All things considered, not bad too for my first attempt at FanFic, eh? ~ Talani
Part 3
Captain Archer was talking with Commander Tucker when Commander Jimenez arrived, she entered the room with a confident air. He rose from his seat and motioned for her to take the vacant seat to his left, "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Commander Grace Jimenez." He then began introducing her to his senior staff, that done, he returned to his seat.
"It's very nice to meet all of you. I can't tell you what an honor it is to serve aboard your ship Captain." She said it with an earnestly that drew the attention of Commander Tucker.
"So Ms. Jimenez, tell us a little about yerself."
A mischievous tone colored her response, "Well golly Mr. Tucker, what would you like to know?"
Grinning in return, Trip replied, "Well, like where your last posting was, or what you do on your off time."
"My last assignment was on Regulas, studying the ruins on the northern continent. And I enjoy collecting old music from Earth's past."
The Captain broke in with a question of his own, "What is a 'Vadalus Vespar', Commander?"
With a slightly abashed look, she turned to explain, "It's a native species on Anaran Sir, I was the one to discover it, so I got to name it. It means 'Night Vandal'."
"I was aware of it's Latin meaning, I was just curious why you named it that?"
"Doesn't the name say it all? It's a particularly ferocious beast, nocturnal by nature and solitary. When it strikes, it goes for the head of it's prey. I have some field footage I could show you later if you'd like Captain."
"Maybe some other time, I was impressed with some of the journals you've had published."
She nodded, glancing about the room and taking mental notes for each of the officers present. The delivery of dinner caught her attention, she thanked the crewman that served her and waited while everyone else got a plate.
Archer observed how this new officer interacted with the others, her friendly, outgoing manner made her more approachable, she was an amazing directory of obscure musical references. As he scanned the crew for reactions, he noticed that Sub-commander T'Pol's usual neutral expression was absent, her slightly pursed lips and narrowed eyes gave him moment to pause. He wondered what Jimenez had said that would gain the Vulcan's distaste?
"Commander Jimenez, I was just wondering if you speak any interesting languages, something I might not have heard before?" Came Hosi's inquisitive remark.
Grace chuckled as she answered, "Not unless you've never heard Athabascan Hoshi, and you can call me Grace. I'm not nearly as formal on address as most."
"Hmm, that's an Inuit language, isn't it?"
"Actually, it covers a wide range of Native American languages. It's the base for both Navajo and Apache, which I am the latter of."
Clearing his throat, Tucker said, "Scuse me? You're an Indian?"
Sarcasticaly she replied, "Yeah, so white-eyes better watch his tounge or nunc-scaw gonna give him a hair cut like him never have before!"
That got a good laugh from everyone, except from T'Pol. With the briefest of glances, she finally spoke.
"If I recall, were not the Native American people disbused of their lands and treated with little respect by the European settlers? It would seem inappropriate for one decended from them to make light of that with, what is, a stereotypical remark."
Drawing her shoulders back, she held her chin high as she looked at T'Pol, "It might appear that way, but it was a time long past now, most have forgiven those acts and have moved beyond them Sub-commander. Eih D'ne do not hold grudges, it creates havok in the Spirit world." That said, she calmly returned to finishing her meal.
Tucker leaned forward and loudly whispered, "That's all right, you can 'ug-um' at me anytime!"
He winked as he leaned back, "By the way, you can call me 'Trip."
With a couteous bow, she teasingly said, "Why thank you, Trip, you may use my Chiricahua name, Talani."
"Thank ya Tal!"
Rising, Archer thanked everyone for attending then excused them. "Grace, T'Pol, wait just a moment please."
After the last person filtered out, he studied them a moment before offering, "Grace, with your background in science, I've decided to have you work with T'Pol. I'm sure you'll both do fine."
"Capatain." He had known T'Pol would say something before being dismissed, the look on her face positively peeved!
"Dismissed, Sub-commander."
Wheeling about, the chief science officer left wihout another word. Grace watched till she was gone then turned back to him.
"If it's going to cause any discord Captain, I'm quite capable of working a different station."
