Admiral on Board

Posted on Mon Jun 17th, 2019 @ 7:12am by Commander K'Niras Sh'howul

Mission: S01E04 The Outpost Has Eyes
Location: Tour of Ship
Timeline: Current

ON:

The transport ship drew ever closer to the Musashi. Essex had been on the bridge taking a tour when they arrived. Seeing the ship he almost wanted to leap for joy, but held himself in check. He'd read up on the mystery the crew was facing. He wondered if they'd had a chance to send away teams, but then shook himself from his thoughts. He wasn't here to interfere. He'd lend a hand in science, consult when needed, but the main reason was Seleya. He was here for her and damn it all he was going to tell her all his feelings for her.

He turned to the young man at coms. "Hail the ship."

The young officer at the com station looked up at Essex and nodded. "Aye, sir..." He touched several places on his screen. "This is the Transport ship Acavus, hailing the USS Musashi. We have an Admiral on board, requesting boarding." He looked up at Essex again. "Com channel is open."

It didn't take the Starfleet ship long to respond. "This is the USS Musashi to the Transport Acavus. Does the Admiral require teleportation or are you making a docking request?"

"We can transport when you are ready," the captain replied.

"Standby..." came the reply. There was only a moment's pause before Admiral Essex disappeared from the bridge of the transport ship and reappeared on the transporter pad aboard the USS Musashi. There was a Caitian standing in the transporter room. He appeared to be male, but he was much smaller than most Caitian males, had no mane and his fur was a mottled color. Regardless of all that, he wore the rank insignia of the first officer.

K'Niras bowed a little to the Admiral. "Greetings Admiral. I hope that your trip was good. We're a little confused as to why you're out here. The captain sends her apologies... she has other duties to attend to, but I can show you around if you like. Lieutenant K'Niras Sh'howul," he said with a little smile.

He gave a nod. "That's great. As for the Captain, I doubt she's that busy. Show of power, but no big deal. I am," he said stepping off the transporter pad and handing K'Niras a rather clunky data tape for computer processing. " or rather I will be your new strategic attaché and helping out in your science department. Now, let's get that tour!" he said, slapping he cat on the back.

K'Niras blinked slowly at him while he talked, his ears laying back just a little. He really didn't like people who made assumptions, especially when they made assumptions about his Captain. He didn't say anything though. He knew better than to launch into an Admiral upon first meeting, about being respectful. The pat on the back was also unexpected and a little startling, but he played it off and headed for the door. "Where would you like to start? I can take you to your quarters, or the mess, or maybe the science labs?" He looked sidelong at Essex. "Maybe you can explain to me what a strategic attache does, exactly." His tone was carefully curious.

Essex smiled. "You lead the way. Pick a start and we'll work to an end point... no scratch that, let's end in Medical. That's going to take a while, especially when Seleya lays into me." He sighed. "But, well, a strategic attaché is basically someone who outranks everyone, but doesn't command. So I'll be adding my two cents in mission briefs and my experience etc... council, whatever you call it. I will also report to Starfleet Command on how the ship is doing and being run and work as a science officer until you are provided with a new chief of science." He left out the real reason he was here. Seleya. "So basically, I give advice, your Captain takes it or leaves it, and she gets to boss me around when it comes to science."

K'Niras snorted. "Great..." He had a hard time keeping the tone of sarcasm out of his voice. If there was anything any Captain hated, it was when the brass decided they needed to breathe down their necks. "Very well, we'll start with the science labs, then your quarters and then medical." He felt like there was potentially more to the story and was worried about Fig and her baby, but he had caught wind of something the admiral had said. "So, do you know Dr. Selaya?" He led the way down a corridor and toward a turbolift.

"I do indeed. I commanded the Apollo prior to my... assignment here. She was my CMO for a long while. Great doctor, bad bedside manner." He smiled when he said it, wistfully. He studied K'Niras. "I know that your captain would prefer me to not be here, but Starfleet is quite interested in the goings on here. They are worried about the Musashi. Too worried. Hence, why I am here, in part. I'm a straight kind of man Mr. K'Niras and I am good at what I do, which is why I am an Admiral. I believe in being open, so I will need to see your captain as soon as possible and I would like you there as well."

