Disheveled and On The Level

Posted on Mon Mar 17th, 2025 @ 4:22am by Lieutenant Commander Valerie Novis & Captain T’Kal

1,629 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X01: Bound for Cold Frontier

ON

The ship was still abuzz with activity. Crew both old and new were returning after the refit, getting settled, and getting their good working habits started. Some of the senior staff were present and had begun refining their Departments to fit their command styles, much as Captain T’Kal was doing herself.

She stood at the gangway on Deck 6. A steady stream of officers, enlisted personnel, and starbase staff were coming aboard, whether to settle or put the final touches on the latest refits. Virtually all of them offered a nod and a quick “Captain” to her as they walked past, and she returned the nods and their rank greetings politely. She would be working with them for the next several years, she knew, and while it was not logical to get to know every single new arrival, the aloof, cold, or distant attitudes of most Vulcans in positions of command seemed equally illogical.

She kept her eyes open, scanning the incoming crew for a Trill woman wearing security green.

The trip had been the next version of Hell for Valerie, the Vulcan Warp Shuttle that had been placed at her disposal had been of one of the most modern designs thus far, but that only meant it could attain and hold one of the highest warp factors of any ship in the Federation, not that it was built for comfort. It had a pilot's seat and a four square meter 'area' that was meant for the person in it to stretch their legs, get some sleep and the like. If they were a Vulcan, it would have been tolerable, but they had the patience for it all. Instead she'd spent the two days and four hours of her trip feeling like a dog in a kennel and no amount of reports and training katas had been able to keep her from getting hot and antsy. Especially as she discovered two hours out of Starbase 33 that the environmental system wasn't functioning properly.

Even now as the temperature controlled air of Earth Starbase had felt like it was frozen, she'd still unsealed her uniform jacket, instead of just the highlights of her uniform indicating her background in Tactical, but the dark green shirt she wore underneath it shouting it to the entire base. Now came the question: Where would she meet Captain T'Kal? The name was familiar to her and she knew that she'd met the Vulcan before, and relatively recently too, which meant at the Starbase, but she still couldn't place the exact situation as she dealt with many people constantly.

The person T'Kal was expecting ended up being rather obvious, the disheveled look of one who had traveled far and uncomfortably, presently suffering under environmental conditions opposite what she had come from. The dark green undershirt was the final, conclusive clue.

"Lieutenant Commander Novis?" she said as the Trill woman reached her in the gangway. "I see your journey was...less than ideal?"

Valerie steered herself over to where the Vulcan had spoken and took a look a couple inches up and to her face. Yes, definitely recognized her, for a tour on Starbase 33 about a year and a half ago? Something like that at least. She tried to smile, but it was clearly not a fully successful effort, “Yes, ma’am, the warp shuttle I was assigned had a malfunctioning environmental system, but I didn’t discover that until I was too far away to return while still making the schedule you required of me. It wouldn’t budge from 48 degrees, so I know a Vulcan was the last to use it. It was quite tiring, ma’am.”

Well, we know she has a strong constitution, T'Kal thought privately. "Hopefully Spacedock Operations can get it repaired before it is required for another mission." She extended her hand for the handshake greeting so common to Federation species. "As you've likely surmised, I am T'Kal, Captain of the Ark Royal. Welcome aboard."

Valerie took the hand and gripped it firmly for the handshake, “Thank you, ma’am, it’s a pleasure to be here. I arranged for my baggage to be transported aboard, what there is of it, but I’ll admit that I’m surprised I was assigned here, Captain, certainly you had the choice of someone with much more experience than I have? I happen to know that Commander Cantrell of the Havilland was looking to upgrade from his slot on a Miranda-class, at least that’s what he was telling me last week when he was docked at ‘33.”

