Checking Duty stations

Posted on 25 Nov 2017 @ 1:34am by Lieutenant Ren Kannu (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR to Bre'el Dip. Msn.) & Lieutenant Commander Darren Marian (Dec-Jan 2389 - WIA-TRNSFR to XFY Medical) & Lieutenant Zim Salmon, Ph.D. (Dec-Jan 2389-TRNS, Bre'el Dip. Msn)

Mission: He ho'omaka hou 'ana - A New Beginning
Location: Bridge
Timeline: 22 December 2388

Dr Salmon waddled onto the bridge of the Hawaii, quivering with excitement from his whiskers to the tip of his tail. His left boot was making a squish-squish with each step on that leg. The shuttle arrived nearly an hour early, and he'd been studying the local ichthyoids and had come to a conclusion; excellent, but would have been better with some ale or a white wine.

Due to the early arrival, he hadn't had time to dry off properly as he'd planned, and had to hastily pull his boots on. Enough water had gotten into the left one to cause the squishing while he walked. Oh well... It didn't bother him, and anyone else would simply have to get over it.

He made his way to the science station and lowered the seat enough to get on it easily, then raised it up again.
"Computer? Recognize Salmon, Zim. Mark Chief Science officer as aboard and ready please."
"Voice print match; recognizing Dr. Salmon. You are now signed in and marked as active aboard NCC-80776 - USS Hawaii" the female computer voice replied. Zim had to actively restrain himself from letting out a hoot. Trying not to make it seem like he was going to spin around and around in his chair, he turned to look over the bridge of his new assignment.

“Hey,” Ren said looking over at the latest arrival on the bridge. “I’m Lieutenant Ren.” The Bajoran said by way of introduction.

The Quim slid out of his seat, and made his way over to the Lieutenant. "Dr Salmon, at your service. Or Lieutenant Salmon, if you prefer; I respond equally to either title. I admit I'm more used to Doctor however." The Quim spoke in fast bursts. His eyes seemed to dart around, then back to the other officer, as he tried to take everything in at once. Despite the fur, his face was quite expressive, and seemed to convey body language in a manner similar to other humanoids.

Darren stepped from the turbolift onto the bridge and was greeted with the sight of two of his fellow senior officers. One he recognized from the manifest, the Bajoran transfer from the Jericho if he remembered right. Lieutenant Kannu. The other he realized must be their chief science officer, a Dr. Salmon. It was the first time Darren had seen a Quim in person, and despite his Starfleet training he had trouble keeping himself from curiously looking twice at the scientist. "Hello gentlemen," he said by way of greeting, finding his way over to his station next to the Commander's chair.

"Good day sir!" the Quim piped right up. "I'm Dr. Salmon, Chief Science officer. And may I inquire as to your name?" The Quim scientist watched him with those curious dark eyes, one whisker twitching ever so slightly.

"Lieutenant Marian, executive officer. Pleasure to meet you, Doctor." Darren slid into the executive officer's chair and synced it to the computer in his office, pulling up the notes he'd been working on the night before. "I looked over your file before I got here. Really great to have someone of your expertise with us on this trip. Third in your class in the Academy, if I'm not mistaken?"

"That is correct sir. I'm afraid that competition at the Academy was stiffer than I had anticipated." The Quim's forehead scrunched up in what appeared to be an expression of mild frustration. Had he been shooting for number 1? Perhaps.

"I would like to say that I'm delighted to be aboard! I have no doubt that we will find many fascinating things while we're out there!" Zim's whiskers began to quiver in anticipation at the thought.

Darren couldn't help the slightest of smiles. He's actually disappointed in third place. An admirable quality in a Chief Science Officer. The Quim's excitement was almost palpable. "I'm sure we will, Doctor. There's rarely such a thing as a "quiet cruise" in space, at least in my experience."

He looked out the viewscreen, past the silver-grey moorings and out into the emptiness of space. "I feel like this voyage might be less a trip of adventure than a journey to the front lines, though. It may get pretty tense." I really hope it doesn't. It wasn't easy for Darren to forget the blare of klaxons as the California was slammed with volley after volley of phaser and torpedo fire.

“I’ve heard we’re heading for the Gorn front, but that is only junior officer talk on the station.” Ren said as he stood from his station and moved towards Hawaii’s First Officer. “Lieutenant Ren Kannu, Chief Helmsman.” He said offering his hand to shake to the first officer.

Darren stood from his chair and met the Chief Helmsman halfway, grasping his hand and shaking it firmly. "Darren. Pleasure to meet you." He released the handshake and sat back down in his chair. "Yes, that's the scuttlebutt. Of course, exactly what we'll be doing only the Commander knows." He sat back and continued entering notes onto his control screen. "So," he said after a moment, "what do you both think of the Hawaii so far?"

“So far so good.” Ren replied with a chuckle. “But you’d expect that from a brand new ship.”

"That's true. That also we means we have to break it in, though," Darren chuckled. "At least that's what I hear. I've never served on a ship this new. My last assignment was a Nova class. In service for 5 years already when I was transferred."

“That’s a very new ship compared with the Ambassador Class I was assigned to on my last assignment.” Ren said with a chuckle. “Not that I minded, she certainly had some character for an old girl.”

"You know, I've heard that about the old ships," Darren said, thinking back to his conversation with Nimh about her last assignment. "Were you also manning the helm there?"

The Bajoran nodded, “I enjoyed piloting the Ambassador class ship, she was a good ship but it was time for her to be retired from service. I also did Security as well. Being a smaller ship we all had to muck in with different jobs, but I enjoyed the variation.”

Dr. Salmon listened for a bit. After all, more was learned by listening than talking.
"For my part" the Quim added, "I'm quite looking forward to any ship, old or new. My experience is quite academic and I've only been aboard ships when getting from here to there, wherever 'there' might be. That said, I do believe this is a fine ship! While we may not be doing a lot of traditional Starfleet exploration, our knowledge about the Gorn is still somewhat limited. I'm sure that there will be more than sufficient surprises for all of us." Dr Salmon rubbed his paws together at the thought. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make sure that I'm not already behind on paperwork. Quite an anachronistic phrase, wouldn't you say? Since I've never seen paper used for anything outside of wrapping sandwiches or ancient books." Just as it seemed a lecture on the history of paper might be eminent though, Zim seemed to think better of it.

Darren nodded, slightly bemused at the Quim's commentary. "I should get to it as well. Gentlemen, it was a pleasure to meet you. Look forward to serving with you both." He stood from his chair.

“It’s been a pleasure meeting you, as well, sir.” Ren said with a curt nod. “I, too, looking forward to working with the both of you.”