Strange new worlds

Posted on Tuesday 3 May 2016 @ 07:41 by Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D. & Lieutenant JG Velin Ikiri

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Shuttlecraft Kuri on coarse for USS. Merlin
Timeline: Present
1389 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

-On

Velin had been waiting for this day for a long while, well waiting was perhaps the incorrect term English and even the Batazoid languages were ... imprecise. He was actually looking forward to this He had worked on some of the upgrades for the Excalibur class back at his time on Utopia Planetia. He had been given the use of a type 9 shuttle for the flight from the USS. Jelicho to the Merlin and he had been flying at warp 7 for several days. Most would find such a journey in a shuttle craft like this a rather daunting one especially since his modified alcove took up most of the aft section however it didn't bother him. Soon he would arrive and begin his work. He was arriving at a fortuitous moment actually. The Merlin was undergoing a maintenance and upgrade cycle. This would allow him to more swiftly bring the ship into his ideal. An internal chronometer went off as he looked up and true enough he was within range of the USS. Merlin. He dropped out of warp and opened hailing frequency's "This is LT JG Velin Ikiri on board the shuttle craft Kuri to the USS. Merlin, requesting permission to land." He received permission and landing instructions in short order and was touching down on the shuttle bay deck in minuets. He stepped out of the shuttle wondering who exactly they would send if anyone to greet him.

John had slipped away from his meetings to the flight deck during a meal break. It was the part of the ship he knew best and where he'd spent most of his time. He walked over to where a Broadsword sat and smiled as he reached out to touch the cool metal of the hull. As he got to the nose he tapped where his name was stenciled under the canopy. He'd had the fighter transferred to the ship in the hopes he could go joyriding one last time before they headed out, but, he knew his responsibilities wouldn't allow that right then. So, he had requested to store it on starbase for now, but had come to take one last look at the craft before they took it back over and put it in storage.

Velin looked over and saw someone standing in front of a Broadsword attack fighter judging by his stance and the red uniform he assumed it was the deck officer. He walked up behind him and said, "Excuse me... are you aware of anyone coming to greet me or alternatively do you have my quarters assignment?"

John turned towards the officer after being pulled from his thoughts, "and you are, Lieutenant?" he asked, noting the gold collar and clasping his hands relaxed at the small of his back.

Velin noticed the pips on his collar and immediately snapped to. "Sir LT JG Velin Ikiri reporting as ordered." He held out his transfer padd with his right hand the plating clicking slightly on the padd. "I was unaware it was you sir my apologies."

"At ease, your fine, Lieutenant," John replied as he took the PADD and skimmed over it, "I'm John Barstow," he introduced then motioned for the man to follow him, "I was just saying by to my bird, to much going on for getting my jopyride in."

Velin looked between the broadsword fighter and the captain. Wondering which would rank more oddly. His anthropomorphising his fighter or calling it a bird and wishing to take a deadly fighter craft for a 'joyride' he mentally shrugged and merely said, "I see. Thank you sir. I hope my specialized equipment wont be a problem."

The Commander shook his head and smiled, "not at all. I put in a request for the dock engineering teams to get your equipment ready in your quarters once I saw what was needed," he replied as they exited the bay, "if you need anything else for your quarters just let me know, I'll see that you get it," he added, "so, if I may, why Starfleet? From what I've read you could have made a rather lucrative living in the private engineering sectors."

He raised an eyebrow not quite understanding what he was getting at, "Profit never motivated me, in the collective it was irreverent in Starfleet my needs are met and i am able to do the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. Though in truth i am somewhat frustrated with certain aspects of my career. I believe i can contribute far more than i am but i have faced very stiff resistance. Utopia Planitia was especially difficult. Never have i had such a simultaneously rewarding and frustrating experience at the same time. Many of my ideas were strongly rejected." He paused uncertain if he should continue. he had probably overstepped himself already so he simply said, "I am hoping to have a better experience here. As for the engineering team i am more than proficient to install the alcove myself. I prefer not to bother anyone, sir."

John nodded, "I can see how that can get to you," he replied then looked over, "well, as of today bothering people is in your job description, so is teaching," he added with a smirk, "you may be more proficient, but, it's a system your teams are going to need to know as it's part of the ship now. I'd like you to direct rather then taking over from them, if you'll allow?"

He looked rather uncertain, his alcove was about the only thing he held any idea of being personal and to have others working on it ... but the captain was right, instruction was part of his job. More than likely one of the most difficult ones he would have here. "I will try sir."

"That's all I ask," Barstow replied with a nod as the stepped on the lift and he called for the Bridge, "and Lieutenant, I can't promise a better experience, it's going to be what you make of it, but I can promise you will be listened to and anyone who who goes out of their way to shoot you down or change your experience here will be dealt with, your past is just that and today you are a member of my crew and a leader on this crew," he said, "so, don't shy away if you need to make your ideas heard here."

He nodded somewhat surprised, "Yes sir." He hesitated but then asked, "If you don't mind the question sir, you don't seem to hold any prejudices in my general direction, why?" In most cases even those that tried to hide it or get over it had some form of prejudice against him but the captain was different. He was growing more and more certain he would like it here.

"Because I don't think anyone should have their past held against them," Barstow replied as the doors opened and he started toward the ready room, "what happened to you wasn't something you asked for, putting on that uniform and making the choice to be here was. With your choice to remain despite the prejudices you already have my respect, Lieutenant," he added with a nod, "you aren't the only former Borg officer I have taken on either. Obviously I can't tell you who, for their privacy, but there will be someone else aboard too."

He was rather surprised by that another former drone. It was odd to think of he had met a few, some he had gotten along with others... not so much. The fact that above the uniform line he didn't have any visible implants made things ... interesting with some. Though he still retained 70% of his borg implants many that showed were hidden with clothing. "Thank you sir, i hope to continue that."

"Good," Barstow replied with a nod then grabbed a PADD with all of the new officers information and handed it to Ikiri, "welcome aboard, Lieutenant," he added and extended his hand.

He nodded and shook his hand, "Thank you captain. I believe I have a fair amount of work ahead of me, unless there's anything else I'll proceed to engineering."

The CO nodded and smiled, "I'll leave you to it then, Lieutenant," he replied and moved around the desk to sit down as Velin left.