JDL | Cmdr Waterhouse & Lt Khan | All Aboard

Posted on Sun May 3rd, 2015 @ 11:56pm by Commander Amelia Waterhouse

1,352 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Agua Mala

After leaving the mentally imposing and vertically challenged Commodore of the Vindicator, Kelly made double time to the umbilical where the massive ship was connected to Cold Station Theta. She paused once in her trip to remove her sleeveless hoodie and draped it over her violin case which she was never without on trips and transfers like these. She could replace everything but her violin and the musical PADD she had spent years composing on and she would happily fight a Klingon if someone tried to take it from her.

Reaching the airlock, she requested and received the proper clearance to board the Vindicator. On the PADD, it clearly delineated the scale of the ship, but seeing her in person took Kelly's breath away. Massive just didn't cut it; the ship was one of epic proportions and she heard the Commodore's words echoing through her head She handles a bit like a brick and now the young Flight Chief knew why she had been told that. By her appearance and size, Kelly calculated the time required to do various maneuvers as she made her way through the umbilical and finally arrived on the Vindicator.

Taking a breath, she stopped an Ensign and requested directions to the nearest turbolift and quickly made her way to the lift. Once aboard it, she headed for the bridge, pausing for a brief moment before she stepped onto the massive bridge. Compared to other ships she had served on, the bridge of the Vindicator seemed to take up the entire deck and Kelly's eyes roamed over every terminal before taking note of a Yeoman standing by who was also watching her.

"Lieutenant Khan reporting to see Commander Waterhouse," Kelly told the man.

"If you would follow me, ma'am," Cecil returned as he glanced at his PADD. Prompt and professional, points to the new helm officer, Cecil couldn't help musing to himself as he lead the way to the XO's office. "Go right in," he added as he opened the door and stood to one side.

Beaming a smile at him, Kelly entered the office with her violin case and sleeveless hoodie draped over it. Seeing the tall redheaded Commander and the distinct forehead ridges, she came to attention. "Lieutenant Kelly Khan reporting for the position of Chief of Flight Control, Commander," she said, her posture stiff and formal.

Amelia had looked up slowly when the doors to her office had slid open unexpectedly. The shine of the glass top on her desk allowed her a slight sneak peek before her eyes met the lieutenant's, so she bit back the smile at Cecil playing his game. He clearly didn't trip up Khan, and it pleased Amelia. She stood and returned the salute.

"Welcome aboard, please have a seat," she said as she dropped her salute and indicated the seat in front of her desk as she sat down again.

Smiling, Kelly sat down, putting her violin and hoodie down beside the chair, she gave the Commander her full attention, awaiting the questions that were sure to come. "Thank you, Commander."

"Good journey to the ship?" Amelia asked as she opened her desk drawer a little, and pulled out a small metal case. She flipped it open, displaying a row of little jelly candies shaped vaguely like babies in a rainbow of colors. "Jelly Baby?"

Accepting one, Kelly popped it in her mouth. "Thank you. Yes. I've actually been on Cold Station Theta about three days. I met Commodore Ivanova over there a short time ago. Actually, she approached me when she saw me playing my violin on the promenade and told me to report in. There was an issue with my baggage that she said she'd handle."

"I'm sorry to hear there's a problem with your baggage," Amelia returned, selecting a dark purple jelly baby from the case before she snapped it closed and tucked it away in the drawer again. "The promenade is an unusual place to perform." She smiled as she said this; while not musically inclined herself -- beyond the occasional karaoke fix -- she'd known enough in her time to feel it was safe to guess she was looking at another musically inclined soul.

"It wasn't really a performance," Kelly told her. "I just took a moment out of the day to play a little something. The Commodore suggested that I go to the lounge and see about getting a spot in my downtime." Taking a breath, she met the Commander's eyes. "In regards to my new duties as the Chief Helm Officer, I am fully versed in handling many types of ships, but the Vindicator is a bit larger than normal. Based on past experience, Commander, and the advice that she handles like a brick that the Commodore gave me, what tips would you suggest that I take to heart in regards to handling her?"

"She just takes time and patience," Amelia insisted. "Big ships handle in a different way from the small ones, from what I hear it's almost like a physics problem, and knowing how to make momentum work for you since it's harder to compensate for miscalculations. Not that I know that much, since I didn't follow my parents into the cockpit. I do think we have a good simulator in the holodeck to help you get a feel for her before you have to talk helm for the first time."

"I'll certainly go there to get familiar with her," Kelly said with a smile. "Commodore Ivanova also suggested that I talk to Crewman Thomas, also. I'm certain that I'll have a feel for her inside of a week. As for physics, I'll redefine them and make her cooperate without needing a light year for a simple maneuver. It's just a matter of tweaking the thrusters a wee bit and making a few adjustments for size and that should compensate for the size. Do you know what the structural integrity rating is for her?"

"I don't know off hand, but if you can't easily find them in the database I'm sure you can easily get help down in engineering. Speaking of which, I would recommend you check in with our chief engineer, Commander Dahe'el, before you go tweaking anything on the ship's systems, even if you're confining it to helm systems. He's very protective of this ship, maybe even more so than Ivanova and I are -- which is saying something." Amelia smiled wide. "And just remember, you can't break the laws of physics... but sometimes you can cheat them."

"That's the name of the game," Kelly said. "I wouldn't dream of tweaking without the Chief Engineer's consent. I took Engineering as my secondary degree at the Academy and know a few things myself. Of course, I'm more than certain that he knows things that I've only dreamed of and look forward to learning from him." Her enthusiasm was bordering on contagious and it couldn't be decided if it was the sugar from the Jelly Belly, an insane amount of caffeine that lit her eyes and voice, or if it was nature. "Do you have any specific orders for me, Commander?"

"Just settle in, get familiar with your department's roster, and familiarize yourself with how the ship will handle when we head out again. I believe we're not too much longer for the station. Is there anything you need before I dismiss you?"

"No, Commander," Kelly responded. "All I need to do now is get my quarters, turn in my medical files and get unpacked. Then I'll meet Crewman Thomas, Commander Dahe'el, and attend to my duties."

"Very good," Amelia said as she stood, and extended her hand to the woman across the desk. "Welcome aboard, and I look forward to working with you."

"Thank you. I look forward to working with you also, Commander," Kelly said, coming to her feet as well. Giving the Executive Officer a firm handshake and a warm smile, she turned and headed out.

=/\= End Log =/\=

Commander Amelia Waterhouse
Executive Officer
USS Vindicator, NCC-78213-E

Lieutenant Kelly Khan
Chief of Flight
USS Vindicator

 

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