USS Kent, Avalon Fleet Yards

Marian blinks at the computer's voice, tapping her comm badge.  "Captain O'Rourke to maintnance teams... I want the computer's voice set back to standard, and I want that done yesterday."  She reconsiders.  "But don't go steal the Premonition to do it."  She then looks to Katell.  "That... well, that was embarassing.  I hope you'll not let that color your perception of the ship."

Katell Danar had to fight very hard not to be amused with the Captain's embarassment with the computer's voice.

"I thought all Starfleet vessels came with standard computer voices?  Wouldn't someone have to go in and try to change it?"He says, frowning slightly, attempting to look cross.

Truth be told, he found the english accented voice amusing, and was rather tired of the standard Starfleet voice.

Marian shakes her head to the Cardassian.  "They do... it's derived from a woman who served aboard the first Enterprise named Christine Chapel... she was a nurse."  She starts toward the turbolift.  "Apparently, when they lost some of the original voice samples, they asked the Betazoid ambassador to provide replacements."  Then, stepping into the lift, she speaks quietly.  "Deck 1."

The Next Day
USS Kent
Six Forward Lounge

Marian enters the lounge, moving to the bar and taking a seat before waving the bartender over.  "Iced mocha, with spring peach skins."

The bartender nods.  Minutes later, Marian is brought her iced mocha by what looks like a adolescent hybrid tiger wearing an apron.

Marian blinks, going through her mental roster of the crew before hitting on the most likely candidate.  "Ensign Grace?"  She takes the cup, sipping a bit.

The tiger creature smiles, and than she turns into the form of a youthful blonde girl, looking no more than fifteen and very slender.  "Captain O'Rouke!" She said happily, and claps her hands.

Marian looks in her cup for a moment, as if checking it for something, before responding.  "Join me, Ensign?"  She gestures to the stool next to hers.  "I didn't think you were working at the lounge."

Saving Grace waves a hand to the Bartender, indicating she was taking her break. "Well, I'm a pilot.  And there isn't much work for me to do at the moment.  I want to be helpful.." She said, suddenly sounding serious. "I. . Is that al right? I mean, I'm not doing anything wrong?"  Her pale jade eyes look concerned as they peer widely at Marian.

Marian shakes her head.  "When you're not in the air or overseeing maintnance in the hanger, you're free to do with your time as you see fit, be it work in the lounge or sit creepily outside Holodeck 2."

"Oh, Good." Grace seems greatly relieved. "I was hoping to run into you today! You haven't stopped by yet, and I was worried you weren't the social type! Our XO has been here. the Cardassian? Made the boss order rootbeer, not sure why though. . " She rambled somewhat, her eyes becoming unfocused as her mind drifts.

Marian blinks at the tide of information, holding up a hand.  "I'm likely not the most social captain in the fleet, but I'm also not Jean-Luc Picard.  The Glinn has visited the hangar?"

"The hangar? Yes.  and the lounge.  Here." Grace smiled widely. "So do you like the ship? are we going to take off soon?"  Than suddenly she calmed down, and spoke more quietly.  ". . .I'm sorry. . I'm not usually this highstrung or hyper. I'm just excited."

Marian shakes her head.  "It's all right.  This is your first space posting, isn't it?  I remember my first... Deep Space 3, working on negotiations for an amendment to the Second Khitomer Accord.  I was immensely nervous."

"Yes, It's my first space posting.  But I'm not nervous. I am a god damn awesome pilot, and I won't let you down." Grace says with a determined look on her face.

Marian smiles.  "I'm sure you won't, Ensign."  She sips her mocha.  "This ship is a beauty, isn't she?"

"Oh yes.  One of my favorite classes, actually. I am happy to be aboard." Grace said, smiling again. 

-Joint Post
Captain O'Rourke and Ensign Grace

Katell Danar stands in the fleet yards, watching the crew get the Insignia-class vessel ready for space travel.  Today was a hard day for him, so he was once again attempting not to dwell into his past.

The Kent is looking good.  Any day now it should be ready.  The sooner the better as far as I am concerned.

He sighed heavily, causing some passing engineers to look at him curiously.

Today, Sianna. . You should be here with me.  Standing proudly by my side, holding our little boy, coming aboard the ship and decorating our quarters. The Glinn smiled slightly, a tinge of sadness in his eyes. How you loved to decorate. . you were so gifted. .

". . but I failed you." He said softly to himself, than suddenly decided he couldn't stand the sight of the Kent and stomped out of the dock, pushing over crewman who was pushing a trolley full of luggage.

