A Bright Future

Posted on 15 Mar 2012 @ 11:17pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Ensign Im'er Mor'an

1,987 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 00 - Pre-Deployment
Location: Starfleet HQ, Office
Timeline: MD 04 - 1530 hrs

[ON]

With less than twenty-four hours before the scheduled inspection and systems check, Lirha rushed through the day's remaining crew interviews and status reports. Only two PADDs remained on her desk now, the rest neatly filed in their appropriate drawers. The captain picked up one of them and slowly read over it, taking notes on her newest assigned crew member. To say she was interested was an understatement. The name on the biography read Im'er Mor'an, a young Tarkannan woman who was currently a member of Red Squad, Starfleet Academy's elite training program. According to her service record, Mor'an was quite an accomplished cadet and had just been approved to begin her command training program aboard the Galileo. Wanting to know more about her, Lirha sent a quick interview request to the cadet's PADD.

Looking down at the PADD in her hand, Mor'an saw a request from her new captain. She had been waiting for it, as she knew Lirha would want to speak to her eventually. Smiling ever so slightly at her prediction, Mor'an made her way to the office specified on her PADD. As she strolled down the corridors and around corners, Mor'an thought about this newest honor bestowed on her -- the consent to finish out her training on board an actual starship. She was proud of herself, to be sure. Reaching the office, Mor'an hit the chime.

"Enter." the captain called out as she set her PADD down and got to her feet to greet her newest arrival. She quickly ran bother of her green hands through her dark hair and pushed several stray locks behind her ear in an attempt to make herself look more presentable.

"M'lady," Mor'an said, keeping her eyes down and nodding her head. This was a sign of respect towards one's superior. "You sent for me?"

Lirha raised an eyebrow after being addressed in such a formal manner and found a small smile creeping onto her face. "Yes, I did," she answered in a vibrant voice as she looked at the young Tarkannan woman, "Please, have a seat." she said as she motioned to a nearby empty chair. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. I hope you found my office with little trouble."

"Yes, thank you, I found it without any at all." Mor'an sat carefully in the proffered seat. As was her habit, Mor'an took in her surroundings with a quick sweep of her blue eyes. Satisfied, she looked back at her commanding officer expectantly.

"Excellent." Lirha replied as she studied the woman's face. The cadet's physical appearance was exotic to the captain, and her curiosity began to peak. "If you don't mind me asking, I am unfamiliar with your species, and I am familiar with most in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants...where are you from?" she asked with bright green eyes and a tilt of her head.

"I was born, raised and trained on the planet Arun R'lantha," Mor'an replied, studying the captain as the woman was her. "It is a very peaceful planet, as we are all trained from the day we are born in the ways of tranquility and serenity." She gave the captain a half grin. "But do not be fooled. I am an excellent fighter."

The captain returned the young cadet's grin. "From what I've read in your personnel file, I have no doubt about that.". Lirha paused and narrowed her eyes as she thought for a moment. "Arun R'lantha......" she said quietly in thought, "You are from the Delta Quadrant, no?" she finally asked, recalling several references to the planet from the USS Voyager's logs.

"No, ma'am," Mor'an said, "Arun R'lantha is in the Beta Quadrant. It is not a very well known planet to most everyone in the Federation, as they only made First Contact in 2348. I am the first Tarkannan to enter the Academy." She visibly swelled at these words, very proud of this fact.

"Ah yes, my mistake." she replied with a nod. "You will have to forgive me, I am always very curious when I meet new and unique individuals." she added as she picked up the cadet's PADD and began to browse through it. "Since you are the first of your race to serve in Starfleet, what are your impressions? Are you enjoying your time here in the Academy so far?"

"Oh, immensely," Mor'an replied, nodding with enthusiasm. "I never thought I would learn so much outside of my training, but I have. It has certainly cultivated abilities I never knew I had. Being on Red Squad only makes it better."

The Orion captain smiled at the young woman, happy that she was enjoying herself. "That's good to hear." she said, then put the PADD down on the desk top, folded her hands in her lap, and leaned back in her chair. "Tell me about Red Squad." she asked simply. "I'm familiar with the program, but I want to hear your own thoughts and observations."

"It is not easy, to be sure," Mor'an said, "But I relish it. It challenges me and makes me think. All of my squad mates are close." She smiled again. "We give each other nicknames. Mine is," she paused, "Little Gecko."

Lirha smiled at the cadet's comment then tilted her head to the side in thought. "Why do they call you that?" she asked, unsure whether the nickname was a reference to her appearance, abilities, or some combination of both.

"My eyes," Mor'an replied, "Apparently the gecko lizards of Earth have unusual eyes and I guess they all thought mine were as well, what with them being so blue, along with my abilities to see things they cannot."

