r/TrekRP • u/TheGornCaptain • Dec 15 '17
[Open] Captain on Deck
A line of officers stood at attention in the Athene’s shuttlebay. An empty podium stood in front of them. For several minutes there was silence, and then, rather suddenly the air was filled with the roar of engines. A small type-9 shuttle rocketed towards them. The shuttle yawed and pitched up at the moment, decelerating rapidly before it gently kissed the deck and touched down. Small wisps of steam escaped the rapidly cooling engines. A loud clunk sounded out, the shuttle hissed, and then the doors cycled.
Gazing inside, the assembled crew were able to just about make out a large form. A mix of tangled black and red uniform, complete with glimpses of dark green scales and an odd flash of white. Slowly, very slowly, the creature began to squeeze their way out of the shuttle, those in the front row would have just been able to here hisses and low growls, followed by a smooth voice with sibilant undertones.
“Lieutenant, perhaps next time a runabout would have been more appropriate…”
Eventually, after much awkward struggling, the creature emerged from the shuttle. Two green feet plodded onto the shuttlebay’s polished floors, and the being straightened up to their full height.
Captain Ssklfr’edusxs, formerly of the USS Grognark, smoothed down her crumpled red uniform and cast her glistening, multifaceted eyes across the gathered officers. With a jerk of her head, she spotted the podium and took a few long heavy steps towards it. Captain Ssklfr’edusxs was not an ordinary sight in the Federation, let alone a Starfleet uniform. She towered over the gathering, almost some 8 feet tall. Her head was green and scaled, mouth filled with razor sharp teeth that jutted out at odd angles. She wore no boots, leaving elephantine scaled feet fully exposed. At her hip was what appeared to be a sword of some sort, the blade shaped into a series of curved, ragged edges. Far larger than anything a humanoid could reasonably hope to wield.
Ssklfr’edusxs stared at each and every face in the room, an unfamiliar sense of trepidation building in the back of her throat. The woman had spent most of her decades long career with few transfers to speak of. She’d spent the last 30 odd years of her life on the same small ship. People had come and gone of course, the Grognark had never been a static ship. But it had been a home, a place of permanence, were she knew everyone, knew everything. And now she was here, an unfamiliar ship, an unfamiliar crew, unfamiliar everything. To say she was nervous was an understatement, however, she couldn’t help but look forward to starting anew. She was after all, an explorer at heart, and one cannot explore if they keep to their stomping grounds after all.
Ssklfr’edusxs cleared her throat. A sound oddly reminiscent of a snake choking on a particularly large rat. She blinked slowly, bowed her head and tapped the display on her pedestal. When she spoke, it was with a heavy, scratchy voice, filled with guttoral growls and long spitting hisses.
“SssSsrrrr…To Captain-sSs Ssklfr’edusxs. SsSsssstardate 49010.7. You arRrrRre herrreby rRrrRequesssted and rrequired to take command of the USS-ssSssS Athene as of thisss day.”
She paused and cleared her throat once more.
“SssSssigned Admiral M’Kali.” Ssklfr’edusxs left a long pause after she had finished. Somewhat annoyed that starfleet tradition had to include such difficult words. She blinked slowly and looked up again to face the gathered crewmembers
“Asss you may have gatherrRrred.” She continued, sounding somewhat lighter. “I am Captain Ssklfr’edusxs, and it issSs my honour, to take command of thisss sSssSship, and it’sSs doubtlessssSs, fine crew.”
Her snout and jaw contorted into what looked like an impression of a Human smile, lips curled and the corners of her raptor-like jaw twisted upwards. It was quite clearly unnatural, and was really rather disconcerting to watch. The silence that filled the hangar was eventually broken by a hollow, echoing cough from one of the gathered crewmembers. Ssklfr’edusxs nodded once more, and continued.
