Onboarding (working title)

Posted on Tue Apr 1st, 2025 @ 7:20pm by Lieutenant JG Riaothren (Ren) ch'Shaorhs & Commander Cornelius 'Kit' Hanlon

1,804 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: To Boldly Go
Location: First Officer's Office, Deck 2, USS Fenrir
Timeline: MD 9

[ON]

Commander Kit Hanlon looked at the personnel file before him, reading up about their new Assistant Chief Operations Officer. Riaothren ch'Shaorhs was an Andorian and, based on his service record, intelligent and full of empathy. The last had come from the note on his dependent, Jairic...his husband's brother. He frowned as he read the small entry against the name. Jarin, KIA. And the way that it was noted, like an afterthought under family...well, it smelled like Section 31 to Kit, who had been around the systems a few times around the systems. Even so, that was classified, and Kit didn't fancy having the Admiralty sniffing around if he tried to access files he shouldn't.

What he had before him was a widower who was raising his husband's younger brother. An Orion no less. Someone who could do with the support a ship of this size could offer for anyone having a family.

And Kit, well...he wanted to make him aware of that. He looked at the time out of habit, wondering if the Lieutenant would come in before time, on time or late. Either way, he had the PADD and a lot of reports to still read...he could wait.

"How long are you going to be, Ren?" the Orion teen asked.

"I don't know, Jairic it will take as long as it takes. You've been around long enough to know that. It's kind of out of my control." The Andorian answered both antennae curled slightly forward. "And I'm not going to rush my new First Officer. But, it shouldn't take long."

"Can I fix something while you're gone?" the boy asked.

"Yes, of course. " Ren almost added, "Just don't break something," but held himself back.

He checked his uniform jacket to make sure it fit just right. After making a small adjustment, he headed to the office he'd been summoned to, and pressed the chime.

"Enter," Kit said as he put the PADD down, standing. He smiled to the Andorian, giving him a nod. "Lieutenant ch'Shaorhs, welcome to the Fenrir. I'm Commander Kit Hanlon...please, have a seat." He had been practicing on the pronunciation...like he always did before he met new people. He wanted people to feel welcomed, seen...heard. He gestured to the seats in front of the desk. The Andorian in front of him was...striking in appearance, the way Kit always found other species. The white hair was a trademark of the species, as were the antennae. He was graceful, he noticed that. Moved well, as his mother would say.

Ren smiled at his new Executive Officer. The pronunciation of his name was near perfect. Not exactly the same as if it came from another Andorian, but quite excellent for a human.

"Thank you, Commander, you may call me Ren if you prefer. It's easier than my full name and one that I've had since... well for a long time."

He chose the middle chair so he would be looking directly at the other man and eased himself into it, both antennae moving side-to-side before becoming still. Or mostly still.

"It is good to be on board."

Kit chuckled, nodding as he looked at him. He was partial though, he loved this ship already. "Sometimes, it is easier to adapt," he said, meeting his eyes. "I'll see if I can keep up, but you have to forgive me if I get stuck and call you Ren. Can I get you anything to drink?" he offered it to let him know that this was more informal. That they could sit and have something to drink together and talk about.

Ren folded his left leg over his right and said, "Lemonade, if you don't mi

"And don't worry sir, I'm sure you'll do just fine keeping up."

Kit walked over to the replicator and got lemonade for Ren and a black coffee for himself. He put them down and sat down, giving him a small smile. "I read your service record. What struck me is that you're a natural leader who hasn't always had the chance to show it. You have a great instinct when it comes to people."

"Thank you, sir," he replied as he took a sip of the cold beverage. I appreciate your feeling that way. I was passed over for a chief position on my old ship. Not that I'm complaining, or expecting a promotion now. Things had just gotten...stale there I guess is the best way to describe it."

"Plus, there were too many memories to deal with. I needed a change."

"Yes...I am sorry for your loss," Kit said, deciding not to avoid saying it. It mattered to acknowledge. He was pretty sure that if he had lost his husband, he'd want to have it acknowledged. Anything else was...

Well. It was heartless not to. No matter how uncomfortable it might be. It wasn't for Kit to feel comfortable, it was what those he served with, who served under him...that mattered. "I hope that here, you'll have space to adjust and...find what you might need. I understand that you have a dependent?"

