Beam Me Up, Chief!

Posted on Thu Feb 25th, 2021 @ 10:25pm by Captain Michelle Bartlett & Commander Rostra Tang & Lieutenant Commander Shaille Levine

Mission: Arriving
Location: Transporter Room 1

Jason was walking with Shaille and Rostra down the corridor to the transporter room. It had been a while since he'd seen his former first officer, but he knew getting her out here was a good move for her, careerwise. Yes, the Delta Quadrant could be a rather lonely place and getting back to Earth was almost impossible at times... But it had grown on him during his time out here.

"I think you'll both like her, to be quite honest." Jason replied. "She's a bit of a personality at times but she gives a damn. The crew will adapt quite well to her, also. Worst case... She has a weakness for dessert items." he added with a bit of a smirk. "Don't ask how I know that... Just never mention the Away Team on Margis 3 to her. Still a bit of a sore spot."

Margis 3 Shaille filed that knowledge away for later. "So, that's it?" she asked quietly. "We just get a new CO like that and we're supposed to be okay with it?" She shook her head slightly. "You know, for your sake, I hope she's a good person. If she's not the entire crew will be banging your door down."

Jason chuckled a bit, but he knew. Captain Reynolds had been with a lot of them for years. And anything Jason could determine about Reynolds, he was an incredibly good and well loved captain. He knew it was important to get it right and he believed he had. "I wouldn't have picked her if I had any doubt. She was my First Officer on the Yorkshire just before I came out to the Delta Quadrant. I wouldn't have picked anyone else. What you see is entirely what you get with her."

Right, note to self Rostra, do not bring up sore topics on your first ten minutes of meeting a new person. Smile, but don't show teeth. They never said she was a Klingon, so assume she's not. Showing teeth is usually a bad sign. Don't get off on the wrong foot Rostra, don't mess this up, and you'll be fine...

The door swished open to the Transporter room. Jason looked at the transporter operator. "Are we ready?"

"Yes, sir." the crewman at the transporter console replied.

"Energize." Jason said, to which the Crewman acknowledged and slid his fingers up the console to begin the beam. The transport completed, and Michelle was standing on the platform, still adjusting to her updated uniform.

"I always thought you looked far better in red." Jason said with a smirk.

"Jason!" Michelle said, shocked at the familiar voice that called out to her before catching herself. "You might have been the last person I was expecting to see."

"Were you expecting Admiral Picard?" Jason asked playfully.

"Admiral Janeway, ideally. But... You'll do. Sir." she added.

"I'd certainly hope I would!" Jason replied. "Now... get over here and give me a hug, Shelly. That's an order." he said with a laugh as she obliged.

"I see you brought the welcoming committee." Michelle said.

"Yes!" Jason replied. "Commander Michelle Bartlett, this is the Strategic Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rostra Tang and your Chief of Security Lieutenant Shaille Levine."

"A pleasure." Michelle said before pausing. "I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of Captain Reynolds. I reviewed his file on the way here and... It's an enormous loss." she added, switching gears for a moment.

"Every loss is one we feel, a leader even more so. Thank you for your kindness." Rostra said with a pair of soft smiles. "As mentioned, my name is Rostra Tang. I'm a Dalacari, so... "and she stopped. Boom. Done. Mid-sentence, just up and stopped talking.

Her twin sister picked up the conversation instantly, "... rest assured, you aren't seeing double. I'm a binary instance lifeform, so I guess get used to making room for two." she joked with a giggle. "It's excellent to meet you."

"Likewise!" Michelle replied. She'd caught mention of the Dalacari "I'm glad you clarified. I almost asked you who your twin was." she smirked. "Would have been just a little awkward."

"Just a little." Rostra snuck in with a pair of smiles.

"Welcome aboard Commander," Shaille said quietly, remaining behind Rostra and Jason but offering a slight nod of her head. "Is there anything else you require transported from the surface?"

"A pleasure to meet you as well." Michelle said warmly, observing Shaille's quiet. Nervousness? Possible dislike? Neither could be discounted but given the events of the last while she wasn't about to push the matter too much. She knew seeing a new person in charge in these circumstances had to be exceptionally difficult. "There are a few things that came with me from the transport. They should be in the room I was using on the surface. They can be beamed to my quarters and I'll set everything up later." she added before turning to Rostra. "You've been in command in the interim?"

"I have been, yes. A challenge, but I've never been one to shrink away from logistical challenges." the Dalacari responded.

"When you have a moment, I'd like assessments of our readiness from both of you and an update on what's been going on in the surrounding sectors. Just to get a feel for anything we might get roped into. In the interim of course, we've been ordered to shore leave and I expect that will continue for at least a bit until we have some new crew arriving to meet us. Probably another week or week and a half."

Rostra raised a hand, "A minor point, since you've probably not encountered a Dalacari before but... I'm not a 'Both of you'." she corrected what she saw as a minor slip, gently. No irritation, just a gentle correction now to stop future slip ups.

"Oh goodness. I meant to refer to you and Lieutenant Levine." Michelle replied. "My apologies, Commander. Next stop before anything else I suppose should be to get myself a cup of coffee. Or something. They didn't really have the best blend on Tabula Rasa, though it's also possible I didn't give myself much of a chance to look."

"In the meantime, I suppose I should give you the tour." Jason said.

"Of course." Michelle replied, trying to not give the impression she was enjoying any of this. "I don't think I've actually ever been aboard a Sovereign Class."

"I think we had a meeting with an Admiral on one back home on the Yorkshire." Jason replied. "But if I recall how sideways that mission went, we didn't really get much of a chance to enjoy it."

"No." Michelle replied. "We really didn't."

"Oh Dia's Knees, I wasn't... I mean, I didn't mean to monopolize the moment." one form turned to find Shaille, "I am so sorry." and then the pair just took a moment. "Simply little misunderstanding, no intent. It's good. I'm good. We're all good." and after that little mantra, Rostra was all smiles again.

"Forgiven, forgotten. Complete misunderstanding." she offered to Michelle. Now the way was clear. "Dalacar has a drink *like* coffee, except it's blue. I can get you some if you want to try."

"Blue?" Michelle asked. "You know... I think I might." she asked. Might as well get accustomed to the local flavours early. "And it's all good. I will meet with you and Lieutenant Levine later once I've had a chance to see the ship. If that's all right with you ladies?"

Shaille offered a slight nod. "Of course Captain," she said as she stepped aside. "Commander, shall we?" She said to Rostra with a smile. "Dalacar coffee sounds great right now."

"Seems to be trending." Rostra said with a giggle. "I'll make a fresh batch. I still remember how." she offered with pride. Yeah, it was so difficult to get right. Ask the fabricator. Boom. Such high standards.

"I'll see you later, ladies." she added before turning to Jason. "Now then... where were we?" she added as they all headed out the transporter room door.