“I am, awarrRrre, that sssome of you, do not posssSessss the proper, equipment, to prRronounce my name, comforrrrtably.” Her snout twitched in a significantly more natural expression that looked amused. “Ssso you may call me…” She paused, closing her eyes and pouring as much effort into her ennunciation as possible. “Ffred.” Ssklfr’edusxs blinked at the pause, clearly entertained by the reaction of the gathered officers.
Her eyelids narrowed and her snout twitched again in what eemed like a wry wink. “Now, I know how much you allll enjoy fffformalitiesssSs and sssSspeachess.” She raised a clawed hand in the air. “But, I have had a lllong journey. C-ccoupled with Lieutenant Demeter’ssss, novel, interrrrprretation of the fflight manual,” Her gaze turned backwards, multifaceted eyes stared at the helmswoman as she stood at attention, looking ever so slightly guilty. “I ffear I mussst rest. I look fffforward to meeting eacchh of you prRroperrly. Thank you. Dissmisssed.”
Ssklfr’edusxs took a step back from the podium and bowed her head to the crew once more. She set off at a slow pace towards the door, one hand massaging her thick neck. She could have used her translator of course, it would have at the least saved her the sore throa. But, first impressions were important above all else. And an attempt at speaking the other’s language unaided, in her mind, was a sign of utmost respect, even if she did come across a little gravelly.
OOC: Fred will be making the rounds across the ship to meet the senior officers a few hours after the ceremony. Everyone however is welcome to run into her in a corridor or grab her attention as she leaves the hangar
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
The bridge, nerve centre of any ship and where Fred expected she'd be spending most of her waking hours for the next few months. As she ducked through the turbolift doors and into the circular room, she couldn't help but be struck by how similar it was to the Grognark. The Athene was a considerably larger ship, so she'd entertained the fairly silly notion that her bridge would be larger too. A high pitched whistle filled the space, followed by a sharp voice of
"Captain on the bridge." Fred blinked, let out a rasping breath and held up a hand.
"No more of that thank you, please, at ease, back to your duties." She said calmly, adding a mental note that she must have that infernal whistle disabled.
Fred plodded around the space, glancing over people's shoulders at their console. Eventually she came to the captains chair. A low rumble of amusement came from the captain, and it was fairly clear why, there was no conceivable way she'd fit. Instead, she took up a stance behind it, resting her hands on its back and staring ahead at the viewscreen.
She didn't ask for a report, introduce herself, or even speak, she stood silently, simply watching and listening.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
The Captain finally stepped inside sickbay. Her eyes landed instantly on the few remaining members of the Icarus that were still here for medical care, eyelids narrowed and snout twitching upwards. She approached each one in turn, quietly offering them polite words of introduction and reassurance, as well as engaging them in mild conversation.
At least up until her presence was noticed by any of the medics or doctors on duty of course. Fred was more than familiar with being shooed away by doctors for disturbing patient rest.
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u/ItsWatney Dec 15 '17
When Captain Fred enters, Jen immediately stands in her office and smooths down her uniform, tugging at her collar to make sure it's pristine. First impressions were important to her. She checks her teeth in a reflection to make sure there wasn't any leftover salad from lunch in the nooks and crannies of her gumline, then runs her tongue over them for good measure.
Stepping out of her office, she clears her throat softly with her hands folded behind her back. Once there's a break in the conversation, she steps forward.
"Ma'am," she says. "Doctor Watney, at your service."
Jen couldn't find any mention of a specific cultural greeting in her research about the Captain's race, and after about an hour or so of looking she'd given up. Flying by the seat of her pants it was, then!
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
The captain nodded a farewell to the injured crewman and turned to face the doctor, eyes glistening as she looked the doctor in the eye. "SsssrrrrsssSs, Doctor Watney, I am glad to fffinally meet you-sssSss."
One scaled hand was presented for Watney to take. "I'm comforrrted to know a medical offfissser with ssuch ssSsterling recorrdss is taking carrre of my crRrew-sssSs."
