Chapter 2: Welcome Aboard
"Commander Marshall!"
Jack Marshall stuck his arm back through the doorway to the turbolift, a smile crossing his face as the first officer watched the new operations officer, ensign Garret Chang, sprint down the corridor and into the lift beside him. He dropped his arm and clasped his hands behind his back.
"Thank you." Garret breathed between panted breaths.
The XO smirked, shaking his head as he spoke. "I'd hate for you to be late today of all days, Mr. Chang." He paused, his eyes moving skyward as the door closed. "Bridge." As the lift began to move, he returned his attention to the young ensign. He still looked like a kid to Jack. Youthful innocence in his eyes and energy to match. "We all want to make a good first impression for our new captain, don't we?"
Garret nodded, straightening up and smoothing his uniform. Jack held back a smile as he noticed the combadge missing from the boy's chest. Without a word, he pulled off his own and stuck it to Garret's uniform. The boy jumped. "Sir! I- I can't take… w-wait, where's my-"
"Shh…"
Jack silenced the younger man as the door opened and stepped out onto the bridge. He would get the badge back after Garret had a chance to find his. He could afford to make a mistake like that. He'd been an officer for ten years. Garret was just starting out.
While Garret made his way to the ops station, Jack crossed the bridge and stopped at tactical. Where Lt. Commander T'Pirra was manning her station dutifully.
"Ms. T'Pirra. Any word on our new Captain?"
The Caitian looked up from her console and narrowed her slitted eyes at Jack. Jack had always found Caitian expressions hard to read, but he was confident she was either angry or… maybe disapproving? The latter won out.
"Luckily for you, she was delayed by unforeseen circumstances. Where is your badge, sir? You do remember that without it locating you will be quite difficult if we fall under attack, yes?" She punctuated her rebuke with a tap of her tail against the commander's chest.
Jack did his best to act surprised, tapping his own chest and looking apologetic. "Right you are. I'll have to find it later. Though I seriously doubt we are going to come under attack while still docked. Not this far out." He smiled and gave a shrug, clearly frustrating the Caitian based on the way her whiskers twitched. That was one thing he had picked up over the months of refits; how to tell when T'Pirra was irritated.
"Commander-" She began, but was cut off by the chirp of her combadge. T'Pirra answered it, still glaring daggers at her superior officer. Jack couldn't blame her. "Go ahead."
"Captain Orsoy's shuttle just left the station."
"Acknowledged." She cut off the com and looked over at Garret. "Open the bay doors and shine your pip, ensign. Time to make an impression." She stepped out from behind her console and looked up down at Jack, their height difference never once leaving the human's mind. "At least our new ensign remembered his combadge today."
Jack could only smile as he turned to accompany the chief of security. "I'll have to strive to do better in the future. Lt. Commander Drynn, you have the bridge. Ensign Chang, make sure we have the lights kicked on in the bay, last time the automatic sensors failed and the shuttle landed in the dark."
"I've got the red carpet rolled out, sir. And uh…" Garret leaned closer as Jack passed him and Jack's smile deepened as the younger man spoke. "Thank you, sir."
"Don't mention it."
Jenya had barely taken her seat when the shuttle lifted off. They cleared the docking bay and were soon circling around Deep Space 4. The captain frowned at the sudden take-off, but had to admit… the view was fantastic out here. She turned her attention to her pilot, raising an eyebrow.
"You don't waste any time, do you, Lieutenant?"
"My people don't believe in time, Captain. There is only now. And now is when you need to be on your ship." The pilot proclaimed as she maneuvered the shuttle around the bulk of the space station. "Mylarri, best pilot the Ariolon Defense Concordian ever had." The Ariolon woman gave a wide smile and Jenya returned it. A move that apparently caught her pilot off guard, judging by the tilt of her head.
The shuttle, seemingly, was made just for the pilot. Modified controls that incorporated foot pedals and a bench style seat, allowing the quadrupedal woman the ability to rest while flying. Considering Mylarri was the senior conn officer, it was likely the Jubilant's bridge had similar modifications.
"Ah, I remember seeing that in your file. Fighter pilot. Youngest out of the ADC academy. Saw some combat too, from what I read. Here's hoping we don't need those particular skills on our journey… Not that I'm not thankful you have them."
