Disclaimer: All characters and locations are the property of Paramount, and are taken from Star Trek: Voyager, inspired by the work of Gene Roddenberry. All plot and dialogue in this story is my own.

Headnote: Lieutenant Stadi was Voyager's first Conn officer. First seen in Season 1, she died in the transition to the Delta Quadrant.

Commission

Stardate 48314

"Crewman Celes, isn't it?"

Tal Celes looked up into the twin pips of a Starfleet Lieutenant. "Um, yes, ma'am!" She jumped to her feet, trying to come to attention as she had been taught at the academy, but somehow ended up on the floor with her legs tangled around the barstool.

The officer held out a hand to help her up. "I'm sorry about that," she said, kneeling to right the stool. "I know what it's like to have a senior officer appear out of nowhere."

"Sorry, ma'am." Tal drew herself back to attention, trying to regain at least a little of her dignity. "Crewman Tal Celes, reporting for duty, ma'am."

"Not yet, you aren't." The officer's cheeks dimpled when she smiled, Tal noticed. "Save the formality for when we get aboard ship."

"Yes, ma'am." Tal allowed herself to relax - just a little. "So you're shipping out on Voyager as well, ma'am?"

"Enough 'ma'am' already," the officer said. "'Lieutenant' will do fine, or 'Lieutenant Stadi' if you need to."

"Yes, ma- um, Lieutenant." Her skin was darker than most Bajorans, Tal couldn't help noticing, which lent her an alluring, exotic cast. It seemed to extend to her eyes, too, with pure black irises that were likely to suck Tal in if she looked for too long. "You're the Conn Officer, right, Lieutenant?"

"That's correct." Stadi tugged out a stool and sat down next to her. "And since you're in Astrometrics, that makes me your superior officer."

"Yes, ma'am." Tal ducked her head, remembering belatedly what those black eyes implied: Stadi was a Betazoid, Betazoids were mind-readers, and with the thoughts she'd allowed to run free... "Sorry, ma'am."

"Don't worry about it." Stadi flagged down the Ferengi bartender for a drink, then leant back slightly. "But believe it or not, I'm not here to intimidate you with my lofty stature."

"No, Lieutenant?" Tal glanced at her own drink, abandoned the moment Stadi had first spoken. "What, um...?"

Stadi chuckled, and the warmth of the sound rippled through Tal's body. "We won't be leaving dock for another ten days," she explained. "I thought I would take the time to get to know some of my crew. And I have a special interest in you, Crewman Celes."

Tal's eyes widened. "M-me?"

Stadi patted her arm, and the hair on the back of Tal's neck stood on end. "It's nothing bad, I assure you," the lieutenant said. "I have a day's leave coming up, and I've never visited Bajor before. As a local, I thought I might pick your brains about anything I ought to make sure to see."

Shoving aside both nervousness about a Betazoid 'picking her brains', and irritation about being just 'a local', Tal sat up straight on her stool. "Anything I can do to help, ma- Lieutenant."

"I told you," Stadi said, smiling again, "this isn't formal. Why don't we find a table, get something to eat, and then... chat?"

Tal blinked rapidly. Dinner? Chat? Surely the lieutenant had to be aware of how much that sounded like a date. There were more rules than Tal could count about that sort of thing... but on the other hand, Voyager's mission was only supposed to be a short one, and after that...

She realised she was staring at the officer. Pulling herself together, Tal nodded slightly. "Of course, Lieutenant," she said. "That sounds... nice."

"I'm glad to hear it." Lieutenant Stadi turned away, beckoning to one of the waiters, and Tal allowed herself a bemused smile. If things went on this way, maybe this deployment would be more enjoyable than she'd thought...

And thus we see the hinted at dinner with Veronica Stadi. I've assumed here that Astrometrics normally comes under the Conn Officer's remit - Astrometrics is about navigation, which is the Conn's responsibility. Obviously once Seven shows up Voyager does things differently, but that's Voyager for you.

The night before posting this chapter, my Voyager watching finally reached the season 7 episode 'Shattered'. The episode reveals that there was no Astrometrics lab on Voyager before Seven had one built; I've corrected the mention in Chapter 7, but am assuming the department still existed. Amusingly, 'Shattered' also has a near-miss cameo from Lieutenant Stadi - an encounter with Janeway from before the ship was taken to the Delta Quadrant includes a mention that her Conn Officer vanished while walking down a corridor. Poor Stadi!

And yes, this is a certain Ferengi-run bar on Deep Space Nine. Hi, Quark cameo!

COMMISSION - Consider - Charming - Construction - Caught - Casual - Cultural - Crush - Calming - Curse - Committed