Because Of Course There's Gossip

Posted on Sat Mar 27th, 2021 @ 1:34pm by Lieutenant Commander Shaille Levine & Ensign Andrew Gervais

Mission: Arriving
Location: Security office
Timeline: Following the Captain's arrival

Andrew had left the lounge to go obtain some info. He was a junior officer and a support craft pilot... So the odds of him actually encountering the Captain unless she was on the bridge during his shift were few and far between. And usually the more pips one had, especially after Lieutenant Commander? The less interaction they would have with some Ensign.

Besides... his partner Paul had been curious anyway and was as hungry for information as he was. He'd been under Reynolds' command most of his first year in service. He found dealing with the XO a bit intimidating but... such was life serving under a Vulcan.

"Computer, locate Lieutenant Levine." he asked.

Lieutenant Levine is in the Security Office the response came, and he headed to the turbolift and made his way there. After a quick jaunt down the corridor, he walked through.

"So? Scale of 1 to invade the Gamma Quadrant... How bad is it?"

Shaille looked up as Andrew walked in, raising an eyebrow slightly at the determined look on his face. "I assume you mean meeting the new Captain?" she asked.

“Guess it was that obvious hey?” Andrew responded, not overly expecting he could have just made something else up. “But yeah... how did it go? Does she seem okay?”

She motioned absently for him to take a seat, dropping her feet from her desk back to the floor. "You know, she seemed nice enough, almost actually pleasant..." she caught the look of relief on his face as he leaned forward, clearly wanting to know more. "Then she spouted a second head, bit off Rostra's arm and started chewing on Jason's face. I suggest you don't upset her or get too close. Who knows how often she needs to snack."

Andrew jumped a little and then laughed. "Ha ha... Very funny. But pleasant is good. I can live with pleasant. I just... I was really hoping she wasn't a Vulcan or something. I know, I know, that's bad... But... You have to admit, Commander T'Prymm could sometimes be a little intimidating."

Shaille smirked slightly. "I avoided her almost completely after she removed me from duty for two days for being out of uniform in Security. Yeah, she was pretty intense." She shook her head. "Was a pretty messed up way to end though, I mean..." she shuddered slightly. "I think Commander Tang is being promoted to First Officer, so at least we don't need to worry about another T'Prymm."

"Thank god." Gervais said. "I once was just 3 degrees shy of standard orbit, and she ordered me to do 3 weeks of flight training in the holodeck on my watch where I did nothing but orbit procedures. A full duty shift of that! I'm surprised I remembered anything else. But... yeah. Nobody deserved how things ended for her. Even that astrometrics prof at the Academy I couldn't stand. And Tang? I mean... she's awfully young."

Shaille shrugged slightly. "I think she's a good choice personally, I mean, the crew like her and respect her, she's kind, and with everything that's happened I think the crew could use a gentle hand about now."

"You're probably right." Gervais said. "She could do a lot worse. Paul was saying he heard how the Fighter CO is running the crew through the ringer, even on shore leave. Not quite T'Prymm level, but...."

"I guess everyone wants to be prepared," She sighed. "There's still the missing fighter," She bit her bottom lip momentarily as she remembered the moment they'd received word the fighter had gone down. All they knew was a fighter had been lost but with restricted communications no one knew which one it was. It had been a harrowing time, trying to focus on doing their jobs and keeping everyone alive while they waited. "We'll likely have to go back at some point and retrieve it, I doubt Starfleet is going to want sensitive technology left on an alien world."

“Sign me up for that! I wouldn’t mind getting that craft back.” Andrew said a little too eagerly. The craft was only part of it, there probably was some desire to fight back on his part, but he would never dare say so publicly.

"I don't know that I'm in that much of a hurry to go back," Shaille replied quietly. "So many lives lost... The not knowing..." she shook her head. "I'm not in a hurry to go back, but I know we have to."

"Would they really send us? I mean it'll take one person to remember what they did to the Captain and... I mean, I know we're all fairly well trained, but someone's going to snap, no?" Andrew asked. It wouldn't be him... But he was worried about some of the folks on the lower decks he'd heard talking.

"Who else is there?" Shaille asked flatly. "No one else knows where the fighter is or what they're like." She shook her head. "If anyone is going to get it back, it'll be us."

"I guess we'll know once she's officially in charge, then." Andrew replied. "You going to the ceremony?"

The blonde gave a nod. "What happened, it isn't her fault," she said softly. "She's going to have a hard enough time settling in as it is, I have a feeling she'll need all the friends she can get."

Andrew nodded in agreement. Hard as it was to be dealing with the Captain's death... He knew Shaille was right. "I've been on the fence. Paul thinks I'm being ridiculous if I decide not to go... Maybe he's right. And yeah... you have a point too. I can't imagine just walking in and having to sit in someone else's chair for the reason she does."

"I can't even begin to imagine how hard it would be to come in after something like that," she said with a shake of her head. "I mean... it's not just that you're taking someone else's job. She's walked into the boots of someone who died in horrific circumstances."

"It sounds like she might be okay though so... I'm a bit less worried." Andrew said. "I guess we have to do dress uniforms for this?" he asked. He made it sound like a chore, but... He also knew certain others aboard liked it.

"Probably," Shaille shrugged. "I mean, dress uniforms are usually required for this kind of thing aren't they?" She sighed. "I hate dress whites, I really do. Why can't we just do like... casual dress days? I'd rather dress in a formal gown than dress whites..." she tugged at her collar instinctively. "I always feel like they're strangling me."

"Right?" Gervais replied. "I swear whoever made them never wore them. But... before Paul sends a search party, I guess I'd best go get ready. I'll see you there!"

Shaille sighed. "How about we go get drinks after? I have a feeling we're all going to need it."

"Sure! I'm down for that." he said. "I think you're probably right. Plus... I picked something up on our last shore leave that I haven't gotten to try yet. Some kind of a weird wine."

"Bring it with you, I'm game," Shaille grinned as she stood up. "It can't be all that bad... what's the worst that can happen?"