Putting Himself Forward

Posted on 30 Oct 2014 @ 5:55am by Lieutenant JG Cyrin Xanth & Commander Scarlet Blake
Edited on on 30 Oct 2014 @ 6:33pm

1,919 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Starbase 84 - XO Temporary Office
Timeline: MD 7, 1400 Hours

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Everything today, he hoped, was going to go smoothly and without a hitch. Cyrin had rehearsed his expected responses and what he needed to accomplish, and wanted to not just start things out on the right foot but to impress his new superiors as well. Serving on board a Nova Class science vessel was a privilege he wasn't going to take for granted, and as he made his way through the station he repeated some of that back to himself once again.

He'd taken great care in his appearance today. He wore a freshly tailored uniform from the station's tailor, straight and pressed, he single gold pip on his collar gleaming brightly from the sonic scrubbing he'd given it. His black boots were polished enough that they reflected the blue lights of the transporter above him. Cryin had even spent a great deal of time in front of a mirror styling his hair to make it as professional and neat looking as well, when he usually couldn't be bothered and let it lay flat.

It seemed a good thing he had as well. Cyrin had looked up the files of the command staff and immediately recognized Commander Blake further along the hallway up ahead. He caught her eye, stood up straight and proper, and said when he was in front of her, "Ensign Xanth, reporting for duty, Commander."

Blake gave a nod, her posture similar to his in the old habit of her marine stance. "Follow me, I'll show you to my office," she motioned for him to walk with her, leading the way out of the doors before looking across to him with blue eyes. "Commander Blake. How was your journey out here, Ensign?"

He fell into step with Blake, though just a few inches behind, "Uneventful, Commander, thank you." He stuck to his script, and it was helping. Commanding officers could turn him into a nervous wreck without trying very hard. No stuttering or hesitating. So far, so good.

"That's what we like to hear," Blake gave a firm nod, her hands clasped behind her back as they made their way to her office, in silence for the rest of the trip. "Take a seat," she motioned to her desk with a small smile, moving for her own chair with a gentle sigh. "Why don't you start by telling me about yourself."

The young man slid into the chair and kept his spine straight, before he answered the question. Having expected something like this, he was ready for his response here too, "I hold two degrees, one in physics and one in astronomy. After the Academy, I spent a little over a year and a half on board the science vessel Se'lok as a lab assistant as we researched long-term degradation of radioactive isotopes in the Mutara Nebula."

Scarlet nodded, taking in the information, but with a small smile. Textbook answer for a textbook questions. "So that's your training and experience...what about you?" she asked, softly.

Cyrin hesitated, then took a breath and went off the script finally, "I um...Well, I am uh..." It took him a moment to get going, obviously a little discomforted even though the XO seemed awfully nice. "I'm sorry Commander, d-do you mean personally? Well, I was an Initiate for a number of years before I qualified for the Xanth symbiont." It was likely just more training but it was the only thing his frozen brain could think of at the moment.

"Had you wanted to join Starfleet before you were joined?" she asked softly with interest. She was far from an expert, but she had seen enough Trill officers to know that sometimes it was a will driven after joining. Not that it mattered either way, it was more a curiosity.

For a moment there was a wistful look on the junior officer's face, "No, Commander. I wanted to play soccer. Even did for a little while on Trill's galactic team. But, I want to be a Starfleet Officer now and will do my best to earn your respect. And uh...that of my crewmates too." Cyrin calmed down some, though he still had a few nervous and almost Vulcan like expressions at times. Having ventured off all the things he'd rehearsed at this point, the scientist wanted to mention one thing specifically to her. "Uh, Commander, if I can s-speak freely for a minute?"

Scarlet motioned to him with her hand, nodding. "Go ahead," she said softly, a small smile coming to her at seeing him relax, even if it was just a little for the moment.

Theres no going back now, he thought to himself and hurriedly spoke before he lost all his nerve, "Commander, I wanted to ask a favor. You'll probably see that I like to live in my head a lot. I guess a lot of us scientists do. I'm not the most ideal officer, more of a researcher but uh...I think I can do better than that. I just wanted to say, please don't go easy on me and if there's any training you feel I might need to make me a better officer, I am willing to take it. Someday I want to be more. When you think I'm ready." He'd done all that with one breath in a rush, but at least he didn't stumble over his words once. Cyrin's jaw was clenched tight afterwards, but he he looked across at Commander Blake hopefully.