“Commander Cantrell is a fine First Officer,” T’Kal agreed as they started walking into the ship. “He is doing good things on the Havilland. And there he shall remain.” They followed the corridor around toward the quarters reserved for the ship’s most senior officers. “In truth he lacks specific expertise that I need on this mission. I expect this mission will eventually bring us into direct conflict with the Klingon Empire, Commander, and as such I want my First Officer to have expertise in tactical starship command.” The doors opened into Valerie’s new quarters. When the door closed behind them she continued. “Further, I recall from last meeting that you did excellent work for Starfleet Intelligence while posted at our embassy on Romulus.”

Valerie’s eyes widened as they entered her new quarters, purely at the size of them. As a senior officer aboard the Carnarvon, she’d had her own as well, but nothing like this. Of course, the Miranda-class was smaller and just didn’t have a lot of room, but still. Compared to the strange? This was actually about the same size, but on a starSHIP. “I did spend a fair amount of time on Romulus, Captain, but I was mostly a Gofer because I was so junior.” A thought crossed Valerie’s mind as she casually stated the fact, but the thought that T’Kal Knew was absurd, “The one bit of excitement when I was backing up Kyra in that operation nearly got me killed.” She shook her head slowly. Now, if the pattern were the normal, she’d be asked about the similarities between Kyra Novis and now Valerie Novis. But she was well trained.

T’Kal did not disappoint. “Tell me about Kyra Novis, and your experience with her that led you to take her last name.”

“That’s a combination tragedy and comedy story, if I’m being honest, ma’am.” Valerie began, having had to tell this particular story on Trill a hundred times before going back to duty, so much that at this point she even believed it to be true if anyone had been scanning her for the truth, “Commander Novis and I were on an Intel pickup from one of her sources, but we didn’t know that their own people had made him. Under the guise of a barfight, they attacked the both of us, I was in a booth as her backup, but purportedly out for a drink separate from her, you see, but I’m obviously Trill. Both of us were seriously injured, but even though we made it back to the Embassy, I made it through… Kyra didn’t. I was bad enough off that they sent me back to Trillius Prime for recovery and because I’d developed a mental issue from it, psychological treatment. It was there that I met Kyra’s cousin, Melliat, and while we were reminiscing about our experiences with her, we fell in love and got married before I was redeployed. He… Died in a shuttle accident four months after I left home, but I kept his name as a memory of him.” She ended on a somber note.

“I understand,” T’Kal said, nodding. “But it is much of the knowledge gained working with Commander Novis that will be an asset for our work. I anticipate working closely with Starfleet Intelligence. Potentially meeting with officers or agents on the ground in neutral space. Definitely using products they send us to accomplish our mission. I understand the politics of Starfleet Command, Ms. Novis. I understand how to use intelligence products to inform decision-making. But I lack experience in areas where you excel, or at least where your competence exceeds mine. Do you understand?”

“Of course, Captain, starship combat tactics and intelligence analysis.” Valerie now actually felt comfortable with those assignments, in fact knowing they were the reason she’d been picked gave her a warm feeling, but a voice in the back of her head reminded her that this could still get dangerous. “Analyst was my primary function when working with Intelligence in any case, it isn’t all action and shooting our way out of tight spots like too many people believe it to be. If it ever gets that far, someone has truly screwed up royally. As for any meets that need made, I can handle those as well if we can’t make the situation safe enough to risk you, ma’am.” She had let her eyes wander around the quarters as she talked, yes, roomy indeed for a starship.

“Between the two of us, and the rest of our assembling senior staff, we should be an effective team then,” T’Kal observed. “Familiarize yourself with the ship, XO. Departure is scheduled for four days and sixteen hours from now. And, welcome aboard.”

‘Welcome aboard.’ Two simple words, but they meant the world to anyone who was in limbo on where they were assigned. Valerie nodded once, “Thank you, Captain. Thank you very much.”

END


Captain T’Kal
Commanding Officer, USS Ark Royal

Lieutenant Commander Valerie Novis
Executive Officer
Chief Tactical Officer, USS Ark Royal

 

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