"If you weren't my captain, I'd think you were a fan. I know it's your job to know your crew, but there are things I'd prefer to tell you myself." Mylarri paused, her hands hesitating at the controls for a moment before she spoke again. "Captain…"
"Why did a Vulcan smile at you?" Jenya supplied, crossing her arms over her chest. She had been asked about her demeanor enough times throughout her life that she simply expected it nowadays. She sighed, pinching her nasal ridge as she suppressed her exasperation.
"I was wondering…"
"Suffice to say, Lieutenant, that I am only half Vulcan." Jenya replied curtly, wincing at the way her voice sounded. She had not meant to come off as harsh as she had.
An awkward silence settled over the shuttle as they rounded the final bend. A few long minutes of staring off into space. Just when Jenya was about to open her mouth to apologize, Mylarri broke the silence for her.
"There she is… Captain Orsoy, meet the U.S.S. Jubilant."
The shuttle came around a pillar and Jenya felt her heart do a flip. She sat up straighter in her seat and even leaned forward, looking out the window with the widest smile she could fit on her lips. There was the ship. Her ship. The Jubilant. Registration number NCC 16412-A.
A modified Intrepid class. 344 meters from stem to stern. Inverted geometry warp nacelles. Angled down at impulse speeds and level or even angled up at varying warp speeds. Maximum warp of 9.975 and outfitted with a hydroponics bay for supplemental food supply capable of lasting an indefinite period provided proper care.
15 decks and scientific laboratories fit for any potential encounter with the unknown. Everything from astrometrics to a full service aquatics bay. Six holodeck suites, a full service galley, and one captain's yacht. Jenya was struck utterly speechless as they flew over the ship, her mouth agape.
"Must have been a weak half… The Vulcan side." Mylarri broke in, smirking as they approached the shuttle bay doors. "I can keep this to myself, Captain, but you might want to close your mouth before you meet the rest of the bridge crew."
Jenya blinked and a greenish hue came over her cheeks as she blushed. "Right… Sorry, it's just…"
"I reacted the same way when I got my first fighter. I can't fault you." Mylarri offered with a soft smile. Jenya nodded her thanks.
As the shuttle touched down inside Jubilant's shuttle bay, Jenya felt her nerves spike. She had been informed that a welcoming party would be waiting for her. She assumed this would likely include her first officer and perhaps other members of the bridge crew, but she was not certain. While she had been reading through the dossiers of the 150 or so crewmembers who would now be under her command, she had yet to actually meet any of them besides Mylarri.
The Captain steeled herself, taking a deep breath as she rose from her seat. She reached up and patted her pilot on the shoulder. "Thanks for the lift, Lieutenant. I guess I shouldn't keep the others waiting."
"I'll be on the bridge shortly, ma'am. Just need to tuck this old girl in for the night."
Lt. Commander T'Pirra always prided herself on her composure and her control over the primal instincts common for her species… So why was she imagining smacking her commanding officer over the head? How do you forget your combadge on the day your new captain arrives? How can you afford to be out of uniform at such a crucial moment?
Had Marshall failed to notice that their new captain was a Vulcan? Sure she was half Kobliad, but being a Vulcan meant that they would all be held to a much higher standard, certainly. T'Pirra had trained in hand to hand combat under a Vulcan and he had no tolerance for anything but perfection from his pupils.
T'Pirra pushed her irritation aside for the time being as she watched the shuttle land in the bay. She needed to make up for her Commander's poor presentation. As she stood at attention just inside the shuttle bay, she smoothed her uniform and her pitch black fur. Her mixed eyes of blue and green trained on the hatch, waiting for the slightest sign of movement as she did her subtle last minute grooming.
Beside her Commander Marshall was standing with his hands folded behind his back. His chest puffed out as if the human were proud to display his lack of proper attire. The fool… At least he was a kind fool. T'Pirra straightened as the shuttle hatch opened and their new captain came into view…
And immediately she knew this was not going to be the three years she had signed up for. Not only was Captain Orsoy a Vulcan and Kobliad. She was… smiling?
AN: Thank you for reading my little story! It's encouraging to have anyone show interest in my writing. I have been doing tons of research into erm... relative information regarding upcoming plot points and I hope I can meet or exceed any expectations you all have!
Please leave a comment and tell me what you think so far and be on the lookout for future updates!
