Meeting the New Pilot

Posted on Thu May 18th, 2023 @ 9:46am by Captain Lukas Fredricks & Lieutenant Kod'ar

720 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Prelude: Getting Ready to Depart
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD2 - 1230 Hours

Lukas stood at the window in his ready room with a coffee in hand as he looked down at Mars. He always liked Utopia Planetia, the views you got of the planet down below were always spectacular.

His door chime sounding brought him back from his gazing to his ready room window. "Come in, please." He said without turning to face the door.

Kod'ar stepped through the aperture into the Captain's ready room. The Vulcan sported the traditional hair cut associated with his species, but rather than common black hair his was more auburn/red. He approached the commanding officers desk and placed a data pad on it gently. "Captain. Lieutenant Kod'ar reporting as ordered." he spoke in a tone void of emotion, it was almost mono-tone.

Seeing a new face in the reflection of his ready room window, Fredricks turned to face the newcomer as he spoke. "Welcome to the Britannic, Lieutenant. I read in your file that you retired from Starfleet several years ago."

"Yes Captain. Prior to the war I was retired, and prior to that I worked for Starfleet Intelligence. As for why Starfleet Intelligence needed a pilot, I would suggest that question be directed to them." He stood at attention, rigid, logically. His arms crossed infront of this waist.

"Yes, i noticed the usual personnel file of an intelligence officer. There's quite a lot of redacted information in there, even for me who has a higher clearance level than most Captain's." Lukas replied, showing a limited amount of emotion. Having dealt with many Vulcan's over the course of his career, showing them any type of emotion wasn't necessary. "I don't suppose you can fill in any relevant information that might be missing?"

"No. I can not." he stated rather bluntly, "Needless to say, my 30 year tour of duty prior to the war was ..." he took a philosophical pause, "varied."

Lukas nodded, he knew he wouldn't get anything from the Vulcan but if you don't ask you don't know. "So, what made you choose flight control when coming back to Starfleet? I'm sure you could have had any choice of assignment, including going back to into Intelligence."

"It was a logical choice, Captain. Starfleet is short on pilots, I happen to be qualified to pilot almost any craft big or small. Where as, Starfleet has more than enough Intelligence operatives at the moment. Both as a consequence of the war." his head dropped for a brief section as he looked at the decking below.

"You felt the need to stay with Starfleet even though the war has now finished?" Lukas asked, wanting to understand the Lieutenant's motives for staying in uniform.

He nodded, "The needs of the many, Captain. I undertook a variety of operations on behalf of Starfleet during the war, with extreme prejudice. It was logical. I request this assignment and rank reduction, in order to ..." he paused once again to consider his wording, "atone for those actions."

"Britannic's overall mission will help you atone, Mr Kod'ar. I saw my own horrors of the war and need some peace myself." He gave the Vulcan a brief smile. "I'm sure what you did was necessary for the overall goal of winning the war."

“Indeed Captain. As I take up this role, is there anything I should be made aware of?” He raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"We'll probably be heading back to assist the Cardassian rebuilding effort in some shape or form. Will this be a problem for you?" The Captain asked.

"Negative Captain." he provided no further information that was absolutely necessary on this occasion. Unknown to his Captain, and his fellow crew members Kod'ar had recently completed another Kolinahr ritual cleansing himself of the last residuals of emotion. He was as stoic as a Vulcan could be.

"Good." The Captain replied with a nod. "Is there any questions you'd like to ask?"

The Vulcan shook his head to indicate a negative response. "Negative Captain. If there is nothing else, I would be grateful for the opportunity to get my quarters established prior to my first duty shift."

"Of course, Lieutenant. Again, welcome aboard the Britannic. I look forward to working with you." The Captain replied.

"And I, you, Captain." He nodded, ready to be dismissed.

"Carry on, Lieutenant." Fredricks said with an approving nod.

 

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