"That won't be neccesary Commander, we're all proffesionals here and understand that we'll have to make some adjustments at times." He dismissed her, a fiant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Part 4
Jimenez felt pretty good about her first meeting with the ship's crew, she could tell right now that Commander Tucker was going to be one of those people you like working with because he's not always pulling rank to accomplish things. Hoshi was a nice girl, a bit shy but a whiz when it came to figuring out the dynamics of a new language. The Captain, of course, was confident, proud, and self-assured, but he also measured in a good share of understanding and compassion. It was her immedaite superior that troubled her, T'Pol was simular to all the other Vulcans that she'd met over the years but she sensed an inner conflict that, if not dealt with, could surface in an unimaginable way.
As she entered her quarters, she was greeted by Jake, he rubbed his sleek orange striped self against her legs and gave her inquisitive look of his green eyes. "Mrrrr-ow!"
Lifting him up onto her shoulder, she gently stroked his back, "Hey there Jake? Miss me?"
"Rrow"
"Thought so!", she chortled. She set him on the bed as she began to seriously consider settling in. She had so much stuff to sort through, in became clear that she wasn't going to complete it in one night. With a weary sigh, she started putting her personal belongings away first and cuntinued till she could no longer keep her eyes open.
The next day started out poorly for her, she'd forgotten to unpack her alarm-clock and didn't awake until Commander Tucker buzzed her com. Hastely, she grabbed her next cleanest uniform and pulled in on, only pausing to run the comb through her hair. She made a frantic dash for the lift and managed not to bowl anyone over as she barely made it in.
The Captain arrived and noticed that Grace wasn't at her new station, it had been set up behind main science ops, at an auxilary terminal. Just as he was sitting down, the lift doors open and Commander Jimenez rushed out to stop abruptly at attention a few feet away.
"Reporting for duty Sir."
Keeping his amusement to himself, he schooled his features into a stern look, stating in a serious tone, "At ease Commander. Take your station."
The Admiral had certainly been right in saying you didn't know how she would behave, it'd been awhile since someone had presented themselfs at full attention to him. He idly thought it might not be a bad idea to make it a requirement when reporting for bridge duty.
He was distracted from his musings as Sub-commander T'Pol came in at silently went to her station. Assured that the crew was ready, he sat back and turned his gaze on the star filled screen before him.
"Travis, take her ahead at warp 3."
"Aye sir."
It still amazed him how vast space was, he never got tired of looking at it. As everyone fell into a smooth routine, Archer's thoughts once again went over why Starfleet had deemed Grace so neccesary all of a sudden? Sure she was smart, but they had done fine up until now without her that it was just to suspicious to be a coincidence.
"Sir, readings indicate a star system .18 light years ahead containing a possible Minshara-class planet." T'Pol's sentence was said without tone or inflection, this gave Archer pause to reflect on his decision to place Jimenez in science. He shook his head slightly as he reminded himsel, he was the Captain, so far nobody had questioned that fact and he wasn't going to give people reason now. With a circumspective glance, he looked at T'Pol and thought perhaps she wasn't nearly as upset as she had been last night. She was just gonig to have to deal with it, with that thought he asked, "Ensign", he said to Travis, "Plot a course, and take her warp 4."
"You got it, sir."
"Captain, sir?"
He swiveled in his chair to look over at Grace, she was staring intently at her read-out as she continued.
"There's an anomolly positioned aproximately .02 light years outside the system. Without being any closer for a more detailed scan, I really couldn't venture specifics."
Shifting his gaze to T'Pol, he cocked his head as he said, "Sub-commander, do your findings comply with that?"
Reluctantly, she finally relpied, "Yes sir, it seems to be stable in its heading. One thing I can tell you, it looks to be emitting radiation."
Jimenez made a small introspective sound as she turned, eyes shining with exitement, "Sir, there a trace emmisions of oxygen and nitrogen also being detected."
He watched as she turned her attention back to her instruments. Furrows formed on his forehead as he considered their next course of action.
"Travis can you take us in slightly eliptic to the object, so our approach isn't as noticeable?"
Travis replied with a confident grin, "With no problem sir!"
"Take us in then Ensign."
After several minutes had passed, the Captain stood and excused himself to his ready room.
"Make sure to update me if any other interesting information comes in T'Pol."
"Yes sir."
He shook his head again as he ambled through the doorway. He'd like to believe there was less chill in his science officers response that time, as he sat at the desk he couldn't help but grin, he'd read in her personal lines that she worked better while listening to music. He wondered how T'Pol was going to deal with that.
