#62 The Newest Addition

Posted on Sun Dec 11th, 2022 @ 2:28pm by Captain Rogue Green {Meji} & Lieutenant JG Ainkara "Kara" {Meji}

Mission: BUGS OH NO!!
Location: XO quarters
Timeline: current

ON:

Alone in her quarters the Amandora's guest, Ainkara, had been reading voraciously. Earth history, Starfleet regulations and protocols, as well as, galactic history. All she read in regards to the Federation and its history showed it had started as, and remained, a benevolent government overall. There were times in its history when corruption and power struggles ensued, but it was always short-lived and crushed effectively by the very Starfleet she now lived among. It was everything she could hope for, to aid her in getting herself back in line mentally. The Iconians had been relentless task masters and, with what had occurred in her eye not so long ago, had also done invasive surgeries to implant their own vile control. In her heart she knew that joining Starfleet could provide her the very freedom, true freedom, she had always hoped for. Whatever was inside her mind, whatever the Iconians had done, she would turn into a positive. Figure out a way to use it for her benefit, and the benefit of those around her. Carrying her PADD with her Ainkara approached her door, with it opening as she approached and she stepped a pace outside. She looked to the two guards, one male, one female. "I am going to the Executive Officer's office. Please, could one of you lead and escort me to such?" The human woman said she would be glad to, leaving her companion to see to other duties until Ainkara returned to her quarters. Security led the way.

In her quarters, at her 'office' desk/niche, Green was finished with the paperwork for the day. As she leaned back in her chair she closed her eyes and used the Core to relax her mind and body, to stave off the eye strain of reading screens for hours. Within moments all her discomfort receded. There was a chime at her door so Ro got up and went to stand at the reception area at her entryway. "Come in." She was somewhat surprised to see Ainkara walk in, the Security officer who had escorted her waiting outside on the opposite wall from her door.

The door shut behind Ainkara as she approached within a pace of Ro. "Commander Green, please pardon me if I am interrupting anything."

Green smiled. "Not at all, Ainkara. I just finished my paperwork and was taking a breather. What can I do for you?"

"I wish to enlist in Starfleet," said Ainkara, plain as day with no hesitation. "I have read a great many things and Starfleet and the Federation is where I would like to place my heart and hearth. I am not dangerous in the sense that you suspect. Are there strange things going on with me? Yes. But, with the help of Medical I am sure we can discover what those things are and deal with them accordingly."

With patience Green had listened to everything the Voran said, and heard the meaning behind it all. The Core could detect no duplicity, no hidden meanings, just truth. Conviction. That was what Ro had been aiming for when she put the woman on the watch list. The XO had been keeping up on the Security reports in regards to Ainkara and, other than the occasional trips to walk the ship or to go to the lounges, Ainkara had remained within her quarters. A model guest. "It fills my heart with joy to hear you say that. Right form the go you seemed to understand why I felt the need to do what I did. That, in itself, spoke volumes about your character; who you are as an intelligent being. So, with that said I have to ask a question." Pausing a moment, Green saw Ainkara nod, awaiting the query instead of talking. Green looked the woman straight in the eye and let the Core reach out and provide guidance. "Are you sure that a life in Starfleet is what you want?"

"With all my being," answered Ainkara. "It is a safe place full of people willing to give their lives to see to the needs of the innocent and downtrodden. I can't think of a nobler cause than that."

Green had no twinges of negativity. Trusting her feelings and relaxing into what she felt, there was no doubt that Ainkara was being as honest as she could be. "Good. Your conviction can be heard in your tone and i can feel your determination to succeed as such. Come on," said Ro, moving back towards her quarters office desk, waving a hand at another office chair at a smaller desk. "Pull that chair around and come sit by me."

Ainkara followed, then got the other chair and wheeled it around, coming to sit down next to Green at her desk. She watched Ro tap a few keys and a holographic display monitor popped up above the desk. She made sure to glance away when the Commander input her clearance codes, not wanting her 'eye-spindle' to pop up and ruin the moment. Once Green was done fiddling with controls she sat up straight but relaxed, so Ainkara matched her.

A lieutenant in red popped up on the screen. "Commander Green, how can I be of service?"

"If at all possible, I would like a meeting with Admiral Stone. Could you see if he is available?" Asked Green, being her polite self.

"This may take a minute but I will check. Please hold, Commander." The screen went to a screen saver of the Starfleet logo.

"An admiral," asked Ainkara. "I am not that important."

"Yes, you are," stated Green. "Everyone in Starfleet is important, whether they believe so, or not. Plus," Ro grinned as she went on. "This admiral is more prone to listen to me."

Judging by the look on Green's face, Ainkara could tell there was something between the Commander and the Admiral she ahd asked for.

"Rear Admiral Aaron Stone is my dad," explained Green. "Not my father, but my dad. After I was found on Rigo IV he took me in and raised me as his own. I was 16 years old and a bit of a wild child, but with his patience and forms of discipline, he helped guide me into the person I am today. Also, he is the Director of Starfleet Personnel."

"Directly to the source, then?" Ainkara had to grin at that, her eyes showing a mischievous glint as she fell in line with Ro's thought process.

"Exactly," answered Green. She went to say more but the screen saver faded and the face of an older Human male appeared.

"Ro!" Said Admiral Stone, smiling broadly. "Been a while. You in trouble again?" He chuckled, knowing the answer was no. If there was one officer in all of Starfleet he kept tabs on it was his daughter. "I hope this is a social call as much as it is a professional one?"

