Settling In

Posted on Sun Aug 23rd, 2020 @ 7:55pm by Ensign Zinzeria Cavanaugh
Edited on on Sun Aug 23rd, 2020 @ 7:56pm

Mission: Welcome Aboard!
Location: USS Liberty

The tingle of the transporter was a sensation that Zinzeria was pretty sure they'd never get used to, but a language specialist rarely had a need to go frittering about from ship to the surface so comfort wasn't entirely a necessary skillset. Plus, there were always the shuttles. The shuttles were amazing. Transporters weren't the worst though, and that tingling sensation kinda tickled? Whichever it was, the Ensign shimmered into appearance right on schedule, met by the grin of the Caitian Petty Officer manning the transporter controls. Unable to contain themself, they bounded forward, a bag of personal effects swinging at their side, and offered a hand. They wanted to make a good impression with the first crewmember they interacted with aboard their first ship posting.

"Oh goodness! A Caitian! You do not know how good it is to see some variety after years out at the edge of Klingon space. Not that there's a problem with Klingons, but that is a lot of unnecessary masculinity jockeying around, you know? I actually rode aboard a Shikaris Escort on my way out to Q'Tahl. The crew was way friendlier than the Vulcans on the science ship that brought me to the Liberty. Really the Klingons have more in common with the Kzinti, but they seemed to have a good relationship with..." Zinzeria's voice trailed off, and their cheeks flushed a darker shade of green. The smile on the Petty Officer's face was strained, and the Orion carefully released their hand. "Oh gosh... I am so sorry. Sometimes I get so excited and the words just bubble up and over. I really am not this babble-headed I swear, it's just that this is my first starship posting, an exciting sentiment that I am sure you can relate to, and for it to be a ship as impressive as the Liberty? I swear it's made me clean forget my manners. Ensign Zinzeria Cavanaugh, Language Specialist, reporting for duty."

Reclaiming their hand the Caitian gave the specialist a pained smile. "Welcome aboard, Ensign. May I be the first to welcome you aboard the USS Liberty?" The friendliness of the words was slightly betrayed by the officer quickly stepping back behind the controls to avoid being trapped in another too long handshaking session. Zinzeria laughed ruefully, tucking their free hand behind their back and stilling the tapping of their luggage against their side.

"I thank you for the welcome, Chief. Why don't I just get out of your hair and let you do your job." Quelled for only a moment, Zinzeria turned and flung themself out into the hallway, grinning like an idiot as they took in the nearly empty corridors. Soon they would be bustling with life. Even now there was support staff and the odd officer moving to and fro, getting settled in and running the laundry list of checks that had to be completed before the Liberty could set off on her first mission. Waving at anyone who made eye contact with them, was that a Trill that just turned the corner up ahead? Distracted for a moment they nearly walked into the wall beside the turbo-lift. With a laugh, they shook themself off and headed to their new quarters.

________

Well, these just wouldn't do at all. The Orion placed hands on their hips and inspected the spartan quarters with the eye of someone not accustomed to shipboard life. They needed some paintings, and so many blankets and pillows. Even their quarters on Q'Tahl Station had been cozier than this. Placing their bag down they got to work, first moving every single piece of furniture out of the main room and into the bedroom. Once the bedroom was set up more like a dining/sitting room, they made several trips back and forth to the main replicators, not just for the requisite uniforms, but for blankets and cushions, mostly in traditional Orion designs. The real kicker was how many new patterns they had to program into the bloody replicator to get exactly what they wanted. Hopefully, the Quartermaster wouldn't be sending inquiries to their quarters any time soon.

With everything finally arranged the way they wanted it, they stepped back to inspect the main room's new design with a critical eye. No longer a spartan setting of table and chairs and once comfortable couch, it now had netting on a support structure, taking up two-thirds of the area, and full of soft cushions and thick, plush blankets. The computer settings for the room controls were set to slightly colder than standard, the lighting lowered to just above dim making a warm, welcoming atmosphere that reminded them of home. Maybe it wasn't exactly regulation, but Starfleet was pretty lenient when it came to meeting the needs of the many different species that made up the corps. Was it taking advantage? Maybe. But Zinzeria expected to spend a lot of time onboard the Liberty, and that required a few creature comforts. Moving into the other room they put up the items from their carry on, setting them in a neat row along the table they had moved from the main room, smiling and trailing their fingers along the outline of their mother's face. Well, now the Liberty was officially home. Time to go meet some of their fellow crew members. Now what deck were the Science Ops on again?

-Ensign Zinzeria Cavanaugh, Language Specialist