Passing the Bean

[tr'Jeth Dabi 0]

Torate looked at the bipedal creature as she entered the metallurgic styled office, with just enough light to show her features. The Caitian was brown furred with an athletic build, and closely resembled a panther of the Earth; she waited patiently for the interrogation-slash-meeting with the no nonsense Rihan officer to begin. JoNs adopted a standard parade rest, hind paws square on the deck, free paw behind her back, silver hued flight helmet secured under her other arm.

 

He did not deal with formalities or weaknesses like offering refreshments or chairs to sit in, since there were no such things in his office. He was reviewing her previous experiences aboard Aegis, and at this point, started calling off various events she had been present for:

 

“Academy graduate. Concentration in security and aviation. Pilot during the Dominion War. Served previously on Sky Harbor Aegis in Security. Executive Officer of the USS Excalibur under the command of Captain Ah-Windu Corizon. Injured during a mission campaign against the Boganary* pirate clan. Transferred from the XO assignment to Camelot Station; trained pilots for possible combat against the Scorpiads.*”

 

“How long are you going to be stationed here?” he started off. His eyes then stayed upon the digital file that was covering part of his station schematic, in 4d of course, where he shuffled between layers of write-ups from various department heads and such.

 

“Indefinitely SubCommander. I was due to be rotated back in system, but it would seem the station is considered a bit of a hot zone of activity. My orders were changed, and apparently able bodied officers are needed out here.” If JoNs felt any annoyance at being re-stationed at Sky Harbor or more importantly out in the middle of nowhere, the Caitian let none of it slip back into her tone. She was a soldier, always had been.

 

“Au know the hour is long for shifts.” He paused only a moment to make sure he saw the reaction, then continued, “My lead is also a woman, Lieutenant Spader, pilot lead is Lieutenant Harada. Aus combat training?” Torate didn’t pull a punch or miss a beat, throwing comments and questions quickly at her.

 

“Aye SubCommander. I am rated in combat training. I have been trained with the standard phaser and combat phase rifle. Additional training in hand to hand,” JoNs removed her free paw from behind her back and flexed her claws before continuing, “or hand to paw if you prefer - combat tactics, some sniper training, and familiarity with a variety of bladed weapons.”

 

He caught the little flex after looking away from the digital files, then looked right into her eyes without as much as a change in expression. “Your vision and hearing are more than any lloann’na, according to your file. What frequencies do you listen?”

 

“In a combat or patrol situation, either ground or flight based, my senses and reflexes aid me well. Yes, these natural skills rate higher then Humans and a number of other species, with the exception of Vulcans. I admit to not knowing the specific frequencies SubCommander.”

 

Her ‘not knowing specific frequencies’ confused him, thinking ‘did I not use the right lloann’ae word’, so he flipped one of the medical reports backwards, so she could read from her side.

 

The felinoid’s ears flicked forward in curiosity as she quickly perused the same report that the Rihan officer was referring to. Understanding dawned, as evidenced by a slight purring noise and her tail lashing once.

 

“I see now SubCommander. Due to my sensitive hearing, yes, I am able to discern several varying tones and pitches.”

 

“These help to security.” He made a mental note not to do any whispering when she was on the same deck, if it wasn’t for her ears. He decided to move on to the rest of her indoctrination to this department.

 

“Security Techs (ST) have born in this department since you hovered here. ST Elder expert pilot, the woman ST Rutian has expert hand knife solution,” though he wanted to omit the last, he decided to test this Commander’s skills, “and ST Bean. He will be in your cup.” Torate didn’t expand on the problems with Bean, rather he left it up to her to learn the lazy problems and find his special sleeping closet. If a commander, and a woman, could do anything with Bean except kick him to the curb, tr’Jeth Dabi would gain a little respect.

 

JoNs flipped an ear back in curiosity. “If I may ask SubCommander, is this Bean a problem officer within your department?” The felinoids bright green eyes fixed on the male Rihan. She’d never been the prying type, but like any department, there were rumors and she had picked up on one or two.

 

“He is nothing spectacticle,” Torate said dismissively; she’d find out soon enough. “Your shifts will be 3rd and 4th, unless needed on the others. Au are not given special privileges being Commander, and report to the woman Spader on the station, and Harada out in the fighters.” He considered having her be in charge of the calisthenics for the station crew each morning, since she had a remarkable athletic build, but figured he’d get to that in time.

 

Instead, he just dropped all requalifications on her to see how she’d handle the strain. “Retrain the holodeck and turn your scores for hit/miss ratio of 2 second delay, no more. Weapons updated since your station rights. Make sure training is dated for weapons, verify with the woman, Spader, and see Harada for any pilot requals. Report to medical for a full physical update.”

 

When she left, he watched her tail swish as the doors closed behind her, wondering if that thing would be useful in a hand fight. Perhaps he’d peek at her Holodeck workouts.

 

* Note: Boganary mission and Scorpiads copyright the STSF USS Excalibur Sim.