A New Challenge

Posted on Wed Jun 8th, 2011 @ 1:02pm by Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper & Captain Elsie Halliwell & Captain T'mpest Michaels

901 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: Current

ON:

Intrepid class ships are quite a bit bigger then Nova class ships, Jimmy had realized this early on as he had skimmed over the plans of his new ship. Captain Smoreth, of his old ship the USS Rhode Island, had been sad to see him go. However, he realized this was a good chance for the 30 year old to rise in the ranks further.

Anyway, Jimmy was now on his way to the Ready Room, where he would meet his new captain and her first officer. As the Rhode Island's chain of command had been all men, he wondered how an all-female command would affect things. With his hair up in spikes, he rang the chime.

“Come in,†Elsie called out, shooting a raised eyebrow to Commander Michaels. “Looks like your replacement is here,†she said, smiling, raising her eyebrows in anticipation.

T'mpest was curious about the new officer. Even though she was excited about her new challenge as XO, she was still a little possessive about the science department.

With a humble yet trying-to-be-confident stride - which just made Jimmy walk slightly funny - he entered the room, and bowed slightly uncomfortably. "Lieutenant Cooper reporting, Si - uh - Ma'am." A change in leadership is always a challenge - you never know how they would expect you to behave, at least in Jimmy's experience.

Elsie smiled warmly. "Captain Elsie Halliwell," she replied, extending out her hand. "And this is the former Chief Science officer, but now the ship's Executive."

T'mpest bowed back to the officer.

Jimmy grabbed the captain's hand with just a little more enthusiasm then appropriate, then said "Nice to meet you, Captain, Commander," turning to T'mpest, "Congratulations on your promotion, then." His hair had unseen sagged a little more to the left, as if it couldn't decide between spikes and flat.

"Thank you," T'mpest said, unsure what to make of the new officer and his hair.

Jimmy noticed the Vulcan eying his hair. Stroking it as if trying to tame it, he said "It's got a bit of a mind of it's own.. No-one really knows why, though."

"I have a mother like that," T'mpest said with a chuckle.

"Anyway," Jimmy turned back to the captain. "What are my orders? With your permission, I would like to meet my fellow scientists."

"All in good time, Mr. Cooper" Halliwell said, offering him the seat in front of her. "There'll be plenty of time for that once you're settled." She sat herself as T'mpest followed and, as she settled into the bucket of the chair, she interlaced her fingers on the desk and smiled widely at the scientist. "I'd like to get to know a little about my Chief Scientist first before I let you loose on the crew."

"Sorry, sorry." Jimmy smacked himself in the head mentally for getting ahead of himself, then sat down. "Well, I am Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper, from the aquatic city of New Martim Vaz, on Earth," he summed up as if he had said that a lot of times, which probably wasn't far from the truth.

Halliwell held up her hand in a defused gesture to calm the man down. She twisted the console away from his view and squarely in front of her. "You seem to have accomplished so much so young. How do you think you'll fit on such a small ship like the Ranger?"

"The Rhode Island was even smaller, Captain. I do think the Ranger is just the right size for someone like me." Jimmy wanted to say "My age" but decided against it, just in case that would get him into trouble with these ladies.

"I think that you'll find the majority of the senior officers of the Ranger have also served on a Nova class starship," Halliwell smiled. "Commander T'mpest here being one of them. "I don't suppose you'll find the transition too taxing."

"Agreed," T'mpest said. "And the crew is willing to help should you need it."

"Thank you," Jimmy nodded, "Anything else I should know?" It was his first time as CSO, and while he has had the proper training that was mostly 'book' and 'simulation' wisdom - he was wondering if it was enough for the 'real deal'.

"Take time to meet the people in your department," T'mpest said. "Consider giving them lab time when they're not busy with ship-related projects." She shrugged. "Go with your gut and you should be fine."

"I will. Thank you." Jimmy nodded, not sure what else to say.

T'mpest tried not to, but she couldn't help laughing. Was she ever that young?

"If there's anything else you need, Lieutenant, then please don't hesitate to contact either one of us," Halliwell kindly added. "But, until then, you are dismissed to set yourself up on your feet before we set sail."

"Thank you both," Jimmy stood up, then extended his hand. "Can't wait to explore the universe with you!" He added, grinning.

OFF:


Captain Elsie Halliwell
Commanding Officer
USS Ranger


Commander T'mpest Michaels
Commanding Officer
USS Ranger

AND INTRODUCING


Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper
Chief Science Officer
USS Ranger

 

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