Part 3
Captain Archer was talking with Commander Tucker when Commander Jimenez arrived, she entered the room with a confident air. He rose from his seat and motioned for her to take the vacant seat to his left, "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Commander Grace Jimenez." He then began introducing her to his senior staff, that done, he returned to his seat.
"It's very nice to meet all of you. I can't tell you what an honor it is to serve aboard your ship Captain." She said it with an earnestly that drew the attention of Commander Tucker.
"So Ms. Jimenez, tell us a little about yerself."
A mischievous tone colored her response, "Well golly Mr. Tucker, what would you like to know?"
Grinning in return, Trip replied, "Well, like where your last posting was, or what you do on your off time."
"My last assignment was on Regulas, studying the ruins on the northern continent. And I enjoy collecting old music from Earth's past."
The Captain broke in with a question of his own, "What is a 'Vadalus Vespar', Commander?"
With a slightly abashed look, she turned to explain, "It's a native species on Anaran Sir, I was the one to discover it, so I got to name it. It means 'Night Vandal'."
"I was aware of it's Latin meaning, I was just curious why you named it that?"
"Doesn't the name say it all? It's a particularly ferocious beast, nocturnal by nature and solitary. When it strikes, it goes for the head of it's prey. I have some field footage I could show you later if you'd like Captain."
"Maybe some other time, I was impressed with some of the journals you've had published."
She nodded, glancing about the room and taking mental notes for each of the officers present. The delivery of dinner caught her attention, she thanked the crewman that served her and waited while everyone else got a plate.
Archer observed how this new officer interacted with the others, her friendly, outgoing manner made her more approachable, she was an amazing directory of obscure musical references. As he scanned the crew for reactions, he noticed that Sub-commander T'Pol's usual neutral expression was absent, her slightly pursed lips and narrowed eyes gave him moment to pause. He wondered what Jimenez had said that would gain the Vulcan's distaste?
"Commander Jimenez, I was just wondering if you speak any interesting languages, something I might not have heard before?" Came Hosi's inquisitive remark.
Grace chuckled as she answered, "Not unless you've never heard Athabascan Hoshi, and you can call me Grace. I'm not nearly as formal on address as most."
"Hmm, that's an Inuit language, isn't it?"
"Actually, it covers a wide range of Native American languages. It's the base for both Navajo and Apache, which I am the latter of."
Clearing his throat, Tucker said, "Scuse me? You're an Indian?"
Sarcasticaly she replied, "Yeah, so white-eyes better watch his tounge or nunc-scaw gonna give him a hair cut like him never have before!"
That got a good laugh from everyone, except from T'Pol. With the briefest of glances, she finally spoke.
"If I recall, were not the Native American people disbused of their lands and treated with little respect by the European settlers? It would seem inappropriate for one decended from them to make light of that with, what is, a stereotypical remark."
Drawing her shoulders back, she held her chin high as she looked at T'Pol, "It might appear that way, but it was a time long past now, most have forgiven those acts and have moved beyond them Sub-commander. Eih D'ne do not hold grudges, it creates havok in the Spirit world." That said, she calmly returned to finishing her meal.
Tucker leaned forward and loudly whispered, "That's all right, you can 'ug-um' at me anytime!"
He winked as he leaned back, "By the way, you can call me 'Trip."
With a couteous bow, she teasingly said, "Why thank you, Trip, you may use my Chiricahua name, Talani."
"Thank ya Tal!"
Rising, Archer thanked everyone for attending then excused them. "Grace, T'Pol, wait just a moment please."
After the last person filtered out, he studied them a moment before offering, "Grace, with your background in science, I've decided to have you work with T'Pol. I'm sure you'll both do fine."
"Capatain." He had known T'Pol would say something before being dismissed, the look on her face positively peeved!
"Dismissed, Sub-commander."
Wheeling about, the chief science officer left wihout another word. Grace watched till she was gone then turned back to him.
"If it's going to cause any discord Captain, I'm quite capable of working a different station."
