Look At Her

Posted on 04 Feb 2012 @ 11:30pm by Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm

2,055 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 00 - Pre-Deployment
Location: San Francisco Fleet Yards
Timeline: MD-02, 1700

[ON]

Markum stepped through the initial security checkpoint without much difficulty. Not many wanting to question the doings of a Senior Chief Warrant Officer in Engineering Yellow. Markum walked for several minutes through the clutter and scaffolding. Then, as he turned a corner he saw the port hull of the new Nova-Class vessel, and another checkpoint. Markum approached the security officer on duty. He was a young petty officer that snapped to attention as Markum stopped before him. "Chief, how may I help you?" asked the young man. "At ease petty officer, I'm on my way to inspect the Galileo." Just then an even younger looking ensign walked out from a door, "Just where do you think you are going Warrant Officer?" said the smug Andorian officer. Markum forced a smile across his face and stood erect in proper respect to the cocky officer, then help up his PADD. "Sir, I am Senior Chief Warrant Officer Markum Qui...." the ensign stepped closer, "I did not ask who you were, I asked you where you are attempting to go?"

As she walked around the dock admiring her new command, Lirha heard a slight commotion in front of her but out of sight. Judging from the tone of the voices she had just heard, there seemed to be some type of problem. She walked several paces with curiosity before turning the corner and arriving at the scene. She saw two enlisted men, one young and one older, as well as a young Ensign who seemed to be getting in the older man's face. Lirha sighed and moved to stand next to the three of them.

"Is there a problem here, gentlemen?" she asked in an even tone while looking back and forth between all of the men's faces.

Markum immediately took notice of the young woman's rank and stood a little straighter, "Yes ma'am. I was trying to explain to the Ensign here that I was trying to gain access to the Nova-Class vessel so I could look her over. I even tried to show him my orders here on the PADD ma'am." Markum offered up the PADD to the superior officer.

Lirha took the PADD from him and browsed through his transfer orders, and a small smile spread on her face as she realized he was her new Chief Engineering Officer. "Oh yes... you're Mister Quinn my new CEO. I've heard a lot about you, I read through your file this morning and it's quite impressive. I'm happy to have you aboard." she said enthusiastically and offered her hand to him in greeting. "I'm Lieutenant Commander Saalm, Commanding Officer of this fine little ship." she said and motioned to the large metal hull in the background.

Markum smiled and took the offered hand, then shoot a wink at the ensign. He then looked toward the vessel and replied. "Nice to meet you Commander Saalm, and thank-you. I am eager to get my hands on that dual deflector array." He took a brief pause, then added. "Just look at her, she's a real beaut. You must be proud ma'am. not many get a new ship as their first command, even less get one so advanced."

"Mmm," she replied with a nod, "Very much so. And don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to play with her in the next few days. But first things first..."

She flicked her eyes to the Ensign still standing next to them. "Do you often get hassled by young, naive, and arrogant officers?" It was a rhetorical question addressed to her new engineer but Lirha had said it loud enough for the young officer to hear. Without waiting for a response, she walked up to the Ensign with an angry glare in her green eyes.

"Don't ever harass one of my crew again," she said to him in a firm voice, "This man has ten times your experience and one hell of a service record. And you would be wise to learn from his example. You're an officer so start acting like one and get rid of your power-trip. Understand me?" she said and folded her arms while waiting for his response. Lirha had an extreme dislike for disrespectful people, even more so when it came to matters involving her crew. She had no qualms with filing a disciplinary report and confining him to the barracks for the night.

The Ensign stood stifly in front of Lirha with his feet spread at attention. "Y-Yes, Sir." he replied with a cautious look on his face.

"Do I look like a man to you?" Lirha replied and tilted her head to the side.

"No, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma'am." the Ensign replied while averting her angry stare.

"Good," she said with a nod, finally satisfied with his response and demeanor. "Dismissed."

The Ensign turned on his heels and hurried away down one of the open walkways, and Lirha walked back to her new engineer with a grin on her face. "That was fun." she said with amusement in her eyes.

Markum chuckled a bit, "Yes ma'am. Always the young ones that are the most arrogant. Kids these days. Whatever happened to respect ones elders?" Markum could already tell that despite her apparent young age, his new skipper was not to be tangled with. He liked it.

"I couldn't agree more." she replied with a mental chuckle. She was only twenty-nine years old herself but the days when she was frolicking around at the Academy seemed like a distant memory to her now. "So, Mister Quinn, tell me a little about your last assignment. The USS Valiant, if I remember correctly?

"She was a good ship, and the CO was a fine man. Our last mission was, well, let's just say we were required to stay cloaked for the entire mission. Funny thing though, The CO resigned his commission, and just disappeared. Our initial shakedown cruies and all else went almost flawless, minus the typical Defiant-Class cloaking system flaws. Next thing we knew, Command came in and cleared the ship. I came back home here to spend time with my son." Markum shook his head then continued, "I don't know ma'am if he went crazy, or if he got into some sort of trouble. It's a mystery to me."

