Meeting the Captain

Posted on Mon Nov 25th, 2024 @ 4:52am by Captain Qierress & Lieutenant JG Ava Bailey

1,680 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: 1 - Third Contact
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD01 - 1000

She had just arrived upon the USS Quebec, Ava drew in a deep breath, to contain her excitement. This was her first assignment as a Chief of Science and she wondered what her service upon this ship would end up being. Making her way to the door which led to the ready room, she smoothed down her ebony hair, and gave her uniform one more adjusting tug. Reaching out, she pressed the chime to give the Captain notification of someone at the door.

The Captain was sitting at her desk, looking between PADDS, trying to determine how to redecorate her Ready Room. It was much too stark. Large crystal earrings appeared from her ear lobes. Her lizard-like face was tight and green. "Come in, she called."

Once Bailey entered, Qierress took a look at her and said, "My apologies for the state of this room. Starfleet seems to love stark white walls for everything. It could be worse," the Galrakian continued. "It could be wood. Of course, we would not be in the Federation if they loved that so much, now would we?"

Ava found it interesting about the different play as per to the words would and wood. Two words that sounded the same but had different meanings. "Stark white walls or even battleship grey can be considered a bit boring, Captain." She paused for a moment, noting how the light was reflecting through the crystal earrings to the wall near the captain. "Crystalline features would be lovely helping out in the interplay of the light. Some crystals would splash some prismatic colors upon the wall, which would give more color to the Ready Room."

Qierress' eyebrows raised interestedly. How much did this individual know about Gelrakian culture? How much of this was her personal taste? "I am curious, what would you do? You suggest crystals that would create a prismatic splash of colors. How would you achieve a pleasing aesthetic?"

Ava pulled out her padd, "I have a suggestion. It would be a sort of a step into Earth's past. Having an old-fashioned lamp, with a light bulb, and hang the prisms around it to cast the colors over the walls." Ava brought up said image for the Captain to see.

The Captain's eyes blinked once, then twice, trying to picture the arrangement. "I believe I have seen these types of lamps in a holodeck program. What was it that the general called it? From that place where you used to hit balls with a stick into holes hanging off a table...? Tiffany lamp? Is that right?"

"A tiffany lamp would work then there is like a chandelier which has crystals upon it. You are also talking about a pool hall," Ava answered, giving the Captain a smile. "There are a few ways to utilize crystals here in your office. And make it seem more comfortable." Ava replied.

"A chandelier," Qierress mused with an audible humming noise. "I would definitely have to plan for the refractions and not have it become gaudy..." the Captain futher considered, her voice trailing off. "Now what was that you said about pool? Is that not a contained place for swimming without other creatures?"

Ava retrieved her padd, and showed the example of a pool table with a short video of it. "Something like this." The video showing how the game was being played." This is what I was referring to. Also, you could get an engineer to design a light box to shine through the prisms, onto the wall or even ceiling."

Qierress nodded. "Yes, that's the game. It looked like an odd version of dom-jot." Considering more of Ava's comments, she wondered aloud, "Since your taste for aesthetics is so good, perhaps I should have you work on this project with me and the engineers."

"Okay, that sounds like a wonderful idea, I am very interested in this," Ava responded, giving the Captain a smile. "When do you wish me to start?" This definitely was giving Ava a bit of excitement as she did love being creative and artistic.

"There is no time like the present," Qierress responded simply. "Best we get things in order before we start our first mission, don't you think?"

"I highly agree. Let's get to making your ready room beautiful." Ava feeling a great amount of excitement. "Ready when you are, Captain."

"I think I said that there was no time like the present," Qierress stated, her voice uncertain. Is there a reason that she stated that she was ready when I already told her I was. It must be a human thing.

"Which way to Engineering? Or will we be meeting them somewhere else?" Ava wasn't certain where they would or could be meeting those who were going to help out with the designs of the ready room.

"Come," Qierress instructed Ava, leading her out of the Ready Room. How could she not know where Engineering is? Qierress worried. "Let's go down there. They have lovely dilithium crystals there. Have you seen.... No, you would not have seen them yet. I should show you."

"I would like that very much." Ava replied, following after Qierress. As they walked Ava glanced around at what they were passing, "This already looks intriguing."

The Captain was uncertain as to what Ava was replying to and inquired, "Exactly what do you find intriguing?"

"Just this." Ava gesturing towards the bridge. "It's amazing, and I've not been on the bridge of such a fine ship as this. I guess I am making certain to enjoy every little bit and moment that I can. Hopefully, I am not sounding strange there. I just like doing things like that. This includes meeting you for the first time, it's sort of a first encounter and I was a little bit worried as to how things would go."

"The ship is new but it is far from the most powerful," Qierress replied matter of fact. "But you do have a certain enthusiasm. It must come from being a scientist. I have come to understand that there is a female Tygarian on board with a similar amount of enthusiasm and she is in your department. But why worry about our meeting? Certainly, it would be new for both of us. Unlike you, nearly every species is new to me."

"My department you say? As for first encounters I feel the same way when I first meet someone be they, human or another race. A first contact sort of thing, it is how I think of it as. A Tygerian...well now I am definitely looking forward to meeting her," she told Qierress, as Ava stepped into the turbolift.

"It is my understanding that Tygarians do not allow their women to leave their home, so she should have quite the story."

Ava raised an eyebrow to what Qierress had said about the Tygarians. "Reminds me of the Ferengi, who for quite some time didn't allow their women to wear clothing." As the door to the turbolift closed behind the two of them, Ava reflected upon the information." I do hope that she will like to work with me in the science department." She paused as Ava had forgotten for the moment where they were heading. "Uh were we heading for Engineering?"

"Yes." Qierress looked at his Chief Science Officer and asked, "Are you feeling alright? I am becoming a bit concerned about you."

"Oh, do not worry about me, I am not on the verge of dementia. I had been lost in the admiration of the bridge that I momentarily forgot we were heading towards Engineering. Humans do at times have periods of absentmindedness, or momentarily forget where they were going. This is due to all that could be buzzing around in their mind. All depends on the person you are speaking to." She smiled then she looked directly into Qieress's eyes. "Truly, I don't need to go into medical well not for an unknown problem, but I do plan on going into medical to see who is there."

For the moment, Qierress was willing to accept Ava's statement as true. She heard that science officers could be a bit flighty. "So, about the crystals you were considering for my Ready Room...."

"Do you want the smaller ones which will still emanate the larger ones but more delicate. Probably much like the one you are wearing currently. I feel those are so much prettier than the huge crystals." Eva paused to give the request to go to the deck Engineering was on. "Also, we could do something else as well, could hang some strings of the crystals upon one of the shelves and a focal sort of light which will send the colors dancing upon the walls as well."

"You have a keen sense of decor. I think that you should design a mockup for me on a PADD. In the meantime, I can meet with the other Chiefs."

Ava gave a brief nod. "I will get started on that once I get to my quarters and we can go over the designs or should I just send them to you, whichever would be the best for you. Or for that matter, I could, with your permission, make a mockup for it on the holodeck and we can work from there?"

"Yes, why don't you make some mockups on the holodeck," the Gelrakian answered with a toothy grin. "There is nothing better than seeing everything as it should be."

"I do like that quite a bit, it's more fun that way and a better visualization. I will get that set up once I take a look at the science department. I'll meet up with engineering later on." Ava was eager to she where she would be working, as well as setting up her quarters. So many ideas ran through her mind.

"Good," the Captain answered. "I will see you when you have completed your demonstration. I look forward to it. It was nice meeting you. I look forward to working with you."

 

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