Scarlet leant forward to him, meeting his eyes, her own a pale blue that showed only certainty with the look. "I assure you, I don't go easy on anyone. Part of my job as First Officer is being responsible for all of you. And that also means making sure your career is developing as it should be. I will make sure you are the best damned officer you can be, even if that means I have to push you at times."

The Trill seemed to grow smaller in his chair under that gaze but he didn't look away. There was an odd mix of both intimidation and eagerness in his expression, caused by his confusion over the drive he felt to improve himself and the fear of other people's expectations. Scarlet was likely to have her work cut out for her with this one, but at least he seemed willing even if he was timid.

"Yes sir, th-thank you," he said meekly. There was a part of him that wanted to learn to command, to further his career, and see how far he could go in Starfleet. He'd had no away mission experience of any note behind him though, and his Academy record had specific notations on his troubles being a leader. On file and in person, he seemed almost the type to be content enough to hide away in a laboratory if it hadn't been for his request. Cyrin was concerned that Commander Blake not only meant what she said, but that he'd soon have cause to regret speaking up.

A small smile came to Scarlet at the words and she shook her head lightly, waving a hand dismissively. "No need to thank me. It's my job. Besides, it's a part of my job I like; encouraging crew to develop their career. But let's take things one step at a time. You're young, you're new here, get settled in, pursue your scientific interest, and the rest can follow."

He nodded his understanding of what she said, though if truth be told Cyrin couldn't think about one step at a time right now as he was too excited and wanting to do a good job well enough right from the start, thinking about the research he'd be able to do now. He'd seemed to have used up most of his courage with his asking to be kicked every now and then into being an officer and not just a scientist, and waited patiently for his superior to continue. Cyrin hadn't spoken up for himself like that in a long, long time.

"You will need to report to your Chief, Lt. Stace," Blake motioned to him as she sat back, her body still remaining somehow straight and posture militaristic even in how she sat. "You'll also need to make sure that you have a psych evaluation and a medical check-up to clear you for duty. There's plenty of time for that before we set out again."

"Understood, C-Commander," The Trill had been nodding until Blake got to the psych eval, and then he'd looked uncomfortable. Cyrin wondered how long he could get away with avoiding that without getting in trouble. He didn't mind a physical, so long as the doctor was nice, and he was looking forward to - and was nervous about - meeting Lieutenant Stace as well, but it was the counselors who really got to him. Maybe he'd get lucky and they'd forget! Cyrin wasn't about to try to calculate the odds of that.

"Good," Scarlet gave a slight but sharp nod, taking a deep breath as they started to tie everything up. "Do you have any questions for me? Anything you'd like to know? Now's the time."

Cyrin thought quietly for a minute, his eyes averted, his breathing shallow. He was so used to not putting himself forward to ask anything that to be offered the chance was intimidating in it's own way. "Um...I think I understand my responsibilities, Commander. And I know I can do the work, I don't want to be a lab assistant anymore. I just w-want to know how to be a better officer t-too, not just a scientist. Its hard sometimes, giving c-commands, making decisions for others." He realized this was something that wouldn't be taken care of in a simple chat over a few minutes, but he felt the desire to better himself strongly and Commander Blake had been so patient with him that he found himself opening up nevertheless. "I want to m-make you and the Captain and Lieutenant S-Stace proud."

Blake couldn't help a small smile at the words. They seemed sincere, and she liked that. It took courage to be so honest. "Respect and utilise the experience around you in your fellow crew. You'll be working on your projects, but don't forget, we're a crew, which means we're a team."

"Yes sir, thank you!" Cyrin declared smartly, able to manage a few words together at least in the presence of the XO. His back was a little straighter, and there was a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth. The meeting had been far easier than he'd hoped, and he didn't think he'd stuttered too badly. It was good to know that there was such support amongst his superiors.

"If there's nothing else you want to ask, then you're free to go," Blake nodded to him, smiling gently at seeing him relax, even if just a little.

Cyrin nodded and stood, feeling a rush of confidence he hadn't before and an eagerness to get started, "Aye sir." They might be on shore leave, and he planned on enjoying it to be sure, but as he made his way from Blake's office on the starbase he knew that as soon as the ship was cleared for boarding again that he'd be checking out Astrometrics.


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Ensign Cyrin Xanth
Astrophysicist
USS Galileo

&

Commander Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

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