Here it comes, K'Niras thought to himself, but he kept his mouth shut about it, his ears laying back a little and betraying his displeasure. He nodded. "I thought that you would probably want to speak with her and as soon as she's done, she will be more than happy to meet with you," he lied, but he kept his tone pleasant. "What are they worried about? The Musashi is a great ship, with a good crew. I'm curious as to what they think we could be doing wrong."

He sighed. "Best when we are all together. SO," he said, emphasizing the last word. "My job here, as per orders, is to bring your ship into the fold or else, and of course, let Starfleet know what's going on, and evaluate the CMO and decide if she is to continue as is, or if she is to be caged and studied. That being said, MY personal mission is to keep you all safe and teach your good captain the art of hiding in plain sight." He sighed. "I am not here to harm this ship, but throw my rank behind protecting it and its crew. I have a personal interest in making sure this ship stays as is, so tell Donatella that she better see me soon and stop making up excuses to prolong this. The quicker you, I and she speak the quicker I am out of her hair."

K'Niras stepped onto the turbolift and waited for the admiral to follow him. The doors slid shut. "Deck one," he said calmly. The turbolift rose quickly. "Halt turbolift," he said and the lift stopped moving. He leveled his golden green eyes at the admiral, his whiskers twitching and his long tail bouncing up and down behind him. "There are about a million things I would like to state plainly to you right now. I'm not sure what we've done to merit Starfleet's concern, but the captain... I will not tolerate you continuing to speak ill of her. The fact that you were quick to call her a liar when I said she was busy, or infer that I was a liar... I'm sure, Sir, that you read my file as well, but that's beside the point...I don't want that kind of talk getting to the crew, or there will be a problem, Sir." He crossed his arms over his chest, looking serious.

Essex let the silence stretch and then he smiled. "Your defense of your captain is commendable. I have read your file. Believe me, I know what caliber of Captain Donatella can be, but she has not reached that level yet. She has a hot temper and she is known for rubbing people the wrong way. In fact, she's stalled her conversation with me in the past, so my assumption has a validity to it, Lieutenant. Now, as to trust, that is a funny word. Can you look me in the eye and tell me that Donatella has told Starfleet the truth about everything? I venture to guess you cannot. Hiding, even the slightest thing from Starfleet, can be a bad move. Now, the difference between me and her is that I've got the rank," he said, tapping his admiral's pips. "To show that I'm better at it then she is. This ship has been low on list for staff. Didn't you have to kidnap a CMO? Desperation breeds unity, but it also breeds sloppiness, Lieutenant. So, that being said, don't lecture me. Now would you, Lieutenant, care to repeat your threat about problems happening to me? What were your words 'or there will be problems?' Clarify it, Lieutenant, what are you threatening to do to this Admiral." He held the man's gaze. "Now, let's continue as if nothing happened." He turned away. "Resume lift."

K'Niras kept his arms crossed, his face still stern. He was unwilling to look away from the admiral for several seconds after the Human had turned his head. In Caitian culture, to look away from someone you were in conflict with, was to admit defeat. He knew that didn't apply to this situation, but it didn't stop him from feeling a way about it. At the moment he struggled with which part of what the admiral had said infuriated him more. "I will continue to defend her and her decisions," was all he had to say. The turbolift doors opened to the first deck. "The science labs are this way..." He gestured with one hand and stepped off the lift and headed down the hallway to the right.

Essex suppressed a smile. He liked K'Niras. His record was good, but seeing the man in person was better. He wondered if the man was this protective of all his crew. "Now, then," he started. "Since you speak your mind so well and so liberally. I wonder if you'd mind answering a few questions for me as we walk to the science labs."

"Of course. Ask anything you like," the Caitian replied, with a sidelong glance at Essex. He had appreciated what he determined to be the admiral's honesty and he liked that. Hopefully, it would last. There was still reason for caution. He didn't want to get to comfortable, even if the admiral seemed alright.

"First off you got a new CMO. Tell me what you think of her," Essex asked.

