A Walk in the Park

Posted on Thursday March 10th, 2022 @ 7:41pm by Lieutenant Commander Curzon Bennett

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: USS Oberon - Arboretum
Timeline: MD05 1600

::ON::

Ensign JoAnna Grant strode through the corridor on deck six. To say she was impressed with this Luna class starship was an understatement. As an operations officer, it seemed a lot easier to keep operating than a starbase, and the equipment was far more advanced. Her first tour of duty aboard DS3 was much better than farming in almost every way. In the last two years, she had done a lot. She had done plenty of spacewalking, had explored strange ships, and had even gone undercover to set up a spy network on both a Klingon and Romulan embassy. She had developed some leadership skills and made friends with a wide variety of people. while she was no longer the fresh-faced academy graduate she was now a fresh-faced seasoned officer assigned to a ship of the line. She was already making her presence felt with her can-do attitude and uncanny ability to fix things. She may have hated farming but her dad had taught her a lot about mechanics and computer systems. She was a pretty competent wrench turner always had been since she was a little girl tinkering away in the maintenance bay.

So far her morning had consisted of fixing the replicators in the main officer's mess. Every mechanical and isolinear part on a starship needed periodic adjustments. Now she was on her way to the arboretum, not necessarily for work but just to take a stroll through the part. She didn't like farming but she did miss trees. She brought a book with her and decided to sit under a tree and read. it was a book about bio-neural gel packs. It was a newer technology at least for her. The tech itself had been around since before she was born. So she found a nice tree and decided to sit leaning on it while she read.

'Ensign Grant,' Bennett stated as he stepped off the path and onto the loamy ground that surrounded the tree his Operations Officer sat on and was leaning against. 'We met on the Bridge prior to launch. You fixed up that console preternaturally quick if you don't mind my saying so.' He smiled, 'my apologies for the intrusion during your off-duty hours, but the Main Computer stated you were here.'

"Captain Bennet, Excuse me, Sir."

Jo got up and brushed herself off.

"Yes Sir, I was doing some reading on Bio-Neural gel packs. How can I be of assistance, Sir? Jo asked.

'Fascinating reading is it?' asked Bennett as he fiddled with the wedding band on his finger before tucking them behind his back and clasping his hands together. He smiled again as he plowed on, 'it's good that you're keen to learn more about your field - I'm not an expert on bio-neural gel packs, but I understand that they're part organic?'

"That is correct Sir, they are designed to mimic synapses of the brain to increase processing power, I find the mix of technology and biology fascinating. Although I wouldn't want to go so far as the Borg for example. You have to admit that their technology is far more advanced than ours in many respects.
I was reading about the gel packs trying to understand them better as they are incorporated into many of the primary systems. If they ever break down, I want to know how to fix them. Truth be told I wish I would have paid more attention to my medical training," Jo said.

'There's that much life in them?' Bennett replied softly, a little awed, 'I suppose you could always ask one of the medical staff to give you pointers if you felt you needed it.' He took a step onto the path. 'You're to be commended on how diligently you pursue your duties. Starfleet personnel is exceptional in many ways, but the continuing urge to know more about our field is a rare one, Ensign.'

"Well, I've already proven my courage and my loyalty, and my skill. I don't want to stay an ensign forever, but to get promoted one must set goals and be able to stay useful and adaptable to new situations without coming off like a mary sue. I do that by studying and learning, and then applying what I learn. Like the console on the bridge. I had seen that problem before so it was relatively easy to fix," Jo said.

He considered her a moment, then smiled, 'you've proven your courage and loyalty you say?' Bennett was aware of her file, and indeed this was why he had sought her out this afternoon, but he was enjoying her forthrightness.

"Well to Starfleet at any rate. I know you barely know me and that I have a long way to go to prove myself to you, but it will come with time, Captain." Jo said.

"Tell me about yourself? How did you come to command the Oberon? I know almost nothing about you. Trust comes with familiarity, I think." Jo added.

He cocked his head and considered his answer for a moment as they walked. 'I don't rightly know. My previous posting was as Head of the Intelligence Analysis department for the Tenth Fleet. They hauled me in and gave me the command. Truth be told, I've never commanded a vessel that's gone beyond Federation Space before.' He sighed, 'I'm an expert on the Klingons, mostly. But we serve where we must.'

"True sometimes we get to choose our assignments other times it's for the good of the fleet. I have some experience with Klingons too. I rather like them," Jo said.

Bennett flashed a smile, 'they're not bad people once you understand what drives them. They're just different from most Federation peoples. I'm sure you'll notice it with our Chief Engineer.' Bennett looked at the younger officer, 'what's your experience with the Klingons?'

"I did a little infiltrating at their embassy purely official business. I also had a Klingon friend on DS3, before she disappeared. This is actually the first starship I've been assigned to since my midshipman's cruise on the USS Poseidon." Jo said.

'Ah, I see. So plenty of experience with them then,' Bennett replied warmly. As they continued their circuit of the arboretum, Bennett admired the plant life around them, stopping to admire one or two as they went. 'Ensign. It seems to me that your experience outweighs your current position.'

"Well, my duties fit my rank, Sir. Although I have been called to step up many times to run the department. I'm still learning the finer intricacies of administration. Leadership is not a problem. As the old saying goes it's not really work if you love doing it." Jo said.

He smiled and adjusted his glasses as he regarded the younger woman. 'This is true,' he said gently. 'However, in your position, you won't get to see much of the paperwork.' Bennett sighed, 'I'm sure you know we left port without an Assistant Chief Operations Officer. One of those oversights it seems. Given your performance to date, your obvious knowledge of what your job entails, and the expanded duties which you undertook on Deep Space Three, I'm minded to promote you to that position, if you accept.'

"Thank you, Sir! I do accept, I promise not to let you or the ship down, Sir."

Grinning at the younger officer's enthusiasm, Bennett shook his head, 'I doubt you will, Ensign - I'm sure the ship will be in good hands with you taking up the post.' He looked around the arboretum for a moment, then nodded his head. 'I'll leave you to it, Ensign. I'm sure there will be people you wish to tell before it goes out in the crew bulletin later.'

"The only person I would tell is Lieutenant Sakaan. She was the first friend I met when I arrived at DS3." Jo said.

"I will leave you then Sir," Jo replied.

[End]

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