Note: I used to simm as this character in Obsidian Fleet, however I totally altered her personality… I'd show you a picture of her, but this site refuses to let me even put down an address.

Part 2 - Lieutenant Neia Valas (Flight Control)

She didn't realize she was grinding her teeth until Jerry from Ops spoke up.

"Hey Neia… I can hear that from over here eh?" She could hear the smile in his voice, and the OP's replacement chuckled.

"Your right Jerry. Why don't you come over here and show me how to do this. I'm sure you can navigate better than I can." She replied bitterly but couldn't help smiling.

"Ah huh. You may be good, but I think we know the real reason you're here." He said, egging her on. She stopped fiddling with her console and turned around in her seat to face him.

Normally she wouldn't have, but with Commander Finn and Lieutenant Mitchell greeting the new guy, and Captain Burton in his office, Jerry had been put in charge, so a little bridge banter was nothing to worry about.

"Really. Now why would that be?" She asked, putting on her most sincere smile, which made Jerry grin even wider.

"Cause the Captain wants another pretty face on the bridge." He tried to continue but couldn't keep himself from laughing. Neia glanced over at the security station and saw Chief Petty Officer Karen smiling to herself. She merely shook her head and pretended to be working.

Suddenly a voice interrupted them. "That's right Mr. Worth. The only reason Mrs. Valas is here is because I'd like another pretty face on the bridge." They all turned and saw Captain Burton standing off to the back of the bridge. Didn't even notice him come in. Neia turned back around in a futile attempt to look professional.

"If that's the case then I guess we'll need to find a new Operations officer." He continued, walking over to his chair. Jerry immediately retreated back to his usual post. On the way he fake whispered, "Thanks" to Karen who would have had to notice the CO come in.

"That's why Mrs. Karen is my favourite officer Mr. Worth… she knows when to be quiet." Captain Burton said lightly, settling into his seat.

"Of course sir." Jerry replied and Neia knew he must have been blushing.

"Enough of that then, so… what's our status?" The CO asked and she heard the usual click of his console being turned.

Neia put on her smoothest voice and replied. "We are currently at warp speed with a velocity of 6.2. So far we have encountered nothing but space dust and … I think there was a comet a half hour ago?"

Jerry immediately seizing the attempt to goof off backed her up. "That's correct Mrs. Valas, and might I say your looking wonderful today. We did in fact encounter a class 2 comet 28 minutes ago. Nothing to worry about, it said "Hi" and kept going."

Neia knew they were pushing they're luck, but after 2 weeks of unexplored space and only coming across one inhabited planet, which of course wasn't advanced enough to make first contact with, they were quite bored and restless.

"Your both nuts." Burton replied. "I'm probably the only CO in the fleet to put up with this. I'm the laughing stock of the Captains table."

"Thank you sir." They replied in unison. At the same moment the turbo lift to Neia's left and from behind deposited a handful of officers. Commander Finn and Lieutenant Mitchell on the left, and from behind, a trio of Petty Officers sent to relieve the main bridge crew.

"Everything all set then? Burton asked them. Finn went and sat down next to him while Mitchell relieved Karen. Meanwhile the PO's came over and relieved Jerry and her.

"Everything's fine." Finn said. Neia couldn't hear the rest because Finn was whispering. "Good. I like my new officers to feel terrible." She heard Burton reply.

Neia switched over control to the PO, said goodbye, and joined Karen and Jerry in the turbo lift. "Ah, Mrs. Karen, could you stay behind for a sec please?" Mitchell asked her.

She looked at Neia and Jerry, shrugged, and headed back onto the bridge, leaving them alone in the turbo lift.

"Deck… Three" Jerry said, getting confirmation from Neia with a head nod.

"I wonder what that was about." She asked.

"Ah, they probably want to tell her that we're poor examples of officers and if she ever wants to succeed, she should never talk to us again." He replied. Neia laughed. There was a moment of silence and before Jerry asked, "Hey you want to join me for dinner?" as the lift slowed to a stop.

They did this same routine everyday. He'd ask her out and she would politely turn him down... or occasionally harshly. However, today she felt different. Jerry wasn't a bad guy, and he was pretty cute. Ah what the hell. So, she took a chance. "You know what? I think I'm going to go to bed early, however I wouldn't mind dinner tomorrow." She replied, and the doors opened, letting her out. "Don't tease me, are you serious?" he called after her. "Yep!" she replied just before the lift doors closed.