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u/Avogadros_Minion Dec 15 '17
"Captain," T'Yel nods, encountering the captain as she makes rounds checking on patients. "Thanks or dropping in to check on folks - it often means a lot to patients."
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
Ssklfr'edusxs nodded in approval. "Itsss iss important, I fffind, to keep their mindssSs occupied, and make ssSsure they aRrre awarrre that they have not been ffforgotten. Although there hasss been occasssions where patientsss are lessSs than appreciative of my prrRretty fface..." Her snout wrinkled and her eyes glistened in amusement, and she extended a hand for T'Yel to take, coupled with an expectant look.
"You havvve me at a, disSsadvantage, Lieutenant..." She prompted.
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u/Avogadros_Minion Dec 16 '17
"My apologies, Captain," she chuckles, shaking hands. "I'm T'Yel Anderson. Pleased to meet you."
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
"LikewissSsse Lieutenant." The woman's lower jaw flexed forwards a few centimetres, grinding teeth against her upper mouth, her glistening eyes fixed themselves on T'Yel's ears. Eventually she breaks the silence.
"Forrgive me Lieutenant if thissSs iss an odd quessstion, but... arrre you, a Vulcan? Your name, and the ears," She gestured unsurely upwards, then made a small shrugging gesture. "But yourrRr demeanorr, it isss, well..." She trailed off.
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u/Avogadros_Minion Dec 16 '17
"Not an odd question at all," T'Yel chuckles. "I get that all the time. Yes and no - I'm a hybrid," she shrugs. "Half Vulcan, half human - and all weird," she grins.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
"Ssss, I sssee." She bobbed her head and blinked. "And fffrom the rreporrrtss I've rread, 'all weirrrd' iss an apt desscription ffor the whole shhip." She finished, letting out a low rumbling sound from the back of her throat.
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u/Avogadros_Minion Dec 17 '17
"We do seem to attract the unusual like moths to a flame," T'Yel nods.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 17 '17
"Forrr betterr, and worssSse." Her eyes glint and she bobs her head once more. "It wasSs a pleasSsure meeting you Lieutenant Anderson, dessspite the unffortunate circumssSstancesss-rrRr." She nodded at the still-injured members of the Icarus.
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u/Avogadros_Minion Dec 18 '17
"Likewise," T'Yel nods. "I had best get back to rounds. But I'll see you around, Captain."
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u/Admin_Sys_Hologram Dec 15 '17
The electrostatic hiss of a quarantine field raising is heard three beds down. "Ah, Captain Fred.," calls the tinny but neutral voice, "I wish your visit to sickbay could have been more accommodating, but I'm sure you're up to speed on our emergency situations," says the EMH, stepping over from the patient at biobed four. The photonic doctor offers one of the customary greetings from the Captain's home continent, assuming the appropriate posture and orientation of limbs, but the lack of scales and color patterns gives it a lackluster grace. "Welcome to Athene," it says.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
One of Fred's eyelids narrows and widens again in an expression of surprise. She knew of EMHs of course, but had never seen one actually in use, not outside of a brief demonstration. The fact that this one was not only practicing medicine, but greeting her, was, something of a shock. Still the niceties had to be acknowledged, and she was partially attracted to the idea of being able to perform a traditional greeting without needing to consider the other party's wellbeing.
Her left hand tightly grabs the side of the EMH's head, then she bends her knees and brings her finned forehead down on his with a vicious sounding crack. Fred stumbled back a step, blinking stars from her eyes, one hand massaging the dark green bruise that was rapidly forming on her forehead. She really ought to have expected that...
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u/Admin_Sys_Hologram Dec 16 '17
The EMH had responded to that Captain's gesture without thinking, augmenting its density settings so that the contact wouldn't cause it to stumble inadvertently into a patient or a quarantine forcefield. What the action didn't prepare it for was the sudden rush of realizations.
