Post Number 78 Permission Granted

Posted on Mon Nov 23rd, 2020 @ 8:06pm by Commodore Cyndi Song & Lieutenant JG Alia Fitzgerald

Mission: Star Base Mercury
Location: Bridge and Ready Room
Timeline: Current

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**Snip** She grinned, feeling clever. "Turbolift, take me to the bridge deck." It was a slight gamble, but odds are that Song was on duty but, if not, at least she could officially check in and then go see her. After a few seconds, the lift doors opened revealing the sweeping curves and comfortingly busy lights of the bridge. "Lt. Fitzgerald requesting permission to enter the bridge."

Cyndi turned from the science station she'd been looking at and turned to see the new officer. "Permission granted lieutenant. Please come onto the bridge."

"Thank you, sir." She stepped smartly inside, trying not to be overwhelmed by all the new details... and people! Despite having been a few cadet tours off planet, Alia had never been on the bridge of an active starship. There was a sense of competent decisiveness in everyone's actions. She tried to make a good comparison... like a symphony? No, more like a complicated surgery. Everyone is focused on their own tasks but with a single goal.

The young woman counted the pips on Commodore Song's uniform and matched her face to the one she had pulled from records. "Lieutenant Alia Fitzgerald reporting for duty, sir." She gave a salute that she hoped was professional enough. Alia knew she looked far too young for her rank and that made meeting officers -- especially very senior ones! -- a bit nerve racking. Her appearance was a side effect of the genetic changes she and her sisters shared but one that caused problems when she was dressed in civvies off campus. Still, shipboard, everyone would get to know her and that shouldn't be an issue.

Cyndi returned the salute "Relax lieutenant, let's take this to my ready room. If you'll follow me," Cyndi led the way to her ready room and waited for her new officer to enter.

"Yes sir." Alia followed her new commander into the room. She was slightly surprised at the 'homey' touches there as opposed to the no-nonsense impression of the bridge. But she supposed that that might be the entire purpose... to give the captain a mental break to recharge even if their job is a just a few meters away.

::Speaking of breaks, she said to relax, right?:: Alia though quickly trying to figure out the right thing to do. Parade rest? Should I just sit down? ::I'll just do whatever she does... I can't go too wrong with that, right?::

"Help yourself for something to drink and then have a seat," Cyndi said taking a seat at her desk and logging into her computer. She'd see Alia looking around at some of the decorations in her ready room. "Any of my decorations or pictures interest you?"

"Thank you, sir. Computer, latte, extra sweet." She retrieved the drink and sat down with it, steam rising gently from the oversized mug. "They do! It's like a history of service... I don't recognize even a third of the awards. Are these photos taken by you? There's quite the variety."

With a mug of her favorite drink and a place to sit, Alia found her mood loosening. She had been jazzed by adrenaline since she boarded and she just now felt the effects wearing off.

"I'm a scientist," Cyndi replied "Most of the awards are from my years of service in science and several are from the academy when I taught there. As for the pictures, I took some, this one," she pointed to showing a man with a little boy "Is my husband and son, it was taken about six months ago by my mother on my home planet of Klavor. The one next to is is my parents along with my husband, son and myself."

Alia felt a burst of empathy. "That must be so hard! My family is spread out so much that I never get to see them in person. It's been years since we were all together." She tried to imagine herself in the decorated commodore's shoes and just couldn't manage it. Her two little commendations -- though she was still proud of them! -- just didn't compare.

Still, the parallels were somewhat eerie. The young officer hoped to make her mark in the sciences and medicine and maybe even teach.

"If you don't mind me asking, sir, when will you get leave to see them again?"

"That I'm not sure as the demands of command keep me very busy. I am going to try to get out to my family," Cyndi replied "Do you have your transfer orders for me?"

"Yes sir, here they are." Alia handed over the data card after fishing it out of her travel bag. It was ironic that even after centuries of computer usage, the transfer orders were sent physically as well as electronically. Still, there was a very good reason for that. Multi-path authentication kept the possibilities of an imposter to a minimum. Even a momentarily lapse of security could have devastating consequences as the last few wars had proven.

Taking the data card Cyndi plugged it into her computer and after several seconds removed it "Your logged in and active," Cyndi handed her, her quarter assignment "This is your quarter assignment and the science chief is Lieutenant Tara Herculoid. I'll inform her you've arrived. Take the rest of the day to get used to the ship and get some rest. Those long shuttle rides can be hard. If you'd like to check in with the science labs feel free to do so. And welcome aboard."

"Aye, Commodore. I'll do my best!" She recalled a senior at the academy said saluting was more for formal occasions so she resisted the urge. Her unsettled heart calmed down a bit now that there was a new place that was hers. She hadn't realized that even that short ride between Earth and Mercury had disturbed her. With that settled, her natural excitement had a chance to come to the fore... ::Let's visit the labs!::

Cyndi stood and offered her hand "Then I;ll let you get settled,there is no need to salute me from this point forward," Cyndi said smiling at her new officer.

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