Lirha furrowed her brow in thought as she listened to the man's story. It wasn't unheard of for captains to have mental breakdowns but she suspected something else might have occurred. "Hmm, I agree, that's a strange occurrence. What was your captain's name? I worked in Intel for several years before I was assigned command of the Galileo... I might be able to pull some strings and find out what happened. Call it a favor." she said giving him a wink. "That is, if you're interested.."

"Bill Conqulin, Lieutenant Commander. I'm just not sure I want to know. I don't want to be disappointed, or lose any respect for him." Markum looked at his new CO and grinned, "Intel person? No wonder you had that kid shaking in his boots. Something spooky about Intel Officers." Markum let out a chuckle. "So tell me about yourself ma'am. Where was your last assignment?"

She glanced at the Chief, curious and slightly impressed that her new department head would ask such a question of her. But she slowly realized that a man of his age had probably dealt with all types of senior officers, especially someone who had been in Starfleet as long as he had.

"I was stationed aboard the Athens, flagship of the 2nd Fleet. I was only an assistant department head when I was first transferred, but was promoted after two months on the job," she said, "I'm good with languages and I guess Starfleet has a thing for Beta Quadrant natives." she said in jest while referencing her Orion origins.

"Hmm, Athens. Galaxy-Class, right? I remember when I served on the old Galaxy. By then most of the kinks were worked out...mostly. Linguistics you say? It's hard to find someone that can use proper syntax while orating. It's a skill I don't have." The engineered smirked, "Mine would have to be bluntness, and getting my hands covered with grease because the kiddies cry whenever they have to do more than press a button."

Lirha let out a small laugh and pushed some of her hair from her face. "Bluntness is a great trait, especially for a department head." she commented, "I spent my early life aboard trading vessels negotiating prices and bartering, so I sort of struggle with it at times. And I agree about the 'buttons', it seems we're all too dependent on LCARS these days. On my family's old ship, we only had four touch-sensitive consoles aboard the entire vessel." she said.

She looked up at the older man and changed the subject slightly. "So you are a family man, Mister Quinn?"

"Well, sort of." answered Markum. "I only have one child. A son. He is here in the Academy. Second-year Cadet. His major is Health Sciences, Pre-med. He's a bright lad, just has a lot of his father in him. His mother is a Federation scientist that specializes in quantum mechanics and xenopropulsion systems. We met during my time with Starfleet's Xenotechnology Research Division." Markum sighed and shook his head some. "Found out the hard way, after she was twelve weeks pregnant with Marcus, she was married to the Federation's liaison to the Andorian Defense Force. Needless to say that went over like a turd in the punch bowl."

She raised her eyebrows in surprise and amusement. "I would imagine that would be a bit complicated." she replied with a chuckle. So far, Lirha liked the man. He was a seasoned officer who, she thought, had a great sense of humor. She imagined he would be the type of man to entertain her for hours of conversation.

"Do you have any questions about me or your new assignment? I can't tell you all of my secrets," she said in jest, "But if you're curious about anything, I'll answer as best I can."

"Yes ma'am," replied Markum with a nod," just one for now. Where, or what is our first assignment going to be?."

"Now, see, that qualifies as a secret." she answered with a gin. "I was briefed this morning by Starfleet Command and the nature of our mission is...covert, to say the least. I'm not authorized to disclose any information regarding our destination, but my advice would be to brush up on your Klingon and learn to enjoy some Gagh. I have a feeling we might be in for a rendezvous with our friendly neighbors at some point." she said with a hint of skepticism to her voice.

"They should call that stuff, Gag instead." answered the engineer. "The only Klingon I ever bothered to learn was, nuqDaq 'oH lIj ale, which translated means, where is your ale? Maybe it'll be a dinner party!"

"Wouldn't that be delightful?" she said sarcastically and smiled. "Well, Chief, I have to get going and finish some of my administrative work at the dock's office. I'm excited to have you aboard, to say the least. Feel free to take a look around the ship if you would like." said said, then looked down realizing she was still holding his PADD in her hand.

With a few delicate taps, she entered in some data then pressed her thumb onto the bottom screen and a small acknowledgement chirp sounded. Lirha handed the PADD back to the man. "I've just given you full access to the ship's engineering and operations sections, so you're welcome to go inside and inspect her. Just try and stay out of the engineering teams' way, I think they're still installing some of the plasma relays and power couplings." she said.

Markum took back the PADD with a smile, "Aye-Aye Captain. I'll do my best, but those kids doing the install probably need adult supervision."

"Well now that's what I have you for." she said and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Welcome aboard the Galileo Mister Quinn."

[OFF]

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Senior Chief Warrant Officer Markum Quinn
Chief Engineer, USS Galileo

LCDR Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

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