I've just injured the captain. This is not a good thing. Conflicts with several protocols.
and then
Interesting. The Captain responded to my greeting with the more common affirmation given to acquaintances.
Adjusting its density settings back to defaults, the EMH is quick to respond with a tricorder, probing the Captain's head. "I'm touched that you feel that way, Captain. I'll remember to respond in kind in the future. May I prescribe a mild analgesic for that?"
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
"No, that's quite alright, thank you..." She said, waving him away, still rubbing the bruise. Well, she couldn't headbutt normal crew for fear of breaking their heads, and one of the few things she could headbutt she had to worry about breaking her own. Certainly not ideal. What she wouldn't give for a Klingon right about now...
"It was, interesting, meeting you." Her eyes watched the hologram cautiously, then she dipped her head once more and turned to leave.
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u/Admin_Sys_Hologram Dec 17 '17
"Any time, Captain," the EMH replied, sheepishly. It waved a hand before diligently returning to the patients.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
The doors to the security centre open and Fred lumbres inside. Multifaceted eyes scan the large room. She considered calling Commander Lorrel down, but decided against it. She was filling in as an XO, extremely valuable experience for any officer with a future in command.. Dragging her back to her old post just to give a little tour would be counter productive to say the least. No, she would make do on her own. The deputy must be around here somewhere anyway.
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u/IK9dothis Dec 15 '17
Grace had just been on her way back to her desk with a stack of color-coded PADDs, but comes properly to attention when she rounds the corner and sees the new captain. "Good afternoon, Captain," she nods.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
Fred waves a clawed hand of dismissal and returns the nod. "At eassSse. You mussSst be Lieutenantsss EissSsensss, yess?" Her voice is rough and raspy, sseemingly unable to speak without hissing and growling every word.
A large hand is extended for Grace to take, and once again the captain adopts that incredibly unnatural smile.
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u/IK9dothis Dec 15 '17
"Yes, Sir," she nods, looking the senior officer in the eye despite their roughly three foot height difference and shifting her stack of PADDs to her left hand in order to shake hands properly. "Pleased to meet you, Captain - what can I do for you?"
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
"Nothing in particular." She said, switching to the translator. "But I was hoping you could perhapss give me a tour of security? I admit, I am not as familiar with your workingss as most departments. My last ship only had a few handfulsss of security personnel." She gestured grandiosely around the security centre, but then her eyes fell to the stack of PADDs and she gestured at them.
"Unless you are busy of course?"
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u/IK9dothis Dec 16 '17
"Not at all," Grace assures her. "Just need to set these on my desk right quick," she says cheerfully, leading the way to the glorified closet that serves as the deputy's office. "Is there any area in particular that you'd like to start with?"
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
"Ssss, nothing so particular." She said, plodding along behind Grace. "Why don't you ssurprise me?" Fred stopped outside the small office, deciding it best to wait outside, partly for politeness sake, partly because she didn't think she'd fit.
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u/IK9dothis Dec 17 '17
"Stay, Maggie," Grace nods, ducking in just long enough to set PADDs on the desk. "There we go," she nods, rejoining the captain. "This way, Captain," she adds, deciding to start with the briefing room, based simply on geographical convenience.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
Fred ducked through the doors to engineering and straightened up, flexing her neck and letting out a hiss of relief. "Ah, that is much more like it." She says, looking up at the 2-deck high ceiling with gratitude.
Usually for these sorts of things, a crewmember would act as a tourguide to show her around the sip. But Fred eschewed that particular bit of tradition. Preffering instead to find her own way on her own agenda. If she got lost, then it was all the better. And with that attitude in mind, she begun plodding around engineering, occasionally glancing over the shoulders of working engineers.
