Get In Where You Fit In

Posted on Monday February 1st, 2021 @ 7:10pm by Captain Tobias Bishop III & Lieutenant Commander Olivia Lorrietta

Mission: The Forgotten Outpost
Location: USS Ardeshir, Deep Space 3
Timeline: Current

:: ON ::

[USS Ardeshir]

Moving into a more comfortable position, Lieutenant Sakaan re-focused on her briefing notes. It was late at night aboard the Ardeshir, but the Vulcan intelligence officer was eager to get to know her new, unexpected, assignment. She had been expecting another assignment to the Talarian border aboard the USS Ares after her refit. After all, she had spent decades of her life on the Western borders of the Federation, and it had been a logical expectation.

Recalling the conversation with Commodore Thran, Starfleet had had different ideas. It seemed Deep Space 3 was in need of a new Chief Intelligence Officer, and it had been her good luck that she was officially in between assignments. At the time, it seemed a little convenient for Sakaan's taste, and two weeks of digging had confirmed her suspicions.

Someone on Deep Space 3 had called in a favour.

She doubted it was for her specifically. Merely for a competent Chief of Intelligence who could slot in and do the job. I am the logical choice, she thought, not for the first time. Brushing a lock of her blonde hair out of the way - an unconscious habit she had picked up from the non-Vulcan species she spent the majority of her time with - Sakaan focussed on the notes about the diplomatic conference that DS3 would be hosting soon after she arrived.

Not the most comprehensive, she observed drily. The notes indicated a peace conference being hosted by the Federation for a pair of species called the Talgarians and the Korolin. A brief search turned up very little about the two species. Presumably something to do with the Shackleton Expanse she mused, recalling an earlier briefing memo she had read.

A small addendum at the end of the file indicated that embassy requests had recently been received by both the Romulans and the Klingons, major Beta Quadrant powers any Starfleet Officers would be familiar with. The Romulan Free State, it seemed, had already established their Embassy after installing an Ambassador Vaebn D'Varo. She would have to find any material regarding his embassy when she arrived, she decided.

Sakaan was less worried about the Klingon Ambassador. They were usually of a type.

The two embassies she was most interested in were those of the Lairuit and the Calignans. Again, there was very little information about them. A small frisson of excitement ran up the Vulcan's spine. Despite - or perhaps because - of Deep Space 3's remote location, there seemed to be much that was unknown. She reflected on her career to date, traipsing around already-explored worlds and protecting the Federation from known threats. This would prove to be an altogether different challenge. Something worth writing home about, she thought.

Not that she wrote her family often.

As she lay the PADD down on the workdesk in front of her, she reflected that now was an appropriate time to turn in. Looking at the last two briefing memos and the chrono, Sakaan decided she would have enough time to read and absorb the memos before reporting to her new commanding officer.

[Deep Space 3]

As Sakaan and her Yeoman escort stood silently in the turbolift, the Vulcan tugged on her uniform sleeve to better pull it into place. A few moments later she tugged at the waist, trying to get it to fit more naturally. I swear these uniforms are made smaller and smaller each assignment. Sakaan raised a mental eyebrow at her frustration. She knew it was down to using the transporters. She had never felt right for the first few hours after using one. An illogical belief, she admonished herself. They were a perfectly safe mode of transportation, and had been for two centuries.

If the Yeoman noticed a fidgety Vulcan, they had the sense to keep quiet.

The turbolift doors opened with a quiet hiss, and the Yeoman indicated a 'this way,' with its own sibilant hiss as the reptiloid indicated Sakaan should follow. Sakaan was obliged, tucking her hands behind her back, and holding her PADD in them as she inspected her surroundings. The Operations centre of a Stardock-class starbase was truly immense. There was a quiet thrum of energy about the place as Starfleet went about its business. She noticed that some of the consoles were unmanned, a sure sign that the station was still understaffed.

Passing the Intelligence/Strategic Ops station, she noticed there was no-one there. Sakaan belatedly realised she hadn't checked whether she had any staff before coming aboard. One side-effect of having a one-track mind, she thought. As they made it to the Commanding Officer's Office, the reptiloid slowed, and pressed the chime, waiting for permission to enter.

Bishop was making his rounds of the Ops Center when he noticed a new face joining the crowd. He hoisted his ever present mug and made his way across the room to greet the new arrival.

As he approached, he simply asked, "And you are?"

Sakaan turned to regard the vice that had addressed her, and was glad of her Vulcan upbringing, even if only for a microsecond. Only a close friend would have noticed the micro-twitch at the eyebrows which registered her shock. Scar tissue, artificial eye, taller than myself, she noted, must be, 'Commander Bishop,' she acknowledged with a crisper salute than the usual.

'Lieutenant Sakaan, your new Chief Intelligence Officer,' she stayed in the pose until acknowledged by her superior.

After shifting his mug to his left hand, the Commander used his right hand to acknowledge the salute. "At ease Lieutenant. Welcome to Deep Space Three."

'Thank you, Sir,' replied Sakaan evenly, dropping in to the more comfortable position, 'it is a ... pleasure to come aboard.' As she was still unsure who had called in the personal favour to have her aboard, she had decided to play it safe. She arched an eyebrow, 'it is logical of me to admit I hadn't heard of Deep Space Three before my assignment here.' She cocked her head, 'even though having a Deep Space Nine would dictate such a station would exist.'

"In fairness, it was considered abandoned for quite some time. Not much call for it. Starfleet's plans to expand in this hindquarters of federation space required a jump off point, and they decided to reactivate it." Liv explained.

'Quite, I was reading a briefing memo about the Shackleton expanse. It seems quite advantageous that there was a Starbase in-situ for us to take advantage of as a homebase for any exploration missions that we decide to embark upon.' Sakaan looked at Lorrietta and had a hunch she may have been responsible for her re-routed assignment. She was a diplomat's daughter after all. 'DS3 should present a significant advantage in combating the pirate activity across the area.' Her lip micro-twitched in a smile, 'it seems more like luck than design that she is situated where she is.'

"I quite agree." Liv nodded. "The location is definitely advantageous but it's origin wasn't for this purpose. Still. She's here. We're here. Let's make the best of it. Glad to have you aboard."

Sakaan nodded, acknowledging the thanks. 'It is an unexpected pleasure to be here. I'm sure we'll accomplish much together.'

"I look forward to it, Lieutenant." Bishop answered with a slight nod of his head. "Is there anything else you need from me to get you started?"

'Where would you first like me to concentrate my energies?' asked Sakaan. She felt it was logical that she prioritize her duties. Deep Space Three was vast, and it wouldn't be possible to do everything at once. Sakaan felt that she should tread lightly in her first weeks in post - get to know the Captain and the Executive Officer properly before launching any initiatives of her own.

"I believe an old Earth saying might be warranted here. It went 'Get in where you fit in.' and that's what I would like for you to do. Just go over the recent reports and do what you think needs to be done. I do not tend to micro-manage my department heads."

'Indeed,' Sakaan raised a single eyebrow. She nodded at the Commander and the Executive Officer, 'should I take that as my dismissal, sir?'

"Yes, that is fine, you may be dismissed."

:: END ::

Commander Tobias Bishop III
Commanding Officer
Deep Space Three

Lt Commander Olivia Lorrietta
Executive Officer
Deep Space Three

Lieutenant Sakaan
Chief Intelligence Offier
Deep Space Three