Introductions

Posted on Wed Aug 3rd, 2022 @ 11:20pm by Lieutenant Commander T'an & Captain Marcus Bowers

Mission: Prelude: The Gathering
Location: USS Proxima Main Bridge
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 1445

[USS Proxima]
[MD 1; 1445 Hours; Main Bridge]

Marcus was already walking when the doors to the Bridge whisked open, allowing him to stroll out posture perfect. A watchful crewman called out, alerting the crew to his presence, as he paused near the railing separating the outer ring of consoles from the command area. Bowers, a by-the-book man, allowed himself but a moment to admire the new bridge layout before turning his attention to his First Officer.

Easily identifiable, being Barzan, he pivoted to face her, "Commander Rhowin," Marcus paused, allowing a nod to the other. "Captain Marcus Bowers, by order of Rear-Admiral Rutherford Collins, Sector Commander, I assume command of this vessel as of this date. I relieve you," he added, proffering a small translucent data device nestled between two fingers.

The Barzan who sat in the chair upholstered in a deep red, turned the chair with a deft tick of her heel. Her blue gaze, reminiscent of the elves of fantasy in their oddly vibrant and electric quality, settled on the man. She listened- and seemed to have the immediate air of a listener. She recognized this as a formality; Rhowin knew his face from his profile. When he'd finished the formality, it was Rhowin's turn.

"Computer," she said. "Transfer command of USS Proxima to Captain Marcus Bowers. Authorization Rhowin Tau Tau Four." The computer chirped and trilled a long, drawn-out thinking sound.

"Does Bowers, Marcus, Commanding Officer U.S.S. Hyacinth, concur?" The computer stated. Rhowin began to rise out of the chair.

"Affirm," he started emphasizing the hard a, "I accept command of the USS Proxima as of this date, authorization Bowers Epsilon Delta Four."

The computer chirped as the request was processed, replying, "Transfer of command complete. USS Proxima now under the command of Captain Marcus Bowers."

"Thank you, Commander, I relieve you," still holding the data storage device in his left hand, he extended his right, palm exposed. "Apologies for being a couple of months late. I thank you for getting the ship through shakedown," he added, allowing himself to step down the formality of notch.

The Barzan rose from the chair with a sense that it was somewhat of a relief. She took the new Captain's hand. "I stand relieved. It's a pleasure Captain." She sidestepped from the chair, her hands moving behind her back. "Systems are on standby. We came in with a skeleton crew, about seventy of us. Most of the ship is in low power mode. Fueling and outfitting are underway and we'll begin onboarding command crew and personnel shortly." She reported.

"Excellent," Bowers remarked, "join me in the conference room for a moment, would you?" Releasing his hand, he stepped back towards the turbo-lift, looking around, and unfortunately, the Captain found himself unsure who to leave in charge, "Would you mind assigning the duty officer? I'm afraid I still have some crew updates to review."

"I will join you momentarily," she nodded with the subtle lean of a bow. The doors closed and Rhowin did as questioned, calling up a duty lieutenant. It was more a formality: the ship was mostly powered down and it wasn't going anywhere. Once they arrived, Rhowin moved for the turbolift, took it down, and made her way to the conference room.

She suspected she might as well stay in the room after this meeting: she had dozens to meet. She stepped inside and returned her arms behind her back.

"Please, join me," Marcus said, indicating the chair nearest him. A demure tray with teapot and upturned teacup on its saucer sat in front of him, and another, filled, lay near Marcus. In the time between leaving the Bridge, he had acquired a large PADD and was perusing the contents.

The full cup was exchanged with the PADD as the Captain laid it upon the table and took the vessel in his free hand, sipping the dark brew, "I must say, you've certainly amassed quite the impressive career, Commander. After such a long stint on the Magee, I imagine it might have been difficult to part company. The Proxima must seem cavernous by comparison?"

The Barzan nodded and sidled into the chair with a deft twist of its axis. She sat and turned the seat to face the new-to-her man. He had an unconventional bearing as Captains went, but the Captain of the Magee was a self-purported scientist first and everything else second. Her eyes shifted to the teapot.

Her hands folded in a collapse of fingers between fingers. "It was a little commune of scientists. Everybody knew everyone. We spent months between starbase berths." Her hairless eyebrow notched, amused, "We regularly assigned three people to the Night Shift. Everything else was on automation." She smiled a wide smile that plumped her cheeks into walnuts. "Cavernous. Bustling. Urban." Her feet twisted her chair's axis and then let it swing back. "Constitution classes are notorious for packing the crew in."

"Your last berth was an Akazi-class?"

"The Hyacinth, yes, a bit of a bucket," Bowers responded with a bit of reminiscing of his own. "Around 80 of us across a few decks. Loaded for bear, we kept to anti-pirate activities near the border worlds. More cramped than the Magee however," he pulled a corner of his mouth up, smirking, "Unlike you, we were almost always home in time for supper."

"With no Kzinti in tow?" Rhowin teased. Her shoulders tensed while she leaned on the table. She was more familiar with the design of their ships than she'd like to admit. And the Magee wasn't built for battle.

The smirk quickly faded into sternness as the Captain tugged his tunic straight, leaning back in the chair, "What's your take on this Genesis business? Seems to me that Admiral Kirk's past has brought the Klingons and us to the brink of war. Plus, no doubt, you've heard the rumors around the Bird-of-Prey having not been destroyed?"

"I have," she agreed, working in the reverse order of the Captain's query. "I believe it was last spotted somewhere near Celes and Starbase Twenty. But SB-20 didn't mobilize its defense force. It's interesting that whenever it gets near a Federation world, no one tries to intercept it." She folded her fingers again, "The Klingons summoned the Federation ambassador and demanded a meeting with the Federation Council. And then exiled her." Her electric blue eyes blinked. "They've shuttered Regula One and they're bypassing commercial traffic."

Bowers pondered for a moment, sipping tea, "I've nothing but respect for Admiral Kirk until he stole a Federation Starship, of course, but I've never cared for his command style." He paused, holding the Commander's gaze for a moment, "You'll find me to be a by-the-book Captain, and you'll find I come down forcefully on those to enjoy bending regulations. I trust we'll have no issues in that area, Commander?"

Rhowin nodded her head once, navigating the newness of the moment and its natural choppiness that came with two officers unfamiliar with one another finding their ground. "If we disagree at any point," she gestured toward him, "I will be sure to mention them in private." Rhowin was hedging: she saw no particular issues with a by-the-book style. It was safe. But her time on the border- and the frontier- had showed her that sometimes the book didn't have the answers.

The Captain placed his teacup back on the saucer and stood, "Very well, Commander, then I'm sure we will get on just fine. I'm sure you've got plenty of new faces to square away, so I'll leave you to it. I'll be on the Bridge getting up to speed with what I've missed the last couple of months." He nodded and made to leave, pausing for a moment. He turned back to his First Officer, "Oh, we have a meeting at 0930 with Admiral Collins. No doubt a formality to get our orders. I'll meet you in the transporter room at, say 0910?"

"I will be there," the Barzan agreed with a bob of her head.