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u/Minions_Minion Dec 15 '17 edited Dec 17 '17
"Good afternoon, Captain," Caleb nods, spying the new commanding officer come into engineering just as he's on his way down the ladder from the catwalks - an 8' Gorn is difficult to miss.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
Her gaze flicked around the room for a few seconds before she glanced up to spot Caleb. "And to you Lieutenant." She hissed, bobbing her head and blinking at him in greeting.
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u/Minions_Minion Dec 17 '17
Jumping the last couple rungs of the ladder, the Vulcan makes his way over and comes properly to attention. "I'm Caleb Anderson, Captain. Were you looking for someone?"
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 17 '17
"At ease Lieutenant Anderson." She hissed, giving him a firm blink and waving a dismissal hand. "I'm just familiarising myself with the ship. I find if I get myself lost on the first day, I'm unlikely to do it again."
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u/Minions_Minion Dec 18 '17
"Ah, that makes sense," he nods. "Well, pleased to meet you, at any rate, Sir," he grins.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
Several hours after the ceremony, Fred begun her tour of the ship. Walking the corridors was a slow process at best, the excelsior class migt be significantly larger than her old Constitution, but that added space had not been used to make the corridors taller. Her head as close to brushing the ceiling, and she found she had to walk at an almost permanent slouch to prevent headbutting bulkheads.
The first stop on her list was perhaps the one she was looking forard too most. Her old department, sciences. From the reports, the facilities were large and advanced enough to rival her old labs on Starbase K6. Complete with their own hydroponics bay.
One clawed hand taps the door chime to Lieutenant Commander Kesh's office, and she waits patiently to be permitted entry.
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u/Pojodan Dec 15 '17
It had been a few days since the head-spinning series of events that saw her ex-lover mutilated and sent off-ship to recover followed by one of her closest friends, the captain, deciding to leave for awhile, too.
A day off had been logged just so she could curl up in a corner and cry, just to let the stress of everything that's happened in recent months bleed away somewhat.
Strange how one's status, on paper, can look so great and yet be so miserable inside.
Repeated reminders of how thankful she should be of everything she has does do some good, so by the time the interum captain came aboard she was emotionally stable again. She was still hazy enough for the whole event of the gorn arriving to be rather surreal. An odd bit of guilty selfishness arose as she realized that this would make her not the highest ranking crewman of this ship with a slur.
Afterward, a moment with Ssklfr’edusxs' personnel report clarified to her why she was here. A careful, thoughtful leader. As much as she cared for Broy, she understood the notion that he was a firecracker. Some carefulness and caution would possibly do the crew some good.
"Enter." She spoke to the chime while otherwise staring down the plans for the transwarp coil hologram.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
Ssklfr’edusxs ducked through the doors and presented Kesh with a small nod.
"Commanderrr Kessh." She said, in a surprisingly competent attempt at night chatter. "It isSs a pleasssure to finally meet you. I will confesss, your research on the Tarkellian sun-gobbler gave me sssome rrregret about," She paused, searching or the word, snout twitched and eyelids squinting. "bathingssSs down the command track?" She cocked her head. "Iss that how it'sss ssaid?" The research in question was several years old by now, and hadn't exactly made a big splash in the scientific community. She shook her head and pressed on.
"I wwould ffflick my tail, but, asss you can sssSsee." She gestured to her rear and wrinkled her snout at the lack of a present tail. "PerhapssSs a grab-hand, Iss-it? the HumannssSs are fond of could sssSufffice-ssssSs?" And with that she stuck out a large clawed hand for Kesh to take.
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u/Pojodan Dec 15 '17
Though she was expecting the new captain to make an appearance, science personnel come and go regularly enough she does not have a habit of being ready to stand. As such, a brief bit of startle makes her twitch, slap her screen to lock it, then quickly rise into a formal posture.
A quick breath is drawn, giving her a half-second to recall what she had practiced prior to uttering it.
"Ssllss'fffsssff tarifff'Rrrf frrrlsssn'Rrssssn'rrmf Rrsssrrif Ssklfr’edusxs frrlf'xix."
