Getting brought up to speed.

Posted on Sun Apr 8th, 2018 @ 4:53pm by Captain Andreas O'Shaunessy & Lieutenant Commander Anders Odegaard

Mission: New Ship, New Crew
Location: Captain's Ready Room

It didn't take long for Andreas to put his clothes away and he was starting to get a bit antsy. He looked around his quarters and decided to stretch his legs. He walked along deck 8 and then decided to go and check out his ready room.

Within a few short minutes, he was walking through the bridge and stepped into his ready room. He looked around, taking in the sparsity of the room. "This sure could use personal touches." He said to himself as he sat down behind his desk. Pulling up the schematics and deck listing of the ship, he noted that the machine shop and fabrication centers were on Deck 29. Making a mental note, he knew he'd be spending some of his off time down there to construct the shelving units he'd need for his trinkets and books.

He started visualizing what he wanted and what materials he'd need when a notification popped up on his screen.

He looked over the orders and attached personnel file. "It seems I have an XO." Andreas said with appreciation. He liked what he saw in the files and was surprised that he was due at any time. "They definitely don't waste any time out here!"

——-
The tall dark haired Commander walked down the hall with two Ensigns and a Chief Petty Officer in tow trying to catch up . “Alright then have a Team get to work on upgrading the environmental controls in the Enlisted Crew Quarters.”

“Aye Sir I’ll pass it on.” The Chief said with a nod before turning a corner and disappearing.

“Commander the Captain has arrived and is in his Ready Room.” The female Ensign said sifting through her collection of PADDS.

Odegaard nodded and then halted in front of the Turbolift. “Have Teams Sigma and Tango diverted from Life Support calibrations and move them to the Gravity Plating on Deck 17. And tell the Chief Engineer if he doesn’t like it then he can try floating down the Deck himself.”

With final nods of acknowledgement the two officers then ran off to carry out the orders. Odegaard set the Lift to head to the Bridge. He took a moment to examine his PADD and read up on his new CO. A Delta Quadrant Novice.

When the lift stopped at its destination the Commander stepped out and nodded to the Officer of the Watch and moved to the Ready Room and pressed the Chime.

"Come in." Andreas said as he saved the file he was working on. Getting up and walking around the desk. "Commander Odegaard, I presume?"

“Yes Captain.” He said offering his hand. “Welcome to the USS Alabama.” His Norwegian accent was noticeable but his English was immaculate.

Taking the offered hand, Andreas nodded. "Thank you Commander. Can I get you something to drink?"

“I’m fine thank you Sir.” He said holding his hand up to politely decline the offer. The tall Commander looked around the sparse Ready Room.” Would you like me to fill you in on current Ship status?”

Andreas indicated the chair next to them before walking behind the desk and taking his own seat. "Yes please."

Taking the vacant Seat, Anders began examining the PADD. “We are operating at 85% standard compliment, with new arrivals expected this time tomorrow.” He paused and then carried on. “I’ve got all teams working on environmental issues and grav plating, seems that they were due an overhaul.”

"Sounds like things are under control so far. How is the quartermaster coming with our supplies? Do they need either of us to light any fires?"

"Supplies are arriving steadily, the QM has drawn up a list of recommendations that he feels may be useful for the Delta Quadrant." Anders highlighted the list and forwarded it to the Captains Terminal.

Andreas pulled up and scanned the list. "Most of these items are doable." He said. Looking back up, he continued. "From what I understand, you've been in the DQ already. This is my first time and know only what is in the reports. Is there anything I should know right off the hop?"

"Local Politics isn't as easy to digest as you might think." Odegaard commented to the Captain. "A lot has changed in the last 15 years since USS Voyager was here, Factions like the Hirogen and the Kazon have continued to be something of a pest but they are few and far between."

Odegaard pulled up another file marked as priority. "The key issues remain the same , Borg Ships are a rarity these days but they are long overdue for an encounter if you believe the Experts. Though some consider the Vaadwar to be the new power in the Quadrant."

Andreas looked at the ceiling for a moment as he digested the information. After tapping a few buttons on his console, he brought up a report from the USS Grimes' CO. "According to the Grimes' CO, the Vaadwaur warned him to watch his back out here and that some would be uneasy about Starfleet being here because of the events from 16 years ago. The nosy nelly in me is curious as to what prompted this statement. We haven't received any orders yet, so we may or may not be attempting contact with them at some point."

"I've seen similar encounters from the Talaxians and the Krenim." Odegaard replied. "Luckily for us the only hostilities have been the Hirogen and their encounters with the USS Galileo some months ago."

"Quite true. I remember reading that the USS Hephaistos has had some interactions with the Hirogen as well. I think we'll try to avoid the Hirogen as much as possible for now and try to establish contact with those races who haven't been dealt with over the last 15 years, or more preferably, make first contact with a race the Federations hasn't met yet. We may end up testing our defensive and offensive capabilities while doing so, but we won't know until we try."

"Your Ship, your rules." Odegaard replied with a nod. "From personal experience I believe Starfleet and the Federation as a whole would prefer new allies especially in this region, we are only scratching the surface of a large iceberg."

"I agree completely, Commander." Andreas paused and pulled up the Delta Quadrant Map. "There are a number of systems within a short hop of the Iota station that we can check in with or we can go out further and add details to the DQ map while looking for first contact."

"May I?" Odegaard asked his superior as he looked to the Map. "Recent expeditions have only ventured into here." He said highlighting sections. "USS Pythagoras and a Vulcan Science Ship were stinted to explore Region Sierra 467 Charlie but due to unstable anomalies both Ships were forced to pull out."

"Fair enough. We have some time before our final orders come in, so who knows where we'll be going at this point."

"Very much so." The Commander said to him. "Will there be anything else Captain?"

"That should be it, Commander." Andreas said as he got up. "Thank you for all the information you've given me today. I look forward to serving with you."

With a final nod the Commander stood to attention. "I shall be overseeing the Teams if you require anything else Sir." He then about faced and exited the Ready Room.

Andreas smiled as he sat back down behind his desk, happy with what he saw in his XO.

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LTCMDR Anders Odegaard
Executive Officer
USS Alabama

&

LTCMDR Andreas O'Shaunessy
Commanding Officer
USS Alabama