Inspection Part 8: Serendipity

Posted on Wed Nov 20th, 2024 @ 7:55pm by Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Cornelius 'Kit' Hanlon & Lieutenant Rosaleen O'Donnell & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen
Edited on on Wed Nov 20th, 2024 @ 8:17pm

1,033 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: To Boldly Go
Location: Captain's Ready Room - Deck 5 - USS Fenrir
Timeline: Day 6, 15:30

ON - CONTINUED:

Captain's Ready Room, Deck 5

Kit sipped the coffee, stretching his legs out slightly where he sat opposite the Captain. "Is it wrong of me to say my feet hurt after that?" he said and was going to say about how the crew had done when there was an interruption over the combadge.

"Captain, Commander, Lieutenant O'Donnell is beaming over to transporter room 2. Our new Chief Engineer," Vansen's voice sounded slightly hesitant in interrupting them.

Kit grinned, standing at the words. "Well, looks like things are getting together everywhere then. Thank you, Mister Vansen, we will greet her. Hanlon out," he stopped, grimacing as he looked at Blake. "If...you want us both there, Captain."

The faintest of smiles quirked at the corner of Blake's lips at the enthusiasm of her first officer. Had she ever been like that? She was honest enough to know the answer was no. "Carry on, Hanlon," she motioned with her hand as she moved to join him.

"Yes Captain," Hanlon said with a sheepish smile, ducking his head a little as he went to the doors. He felt a little embarrassed by his energy, or more his own willingness just to do stuff. He would have to watch that until he could judge what Blake was like as a Captain.


***

Transporter Room 2, Deck 1

Vansen stood in the transporter room as the signal came in. He saw the pattern buffers fire up and his hand moved as the lock was established before the beams started flickering over the transporter pad. He activated it and watched as their new Chief Engineer materialize in front of him, as the doors opened for the Captain and First Officer.

As Rosaleen's form solidified on the transporter pad, for some inexplicable reason the temperature in the room seemed to chill, almost imperceptibly, but noticeable non the less. She stood without moving for a moment, eyes closed in deep concentration before finally meeting her reception committee with crystal blue eyes. Cold eyes. A gaze that was...well, haunting for lack of a better word. And the red hair framing her face just seemed to make them look even colder.

Rosaleen shifted her posture, clasping her hands behind her and she addressed the Captain. "Lieutenant O'Donnell reporting for duty, Captain. Permission to come aboard?" Her accent was a mixture of Irish and...something else. Something not recognizable to most.

"Granted, and impeccable timing you have," Blake assured, shaking her head all the same as she rolled her shoulders in response to the brief chill that had passed over them. "Mister Vansen, please let Engineering know there's something going on with the temperature in here," she asked with concern over unexpected problems cropping up so soon after the inspection.

'Control Yourself.' Rosaleen thought to herself as she stepped down from the transporter. She was able to pull her feeling back, although with great difficulty. The level of discomfort she was experiencing was almost unbearable. But still, she had a job to do. How she had ever let Admiral Jenson talk her into this...

"What seems to be the problem, sir?" She asked, the words sounding forced. "I was informed that the ship was at fully operational status. Are there specific problems that I should be aware of?" Her briefing had spoken of no issues with the ship, aside from the ever present annoyances that came with ships of this era of design. Rosaleen had not worked on the Norway at any point in her fleet-yard career, but she had been called in a few times to consult on specific issues within her areas of expertise.

"I felt a distinct chill in the air for a moment. You've actually just joined us after our inspection so I hadn't expected any issues," Blake shook her head dismissively, tucking her hands behind back. "Trivial matters, I'm sure. It's good to have you aboard, Lieutenant. You have a strong team by all accounts, but no Captain wants to leave dock without their Chief Engineer."

It took every bit of control Rosaleen could muster to keep her energy under control. "I will look into that once I am settled." She paused and looked at the two, realizing that she probably violated protocol. "I mean, if that is acceptable. My apologies. I should not have assumed."

Kit smiled at her reaction, giving a nod as he looked at her. "Yes, of course. It's your department," he said before he realized he may have seemed a bit eager. "It's a good looking warp core too. I think you'll like it."

The first hints of a smile appeared on Rosaleen's face, and the air warmed a degree or two. "It's been a while since I've gotten my hands on something this size." She said. "At Cerberus I was in charge of developing a next-gen logistics system. We have already started incorporating it into a few ship classes." Rosaleen paused for a moment before continuing, reflecting on the past few years. "It's going to be a game changer for Starfleet."

Blake nodded lightly as she glanced to her First Officer; indeed, the officer's record was impressive. "The refit we've just gone through has thrown up a few issues, nothing major though. It would be great to get your eyes on it once you've had a chance to settle in and catch your breath. Hanlon, perhaps you could escort the Lieutenant to her quarters and schedule in a one-to-one with the each of us?"

"Of course, Captain," Kit said and nodded, giving the new Chief Engineer a look. "Lieutenant O'Donnell, if you follow me...I'll take you to your new quarters. I suspect you're eager to get to Engineering, but best to know where you'll rest your head before you get too...involved in the warp core."

Rosaleen nodded at Kit, managing to keep control over herself. She followed the Commander through the door, headed to her new...at least for now...home.

OFF:


Lieutenant Rosaleen O'Donnell
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Fenrir

Commander Cornelius 'Kit' Hanlon
First Officer
USS Fenrir

Commander Scarlet Blake
Commanding Officer
USS Fenrir

Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen
Operations Officer
USS Fenrir
[PNPC Hanlon]

 

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