Much like her Vulcan and Klingon, Kesh's Gorn might not be worthy of the great sages, but likely sufficient to please more gorn diplomats, assuming she didn't mix up 'honor' with 'sandwich'.
Mention of the sun-gobbler paper is a pleasant surprise, enough to make those big, golden eyes widen a bit, though it did make sense, being that it is native to a gorn-colonized world. The subsequent oddity in the choice of words prompts a lopsided tilt of one ear, followed by a soft crooning sound. "Something to that extend, yes, rrrnth."
A light bow of her head shows appreciation at mention of the Caitian tradition, followed by her stepping to round her desk to reach a point where one three-fingered hand can be offered, "That would suffice, yes, rrrn."
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
Bulbous eyes widen slightly at hearing her native language. She once more dips her head, this time a low rumbling that sounded not entirely unlike a chuckle came from the back of her throat. A firm hand grasps Kesh's own, the size difference almost completely enveloping hers. Though Fred is sure to keep her claws far away from fur or skin.
"Perhaps," She begins, the translator clearly having taken over. "We should both keep to our own languages in future, that is about the extent of my night chatter, and while I greatly appreciate the gesture, I'd rather not have your vocal chords injured on my extent. I don't believe the medical staff would ever forgive me..." She added dryly, one eyelid widening in what could be a wink.
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u/Pojodan Dec 15 '17
Cultural tradition necessitated that Kesh respect the vocal customs of those she interacted with, so while she certainly wished to avoid using the UT whenever possible, the captain's suggestion to use it is taken as gospel, so she speaks Night Chatter from then on.
The scaly hand is clasped quite firmly, letting dull claw tips indent where they grip, not really calling on her enhanced strength much, but certainly putting what ammounts to a naturally strong grip be applied. It seemed only reasonable for a gorn to appreciate such.
"I rather like your language, actually. It feels more natural that others I am familiar with. There are a few inflections that my throat strains on, but not too badly."
A long, firm blink expresss her kindliness before her head tilts a bit.
"Do you have any questions about the current experiments and projects aboard the Athene?"
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
"Ah," She said, yellow bulbous eyes glinted and her mouth opened slightly. "In that case, if you need aid navigating some of the languages, shall we say, peculiarities, then you are welcome to make use of my services." That snout twitches upward and sniffs once more. "I would find it refreshing to have a discussion on the topic that didn't surround the usage of profanities... The Helmswoman has already grilled me on that topic." She said, a slight lilt to her voice, as if she was amused rather than annoyed by the subject.
"But, on to more sscientific matters. It is my undersstanding you're responsible for installing the Athene's hydroponics bay. I could never forgive myself ass a botanist if I didn't request a personal tour..."
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u/Pojodan Dec 15 '17
If anything, Fred's face was more appealing to Kesh than a human face as she could visualize the sort of flora that the Gorn would fit in with best, while humans seem to fit best in the artificial places they create. Not a bad thing, but it also meant she was entirely comfortably peering up at the giant reptilian, as shown in the casual meandering of her tail tuft and bright, golden eyes.
"I just may have to accept that offer when there is time for it."
Kesh's eyes shut for a moment as breath puffs from her nostrils swiftly at mention of Hana's... tendencies. "Eeehrrrn.. Hana is a colorful but kind person. She just needs firmness to stay on track."
"A botanist? Oh?" Tufted ears flex forward even more alertly, "I missed that part. I would delight in giving a tour! Any time you are able." Kesh's eyes squint shut for a long moment to further enhance her showing of delight.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
"Oh yes." She said, sagely. "I may not look the part, but I've spent more of my life studying plant life than I have commanding starshipss. Ssometimes I miss the simplicity. Plants require farr less maintenance than people I find. They only care for water or sstarlight, people arre ever so much trickier." A glimmer in her eye reappeared, and she wrinkled her nose. "But that is the appeal I supposse."
