Borrowing the Captain's Ready Room

Posted on Tue Feb 7th, 2017 @ 5:36pm by Commander Mal Xustos & Lieutenant Commander T'Pral Jordan
Edited on on Tue Feb 7th, 2017 @ 5:37pm

Mission: Refit Rondo
Location: Bridge/Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: Current

T'Pral was thankful for taking the time to study the deck layout of the Hera, though she still needed the computer to guide her to her quarters to drop off her duffel bag and then to the nearest turbolift, which she now stepped on. "Bridge." The turbolift hummed as it began it's journey through the ship, soon coming to a stop. The doors opened to reveal the bridge. T'Pral took a step out and took in the surroundings as crew went to and from their stations which beeped as they processed information requested by the stations' current owner.

Mal was sitting in the command chair overseeing the bridge crew as they all began to test out the new bridge module. Not all of the department heads were aboard yet so junior officers were filling in. He looked up when the turbolift doors opened and Lieutenant Jordan stepped out.

"Welcome to the chaos, Lieutenant," Mal said. "Can I help you with something?"

T'Pral's attention turned to the Pomtoli who had addressed her and approached him. "Lieutenant T'Pral Jordan, reporting for duty as the ship's Security and Tactical Chief, sir."

Mal smiled.

"Lieutenant Jordan!" he said. "Of course! We've been expecting you. Please, join me in the captain's ready room. My ready room has yet to be furnished."

Mal gestured to the the Lieutenant JG at the science station that she should take the conn. The young lieutenant made her way down to the command chair as Mal got out of it. He led the way to the captain's ready room.

"I hope you won't mind sharing the couch with me," he said, gesturing that she should sit first. "I'm reluctant to sit at the captain's desk, even if she's not using it right now."

T'Pral nodded. "That's understandable, sir," she replied, sitting down in a perfect posture, keeping her back straight.

"So," he said. "I've read some of your file. You're an impressive officer. Good academy standing. According to reports, you acquitted yourself well against Orion pirates that had ambushed the USS Excalibur. Your mother is Melissa Jordan, yes? Captain Melissa Jordan?"

"Thank you, sir," she said with a grin. "My mother is currently on her last mission to patrol the Briar Patch aboard the Indianapolis before her retirement."

The grin was unexpected but pleasing. Expressions of emotions were not the norm for Vulcan's. T'Pral was very attractive and even more so when she smiled. Of course the ship's executive officer couldn't tell a new officer reporting in that he thought she was attractive, so he kept his mouth shut and his mind on his work.

"I met your mother once," Mal replied. "Lovely woman and by reputation a fine captain. So, back to business. How much experience do you have with the Nebula Class?"

"None, sir. I've only served aboard an Excelsior Class and a Excalibur Class during my time with Starfleet. However, I am familiar with the Nebula Class' specifications," T'Pral stated.

"Excellent," Mal said. "Then you know that the Nebula has a modular pod that attaches to the top rear of the saucer section. There are a variety of pods. Tactical Pods provide extra fire power in the form of a huge projectile magazine loaded with photon and quantum torpedoes. There's a medical pod which greatly expands a Nebula's medical response capabilities. There's a personnel pod that can be used for things like troop transport or large scale evacuations. There is also a 'fighter' or 'carrier' pod that allows a Nebula Class to act as a small to medium capacity carrier. The Hera is equipped with a newer pod especially designed for Intelligence use. It has some tactical capabilities, such as advanced electronic and information warfare hardware, as well as other forms of Intelligence gathering. You'll need to become familiar with its tactical capabilities without delving too deeply into its Intelligence capabilities. Even the Captain and I run into issues of security clearance when dealing with those. You can discuss some of this with Commander Eneas. As she is becoming familiar with the pod's capabilities as we speak, the two of you may be able to discover ways that the pod can be used tactically that are not in the manuals."

"Fascinating," T'Pral said as she dissected the information given to her. The Security and Intelligence Departments often worked and sometimes bumped heads over issues and regards to security clearances. "I will make it a point to speak with her at my earliest convenience."

"Excellent," Mal said. "Well, that's all the business I have at the moment. Is there anything you can think of that we haven't covered?"

"Not at the moment," she replied. "I should go and meet with my department and see what weapons and equipment we might require. She then stood from the couch. "If there is nothing else, sir?"

Mal rose to his feet and indicated that T'Pral should precede him out of the captain's ready room.

"You are dismissed, Lieutenant Jordan," he said. "I look forward to working with you."

With that, the two officers got back to work.