Turbolift Meeting

Posted on 18 Feb 2013 @ 9:27am by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeroen Adlar & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm

1,392 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Decks 4/1, Turbolift
Timeline: MD 02 - 0930 hrs

[ON]

Jeroen frowned as he stepped into the turbo-lift. He rubbed his neck awkwardly, considering it for a long moment. He was tired. But he wanted to check something on the computer at his desk. He was running a simulation on it, for trying to speed up terraforming on smaller planets. It was all theory of course, so the computer was weighing it all up. But he was still curious. But despite it, he was tense. Had been since he had seen Stone. Quietly looking over his shoulder, that sort.

Rounding the corner of corridor at a brisk pace, Lirha spotted an open turbolift with a single crewman inside, and broke into a brisk jog as she hurried to catch up. "Hold the lift!" she called out, waving her green hand to get the man's attention. Although it only took less than a minute for average turbolift travel, she was in somewhat of a hurry to her next destination and didn't particularly want to wait for the next ride.

Jeroen reached out to keep it from closing, holding her eyes for a moment. "Ma'am," he said, his voice soft. Now that was almost ironic, just...running into her.

Scooting into the lift at the last second, Lirha nodded her thanks to the long-haired man then moved to the far wall and leaned against it. "Thank you, petty officer." she said to him, then spoke to the ship's computer. "Deck One." she said, then glanced over at the blue-collared enlisted man standing next to her. It took a few short seconds but Lirha finally placed him as Petty Officer Adlar, the ship's geoengineer. She had never personally met him before, but like all captains, she was familiar with his file and those of the rest of her crew.

He watched her for a moment, swallowing. He finally took a breath as he met her eyes. "Captain...I...can I ask you something? Off the record?"

Lirha turned to face the tall man and nodded her head in reply. "Of course, Mister...Adlar? Is that correct?" she answered, hoping she correctly remembered his name.

"Yes," he said, with a smile. He was honoured she even knew who he was. "I...my question is this. Is there any corridor of this ship that is off limits for me? Anywhere where you would not trust me to go?"

Frowning as she tried to deduce the reason behind such a question, she stroked her chin in thought as she answered. "Well, as a member of Starfleet and an enlisted crewman, you have operational access to all corridors on Galileo." she said. "But you are, of course, limited by your security clearance to certain rooms and areas of the vessel...for example, the armory, anti-matter storage pods, the torpedo magazine..." her voice trailed off, hoping she had provided a sufficient answer for the science officer.

"Of course," he said and nodded, considering it for a moment. "But the corridor outside the senior officers' quarters, that is acceptable?"

The Orion blinked. The corridors were common areas which all of the ship's personnel were permitted access too, unless of course there was some type of emergency situation. "Yes, of course." she replied, then tilted her head. "Why do you ask?"

He looked down, frowning slightly. "The new Chief of Security made it quite clear he did not wish for me to walk around the ship. I...understand, of course, why he is suspicious of me, having read my file. But I served my time. And I didn't expect to be ordered away from a corridor, or to be threatened on a ship that I serve faithfully on."

Frowning, Lirha listened to yet another complaint about Stone, this one apparently for...walking in one of the ship's corridor? Outrageous. And unacceptable. "As a Petty Officer Second Class, you are permitted to walk in whatever corridor you please, as long as you are not causing a disruption or an emergency situation is in progress. The lieutenant should know that already..." she answered, grumbling to herself with irritation. "Is there any more to this story than you are telling me? Did the two of you exchange words or have any recent conflicts?" she asked, trying to get a complete picture of the situation.

"First time I met the man," he confessed before meeting her eyes. "But I suspect I am on his watch list. I...have a history. During the war I was a member of the Maquis. I surrendered to the Federation and was part of rebuilding the colonies that were damaged during the war. I served my prison sentence and wanted to give something back to the Federation. So I joined up. Of course, I know that it makes me...questionable, to many. The Chief however seemed to take great insult in...what I had done. Which again I understand. But it went to such a stage that he...said I should be careful wandering around the ship, in dark places where I have no friends. Because no one would cry over my loss." It felt strange, to tell this to her. It felt like he was somehow betraying Starfleet. But he had seen it as a threat.

"I see." the captain said. She remembered briefly reading over Adlar's file when he came aboard Galileo but had not seen too much concern involving his Maquis background. In fact, a significant number of former Maquis had re-enlisted in Starfleet following their disciplinary periods, and ultimately both the UFP and the quadrant's political landscape was much different now than it was fifteen years ago. "I believe in second chances, Mister Adlar. If you have served your time for your crimes, then I personally have no qualms with you serving aboard my vessel. However, from what you have told me, the lieutenant's comments seem highly inappropriate, regardless of his personal opinions on the matter. Did you feel threatened by him at all?"

He met her eyes before nodding, watching her. "Yes, ma'am...if nothing else, by the sheer hatred he displayed." And it was truth, he believed that Stone had no qualms about throwing him out the nearest airlock if no one was looking.

Lirha sighed and slowly nodded. That was all she needed to hear. "Very well, then. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will inform my XO and we will have a word with the lieutenant regarding his actions." she said. "In the meantime, keep your commbadge with you at all times. If you happen to run into him again and do not feel safe around him, simply contact Commander Holliday and he will handle the situation. And if it is an emergency, you may double tap your communicator which will alert the ship's command staff and security personnel."

"Trust me, I do not plan on ever being alone with him again. Even old dogs value what they have," he said and smiled gently. "Thank you, ma'am...for your understanding. It's a difficult situation and I am not pleased at having to bring it to you...fate, it seemed, wished it though. I promised someone that if I ran into you or the XO, I would tell you."

"No problem at all, Mister Adlar." Lirha answered with a small smile. Though in reality, she was not amused by anything the petty officer had just told her. "I am always available should any of the crew feel the need to voice any concerns." The turbolift stopped and the lights brightened, followed by a swish of the doors as they opened.

He nodded weakly and met her eyes. "After you, ma'am," he said softly. He was grateful to her. He really was.

Following the man's polite prompt, Lirha stepped out onto Deck 1 and into the bridge. It had been a short turbolift ride but had felt much longer, and now her mind once again pondered the future of Galileo's newest security chief.

He watched her go, taking a breath...silently grateful that this ship had a CO who was so caring about her crew, forgiving but also strong and fair. And he knew he could trust her.

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeroen Adlar
Scientist
USS Galileo
NPC'd by Aria Rice

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