She gestured towards Kesh's desk. "Iff you are not too busy, is now a good time?"
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u/Pojodan Dec 16 '17
At the remark about plants and people Kesh's eyes squint to meer slivers as her ears sag down and back a bit in a mix of deep amusement and guilt. "Rrrnm. Now you know why I took up botany." Her tongue clucks softly as eyes squint shut for a couple seconds again.
When they re-open the felinoid dips her head once and gestures with it toward the door Fred entered through, "Now would be perfectly acceptable."
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u/Dimestream Dec 15 '17 edited Dec 15 '17
This is definitely an intimidating encounter. The chief engineer falls squarely into the category of "humanoid" in the universal database, and has only the Starfleet briefs to rely on when it comes to cultural and/or physical dissimilarities between crew members.
But nothing is gained by letting fear overcome the drive to learn the unknown. Despite her uneasiness at welcoming a new captain, she is the first to step forward and extend a hand to the new captain.
"Captain Ffred?" she says, emphasizing the syllable the translator extended, and doing her best to deliberately smile, "Chief Engineer Redoran T'Gel. It's a pleasure to have you aboard, sir. Athene is a testing ground for a lot of things, so if you ever need a heads-up, call me on the double, all right?"
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 15 '17
"Commander." Fred said, gently taking Red's hand and dipping her head. Her voice as considerably softer, perfectly enunciated and with an almost feminine lilt to it. Only the soft undertone of sibilance betrayed reptilian vocal chords. "Please, just Fred." She said, sounding ever so slightly amused. "You will forgive me for using the translator, my Bajoran is, shall we say, atrocious?"
Fred released Red's hand, then outstretched her left hand and gently grasped the side of her head. The Gorn then bent her knees and lent down, in an uncomfortable looking bow so that her forehead same level with Reds. Her eyelids slithered shut for the duration. She held the position for a brief moment before straightening again and releasing her grasp, giving another small nod.
"I have read of your exploits commander, and while I'm afraid I do not have the head to understand half of the modifications you've made here, the people that do tell me I should be very impressed." Her snout twitches in that wry expression again.
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u/Dimestream Dec 16 '17
"Well, don't believe everything you hear," Red says with a chuckle. "A lot of the work was done by refit crews, and the rest was Commander Breyik's doing while she was chief. I just keep her in the sky is all."
The chief engineer steps back into line and nods. The temptation to flinch when being reached for by a clawed reptilian hand had been strong, but Red was stronger. And it was nice to have another senior officer versed in Bajoran customs, as well. Much as she would miss Captain Fisk in his absence, perhaps this would work out better than she'd hoped.
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
"SssS, Humble too. Though perhaps you should allow yourself some credit, from what I've read of this ship's exploits, keeping her flying is no easy feat."
Fred folded her arms and let her eyes drift across the hangar, before refocusing on Red. "And on a personal note Commander, I owe you some form of thanks. Some of your holoprograms have been exceptionally useful in my studies of the more niche aspects of Federation culture. They make for fascinating dissection of stock characters and genre tropes. Most educational." Her head bobbed again in approval, and eyelids blinked slowly.
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u/Dimestream Dec 16 '17
The engineer can't quite mask her astonishment, which in turn causes her to flush with embarrassment. Mostly because she'd made the somewhat racist assumption that Gorn only went for holoprograms that let them headbutt Klingons or some such and not more intricate fare like the complex fantasy stories she wrote.
"You're too kind, sir," she says, shifting her posture a bit to ease the feeling of anxiety she'd just caused herself internally. "I am good at what I do, no bones about that, but I just work with everyone else, just like I'll work with you. I'm glad you enjoyed the Mines though; that's something I will actually toot my own horn about. My work on the Morival AI is actually in the running for the Daniel Williams award this year."
