3 was just approaching the armory when a frazzled looking Lt. came stumbling out of the door pulling his blue tunic down. He looked up and caught sight of the captain and deflated as if was caught.
While 3 was a human for a very long time she recognized this look of "Caught." 3 stepped up to the Lt. and as she resisted every urge to smile she said. "Ah, Lieutenant Cross I believe? If memory serves you are assigned to Astrometrics? What brings you to the Armory?"
The Lt.'s shoulders visibly sagged… 3 smiled. As much as she would have enjoyed him snivel at her expense for getting caught she thought she would give him his out: "Ah that's right you were in the same graduating class as T'pemu at the academy right? Catching up?" She asked.
Cross just looked at her gulped and said "Yes Mam – Uh – but- How did you know that?" His confused caught look became more adorable to 3 and she pointed to the most prominent feuture of here borg enhancements on her face around her eye.
"One of the many advantages of having your brain enhanced via borg technology is that your brain seldom forgets anything. I read your files and I remember them just as I remembered your name." She replied. "Now, if you excuse me I need to meet with my Tactical Officer." And she marched past the befuddled Lt. into the armory where she found a strikingly tall Vulcan female straightening her uniform.
Since 3 had read T'pemu's record she knew that while T'pemu was Vulcan she was descended from a very rare Vulcan group known as V'tosh ka'tur. Or in Standard means "Without Logic"
While the term stuck for these Vulcans, in point of fact: it's not that they abandoned logic it is that they allowed their emotions to surface. In fact quite a few of them ate meat.
"Commander T'pemu, I am Captain 3 of 11, it's good to finally meet you." 3 left here hand calculating behind her back. She wanted to show "Her cards" that she knew about T'pemu's being different then other Vulcans for as predicted; T'pemu automatically thinking 3 was Human, extended her hand out to shake in traditional human greeting. T'pemu quickly noticed 3's lack of reciprocation and quickly looked uncomfortable.
"Forgive me – " she began "I made a horrible assumption that you were Human and momentarily forgot your are –" and 3 noticed T'pemu struggle for a description. While 3 had to admit a certain amount of satisfaction to creating her discomfort she thought she would try and win her back a little.
"Indeed I am human, and while I am also Borg, I know that outward appearances can be deceiving Ms. T'pemu." She then extended her hand.
A momentary look of understanding hit T'pemu's face "Then you know I am not like other Vulcan's." she said matter-of-factly.
"Indeed – I hope your Emotionalism will not get in the way of your duty?" as 3 indicated her head towards the door "Mr. Cross seemed – Pleased – to have seen you."
3 never knew a Vulcan could turn so green. She had a friend who was of Irish decent on earth that when embarrassed would turn so red that hover-cars would stop, thinking she was a traffic signal. Put T'pemu with that guy and you would have a full fledged traffic control signal.
"Captain if you'll allow me to explain – I –" and that was as far as 3 would let her go as she raised up her hand to stop her.
"T'pemu, please, don't worry… While I am Borg I am most definitely human. Just keep it in your off duty time please?" She paused.. "Do your duty and keep your private life private." And then she smiled.. But if I happen to be off duty as well - let me know the gossip." And she finished it with a wink.
T'pemu instantly liked her new captain. "Thank you captain for your understanding… And – I will look for you in the "The Tavern."
"The Tavern?" asked 3.
"Oh yes the Tavern!" T'pemu replied "Perhaps you have not been there yet. The refit crew built an off duty rec area. The Milford is a name used by many of your "Earth" townships. I have been told many of them have "Taverns" where people would congregate after ours and imbibe in spirits. Hence, they named our Rec hall – The Tavern."
"Indeed?" said 3 with a warm thought. "I came from a town in New Hampshire – North east American territory, from a small town called Milford. We had a Tavern that was there for over 3 hundred years. Tiny and dilapidated - but the Town loved it all the same.." She smiled warmly at the memory. "I cannot wait to see it."
Just then the door opened and a tall broad shouldered woman with brilliant fiery red hair that would have given his Irish friend that she was comparing to T'pemu earlier, a run for his money, came in and stopped short at the site of the captain.
"Ah Commander Mansmann I presume." 3 said smoothly.
The woman looked to T'pemu first and then to the Captain. "Captain – I was unaware you would be down here – I – that is to say you can go anywhere you like – I mean -." And she looked to T'pemu for a lifeline.
"Relax Commander, this is not an inspection. I'm just checking in on my senior staff before launch and remind everyone that I want a senior staff meeting at 15:00. We have a very simple shakedown cruise planned, according to Starfleet, but I want everyone to be on their toes. Shakedown cruises are often interrupted with emergencies it seems. Will we be ready if the need arises?" she asked both officers.
T'pemu raised her chest up. "Yes mam! Between myself and Mansmann here, you have the best Tactical team in Starfleet. We'll be ready for whatever you have to dish out as you humans say."
"Best team in Starfleet?" she looked over at the other Commander and she raised her chest and head up and said with a comfortable "Aye Mam." Even added a little cheeky albeit subtle grin onto it…
3 liked these 2 already. "Well ladies – That's a hell of a boast – A boast I am very eager to see you both prove." And she turned and walked towards the corridor "See you both at 15:00."
As the door closed behind her 3 couldn't help but smile to herself. Thus far - there was not one person on her crew she disliked so far. She had still a few more to meet though. She had only her helmsmen and Ops person to meet. Novasath was an Andorian and Grolka was a Klingon. According to the duty roster she assimilated, a word she used whenever she used her special interface, should both be on the bridge. Which is where she directed the Turbolift to take her next.