"It is, dad." Green almost misted up, with all that she had been through lately coming to mind, but Aaron did not need to see the turmoil in her soul right now. "It is so good to see you. But, before we get into all that mom-daughter stuff, I would like to introduce to you a guest we have aboard. This is Ainkara, a Voran by species. How she came to be with us is in the logs for Amandora. "Say hello to Admiral Stone, Ainkara."

"It is a pleasure, Admiral. Any kin of Ro's is a friend of mine." Ainkara said, with all due respect in her tone.

"The pleasure is mine, Ainkara. Any friend of Ro's is always welcome to call me. Any time, day or night. Now," said Stone, his tone taking on that flag officer edge, if not a bit softer than normal. "What is it you need from this old, broken down engineer?"

Green opened her mouth to speak but was cut off as Ainkara just popped right in there. "I wish to join Starfleet. The Commander said she could help."

It took a moment for Ro to quell the laugh that was trying to come out. Once done she looked at her dad. "Yeah...that, Sir."

Stone's eyes squinted in a pseudo-show of consternation. "Really? Just like that?"

"Yes, Sir," said Green. "Just like that. It is not uncommon for civilians on starships to want to join Starfleet, and in some of those cases, with Earth far away, then it falls to the ship to put them through the paces as cadets. I am asking for such leeway in regards to Ainkara. She has already proven herself helpful during our last mission, aiding where she could and willing to risk her life for others."

Admiral Stone thought on it for a few minutes, and both women could see he was reading something on another screen that they could not view from this angle. "Logs show mention of her during a runabout incident. A Romulan runabout, no less. She was on the Bridge...assisting...watched over by Chief Warrant Officer Nira, a Security Investigations Officer. Hmmm. I can't say that you don't have the drive, Ainkara. But, before such a big step is taken you need to know, absolutely, that this is what you want. Once committed you will owe Starfleet no less than four years of your life. Whether you stay after that is up to you, but the allotted commitment must be understood."

"It is, Admiral," Ainkara responded, the conviction in her voice not faltering in the slightest. "I understand the commitments, and have read everything in regards to such. I am no less determined than I was an hour ago."

Green looked at Stone, giving him a lighthearted, grinning shrug. "See? I think Amandora discovered an opportunity, Sir. She is Voran, a Vulcanoid species, and is seeking others of her kind. In serving Starfleet maybe we can aid her in finding answers."

Aaron smiled at them both, knowing that if he said no then Ainkara would be asked to step away so Green could talk him into it. There wasn't much he wasn't willing to do for the only child he had ever had in his life. "Very well, I accept. We shall get the preliminaries out of the way, here on comm. Is there a particular designation you would prefer, Ainkara. A department you believe you would fit into?"

Ainkara gave that two-tenths of a second's thought before answering. "Sciences, Admiral. I believe that my purpose would be best served in that capacity."

"Good choice," Stone replied. "Okay, here we go. Raise your right hand..." They went through the official enlistment ceremony and the oath given. Once finished Stone looked at them both. "You are now a Starfleet cadet, Ainkara. By sworn oath. Congratulations. It will be on Commander Green to oversee your training, along with the department heads on the Amandora. But, since Ro is your sponsor, any trouble you cause will reflect directly on her."

Ainkara gave a smile, which Stone found odd since he was familiar with both Romulans and Vulcans, who did not smile very much at all, if ever. But, Ainkara assured him she would follow Starfleet regulations and Federation Law. As a cadet she was automatically made a Federation citizen, so she swore to uphold the law while in the pursuit of her duties.

Green honed in. "If I may, Admiral. Could we set her to Crewman Apprentice? Her knowledge of technology gives her an advantage over most Starfleet cadets, and she won't be attending the Academy, but doing on the job training. If she warrants it then becoming an officer should not take long at all."

Again, Stone sat for a minute to ponder things, his eyes returning to the data he had off screen. "With what the logs say, I can agree to that. Set her up and get her settled. Crewman Ainakra, welcome to the first day of your Starfleet career."

"Thank you, Admiral," her face showed elation and relief all at once. "May I ask for a special dispensation, in regards to uniform?"

"I'll listen, but can't promise anything," said Stone.

"As you can see, Sir, I wear a white catsuit. A Voran cultural norm for unmarried women." Ainkara explained. "If you would allow, and add it to my file, I would prefer to wear a blue catsuit to denote department, with Starfleet paraphernalia as required. Would that be acceptable?"

Aaron gave a grin. "That is fine, Ainkara. There are Vulcan females serving around Starfleet who wear the catsuits as long as they are dolled up to look like a Starfleet catsuit. I will add that to your file."

Ainkara gave a nod. "Thank you, Admiral."

Stone glanced away from the screen, then his eyes came back. "Looks like I have a meeting to get to. Something about awards being considered by several starships. Amandora being one of them. You two take care. Ainkara, welcome, once again. Rogue, I better get a personal call very soon, you hear me young lady," he said with a grin.

"Will do, Dad. Thank you, this means a lot to me." They said their goodbyes and Green walked Ainkara to her door. "I'll get you added to the duty roster. Alpha shift in Sciences, starting tomorrow. As of now get your uniform choice figured out, Crewman Ainkara, and wear it proudly."

"I intend to, Commander. Thank you for this." Ainkara went to leave and Green caught her arm.

"One thing I forgot," said Green. She tapped her badge and removed Ainkara from the watch list, and that she was free and clear to move about the ship as a Crewman Apprentice. When the door opened as Ainkara made to leave the Security woman was gone from outside. O'Connell ran a tight department for them to accede to the directive that quickly. "See you around, Crewman."

Ainkara gave a bow from the neck and left the XO's quarters, her spirit lifted as she was now a part of something grand. Time to get her new catsuit uniform in order.

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