A New Team

Posted on Tue Sep 28th, 2010 @ 6:15am by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Lieutenant JG Malia Jacy

Mission: Episode 1.3 - "The Time of Trial"
Location: Main Engineering, USS Pandora
Timeline: Mission Day 03, 1320

ON: [[Main Engineering, USS Pandora, Mission Day 03, 1320]]

Malia breezed into the engineering department fully intending on nosing her way through just about everyone and everything. She had never been one for engineering ... they put in a whole lot of work and were generally under-appreciated in her opinion. She paused momentarily at the door, surveying the room and the occupants before spotting one rather focused looking officer. A few quick strides and she was practically perched upon his shoulder, peering over it with her trademark cheshire grin.

"Can I help you, lieutenant," Thomas (NPC) asked without looking up from display he was reviewing on the large situation table a few feet from the base of the Pandora's warp core. The woman was emitting such a level of enthusiasm, it was almost impossible not to notice her standing over his shoulder.

"Oh I do hope so," Mali chuckled, moving to his side. "What are you working on?"

"I am attempting to construct a ship's status report for Lieutenant Warrington," Thomas replied, nodding slightly in Jake's direction. The Pandora's interim chief engineer was on the far side of the engineering bay, discussing something with a crewman near one of the workstations.

"Only attempting?" Mali replied curiously. "Anything fun, or interesting, or abnormal showing up so far?" Another glance around the department and her gaze leveled back on Thomas. "Anything I can do to help? Is Engineering always this ... hmm ... low key?" Considering that they were docked, Mali was actually quite surprised to find that there wasn't more of a flurry of activity so that the crew could start on some sort of respite after the last mission.

Thomas paused and looked up to smile at the woman. Her enthusiasm was starting to make him wonder if he hadn't been taking the report he was working on a little too seriously. "It seems like we've got a few less people on duty than would normally be around here, but I can't really say. The Pandora is a little bigger than our last assignment," he remarked, motioning around at the cavernous engineering bay, "For one thing, we didn't have a workspace as big as this one aboard the Frontier."

"She really is quite beautiful, isn't she?" Mali agreed. Or at least as beautiful as a floating hunk of metal could be, she supposed. Engineers saw beauty in what most would just view as cold lines. It was one of the things Mali had learned to appreciate about different departments. They really did add an amazing array of view points on everything about starship life. "Have you been posted on her long?"

"Actually, Lieutenant Warrington and I came aboard earlier this morning," Thomas replied, wondering what impression that might give the woman, "which is why I wanted to get this report put together. I was hoping it would give both of us a better idea of what we were stepping into."

"Ah, well it's good to know you're not a complete workaholic," she chuckled, implying exactly the opposite. Actually she respected and understood the new officers desire to find their footing. Dedication was nothing to snub. "What is your initial idea of what you're stepping into?"

Chuckling, Thomas turned his focus back to the readouts on the situation table. "I'm thinking that this isn't an Intrepid-class starship," he replied. As important as it was for him to begin making connections with other members of the crew, Thomas also wanted to get this report finished. It would only take him a little while longer and then he would have the rest of the day to settle in aboard the Pandora.

"You're very observant," Mali noted teasingly. "And you're also very evasive."

"...and you ask a lot of questions," Thomas said, raising his head again, "Are you sure you're wearing the right uniform? I could have sworn that the counseling department was in teal." He gave the woman a look that made it clear he wasn't being entirely serious. At the same time, he also meant it as an invitation for her to actually introduce herself without him directly asking.

"Funny man," Mali grinned. "Most people mistake me for one who should be in gray. I suppose I'll take it as a compliment that you think I have a way with people." It did dawn on her that she hadn't properly introduced herself, but she wondered just how long this little exchange could go on before he opted to ask. Maybe she'd give him a couple more chances. "So, Ensign ..." she trailed off, favoring him with a hopeful questioning look.

"Rolands," Thomas replied, "Thomas Rolands."

"Ah, well met Ensign. Malia Jacy," she held out her hand, "but Mali will be just fine."

"A pleasure to meet you, Mali," Thomas said, shaking the woman's hand and offering her another smile.

"Well then, now that we're half way to being friends," she nodded to the table. "What do you really think?" She may not have lay claim to a counseling career, but Mali did have a persistent streak.

Thomas sighed. He had to admit that, if anything, this woman was persistent. She seemed intent on getting a satisfiable answer from him and he had a feeling that he would not be able to continue with his work until he had given her that answer. "She's an impressive ship," Thomas observed, "Obviously, she has a lot dedicated to science and exploration." He pointed to where the sensor pod was illuminated on the display as he said this, indicating the evidence to back up his statement.

Malia nodded but he wasn't telling her anything she couldn't see with her own eyes. What she really wanted to know is how he felt about it, and couldn't for the life of her come up with a way to ask him that without sounding completely insane. "Do you think that's how your fellow officer would put it as well?" Her eyes traveled to where the Lt. was doing ... something.

Following her gaze, Thomas saw that Jake was wrapping up his discussion with the engineering crewman. A question like this wouldn't have ordinarily given him any trouble, but he had been so focused on getting the report done and getting out to see the rest of the ship that he hadn't really been paying attention to much else. "Look, I think we started out on the wrong foot here," he said, setting the PADD down on the edge of the systems display table, "To be honest, you caught me in the middle of this initial assessment. I've had my head buried in these technical specifications. Why don't you give me five minutes to finish up this assessment and then maybe you could show me the better side of the Pandora?"

Mali's shock was apparent. "Well, I ... sure?" That was a total turn around. She was pretty sure the man was going to pretend to break something just to escape conversation. "It may be good for the both of us, actually," she admitted.

Thomas smiled again, glad that he had finally gotten somewhere with the situation. "Great," he replied, picking up the PADD again, "I look forward to it."

OFF:

A JP By:

Lieutenant JG Malia Jacy
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Pandora

and

Ensign Thomas Rolands (PNPC)
Interim Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Pandora
Played by: Capt Iluvar