A Vulcan ensign steps into place next to Katell, leaning forward on the guardrail between the walkway and the large viewport.  "Glinn.  You would be Katell Danar, Executive Officer of the Kent.  I am Ensign T'Mir, Captain O'Rourke's yeoman.  It is... good... to have a chance to meet you, Glinn, and I hope that we work well and efficiently together."

Katell looks at the Vulcan ensign, a reptilian brow raised at her boldness. "I thank you Ensign, for reminding me who I am.  It had slipped my mind there for a second." He said, rather coldly, the words slipping from his lips before he had a chance to think about what he was saying.

"I am sure we will work quite. . . adequately. . . together, Ensign."He continues, stressing Ensign the way T'Mir stressed Glinn.  "Have you had the pleasure of meeting the Captain as of yet? I would be happy to take you to her."

Usually he wouldn't of offered to escort anyone anywhere, such tasks were really beneath him, but he was looking for an excuse to get away from the ship, and he wanted to escape his memories.

Truth be told, he was also a little apologetic for his initial rudeness, though he would never admit that to  himself.  He always goes on the attack when faced with a Vulcan.  Something about them just made his brain hurt and his skin crawl. . .

He looked at T'Mir, contemplating her seriously. At least she is an improvement to that pilot I met earlier.  At least this one seems to be composed. It's a shame she's a vulcan

T'Mir shakes her head, considering the Cardassian's words.  "I did not mean to give offense, Glinn Danar.  My grasp of Cardassian phonetics is rather lacking, so I must concentrate on the word to pronounce it correctly.  I apologize if this has caused you insult."

"Think nothing of it, Ensign.  It was such a trivial matter anyway.  Your pronunciation of Glinn is better than mosts." The Glinn said, looking slightly less sour.  "You should try not to try so hard. Relax.  I promise I won't bite. " He said with a sidelong look at the vulcan.

"Now, the Captain.  Want me to take you to her? I believe she is at the lounge." Katell inquires, looking amused.

T'Mir nods.  "Captain O'Rourke is at Six Forward aboard the Kent.  I can contact Avalon's runabout pad and request that they ready a runabout for us if you would like."  She looks to the Cardassian expectantly.

"Yes. Do that." The Glinn says, waving his hand dismissively.  Inwardly, he was very pleased.  This yeoman seemed to have the proper respect for someone of his station, and that made the Cardassian quite pleased indeed.

Perhaps I will request a Yeoman as well.  They prove to be useful.

USS Kent
Shuttlebay

Gunnery Sergeant Jack O'Grady stepped off the runabout and onto the deck on his new posting. He was taking on a two fold role, Platoon Sergeant for the Marine complement and Chief of the Boat being the highest NCO on board. The CoB role was new to him. Commanding Marines was not.

He smiled and saluted his thanks to the runabout pilot, and starfleet Ensign. Jack could be considered an intimidating man, being of large stature with a hard face and piercing glare, but he also had a disarming smile and laugh which could serve to either terrify or put at ease.

"Have yourself a fine day Ensign." Jack said, tossing his rucksack over his shoulder. Dressed in a crisp pressed dress uniform, marine green for the colour sections, with sidearm looked as all marines should: proud, disciplined and vigilant. He made his way out of the shuttlebay and towards Six Forward, the Captains current location.

Six Forward

Jack entered the lounge spotting the Captain, as well as the Glinn and an Ensign together in one area. A quick march put Jack in front of them, he snaps into a salute, rigid and stone-faced.

"Gunnery Sergeant Jack O'Grady reporting ma'am."

---
G.Sgt Jack O'Grady
Marine Platoon Sergeant
Chief of the Boat

Marian nods to the Sergeant, gesturing him over to join herself, the Cardassian, her yeoman, and the young-looking pilot.  "Sergeant."  She rises to her feet, offering him her hand.  "Welcome aboard the Kent.  It will be good to have someone with your experience to help lead our forces, though I honestly hope we need to use that experience as little as possible."

Captain's Ready Room
 
Marian sat in her ready room, tapping her foot softly in time with the chronometer she was watching on her desk. I never imagined command would have moments of boredom.
 
The soft chime of her desk communicator cut into her thoughts, followed by T'mir's earnest voice. "Captain, are you engaging in typical human restlessness instead of productive recreation again?"
  
Marian shook her head, laughing softly.  "Has my appointment arrived yet, Ensign?"
  
"She came aboard ten minutes ago, Captain, and is standing here now. Shall I send her in?"
  
"Why didn't you tell... never mind.  Yes, send her in."
  
