Second In Command

Posted on Mon Nov 13th, 2023 @ 11:35am by Lieutenant Alinar Vasatra & Commander Jacqueline Wallace-Shaw

1,090 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: S1E0 - Prologue
Location: XO's Office, USS Alliance

Getting on board a new assignment was always something that Alinar disliked. Getting to know new people was never a problem as he was quite personable but it was the having to meet the higher ups, have a medical check etc. All the routine boring events before setting off and this time it was no different.

Sometimes he wondered if he'd made the right call returning to Starfleet but as he straightened his uniform and levelled out his provisional bar rank pip. He felt this made him stand out as most ex-Maquis were now wearing them, those had had returned. Even now he questioned his decision and the hassle he may go through.

Pressing the chime of the door of the XO's office he waited to be called to enter.

The chime rang a half-second after Jacky had taken a sip of her coffee. That was always the way, wasn't it? She swallowed quickly and set the cup down, calling, "Enter!" She watched the door until it opened and then the person on the other side walked in. It took her a moment to riffle through the catalog of all the information she'd absorbed in the past couple of days to arrive at the conclusion... "Lieutenant Vasatra?"

"Yes, Commander." Alinar responded to the fair haired woman. "Well remembered. I'd imagine you have a lot of new faces seeking an audience with you." He nodded in agreement but this was more to himself.

He moved across the room, a slight swagger to his step but some he couldn't help due to his bulk and size. Alinar stood in front of the desk and gave a short bow as a sign of greeting and respect. "Nice to meet you."

Jacky smiled slightly and nodded. "There's been a few, aye," she agreed. "It's nice to meet you as well. Welcome aboard the Alliance." She waved at the chairs in front of her desk, silently inviting him to have a seat.

"Cheers." he replied in her welcoming as he sat down. "The Intrepid class is great to fly, can't wait to get behind the conn and put her through her paces."

"I haven't read your full file yet, so I'll need to ask," she said, faintly amused at the idea that she could have read everything here in just the short few days she'd been here, "have you flown many Intrepid-class vessels?"

"I had a short term assignment last year and flew one for Captain T'Vashneer of the USS Genoa. This Alliance will be my second." Alinar replied to the XO. "They are quite manoeuvrable and well balanced... and I know some say you can't feel the balance to her but if you've flown enough ships like I have, you can. Been a pilot all my life."

"Then I'll take your word for it," Jacky said with a small smile. "I've served on an Intrepid previously myself, though I came up by way of the counseling department rather than one that directly maneuvered the ship. I was just glad when it kept flying."

"Manoeuvring the mind can be just as challenging I'd imagine, Commander." Alinar spoke with a wisdom tone to his voice. "What made you want to shift into command?" he asked.

Jacky was inwardly amused, because it was usually her place to ask the questions, but she didn't mind. "It's frequently in the nature of humans, as well as many other species, to want to progress forward and challenge themselves. Command often balances on diplomacy, which is something I did much of as a counselor. The two concepts went together well enough." She smiled. "Have you just come aboard, Lieutenant, or had a chance to settle in first?"

"Starships are often the same, rarely change too much. So, settling in is easy for me in that sense. All that changes are the people." Alinar replied. "Truthfully I never really 'settle' anywhere. I live in each moment and see where they take me."

"That sounds like a fairly common sentiment among the pilots I've met," she said easily. It was a mindset that she'd never exactly understood on any personal level, as she'd always been a serious-minded person. Even as a child. It was what had brought her to marry young, and becoming an equally young widow had deepened it. "Why don't you tell me a little about yourself and spare me some reading time?"

Alinar nodded. "Happy to. It is always much better hearing a story I think than reading off the page." He cleared his throat. "Well, I'm over 150 and have spent most of my life in the pilots seat in one way or another. I enjoy racing and have taken part in hundreds of races over my life so far, and won quite a few. Joined Starfleet over 30 years ago, fought in the Federation-Cardassian War and..." he hesitated. "You may as well know, if you don't already, I resigned from Starfleet in 69 and joined the Maquis, helped them grow and was arrested in 2373. I'm here now because I was offered amnesty during the Dominion War in 2374. So, here I am." he smiled.

She allowed herself a moment to take that all in and then chuckled quietly. "I wouldn't sell the written word short, Mr. Vasatra. That is a story that would make quite a novel, I think." She paused. "Was returning to Starfleet part of your amnesty?"

"Oh not at all Commander. The written word will outlast us all." he nodded respectfully at her comments. "As for the amnesty, it was. Starfleet offered it as part of a deal that I assist operations during the Dominion War, temporary commission of course, but I did a few things that earned me a permanent offer to return." Alinar didn't want to boast of how he managed to do this. As much as he was a boastful character in other ways he would never play the hero story cards if he didn't have to.

"I see," Jacky said with a curious smile. "You've certainly taken a colorful road to get to the USS Alliance, Lieutenant, so welcome aboard. Before I let you get about settling in, do you have any questions for me?"

"Much appreciated Boss." Alinar said in response to her welcome. "No questions, but I'll get out of your hair and send in the next one in line." he joked but he saw her face drop a little. "Just kidding ma'am. Take care and I'll see you on the bridge." he quipped before disappearing off into the proverbial sunset.

 

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