STF

New Orders, New Requests

Posted May 30, 2023, 9:08 a.m. by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) (Jennifer Ward)

Posted by Captain Rende Asam (Commanding Officer) in New Orders, New Requests

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in New Orders, New Requests

Posted by Captain Rende Asam (Commanding Officer) in New Orders, New Requests
Posted by… suppressed (20) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Rende had not expected to be promoted, ever, to captain. Not that she didn’t have the experience, but she had vowed to take a back seat for a while. To learn from others and put her ego and pride and arrogance away. Of course she’d done that, it was probably why she was now being made a captain, out on the frontier of Federation space. She had sent Eldorin a communique, a letter really. One of the things she’d requested and been granted, was that he could come with her. Civilian or serving. She missed him. They’d argued when they had both gone back into the service at the same time. Returning to Earth had been hard on both of them, and for a couple of listeners they hadn’t listened to each other. It was one of the reasons they had left El-Auria, because the elders didn’t listen. The irony was not lost on her.

But they had fought and duty had separated them, and they had allowed that distance to create a greater distance. Maybe she should have declined the promotion, retired again and gone home. But she hadn’t heard from him yet, and perhaps he still wanted space. They had never been the kind to settle in once place for too long, and Rende wasn’t ready to do that again, unless Eldorin was going to be there. So she accepted, and would do her duty, for however long was required. She took several transports out to meet with the Sentinel, having a layover on K5 where she met Cpt Jensen, who gushed with obvious envy over the yeoman Rende was getting to serve with. The conversation was most enlightening. Especially when the man finally gave her the name of the young woman.

Asam, CO

Rende took a few days to go over the last few mission reports and the senior staff of the Sentinel, then she drafted a message to her new yeoman.

To: Ensign Miranda Farquharson
From: Captain Rende Asam
Subject: My Arrival

Ensign Farquharson,

I will be arriving in approximately a week. I would like you to set up a senior staff meeting for the afternoon of my arrival. Please inform the department heads I would like a full status report for their departments prepared.

I do not want to wish nor require the entire crew to show up for a formal arrival. I will meet them in time. The official reading of my orders will take place at the senior staff meeting. Having been a first officer I understand the extra work Cmdr Alden is taking on. But I would like to meet with him when I arrive.

I shall have a more accurate arrival time once my transport has arrived.

Cpt. Asam

Rende’s transport ship got her to the Sentinel a day early. Along with that was LOTS of cargo…mostly food. Apparently there had been a problem, but the XO, Cmdr Alden, had taken care of it. So while the cargo transporters were being utilized, Rende went ahead and arranged to be transported over. Her personal effects could be sent with the cargo.

Cpt Asam

Rand was paged to the bridge by the comm officer. Really she didn’t need to be called to the bridge, they could have told her from the comms. She stopped at deck 3 to make sure it was prepped, warned the transporter chief and took off. Rand sprinted down the corridor. One hand steadying her PaDD as she moved. She didn’t wait for the lift, she took the access ladders and slid down the length to deck 9. Then jogged down the corridor to the biology lab. She didn’t even pause. Roman was working with Mushu. In a very odd display of authority she hurried over and cupped the lizard in two hands, taking him. “Give him to me. Wash up. Hurry. New Cpt arriving in 5. She’s a day early. Transporter room 1.”

Roman was grinning and chuckling at the lizard, sitting on his shoulder. And then the lizard was cupped in hands and gone. “Hey, Mir-” he started but what she had to say stopped him cold and he nodded. Straightening his uniform and running his fingers through his hair he quickly washed up and rushed out of the lab.

Rand set Mushu back in his enclosure and dropped a couple of flies in. Sealed the lid, made a note, put the food away and hurried over to the wash station.

Rand

Roman took the lift to the correct deck and then headed at a brisk pace down the hall to Transporter room one. Stepping into the room, he stood with perfect posture, ready to greet the new Captain. She wasn’t supposed to be here yet! He’d planned a formal boarding and greeting for her tomorrow. He’d have been ready and prepared, not fresh out of the lab with lizard urine on his shoulder (well, you couldn’t exactly train an alien lizard). Other than that small mark, he’d made himself look presentable. His hair was neat, his uniform straight and without crease.

