Welcome and Congratulations

Posted on Mon Feb 9th, 2009 @ 1:20am by Captain Elsie Halliwell

1,736 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Restricted Independent Operations
Location: Science Labs
Timeline: Current

:ON:

It was near to 15:00hrs and the Commander’s day had, like the good First Officer’s, solely comprised of meeting after meeting after meeting. He walked across the Bridge reading from a PADD clasped loosely in his hand, making for his Ready Room. As the doors swished open to the empty, orderly space, the Trill sighed and stood just beyond the parted doors, taking in the lifeless room with his blue eyes.

Shaking his head, he strode over to the desk and carelessly tossed the data PADD onto its surface as it clattered about and came to an abrupt, final and silent resting place. Where it had fallen, it lightly clipped a small, wooden-oak box that shimmered as the dancing lights caught his eye. He smiled and picked it up heavily. The polished wood was dark and regal: A gift from his estranged father that had been passed down to him by his forefather. The sentiment meant nothing to the Trill and the golden ring it originally contained loosely hung around the neck of his adoptive daughter. It had long been abandoned by the Trill himself. A precious trinket the embodied the superficial and frivolous lifestyle his family was so fond of.

As he opened the box, the rich purple lining was as vibrant as it had been the day it was crafted, and resting where the simple golden ring was once laid, was an onyx circular pip. The Trill smiled as the memory of his estranged family washed away and his physical surroundings came back into focus.

Flicking his hand swiftly up to his combadge, it twittered as he lightly tapped the cold, metallic casing.

=A= Commander Lane to Ensign Larkin, do you have a few moments for me?? =A= he asked as he was already turning on his heels.

Four decks down, in the Archimedes Botany Lab, the CSO was deep in thought. Fumbling for his communicator, he replied, "Well, I'm kind of in the middle of an experiment here, sir, but I suppose I could come up to see you, if you won't need me for too long."

=A= That’s quite all right, Ensign. I’ll come to you. I haven’t had a tour of the Science Labs, yet, and would quite relish the opportunity to ‘kill two birds with one stone,’ so to speak. Remain where you are. I’m on my way. =A=

Larkin quickly returned his focus to the four small incubation containers in front of him. In each was some form of plant that really shouldn't have existed, save for Larkin's meddling. He'd created a little side-project that he would normally have assigned ship's botany expert. Unfortunately, she wasn't on board yet, which meant that a curious astrophysicist was so deep in thought trying to grow plants that he didn't even notice when his CO arrived.

“Welcome aboard, Mr Larkin. I’m Commander Lane.� He stuck out his hand to firmly shake it and then released. “So, what are you working, Ensign??�

"This? Well, it's just a little experiment I've been working on sir. You see, several of the crew, including yourself sir, have..um..have requested that we grow fresh tea and coffee plants in the Arboretum." It was clear from Larkin's voice that he was quite excited about his idea, which caused him to stumble over his words. "I'm sure we have enough space to accommodate both, but, I was thinking," the CSO paused, and decided to come at the explanation from anther direction. "As I'm sure you know, sir, tea is made from plant leaves, while coffee is made from beans, or seeds. So I thought, why not try to create a tea-coffee hybrid plant; a plant that'll grow leaves which we could make tea from, but which would generate seeds that we could use for coffee." He paused and seemed to relax a bit. "It's like you said, earlier, Commander: 'two birds with one stone.'"

“Oh… well… Right. That’s a, uh, a great idea, Ensign. Thank you. You certainly have a knack for ingenuity, I can see.�

The detailed explanation of the experiment from Larkin was unwarranted and unwanted. Sometimes questions were asked rhetorically, and, especially in the case of the Commanding Officer, not every mundane detail of something required a blow-by-blow account. However, with his own scientific background lending itself to the sciences, especially botanics, the Trill did appreciate anything that grew.

“Well, carry on, and let me know your results… after they are successful, Mr. Larkin. Anyway, I decided to introduce myself formally. I understand that you have already reported to the First Officer, and now that you are a little settled, I thought I would quite like to come down here, meet you personally, and have you conduct a whistle-stop tour of her Science labs.