"That won't be neccesary Commander, we're all proffesionals here and understand that we'll have to make some adjustments at times." He dismissed her, a fiant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Part 4
Jimenez felt pretty good about her first meeting with the ship's crew, she could tell right now that Commander Tucker was going to be one of those people you like working with because he's not always pulling rank to accomplish things. Hoshi was a nice girl, a bit shy but a whiz when it came to figuring out the dynamics of a new language. The Captain, of course, was confident, proud, and self-assured, but he also measured in a good share of understanding and compassion. It was her immedaite superior that troubled her, T'Pol was simular to all the other Vulcans that she'd met over the years but she sensed an inner conflict that, if not dealt with, could surface in an unimaginable way.
As she entered her quarters, she was greeted by Jake, he rubbed his sleek orange striped self against her legs and gave her inquisitive look of his green eyes. "Mrrrr-ow!"
Lifting him up onto her shoulder, she gently stroked his back, "Hey there Jake? Miss me?"
"Rrow"
"Thought so!", she chortled. She set him on the bed as she began to seriously consider settling in. She had so much stuff to sort through, in became clear that she wasn't going to complete it in one night. With a weary sigh, she started putting her personal belongings away first and cuntinued till she could no longer keep her eyes open.
The next day started out poorly for her, she'd forgotten to unpack her alarm-clock and didn't awake until Commander Tucker buzzed her com. Hastely, she grabbed her next cleanest uniform and pulled in on, only pausing to run the comb through her hair. She made a frantic dash for the lift and managed not to bowl anyone over as she barely made it in.
The Captain arrived and noticed that Grace wasn't at her new station, it had been set up behind main science ops, at an auxilary terminal. Just as he was sitting down, the lift doors open and Commander Jimenez rushed out to stop abruptly at attention a few feet away.
"Reporting for duty Sir."
Keeping his amusement to himself, he schooled his features into a stern look, stating in a serious tone, "At ease Commander. Take your station."
The Admiral had certainly been right in saying you didn't know how she would behave, it'd been awhile since someone had presented themselfs at full attention to him. He idly thought it might not be a bad idea to make it a requirement when reporting for bridge duty.
He was distracted from his musings as Sub-commander T'Pol came in at silently went to her station. Assured that the crew was ready, he sat back and turned his gaze on the star filled screen before him.
"Travis, take her ahead at warp 3."
"Aye sir."
It still amazed him how vast space was, he never got tired of looking at it. As everyone fell into a smooth routine, Archer's thoughts once again went over why Starfleet had deemed Grace so neccesary all of a sudden? Sure she was smart, but they had done fine up until now without her that it was just to suspicious to be a coincidence.
"Sir, readings indicate a star system .18 light years ahead containing a possible Minshara-class planet." T'Pol's sentence was said without tone or inflection, this gave Archer pause to reflect on his decision to place Jimenez in science. He shook his head slightly as he reminded himsel, he was the Captain, so far nobody had questioned that fact and he wasn't going to give people reason now. With a circumspective glance, he looked at T'Pol and thought perhaps she wasn't nearly as upset as she had been last night. She was just gonig to have to deal with it, with that thought he asked, "Ensign", he said to Travis, "Plot a course, and take her warp 4."
"You got it, sir."
"Captain, sir?"
He swiveled in his chair to look over at Grace, she was staring intently at her read-out as she continued.
"There's an anomolly positioned aproximately .02 light years outside the system. Without being any closer for a more detailed scan, I really couldn't venture specifics."
Shifting his gaze to T'Pol, he cocked his head as he said, "Sub-commander, do your findings comply with that?"
Reluctantly, she finally relpied, "Yes sir, it seems to be stable in its heading. One thing I can tell you, it looks to be emitting radiation."
Jimenez made a small introspective sound as she turned, eyes shining with exitement, "Sir, there a trace emmisions of oxygen and nitrogen also being detected."
He watched as she turned her attention back to her instruments. Furrows formed on his forehead as he considered their next course of action.
"Travis can you take us in slightly eliptic to the object, so our approach isn't as noticeable?"
Travis replied with a confident grin, "With no problem sir!"
"Take us in then Ensign."
After several minutes had passed, the Captain stood and excused himself to his ready room.
"Make sure to update me if any other interesting information comes in T'Pol."
"Yes sir."
He shook his head again as he ambled through the doorway. He'd like to believe there was less chill in his science officers response that time, as he sat at the desk he couldn't help but grin, he'd read in her personal lines that she worked better while listening to music. He wondered how T'Pol was going to deal with that.