Fumbling Towards Dawn

Posted on 01 May 2014 @ 7:51pm by Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant JG Wakeham Paul Alasia Ph.D.
Edited on on 17 May 2014 @ 8:03pm

1,575 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 4 - Shuttlebay
Timeline: MD-1, 1630 - Beta Shift

ON:

Paul Alasia ducked under the overhang of the runabout before stepping onto the landing bay. The NCOs that stepped off ahead of him moved assiduously, their teal and yellow collars hinting at the sense of purpose that pulled them through the throng of activity. Paul spotted a young crew member on the far side of the bay with an official-looking demeanor and busying himself with a PADD.

"Petty Officer Second Class..." Paul gently implored, standing over the skinny young man.

Glancing up from his work, the young Crewman's posture straightened "Sir!" he replied vigorously. The young man's enthusiasm nearly startled Paul.

"That won't be... Ok." Paul shook off his initial reaction. "Could I trouble you to direct me to the quartermaster?"

"You were just on the transport, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, I... I just came aboard."

"Yes, sir." The young crewman's mouth opened slightly indicating his confusion. "You've checked in with the OIC, sir? And you weren't given a quarter's assignment?"

"No. I haven't done that. I don't - I don't actually know what that is. The OIC is the quartermaster?"

"No. Pardon me, sir. It's the Officer in Charge. You've checked in with OIC?"

"Oh. No, I haven't done that. I should do that. Who is the Officer in Charge?"

The young crewman's head dropped slightly and he furrowed his brow. "Yes, sir. It's... 1630. It's Beta shift." The young man paused futilely to see if his information registered with tall officer in a purple collar. "It's the XO, sir. Commander Blake is the OIC."

"Of course. So I'll head up to the bridge, then..." Paul gave the young man a questioning, sideways glance. The young man shrugged and shook his head. "Right. So I should head to...." Paul elongated his words to indicate he wanted the Crewman to finish his sentence

"The XO may be on the bridge sir, but more likely she's in her office on Deck 2."

"Deck 2. Excellent. Thank you very much, Petty Officer Second Class."

The young man smiled. "Yes, sir." He briefly looked back down at his work before catching Paul's attention once more as he walked away. "Sir, you can just call me Crewman if you prefer. I know that that's my full rank and I appreciate that you've... usually the officers just call us 'Crewman.'"

"Right. Thank you, Crewman."

Paul circled the halls of the deck what felt to him like five times before finally seeing the inconspicuously labeled turbolift. He took the short trip on the way to the bridge to sigh deeply and collect himself. He was hoping his contact with the crew in the early going would rate as "awkward."
"Awkward" he could deal with, Paul thought to himself. "Unmitigated catastrophe" was going to be somewhat tougher to stomach.

The turbolift door opened to reveal a bustling, overwhelming sight. Crewmembers moved about. Lights and displays clicked on and off in a staccato dance all around him, deluging his senses with a thousand bits of stimuli he couldn't process as quickly as he received it. And doors, he thought to himself. So many doors. Paul glanced about until he spied what he thought must be the Captain's throne but there was no one seated there. Panic briefly overtook him. He imagined a life aimlessly wandering a ship no one knew he was aboard with no quarters until he died anonymously during some far-flung battle. It was then that he caught the glance of a friendly looking female Ensign standing at an Operations panel.
"Are you looking for Commander Blake, sir?" the Ensign leaned in and inquired.

"Yes!" Paul replied gratefully. "Emphatically, yes."

"Down one deck, sir." She signaled back to the turbolift.

"Right. I knew that. Why did I come here?" Paul muttered out loud to himself, shaking his head.

"Not sure, sir." The young lady seemed puzzled.

"Oh, that wasn't - that was for me. I'm the idiot, you're quite competent I'm sure. Thank you."

The turbolift doors closed and he pushed the button for the deck directly beneath him. Paul stepped onto the far less intimidating second deck before locating the XOs office. Paul silently congratulated himself for the deft quickness with which he located the doorchime.

