By Captain Zanh and Ensign Hok
80414.16
Following Starship Bound
-=Captain's Ready Room, USS Serendipity=-
80414.16
Following Starship Bound
-=Captain's Ready Room, USS Serendipity=-
Zanh Liis was anxious to get out of her office, but it didn't seem as though that was likely to happen any time soon.
She had heard rumbles when she'd poked her head out onto the main bridge an hour ago that Vedek Jariel had been seen walking the halls in a Starfleet uniform, and wondered if it was part of the command training exercise that TC Blane was to conduct with him.
Liis wanted to catch a glimpse of him in that uniform, thinking it would be quite a sight to see and perhaps even, a holocam moment to cherish forever. . .
The door chime indicated she had another visitor, and she waited a moment before answering, lifting her coffee cup to her lips for a much needed mid-afternoon jolt of caffeine.
Sadly, the cup was empty.
Her eyes scrolled through her appointment list for the afternoon to see who it. . .
*Oh.* She got to the next name on the list, and her eyes widened. She looked at the profile. She had thought when Vox said yesterday that her newest CONN officer was going to be a Ferengi that he was having a bit of fun with her.
Apparently, his twisted idea of fun was not simply jesting about it- but actually sending her a Ferengi CONN officer.
It wasn't that she generally disliked- oh hell. It was.
Maybe dislike was too strong a term- but the truth was that her previous experiences with Ferengi- one and all- had not been good. The worst, of course, being nearly been sold to the Romulans by a group of Ferengi just a short time ago. The memory of her time on Ferenginar. . . lingered.
She was curious though, to meet a man who would deny the traditions of his people in favor of a career in Starfleet. Of course, she thought, noting his age, maybe he had tried his hand at business on Ferenginar and spectacularly flunked out. Still, he had to have tenacity, otherwise he would never have made it through the Academy- and with good marks to boot, from what she was reading.
She liked to think she was nothing if not a fair woman- and so she was determined to let this "Ensign Hok" rise or fall in the ranks of her crew by his own actions.
It didn't matter what species he was, it mattered what his heart was.
That was what she kept telling herself, for a long moment until she realized that poor Hok was still ringing the doorbell.
Hok was carefully watching the officer that was currently piloting the Serendipity. He especially noted the ease with which his fingers moved over the console, making a minor course adjustment, or a recalculation because of something in space that would cross their path. It was like a miniature dance across a lighted dance floor.
"Enter."
Enter? Enter! The captain had actually told him to enter. Shifting his weight from foot to foot, Hok quickly ran his hands down the front of his uniform, then stepped into the ready room.
Captain Zanh Liis was standing behind her desk, and Hok noticed immediately that she was tall for a female, and even more attractive in person than her picture revealed. Staying on the captain's good side, so he would be safe on the ship, was his primary concern, and with a captain that looked as nice as she did, that would be a pleasant task.
"Ensign Hok reporting for duty, sir!"
"At ease, Ensign. Before you hurt yourself." Liis noticed his lingering smile, and she smiled politely in return.
Hok kept right on smiling, and after a moment or two she began to feel uncomfortable. She cleared her throat, moved from behind her desk and over to the replicator.
"Coffee, hot, double cream." She ordered. She waited for the cup to appear and then turned back to the Ensign. "I don't usually like to meet my new officers here. Usually I pick a much more. . . creative setting. Sadly, my day is packed and so this will have to do. I apologize for the. . . mundaneness of our introduction." She sipped her coffee and then set it down.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Captain, no matter the setting."
*He seems eager to please. . .* Zanh thought. *Perhaps even a little too eager.* She'd have to keep an eye on this one.
"Thank you. Tell me, Ensign. Know anything about transwarp?"
"Starfleet doesn't have any transwarp ships," said Hok. There was a moment of silence between them, then it struck him. His eyes widened and he gasped with excitement. "Unless Starfleet does..." Hok's voice trailed off and he eyed the captain expectantly.
"Take a walk with me, Ensign." Zanh said, deciding that she would make the time to see the look on his face when he caught sight of the Alchemy. She glanced sadly at her coffee as she abandoned it- only the one sip taken, and then led the way through the doors and out onto the main bridge. "Salvek, I'll be back. We're taking a walk."
"As you wish, Captain."
A moment later they were on the turbolift, and Zanh commanded it cheerfully. "Alchemy bay."
In the turblift, Hok tried to read the captain. On Earth, there was always a rumor here or a rumbling there, about some mysterious and classified program Starfleet had, and occasionally. the name Alchemy would be heard. Hok had always dismissed them. Rumors weren't good for business, and often caused one to waste resources. Better to have facts than gossip and scuttlebutt.
The thing was, when Admiral Vox assigned him to the Serendipity, he had strictly emphasized the importance of keeping anything Hok did, saw, heard, and learned, as classified.
Was this secret project a reality after all, and he was now part of it? Would he get to pilot this new ship? What a great way to start his new career!
When they had arrived at the bay, Hok was not prepared for what he saw, when the doors to the bay opened and Captain Zanh gestured for him to take a look.
"How would you like to try flying that?" She waited for his reaction before continuing.
Hok's eyes shined brightly. He looked up at the captain, anticipation and excitement radiating from him like plasma leaking from a warp nacelle.
"I would be honored, Captain."
"It is a transwarp capable ship. But you're going to need some additional training before we let you fly it. That means," Zanh said, thinking that the pairing of the two officers she was about to propose would be highly amusing to observe, "that Lt. Grace is your new best friend."
"Whatever training is necessary, Captain, I'll do," said Hok. "Whatever you need."
What a break. Hok had gone from joining Starfleet just to stay alive, to being one of the pilots of a top secret ship that was probably the most advanced in the fleet. After so much tragedy in his life, things were beginning to take a turn for the good.
"You may regret wording that sentence so vaguely," Zanh said with a hint of a smile. "It will take dedication to learn to handle the vicissitudes of the Alchemy. Hell, I haven't even gotten to fly her myself yet, and. Well." She gestured to her pip count.
"I'm a Ferengi, Captain. Vague is part of my DNA," said Hok proudly. "Besides, after Lieutenant Grace teaches me, perhaps I could teach you."
Zanh shook her head. As ambitious as this guy was, she didn't doubt that he could.
"Let's get you acclimated to the Sera's helm for starters. I warn you though, she's a bit temperamental."
"All females are temperamental." Hok froze as he realized he had said that aloud to a female captain to whom he was trying to ingratiate himself. He gave a quick smile, hoping the captain would take it as a joke.
"Some much more than others." Zanh Liis replied, widening her eyes purposely as she gave him another stare.
Hok gulped. He had done so well making a good first impression. It was possible he had just sent it into a black hole.
*I'm probably next,* thought Hok. He sighed inwardly.
---------------------
Captain Zanh
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Ensign Hok
Conn Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Captain Zanh
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Ensign Hok
Conn Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012