As soon as the new Captain was fully materialised on board he saluted and said in his crisp English accent, “Captain. I am Commander Roman Alden. Welcome to the Sentinel.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand slid into the transporter room in the middle of the swirling lights of transport. She took up a spot, standing at perfect attention just to the side of the door. She blew a strand of hair out if her face with the corner of her mouth…twice. The infernal strand wouldn’t cooperate. She did her best to tuck it neatly into her bun.

Rand

Rende let out her breath when the transport completed. Totally safe, she knew, and she didn’t have an aversion, but she always held her breath. She had short dark brown hair and brown eyes, but an easy smile. She tugged her sleeves slightly, giving the command gold a curious look. She wasn’t quite used to it yet. Smile still in place she looked at the transporter operator. “Thank you chief. A smooth ride.” The chief grinned not sure what else to say, but “My pleasure Cpt.”

She turned to Alden as she stepped off the pad. “Cmdr Alden it is a pleasure to meet you. I’m comma…Captain Asam. I’m still getting used to that.” She spoke with a soft Irish accent and shook her head at herself. She offered her hand and had a firm confident handshake. “I know I am early, and I am sure you were probably in the middle of things. Would it work for you to meet in a couple of hours? Let me get settled a bit and eat something.”

Cpt Asam, CO

“Whenever is best for you, ma’am. I’m ready and waiting.” Roman replied. Only Rand would notice the envious look that entered his expression when Rende corrected herself from ‘commander’ to ‘captain’. He remained at attention. “Would you like help getting anything settled? This is Yeoman Rand Farquharson, Sentinel’s Captain’s yeoman. She will be able to assist you with anything you need.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“I appreciate the consideration Cmdr. and at ease.” Rende turned her gaze on the quiet young officer. “Ah, so you are the young lady the Cpt Jamesin tried to get transferred off the ship before I arrived.” The surprised look told Rende she had been right in refusing any crew changes before she arrived. “He speaks very highly of you. If you would, my quarters?” She turned back to Alden. “We will speak soon Cmdr.”

Asam, CO

Roman’s at ease wasn’t too different from his attention, but he did seem to relax some. Her mention of someone trying to transfer Rand stressed him out. At least Rende hadn’t done it. “Of course, Captain,” he said, waiting until after Rende left to go himself. It wasn’t as good as a formal arrival but he was going to make it as close to one as he could.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

At the mention of being transferred, Rand blinked. She wasn’t surprised. Jameson was always trying to get her back to K5. It made her nervous though and she clasped her hands behind her back. Roman knew that was one of her nervous tells. She waited for him to follow the new captain out if the transporter room. After that she was busy giving the captain a basic logistical run down of the ship, grabbing food, and the captain’s luggage. She grabbed a fresh shirt for Roman on one of her runs and dropped it by the lab.

Two hours after her arrival, Rand had tea and water waiting in the conference room along with a stack of data disks and reports that might be asked for. She waited to see if she would be needed for anything else.

Rand

Rende entered the conference room, tugging her gold uniform shirt into place. It was a change that was for sure. She gave the young woman in the room an easy smile. “Ah, ensign…what do you prefer? We’re going to be working closely together, after all.”

“Rand is fine ma’am. Ensign or Yeoman is fine as well. I’ll respond.” Rand answered. Rende nodded as she took a seat. Interesting, the woman seemed ultimately calm and composed, but she was infinitely nervous and anxious. Rende could only surmise that it was typical jitters at having a new CO.

“Well while I wait for Cmdr Alden…”

Rand adjusted her posture ready to leave, “I can go get him. He is very punctual. I am sure he is on his way.”

Rende waved her off, “No worries, Rand. Cmdr Alden and yourself have done exceptionally well. He knows how to run the ship. I am sure he will be here as soon as his duties allow him to be. In the meantime though, I would like to start going over all the reports from Cpt Rogers’ time on board. Can you pull those for me?”

“Of course, Captain.” Rand sat down at one of the consoles, inserted a data disk, and began to pull the requested reports.

Asam, CO

Roman entered the room at last, calmly taking a seat with a quick glance at Rand. He was wearing a new uniform shirt, blue science with the two sleeve stripes for ‘commander’.

Rand glanced up as the door opened. She gave a reassuring smile, even if she was nervous. She stood quickly to set a PaDD and stack of data disks at the seat where the commander sat. The disks contained all the reports from the last two weeks.

