Lieutenant Starvek, the Operations officer, sat alone in Ten Forward.
He was finishing a purple synthaholic drink that the bartender had
suggested, and he contemplated his future. Starvek sighed as he touched
the pips that indicated his rank on the collar of his uniform. Forty-
three, he thought, and still a lieutenant. Starvek glanced at the mustard
color of his uniform, and became depressed.
Starvek had always measured his competence and effort as a Starfleet officer to those of his superiors. He felt that it had advanced his understanding of policies, duties, and exceptional behavior. However, he was still merely a lieutenant.
This evening, Starvek compared himself to Captain Riker. It was clear that Riker held the interest of Counselor Troi, the most captivating woman on the ship. Furthermore, he'd been offered a captainhood so young, but had turned it down. He could have been the youngest captain in the history of Starfleet. Here I am, Starvek thought, still a lieutenant, with no beautiful woman like Deanna Troi. While I'm at a good post, I have no room for advancement.
Across the room, he noticed the person that appeared to be a perfect officer. He couldn't remember her name… Boelin, was it? Boelin was already making fast friends with assistant Counselor Sonne al'Vere; Starvek sat alone.
He stood, having finished his drink. Then a comm badge beeped—his comm badge.
"Riker to Starvek," came the captain's voice.
"Yes, yes sir?" was the immediate response. Starvek stood there aside the Ten Forward table, stunned.
"Please escort Envoy Kelak to her quarters. She will arrive in Shuttle Bay 1 in fifteen minutes. Have her contact me as soon as she is situated and comfortable."
"Yes, sir!" Starvek replied, too enthusiastically for his own liking.
"Riker out."
Confidence, he told himself, straightening out his uniform as he had often seen his captain do, now I have confidence. He strolled over to Boelin and al'Vere's table, but then became nervous. He made a sharp, militaristic turn toward the door.
Both women remained, somewhat startled and confused.
Starvek had always measured his competence and effort as a Starfleet officer to those of his superiors. He felt that it had advanced his understanding of policies, duties, and exceptional behavior. However, he was still merely a lieutenant.
This evening, Starvek compared himself to Captain Riker. It was clear that Riker held the interest of Counselor Troi, the most captivating woman on the ship. Furthermore, he'd been offered a captainhood so young, but had turned it down. He could have been the youngest captain in the history of Starfleet. Here I am, Starvek thought, still a lieutenant, with no beautiful woman like Deanna Troi. While I'm at a good post, I have no room for advancement.
Across the room, he noticed the person that appeared to be a perfect officer. He couldn't remember her name… Boelin, was it? Boelin was already making fast friends with assistant Counselor Sonne al'Vere; Starvek sat alone.
He stood, having finished his drink. Then a comm badge beeped—his comm badge.
"Riker to Starvek," came the captain's voice.
"Yes, yes sir?" was the immediate response. Starvek stood there aside the Ten Forward table, stunned.
"Please escort Envoy Kelak to her quarters. She will arrive in Shuttle Bay 1 in fifteen minutes. Have her contact me as soon as she is situated and comfortable."
"Yes, sir!" Starvek replied, too enthusiastically for his own liking.
"Riker out."
Confidence, he told himself, straightening out his uniform as he had often seen his captain do, now I have confidence. He strolled over to Boelin and al'Vere's table, but then became nervous. He made a sharp, militaristic turn toward the door.
Both women remained, somewhat startled and confused.