"Come in!" Scarlet called out, her voice distracted. She was standing rather than sitting behind the desk that was covered in a neat line of PADDs, all active. Her arms were folded and her head lowered to read the flat slates from where she stood, half way between being on the move and finishing off the last few lines on one of the PADDs. Her dark hair, although pinned back, had enough free to hang down slightly against her face as she kept her head ducked to read, but she wasn't making any move to sit back down, so caught up in what she was reading that she wasn't moving either way.

Paul stepped into his XO's office. "Commander, Paul Alasia reporting for duty." He gazed across the long train of PADD's laid out on the desk and handed her one of his own with a sheepish reluctance.

Scarlet quirked an eyebrow with amusement she just couldn't hide for a moment. Just what she'd always wanted...another PADD. She took it, glancing over it before frowning lightly with confusion as she took her seat and motioned for him to join her in sitting down. "Paul? Is our information incorrect? I was expecting a Wakeham Alasia...?"

"Yes, Commander. Wakeham is my first name but I've gone by Paul my entire life." Paul said.

Scarlet leant back in her chair, arching an eyebrow in question as she settled back.

"Oh - uh, Wakeham is my mother's maiden name. The last of the Wakehams, actually. So, right around when I was born my grandfather's health took a turn for the worse. My mother sensed that it wass causing my grandfather a lot of pain in his last days knowing that the Wakeham name was dying with him. So, she had my first name changed to Wakeham when I was a month old and Paul - which everyone called me then and has called me since - became my middle name. In my entire life only my grandmother has ever called me Wakeham. So - sorry about that - I should be more cognizant. I just take it for granted."

"It's not a problem," Scarlet assured, waving her hand gently with a small smile. "They must have had a lot of faith in you. I see from your file that they were right. You have a good record of diplomacy behind you."

"That's kind of you to say, Commander. I've been lucky enough to have some very benevolent teachers. The IGs office put a lot of faith in me and I've got to do right by them." Paul paused a moment and smirked to himself. "So, this is a scientific ship, commissioned in Starfleet, requesting the presence of a diplomat with a military commission. I've got to say, absolutely everyone at Vulcana was jealous of just how weirdly intriguing this posting was. What are you guys hoping from me?"

"We might be a science ship, but we find ourselves in all sorts of situations," Scarlet's eyebrows raised as she thought back on their last mission. "The end of our last mission, for example, resulted in a First Contact situation, in particularly difficult circumstances. When we're called out to investigate phenomena, odds are, now and then, we're going to find something...different, or new. I suppose it's equally important that because we're a science vessel, we try and keep things as cordial as possible with those around us."

"Makes perfect sense." Paul smiled. "I have to say, it took me a little while to make peace with my new commission. I wasn't sure today's Starfleet had room for people like me anymore. It's extremely gratifying to to be aboard a ship like this. It's extremely gratifying to learn a ship like this exists."

Scarlet nodded with a small, knowing smile. "Trust me. We have room for all sorts here. And that's exactly what we have," she arched an eyebrow with amusement, clearing her throat as she leant back in her seat. "Now, you technically fall into the Support Operations department, which makes your department head Lieutenant Markos, also known as the Chief Intelligence Officer. You'll need to report to operations for your room assignment if you haven't already, and medical and counselling for routine check ups."

"Yes, ma'am. Next on my list."

Scarlet nodded gently, sliding the PADD back up onto the desk as she met his eyes. "Do you have any questions before you settle in to work?"

"So, so many. But for now, I think it's best I ask them later."

"Of course. Come and find me if there's anything, your position is rather unique," Scarlet nodded with a half smile, motioning to the door. "Dismissed."

"Thank you, Commander." Paul turned to the door and nearly walked straight into it. "This isn't an automatic..." Paul muttered to himself as he panicked and looked for the button to open. "On Vulcana we had automatic..." Paul thought better of his explanation. "Thank you Commander."

Paul rolled his eyes at himself as he walked back to the turbolift. "Yeah, don't beat yourself up." he muttered to himself "Doors are hard."

OFF:

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. (JG) Wakeham "Paul" Alasia
Diplomatic Officer
USS Galileo

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