The door hissed open quietly, and Lieutenant Commander Li Ling Kaida stepped through it with easy, confident grace. She came to easy attention in front of the Captain's desk, hands folded lightly behind her back, and stood there for a long moment or two as though presenting herself for inspection. The picture in her file had not quite caught the essence of her - the pale skin, almost as pale as the white collar of her uniform, fine oriental features, the dark silver characters tattooed into her cheek, the ebony black hair bound up behind her head with slender silver pins, all there and accounted for. Even the faint tracery of platnium in the eyes was the same, the distinctive marks of the occular enhancements. It was something more simplistic than that, in the poise and centeredness of her body and the calm of her expression. It reminded Marian of an Earth tiger she'd once seen from a distance in a holographic program - a sense of coiled watchfulness.
   
Marian looked up, eyes moving over the pilot.  "Commander.  Sit."  She gestures to the open seats across the desk from her.  "Thank you for coming all this way."
   
"It was not difficult. I have been to the Raeyan sector before." Seating herself neatly, Kaida folded her hands in her lap and offered the Captain a respectful nod. "As I am currently without a posting, I was pleased to accept your consideration."
 
Marian nodded.  "Your record is quite impressive, and, essentially unique among candidates with the abilities you show, there are no behavioral or attitude problems listed.  To be perfectly frank, I'm wondering... where's the other shoe?"
 
Kaida tilted her head for a fraction of a second, as though in uncertainty, and then blinked once and smiled quietly. "Ah, I see. You mean, what is the unfortunate secret that is not in my record?"
 
Marian nodded.  "Exactly."  She smiles a little.  "I've been searching for an air group commander for weeks, and everyone I've interviewed for that position so far has been either incompetent, green, or had an ego the size of Empok Nor."
 
Kaida's lips tugged upward, as though she might be putting some effort into restraining a laugh. "Would you like me to explain this phenomenon, Captain?"

"Please."
 
Settling back in her chair, Kaida lifted a hand as though balancing a chart on it and then paused, cleared her throat and folded her hand back down. "Forgive me, Captain, I forgot that you are unenhanced. I will attempt to explain in words. To be a pilot in Starfleet is to operate under the following realities. First, their casualty rates are at least three times that of any other department in the fleet except Security. When you consider that pilots regularly take heavily armed and comparatively lightly shielded vessels into engagements with ships several times their size, this is unsurprising."
 
"Second, they have no prospects for long term promotion. I am a Lieutenant Commander, and my last posting was as a Lieutenant and a squadron's executive officer. If you select me as your Flight Group Commander, it will be the highest position I will ever attain unless I recieve a posting to one of the handful of carriers presently in service as the CAG commander. No Flight officer has ever received a promotion to Captain and retained a field position." She paused again, then offered Marian a small smile. "That should not be interpreted as a complaint on my part. Finally, Starfleet has only been conducting combat flight operations with small craft for less than twenty Terras - excuse me, twenty of your years. The Lagashi Navy has been doing so since the second Astra after planetfall - over three of your centuries. To put it bluntly, Captain, your service has not existed long enough to develop good traditions for its pilots."
 
Marian nodded.  "You make good points.  Would you like to be Flight Group Commander on the Kent?"
 
"I would be honored, Captain." She paused for a moment, studying Marian's expression, then folded her fingers together. "With all due respect, the more relevant question is whether you have considered your willingness to accept a Lagashi as your Flight Group Commander and a senior officer aboard your vessel. There are likely to be complications with some members of the crew."
 
Marian shook her head.  "I'm a human, and a citizen of the United Federation of Planets.  I can't say that I've eliminated all my prejudices... but I try to do so, and I expect the same from my crew.  Anyone who can't fulfill their duty because of the culture of another member of the crew will have to find another posting."
 
"Thank you, ma'am. I will endeavor to see that it crosses your desk as rarely as possible." A small smile tugged at the edge of Kaida's lips for a moment. "I will also hand over a supply of replicator patterns and care instructions that my wife put together to assist your doctor in case I suffer some form of injury." She paused, shaking her head slightly in dissatisfaction. "I will have to see about reprogramming this vessel's translator matrix. It doesn't handle that word properly."
 
Marian nodded, extending a hand to the Lagashi.  "Welcome aboard, Commander.  You can speak with the engineering crew about the translator changes.  I look forward to working with you."
 
Kaida shook her hand firmly, her eyes warm. "Thank you, Captain. I expect that it will be a pleasure."
 
Marian rose to her feet.  "By the by, Commander... congratulations on the birth of your daughter."
 
A warm, bright smile stole across Kaida's face, and she reached up to brush a strand of dark hair out of her face. "Thank you, Captain. She is a beautiful little girl, and I was pleased to be able to be present for her birth. I missed the birth of my first because I was in this area on the Rapier during the tensions with the Krazzle. My husbands and wives were pleased to see me there, as I was to see them."
 
Marian smiled.  "I'll try to make sure that you get to see them as often as possible, then."  She gestured toward the door.  "Dismissed."