"She seems more than competent and very organized. I have not had a lot of time to get to know her any more personally than that. I feel like she is a good fit for this crew and I feel lucky to have her aboard, considering how desperate our need was."

Essex digested the words. There was no mention of her abilities, so he was safe there. Maybe she'd been cautious. "She is one of the top medical officers. I should know. She was my CMO for years. I'm glad she's fitting in. As for the organized part... It can be a blessing and a curse. You know that girl reorganized and labelled the entire kitchen on my ship." He shook his head, some frustration showing. "The chef couldn't find anything! We had to close the lounge for three days." He shook his head again and then sighed. "Not your typical Vulcan that one." He smiled as they exited the lift.

They walked toward the science labs, not that they were far away. It was a simple, directed turn down one hallway, into another and at the end of the second hallway was a set of double doors. "So, this is the main science lab. The biggest. It's, of course, conveniently located on the first deck with the command center." He snorted a little in humor, as the doors slid open for them, to reveal the labs beyond. "I was glad to see that she at least has her own system. It can be important in emergencies and she likely to see most of them. As far as typical goes... I'm not sure I know what's typical for a Vulcan. They seem as complicated as Humans to me."

He smiled. "Yes, we are rather delightfully complicated." He sounded distracted, as his eyes settled on a young science officer who grunted in frustration. Essex walked over to the lad. "What's the problem?"

The officer turned and suddenly bolted upright. "Admiral on... in lab?"

It came out as a question and Essex smiled. "At ease." He motioned to the machine that seemed be frustrating the young man.

"I can't get a proper reading. I've monitored the results for hours!"

Essex gave a nod, suddenly slipping into science mode. "May I?"

The young man gave a nod that was somewhat uncertain.

Essex slid in as if he'd done this all his life and he had. He tuned the machine, viewed the read outs and after a few tense minutes he turned to the young man. "I see the problem."

The officer stared at him.

"You have been monitoring getting read outs as five minute intervals. That tells me, from the time log, you have skipped breakfast and lunch. You cannot expect to think on an empty stomach. Why don't you go eat and come back to this."

The man's mouth opened. "But..."

"Now that's an order Ensign."

The young man left and Essex smiled. "He tuned the scope again." He stood. "When he comes back he'll see it." He set the scope to automatic recording. "Now then. What's next?"

K'Niras snorted and nodded. "Hunger... the enemy of us all." He stepped across the room. "So over here is your office. It's not a bad space. Plenty of room to run your own experiments and do your own research." The double doors to the office were clear so they could see the office space beyond without opening the doors. There was already a desk and several tables and a countertop that ran the length of the wall. "Would you like to go see your quarters now? Or I can show you where the mess hall is..."

"Excellent! Lets see the mess hall, then we can stop by my quarters." He'd get a detailed ship's tour later, not that he needed one but it would count as a walk. Back on the Apollo he walked the entire ship often. After all that, he'd go see Seleya. His heart hammered in his chest just at the thought of her. While they walked he looked at K'Niras. "Let me ask you something about your captain. I know that's a sore topic, but I need to know something."

The Caitian looked sidelong at him. "Ask away, Admiral."

"As you said you know your captain. I will throw the protection of my rank behind this ship, but I need to know that your captain will do what is necessary to protect her crew. I mean, someone like you or your engineering team or medical and so forth," he said.

"Why wouldn't she?" K'Niras asked.

He sighed. "You'd be surprised at how many captains don't care about the crew. They only care about their advancement. I just wanted to make sure that she wasn't like that. I mean, I know she isn't, but frankly I need reassurance." As he said it he knew he should be asking the captain this question himself.

"I've been fortunate to never have been under the command of one of those captains. Believe me, Captain Donatella cares about her crew. Just as Captain Archer cared about his crew." He paused for a moment, unsure of what else to say. "So, the mess is just one deck down. Deck two, to be exact." He led the way back to the turbolift.

The rest of the tour went well. Even though Essex knew the ship layout he allowed the XO to guide him. Left at his quarters the Admiral decided to head to sickbay. He'd tackle that when nobody was around. He knew Seleya would be shocked. The thought of seeing her had him feeling as if a thousand butterflies were in his stomach. Smiling he headed out.

:OFF