What with the Arch being a Scientific research vessel, and as advanced as they get around here, having the CSO show me what I’ve missed since I was an Assistant Chief Science Officer sounded like a plan.�

The Trill clutched the oak box in his strong hands behind his back, and out of sight of the Ensign. With Larkin barely breaking his attention to the on-going experiment and scarcely looking up to greet his CO, he would never notice its presence. If the Commander had not had a wealth of knowledge and experience devising and conducting experiments himself in his past, he could be accused of thinking that Ensign Larkin’s distracted demeanour was disrespectful. However, Lane knew all too well the draws of an on-going scientific investigation.

"I'd be happy to, sir." Larkin finally turned away from his plants, and stood to face his CO. "Well, as I'm sure all the plants probably gave away, this is the botany lab. Our botany specialist isn't onboard yet, so there's not much activity around here right now." The CSO motioned toward a set of large doors at the back of the lab. "That door over there connects this lab to the arboretum. It's quite a pretty sight; very tranquil in there."

Larkin gestured that they should head out into the hallway. "Across the hall, here, we've got our Planetary and Astronomical Geology Labs, and down at the end of the hall is our Planetary Development Lab. Most of my team is currently working on calibrating our equipment to Federation standards. Some of it is so new that it hadn't even been turned on before I came aboard." The CSO proceeded to point out some of the more interesting equipment in the labs, while both men tried to stay out of the way of the scientists which were going about their various assignments.

"Well, the only thing missing is the Astrophysics Lab, but that's down on the deck below us, adjacent to Stellar Cartography. My background is actually in astrophysics, so that was one of the first places that I checked out when I came aboard. Believe me, it's just as impressive as the rest of them. I'd be glad to take you down there as well, but I don't want to take up too much of your time."

“Naturally, Mr. Larkin. I should really be thinking about heading back up-deck and getting back to the old grind stone, so to speak. We’re just about to receive our first set of orders from Command and so there’s, obviously, a lot to prepare before we actually get underway from the Starbase. Now that you’ve settled in, rather, have you come across anything that you need?? Anything that we can requisition for you that has not been supplied??�

"I don't believe so, Commander. Starfleet seems to have us pretty well squared away, but if I come across anything that we need, I'll let you know."

“Well, just send me the list should you note it and I shall get what you need.� He flashed the Ensign a brief smile and then continued. “Once we receive word from the Fleet, I will summon all of the senior staff to a mission-briefing and hand out your immediate orders, so, until then, you are free to get your labs in order.�

The Trill turned on his heel and headed for the doors, leaving the oak box on the glass surface he had placed it upon. Stopping, he turned his head to face the Ensign and smiled warmly, his patterned markings that ran down the side of his neck stretched slightly and lightened in colouration.

“Mr. Larkin. I can’t very well have my Chief Science Officer onboard one of the most advanced scientific vessels in the Fleet remain an Ensign.� He looked over to the shining box on the table noticeably, and with emphasis, slightly nodding in its direction.

“A little gift from Command, shall we say, on your new assignment onboard the Archimedes as Chief Science Officer. I’m not one for sentiment, Mr. Larkin, but congratulations.�

Turing fully around to face the SCO, he extended his hand. “Mr. Kevin Larkin, I, Commander Coltan Lane, Commanding Officer of the USS Archimedes do hereby, by order of Starfleet Command, promote you to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) with all of the rights and privileges afforded said rank.� Shaking his hand lent forward and opened the oak box. “A new pip for your collection, Lieutenant.�

Larkin reached out to accept the small rank insignia, some what at a loss for words. A promotion was one of the last things he'd been expecting to receive that day, and he struggled to come up with the correct words to articulate his feelings. "Wow, sir, I uhhh..." He trailed off, and resigned to the fact that his vocabulary had failed him. Instead, he put on one of the warmest smiles he could, and threw all of the sincerity he had into his response. "Thank you, sir"

The Trill smiled widely, and proudly at the newly promoted Lieutenant. “You’ve earned it.� Turning to business, he straightened his and nodded sharply. “Now, get these labs in order before we leave the Starbase, Lieutenant.�

He turned and strolled through the doors into the outer corridor, a sense of inner pride welling in his vacant belly. “A job well done,� he said of the Lieutenant. “A job well done indeed, Mr. Larkin.�


:OFF:

A JP by:

Commander Coltan Lane
Commanding Officer
USS Archimedes

and

Lieutenant JG Kevin Larkin
Chief Science Officer
USS Archimedes

 

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