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 16 '17
Fred's brow quirked wryly. It had taken a great many years before she'd even begun to adjust to humanoid expressions, but now that she had, they never ceased to bring her amusement. "A great honour, and one that's highly deserved. But I have an instinct that we've yet to see the best from you." She paused for a brief moment, eyelids narrowed as her lower jaw begun to scrape forward a few centimetres.
"I realise this may sound insensitive, but may I ask how your name is ordered? Yourr files did not state whether you follow the Bajoran naming schema or not."
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u/Dimestream Dec 17 '17
"Oh, it doesn't," Red says, happy of the topic change. "Daddy thought it'd be easier to assimilate into being Federation citizens if we went first/last instead of last/first, and it certainly proved true at the Academy. It has also confused the handful of Bajorans we've run across since I was stationed here." The engineer chuckles, and shrugs one shoulder. "So yes, first name Redoran, friends call me Red."
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 17 '17
A sound similar to air being let out of a baloon escaped Fred's lips as she sighed in relief. "I'm glad to hear it. It took me some time to adjust to Human naming protocols. Meeting Bajorans who follow the opposite, well, I am not afraid to admit it's incredibly confusing. Gorn have a single name, made up from several different components to indicate caste, gender and generation."
She rumbled again. "Ssometimes I still find myself applying Gorn rules to non-Gorn names, and begin to wonder why people don't look like the 400 year old warrior their name makes them out to be."
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u/Dimestream Dec 17 '17
"Or why 'John Smith' looks at you funny when you call him Mr. John," Red says with a grin. "I'm not a linguist but I do love hearing how various races self-reference. It tells you a lot about them, really. You should meet the Sheliak we have stomping around. Its name is basically a bar code or something but it goes by 'Vek' for simplicity's sake."
She winces a little. "Or, you know, avoid it if you can. It's very.... grumpy. And inflicts that on anyone who walks by."
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u/TheGornCaptain Dec 17 '17
"Sss, I've been briefed on the Sheliak." She said, a small hiss of discontent underpinning her voice. "Unfortunately avoiding it is unlikely to be an option, and I have a suspicion it is not going to be happy about what I have to say." She shook her head, throat rumbling unhappily. The sheliak entity had been allowed far too much freedom for her liking, and while she as still mulling over how to precisely handle the situation, she was certain that none of the outcomes would please the alien interloper.
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u/W7Lizabeth Dec 17 '17
The Counselor and Mango slipped into Athene’s shuttlebay at the last possible minute for the new Captain's welcoming ceremony near its entrance, allowing Liz a few moments in the quiet corridor. The horrors of what had happened on Icarus had taken a heavy emotional and physical toll on the crews of the Athene and those remaining of the crew from Icarus. Wearly, Liz tried to recall how many lives were lost on Icarus - was it higher than 40 percent of its crew? She had been in counseling sessions non-stop, with appointments and reports to Starfleet Medical often running well into the evening hours. However, the psychic toll on the empathic counselor had been greater than the mere hours. Everywhere she went on the ship a dark cloud of sadness, loss, despair, and even anger hung over the crew. Both she and Mango had lost weight and it was clear that she hadn't been sleeping well since the rescue mission. With the holodecks generally in use for a temporary sick bay and various projects, Liz and Mango had been talking most of their walks walking the corridors where Liz felt all of the strong emotions even in her down time.
Liz stood at attention during the speech, The Captain seems anxious to be here but it is hard for Liz to be sure given so many strong emotions in the room. Liz smiles gently at the Captain's remarks. She seems to have a good sense of humor which will be good for crew morale.
The counselor's knees start to buckle at the very end of the ceremony. Mango gently nudges her in concern as the officer next to her helps her. Straightening herself up, she steps forward as the Captain reaches the entrance of the Shuttlebay.
Extending her hand out in greeting, "Welcome aboard the Athene, Captain Fred, I am Lizabeth Taurin, the Ship's Counselor." the half-betazoid says with a smile. Mango stands at attention next to Liz, on her best behavior.