Rand

“Apologies for my tardiness, Captain. There was a… small situation in the lab. It won’t happen again.” He took some tea for himself. Rand always made sure his favorite tea was there. He looked to Rende, “I am prepared to go over the last two weeks’ worth of reports in order to bring you up to speed and complete the handoff of Sentinel to you.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rende shook her head, “Do not apologize, Cmdr. If we are going to be an effective team, then there must be trust. You have been here since the new Sentinel was launched and through two ineffective captains, several senior staff changes, and gained the attention of Command to earn a promotion to commander in a year of your promotion to Lt Cmdr. You have been the only consistent commander on this ship. I fully trust that you know where you need to be and when you need to be there. If that means you are a few minutes or a lot, then that is what we do.”

Roman blinked, as if surprised, but nodded. “Understood, Captain,” he said, with a quick glance at Rand.

Rende was rather amused by the flash of disbelief and almost horror at the word ‘late’ that passed between her XO and yeoman. She was very careful not to show that though.

She picked up her cup giving him a professional but genuine smile, and leaned back taking a drink. “Please begin.”

Asam, CO

He began going over reports with her, one by one, a few requiring action on her part or her signature. On a few, he pointed out how helpful Rand had been, either in the situation the report described, or in getting the report done, especially while between Captains. Meanwhile on his own reports, Rand would notice him downplaying his part in things or his part in getting things done. It was, after all, simply his job to do so.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

The Sentinel didn’t have any pressing missions over the past two weeks, but everything was in order and current. Given the amount of work that went into a simple day on a ship and that Alden was filling 3 roles on his own, she was impressed. She also noticed that Alden pointing out her work made the Yeoman uncomfortable. Rende honestly wasn’t sure she would have noticed if she hadn’t been looking right at the woman.

The damaged and ruined supplies and provisions had arrived with her. That was a good start. Rende signed off on everything that Alden gave to her. Her XO and yeoman seemed to work like a well oiled machine. Rand passing Alden reports and notes even before he seemed to know he wanted them. The reports Rende signed disappeared just as easily.

“You’ve both done an exceptional job. I don’t think another ship would be this current or running this smoothly. Are there any issues or concerns I should be aware of from the beginning?”

Asam, CO

“No, ma’am,” Roman replied, handing Rand the PaDD when he was finished with it. “That’s everything that needed to be done. Crew is already beaming aboard and organizing the provisions that arrived with you.” Roman looked at the new Captain, “Are there any questions about the ship you have?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Tell me what this crew does well, and then give me a status update on our current mission.” They could all talk a good eval but there was also pride in a ship and its crew. Rende wanted to know both.

Asam, CO

“They are hard working and reliable, we have not had any major crew issues in my time aboard the ship. We have a low occurence rate of major incidents or accidents, and projects, jobs, and paperwork are generally on time.” The whole crew knew Roman’s expectation, and lived up to them. “We are on a medical supply run to colony world Mion V. We’re about halfway there with another four days of travel left. When we arrive we are to deliver the supplies without physical contact, the planet is under quarantine.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Good. Let’s make sure nothing happens to break that quarantine. We aren’t schedule to take any materials from them are we? I don’t want anything getting aboard by ‘accident’.” Rende said.

“We are, but I’ve already handled it. Cancelled the order and put a note nothing is to come aboard. Anything that goes to the surface stays there.” Roman replied.

Asam simply nodded. She had no doubt Alden had everything well in hand. She was actually quite curious why Alden hadn’t been made CO. He was obviously capable.

“I would like to have a senior staff meeting in the morning. We can handle the official taking of command then. I am usually very low key, but given the change over in COs do you think it would benefit the crew to have an actual crew gathering for it?”

Asam, CO

“It would. This crew likes to know who they’re serving under. A crew gathering will allow them to make their first impressions of you.” Roman said.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rende turned to the young Yeoman. Well everyone was young to Rende. “Ensign can you have that arranged for tomorrow morning? Say 0900? After things have settled from shift change? It’s a short ceremony all told.” She looked from one to the other, “Would that work? And then we can have the staff meeting after? And Rand would you send a note to the department heads to bring status updates, please.”

Asam, CO

Rand didn’t answer right away. She scanned through her PaDD for a moment. “Yes that would work, Cpt. I can set it up in the shuttle bay. There is plenty of room there and there are no scheduled arrivals or departures.” To Roman it would be obvious, as Rand began composing the memo, she was thrilled to actually be given work to do.

Yeoman Rand


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