The New Second in Command

Posted on Sat Apr 29th, 2017 @ 2:24pm by Captain Liarra Von

Von waited as patiently as she could at the airlock, watching the stream of passengers exit the transport and go on their way. Talelle stood by her side with a PADD, reading off the list of credentials for the station's newest executive officer, but Von had already read the report a few times. She was barely listening. Instead, thoughts about how she was meeting another new executive officer after only recently seeing off her last one. In what was becoming a growing trend, Starbase 332 was becoming a farm for experienced officers to be given their own commands. It seems the conflict between the Gorn and the Klingons had intensified enough that Starfleet wanted to reinforce the border, and commanders that were familiar with the region were being offered commands. It was bittersweet to welcome a new second-in-command. There was always a learning curve as the two get familiar with each other, and usually that meant a little more work for her as the new officer got up to speed. But she couldn't be angry either. She was proud of Soleck for getting his own ship, even if he didn't share that pride.

Her new first officer brought with him an impressive resume. He was an expert tactician, which would bolster her own strengths in that field. But he was also well trained in diplomacy, a skill that Liarra felt she strongly lacked. Memories of the disaster at Myaz still lingered, though she tried to tell herself that Vaishaa would have gotten what she wanted regardless. Still, it was a weakness that Luciano would help shore up. But perhaps most importantly, he ran a tight ship. He demanded excellence from the officers under his command, and Von wouldn't have it any other way.

Luciano stepped off the transport to the station upto now he'd read a great deal about, during his transit he'd read what he could about past missions, brushed up on the Senior Staff, key figures and areas that he felt could use improvement. While he had ideas he knew this was Captain Von's command so he'd be more then happy to take his issues to her as they arose. From what he had read the station had seen action but it was questionable as to who came off better and who was the victor in it, then the crash landing of the Captain and her CAG made for an interesting read. Image showing true he picked out Captain Von waiting for him.

"Captain Von, Commander Leonardo Luciano, reporting as your new Executive Officer." He handed over the PADD detailing his orders. His thick Italian accent clear as day to hear.

Liarra took a quick glance at the PADD, skimming over the orders just to make sure that she did indeed have the correct officer standing in front of her. "Welcome aboard, Commander. I hope you're trip out here was pleasant." She handed the PADD to Talelle. "This is Warrant Officer Talelle. She's assigned as the command staff yeoman, so if you ever need anything, her desk is right around the corner from your office." Her hand now free, Von extended it towards the Italian man. "As for me, I'm Captain Liarra Von. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Leo shook the offered hand. "Its a pleasure." He looked at the two women. "I've reviewed the last few missions, service jackets of the senior staff and the latest department reports. I just hope I can be of some help." Leo spoke warmly.

"I have no doubt that you will be, Commander," Von replied, releasing his hand. "We're the last major hub on this side of the Federation." Liarra gestured down the corridor. "If you keep going that way, you'll run into the frontier. That makes us a popular destination for travelers, merchants, and thieves. And as you've read, the occasional terrorist. We can use all the help we can get."

"On my trip here I have a number of ideas that I'd like to run past you when you feel it would be suitable, they are not urgent but just a few things that I thought might help." Leo spoke as he gave warm smiles to both. "Would it be possible to see my office, I'd like to hit the ground running and thought the best place would be where I'd spend most of my time or administrative duties?"

"I look forward to hearing your ideas, Commander." Liarra gestured down the corridor. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to your new office. It's a big station, but if you do get lost, there are a surprising number of directories. Most of them only cover the deck you are on, but at least it will get you in the right direction."

"Of course." Leo understood and with the pair of ladies he followed them down the corridor.

After a long walk and some small talk, the trio arrive on Deck 12, near Ops. Although there was a convenient turbolift near the offices, Von chose to take Luciano through Ops first. "Commander, welcome to the station's main operations center. From here we can monitor most station systems, and coordinate through the subsystem control rooms." She took a moment to allow Luciano a chance to look around at the many consoles. The room was much larger than a typical starship bridge, but the station had many more operations to manage. The centerpiece of the room was the situation table, complete with the master systems displace and a holographic recreation of the station and the surrounding space. Von gestured towards a set of transparent aluminum paned double doors set across from the situation table. "My office is there, though there is a second door on the side. You're office is right over here." A second single door was located to the left, this one also built with transparent aluminum panels.

Main Operations was an impressive sight indeed, with people working and scores of systems, readings and consoles to monitor it truly was a scene to behold. He took note where Von's office was as no doubt he'd visit it many times during his tenure here. "I read the report about the attack, has the station returned to full operational status yet or are repairs still underway?" To be effective in any task Leo liked to know all the pieces on the board first.

"We're still repairing some superficial damage, and there are a few section still closed off to non-essential personnel," Von replied, gesturing over towards the master systems display. "But all major systems are fully operational. We're mostly just finishing the cleanup and putting on a fresh coat of paint, so to speak."

"How has the region been effected by the attack? Have we lost some confidence from the local populations?" Leo asked, wars and conflicts could be won by public opinions, supplies and much needed materials were easier to obtain if the opinion of those receiving them was good.

Von sighed. "Unfortunately, it's hard to tell. The current Archan government has been going through an anti-Starfleet phase, mostly blaming our presence on the Sojourner activity, which in turn has hurt their tourism industry. Their entire economy has taken a bit of a hit for that. It would have been better after the Sojourners threw nearly everything that they had against us, but their former allies, the Ritorians, used the power vacuum to take over everything that the Sojourners had controlled. So the worlds that we couldn't protect from one totalitarian government now finds themselves under the control of another one. Since the Federation never recognized the Sojourners as a legitimate government, it made it easier for us to act against them. We don't have that luxury when it comes to the Ritorians. So the state of the region is not necessarily better or worse, just a different version of what they had before. At least we think so. Ever since the battle, the Ritorians have been almost Romulan in their counter-intelligence operations. We haven't been able to get much information across the border."

"I see." Leo spoke as he absorbed that bit of information. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to get settled in, brush up on a few things now that I am here on the station. I don't want to walk in unprepared for a situation that could have been avoided by reading a report or some news on it" Leo asked, keen to get started, but started on the right foot.

"Of course, Commander. Talelle can get you anything you need. Just let her know." Liarra extended her hand to Luciano's again. "It is a pleasure to have you aboard, Commander. I think we will work well together."

Captain Liarra Von
Commanding Officer
Starbase 332

Commander Leonardo Luciano
Executive Officer
Starbase 332