"Yes, they are quite...interesting." she commented as she stared into the cadet's clear blue eyes. "What particular abilities do you possess? You mentioned you can see things which others cannot?" she asked curiously. Lirha again picked up the PADD containing the cadet's biography and began to scan through the medical information for any details on her species abilities.

"I have the capability of seeing infrared and ultraviolet light," Mor'an said. "Being able to see infrared is incredibly useful, believe me." She blinked rapidly a few times before continuing. "There," she said, raising a hand a tracing a shape in the air in front of her. "I can see your heat signature."

Lirha gave the young woman a nod. "That must be a very useful trait," she said, then paused to consider the repercussions of such an ability, "If you can see in the IR spectrum, how do you differentiate between various colors and tones?" she asked.

"I cannot," Mor'an said simply, "Not very well, anyway. I can tell one color from another, but if you ask me to differentiate between the dark green spot and the light green spot, I just cannot do it."

"Well, I trust that you're quite competent and have learned to adapt to the monotonous LCARS color schemes." she said matter-of-factly, then changed the subject to something more formal. "I understand that you've been granted permission to participate in a command training program...under my XO, Commander Holliday, nonetheless." she added with a smile. "From what he has told me, you were a former student of his?"

"For a short time, yes," Mor'an replied, "I am mildly surprised he remembers me. He was a wonderful tudor."

Lirha nodded in agreement. "This will be my first assignment working with him but from what I have seen, he is a very competent officer." she said, then pushed some of her dark hair behind her ear. "As far as your training assignment aboard my ship goes, have you been briefed on the details?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Mor'an replied, "Commander Prin at the Academy briefed me before the Galileo was finished being constructed."

"Excellent." she replied. "How familiar are you with Nova Class starships? Have you had a chance to visit the Fleet Yards and see her up close?" she asked. When Lirha was a cadet, she had been in awe the first time she visited the dry dock, and spent several hours looking over the hull of a newly constructed Steamrunner Class.

"Relatively," Mor'an said, "I have studied various types of ships, but not any in particular to any extent."

"How do you feel about serving aboard a science vessel?" she asked the cadet. It was a question which she found provided good insight into her crew, as many of them had come from different backgrounds and specialties.

Mor'an shrugged with a delicate movement of her shoulders. "I am honored to be serving aboard any vessel," she said. "I cannot say how I feel about serving since I have yet to be of any service."

The captain flashed a small grin, "Fair enough." she said. "The reason I ask is because the Galileo is one of the smallest ships in Starfleet. Many officers and enlisted crew have never served aboard such a cozy and compact vessel before, and it can sometimes take a while to adjust to the narrow corridors and tight living spaces. Do you feel that you will be comfortable aboard such a starship?" she asked, then paused to add to her previous statement. "There are many other starships in Starfleet which you would be able to complete your training assignment aboard...I don't want you to feel like the Galileo is the only one. If you have any hesitations, I would like to hear them now, before we depart San Francisco."

"Captain," said Mor'an in a slow, gentle voice, "I require nothing for myself, as needs of the body are insignificant. The size of the vessel I serve is of no matter to me. All I want is to learn my assigned duties and do them well."

The cadet's statement was one of the most humbling and selfless which Lirha had ever had the privilege of hearing, and she smiled at the young Tarkannan woman. "Thank you for your honesty, and please don't take my questions the wrong way." she said, "I was merely trying to afford you the best opportunity. I found that when I was a cadet, I was somewhat intimidated by the idea of spending such a long period of time with the same personnel while confined to a small starship." she said, then chuckled as she realized she had just described the nature of Starfleet.

"Intimidation is a state of mind," Mor'an said. "I have lived for years with the same few people during some of my most intense training. It was an experience we learned from, one that drew us together as a single mind. It is my hope that, because of the small stature of this vessel, the crew will experience a similar phenomena."

"I also share that hope." she replied, then leaned back in her chair. "Do you have any questions for me, Cadet, about your assignment or the ship?" she asked, affording the young woman a chance to inquire about events to come.

"No, ma'am," Mor'an said, sitting up a little straighter in her chair.

"Very well then, welcome aboard." Lirha said with a sparkle in her green eyes. "I look forward to helping you with your training and I think you'll be a great asset to the ship." she finished.

Mor'an rose from her seat. "Thank you, m'ady," she said, "I hope I am able to fulfill my duties."

Lirha smiled one last time at Mor'an and watched her depart from her office. The captain had gone into the interview a bit skeptical of taking a Red Squad cadet under her wing, but their conversation had been productive and had reassured her that she was a very bright and capable young woman.

[OFF]

--

CMDR Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Cadet Senior Grade Im'er Mor'an
Red Squad Intern
USS Galileo

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