Ren sat up a little straighter as the Executive Officer spoke. He didn't reply immediately.

"I appreciate that sir. Adjusting, adjusting has been difficult to say the least. I will probably be spending a lot of time with the counselor. But, that shouldn't keep me from carrying out my duties."

"And, to answer your question, yes I do have a dependent. Jaric, Jarin's younger brother."

Kit nodded as he watched him, his eyes gentle with it. He couldn't understand, but he could...be empathetic about the situation the other man was in. "We have a good set up here for children. Dedicated civilian teachers, several classrooms. Activities. This is meant to be a community and children are...very much part of it."

Ren smiled. Sort of. "I appreciate sir. I'm glad you have those things set up here. My other ship was smaller and didn't have the same facilities."

"However, I'm not sure calling Jairic a child would go over to well with him. He thinks of himself as an adult. Even though he clearly isn't."

Kit couldn't stop his chuckle, nodding as he gave a small nod. "Yes, I...recall that age when I was it. I took myself so serious...." he gave him a small shrug, looking almost shy at it. "Of course, being a teenager on a starship must be strange." And having lost his brother. The smile faded at the reality of the situation of Ren and his family. "I am hoping that you both will find a home here."

"Thank you, sir, I am sure we will. I am not sure which one of us will face the more difficult transition, But I know, with a little help. Perhaps more than just a little, we will both survive I have a feeling dealing with Jairic will require a lot of patience. He is, as we have both pointed out, a teenager."

"I am sure we can work on it. After all, education is important...yet I am pretty sure we won't start using the teenagers here as free workers," Kit said with a small smile, nodding as he looked at him. "You know, Jairic might also...benefit from seeing a counselor." He knew that Ren had mentioned it for himself, so it was a decent jump that he might be open for the boy to see one too. "We also have a chaplain here."

"Funny you should mention that," the Andorian replied, "he doesn't think so, of course, but you're right. I sent him to see Dr. Steele. He may even be there now."

Kit's smile widened and he nodded, reaching for his drink. "I have to admit, I like how proactive you are," he told the Andorian. That he had already dealt with it. "As you might already know, the Fenrir isn't a new ship, just had a retrofit to update it. It might have some...quirks that your department has to sort once we get underway." He spoke as an Engineer now, who had seen that with his own eyes on other ships.

Ren's thoughts shifted from himself and his personal issues, to the real reason he was here. "Oh?" he asked, "what kind of quirks would those be?"


Kit raised an eyebrow at him, but it was clear it was an exaggerated expression on his face. "Ah, every ship has her gremlins and mysteries..." he said in a slightly dramatic voice. Then he shrugged and folded his hands on the desk in front of him, meeting Ren's eyes. "Honestly, I am not sure yet. But once we've done a full system's test, any small quirks will be ours to mend or deal with."

"You're right about Gremlins, they can be a nasty lot," he said with a light smile. "Sometimes, it's like playing whack a mole, but I'm sure we can adapt. Adapt and overcome that is."

"Anything else you have for me sir?"

"Just a curiosity of...what you want from this ship," Kit said as he looked at him, holding his eyes before he gave him a small smile. "What do you want from this posting for your own development?"

Ren stroked his chin, leaning forward; both antennae curled oppositely. "I could give you some bullshit answer about proving myself worthy, or becoming the best officer possible. There's nothing wrong with either of those things, and it would be nice to achieve them, but if I'm being honest, I'd say I need to find myself.

Kit was watching him as he spoke, studying his body language, the way the antennae moved. The way he spoke hit something true in him. "Then...if there is anything I can do to help you with that...I want you to seek me out and let me know. Have a think, take whatever time you want. One of the things I love about my job is that I get to make things easier for the crew." And he wanted to facilitate for Ren to have what he needed to be able to find himself, his new identity, after everything he had lost.

"Thank you, sir. I will. I genuinely appreciate the offer and I'll give it some thought, I promise.

Kit nodded as he looked at him before he gave him a small smile. "Good. And I think that should be it...I'll let you get back to settling in. I hope you'll find this ship another home for you."

"I'm sure I will. Thanks again."

A joint post by

Commander Cornelius(Kit) Hanlon
Executive Officer
USS Fenrir

&

Lt.(j.g.)Ren ch' Shaorhs
Asst. Operations Chief
USS Fenrir

 

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