously knew she was arriving.

Mari walked toward the turbo-lift.

<>

The lift opened on the bridge a moment later. It was abuzz with activity, last minute adjustments being made, some carpet being replaced on the far side, a couple light fixtures dangled on their wires.

Mari stepped up to the ready room and signaled the door chime.

Glancing up at the door when the chime beeped Taliserra looked over at her computer to check if it was anyone she was expecting to meet today, the person on the other side of the door should be a useful addition to the crew. "Come in."

Mari entered the room, the desk was directly in front of her so she came quickly to attention. "Lieutenant Mari Solvbakken reporting Ma'am."

"At ease, welcome to the Wolff Lieutenant." Tali said.

"Thank you Captain." Mari moved toward the desk. "The fellow standing watch told me that you were expecting me ma'am."

"Yes, I had been told that a member of the diplomatic corp would be assigned to the Wolff, your presence onboard will be useful." Taliserra motioned to the chair opposite her. "As I am frankly hopeless at diplomacy."

Mari took the chair offered to her. "I'm glad to be here Ma'am. Diplomacy has long been a part of my life, one I tried to escape for a while, but fate had other plans." Mari's smile got a bit bigger "But, given our mission, I am hoping my chances for a first contact are higher than average."

"I think you will have to wait for a little while for that Lieutenant." Tali said, she assumed that Mari was talking of starfleets general mission rather than anything specific as even though the ship was nearly ready to go she hadn't received any orders. "I would think our first few assignments will be 'in house' until the repaired and refitted systems are put through their paces."

"Yes, I've noticed that there are still some significant projects ongoing here." Mari wondered if she should jump right in to the related questions she had. No...it would wait a moment. "How is the crew shaping up, I understand there is a lot of transition going on."

"We lost a lot of good people in our last encounter and even more wounded, when we were dry docked here most of them were transferred off the ship for treatment, only a few of them have come back. Tali explained. "We're are still waiting on some more replacements."

"Yes Ma'am." She was a little surprised, few question. Maybe now was the time for her question. "Question Ma'am, If I may?"

"Go ahead Lieutenant."

"We are still on station right now, and I imagine that our early days in space won't have great need of my services. Is there some other way that I can be useful?" Mari decided to qualify the question. "I can study all day, and that might be useful, someday, but I'd like to make a practical contribution in the meantime. I'm not cleared for combat, given my condition, but I have a lot of experience."

"Given your background before your commission I am surprised you ended up in the diplomatic corp." Taliserra said glancing between Mari and her computer. "I understand your current condition but that is still a dramatic change from combat roles."

"Well, my mother was a diplomat, I was posted at an embassy as a part of the Marine detail, It seemed a logical move." Mari pondered for a moment. "It is not that I disliked diplomacy, combat may have been a form of youthful rebellion against my mother, but I did like the work I did." Mari held a thoughtful pause. "I guess they are rather contradictory fields, but diplomacy done well, can prevent the kinds of situations that led to my injury, so there is that."

"True, if you want to put your tactical experience to use I would suggest talking with LT Misaka the chief of security, a lot of her staff are replacements fresh from the academy or enlisted camp." Taliserra said remembering her conversation with Mikoto. "I think she would welcome another experienced hand to teach the new staff a think or two."

"Yes Ma'am. I'll reach out to her right away." Mari thought a switch to the personal was in order. "Ma'am did I hear you have a child aboard?"

Taliserra nodded. "There are a couple of children onboard, one of them is my daughter."

"How old is she captain? I'm glad that she can be aboard with you."

"Nearly a year." Taliserra replied. "It will be interesting finding a balance between her and the ship now I am in full command."

"Oh, she is little. I am sure you will do fine." Mari wondered if it was about time to go.

"Is there anything else I can do for you ma'am?"

"Yes." Taliserra replied. "Report to Lieutenant Polaris in sickbay and get yourself checked out and cleared for duty."

"Yes ma'am. On my way." Mari stood. "Thanks for the chat ma'am."

"Good day Lieutenant." Taliserra said, watching Mari leave she went back to the days paperwork.

OFF:

Commander Taliserra Tigran
Commanding officer

Lieutenant Mari Solvbakken
Diplomaic officer

 

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