Station III - The Neolyte Station

Arrival

by Michael G. Crawford

Captain Jennifer Presinden stepped through the airlock, expecting something, anything, much different than what greeted her. The main docking port was usually off the major throughfares of a space station, especially since this area was not used much. But at Neolyte Station it was supposed to be different. And it was just that different. All around the entry area, workers were already engrossed in the fine art of building a commerical entry port. Food, clothing, and accessories were not the only shops she could see under construction. A virtual reality parlor was being built to the right, and what appeared to be one helluva large multi-national bank, restaurant, and travel service area was going up on her right.

However, this wasn't the major shock she had received. As an arriving officer, she at least had expected some kind of welcome. "Hell No!" she sub-vocalized. As a Captain she deserved a large fanfare, damnit. At least the exec should have shown up and made a gesture of welcome to the new boss.

It struck her that she was not only pissed, but a bit hurt as well. The hurt she would get over...one didn't get to be Captain by nursing hurt feelings very long. At the same time, one also didn't get to be Captain by putting up with a military affront, let alone a politcal and personal one to boot. Unless she heard a good reason, someone was going to pay hell for this.

She took a moment to stand out of the main path off the shuttle, and looked around her at the hub-bub.
"What a frickin' mess" she said to no one in particular. A voice behind her agreed,

"Yes Sir, I'd say that about sums it up." It was the somewhat shy Ensign from the shuttle.

Looking at the young man's nametag, she smiled and decided the least she could do was start her welcome policy out right. "Welcome to Neolyte Station Ensign Trang. Notice the vast array of new and interesting facilities on this first of commerical enterprises for the WSC."

His grin at her aplomb and sudden tour guide air made Jennifer return the gesture by taking his arm and beginning a stroll down the wide area of Neolyte Station's Docking Bay 1.

Perched on a long acceleration couch stolen from a fast pursuit interceptor that had run afoul of a small micro metorite storm, a lanky officer put his foot up on the edge of the security console. He was watching the arrivals come off the latest shuttle, when a tall woman caught his eye. Zooming the surviellance camera in, he dropped his foot and quite loudly, but well below a shout, said "Shit!".

A moment later, a buzzing sounded in the slightly more than spartan quarters of Lt. Commander Elias Tenson. Tenson was deep in sleep, but the habits of command for the last 18 years had made him a creature of habit if nothing else. He was instantly awake, and just as instantly alert. Who knows what the buzzer meant in mid-sleep period.

"Tenson here".

"Get your butt up and out, Elias. The Captain is here!"

"Quit fucking with me Buddy. She's not due until 02:30 tomorrow."

"Yeah, well, we heard she was a sneaky one. Here...", and Buddy Johnson reached over to pipe the image onto the exec's small screen in quarters. "...take a look for yourself.

Snarling his own string of silent oaths, Elias began to work on how he was going to save his ass now. If possible, he might even get to stay on board. Now he began to contemplate where the best place to make his appearance was.

"Hey buddy, I want you to do me a favor." As Tenson explained his idea, Buddy groaned and replied, "Ah man, this is not going to work."

"Give it a chance!" replied Elias retorted and as he was finished dressing, he sped out the door heading to the command deck. If this worked he would thank the stars. What a mess!

And "what a mess" was still echoing in Captain Presinden's mind. Everywhere they looked at the station, she saw litter. Not intentional, she reminded herself, just not "ship shape' as her father would have said it. Perhaps an earlier Presinden might have used "Bristol Fashion". In any case, it was clear that the construction crews were not being policed all that well. Who in the hell was in charge of facilities, and where the hell was security? Truly a class one cluster fuck. Unbelievable.

Behind her, the almost too quiet throb of a warning horn announced the recycling of the airlock as the shuttle that had dropped her was preparing to yaw away in order to let the next shuttle glide in for an approach and docking. She knew that this was the high tide point of transfers, so she decided to truly engage herself in manning her own policy.

"Ensign you are now the official greeter...", and was surprised to see the young man's downtrodden face, if only for a moment reflecting the impact of the news.

"Don't worry, I have someone else in mind for the permanent job. This is just for the benefit of the next few shuttles. I want our new people to feel welcome aboard this mess. So cheer up Ensign."

"Yes Sir" replied the young man, and before he could snap a salute, she gave him a small gesture with her hand to let him know it really wasn't necessary. She wasn't a prig, just a little miffed.

Turning to the door, she waited for the batch of new arrivals.

She didn't wait too long, as a young woman ducked through the cumbersome airlock and straightened up, then bracing in a salute.

"Lt. Commander Winston, reporting Sir."

Jennie returned the Salute, and with a warm smile, "Welcome aboard Neolyte Station, Commander" she replied, dropping the "Lt." as was the informal tradition between those of command rank. "Excuse our mess, but as you will discover, the station is at a special transition right now. In fact, one of your first duties will be to help me sort some of this out. For now, we'll have to get you folks situated. I beleive your our new Security Officer..." and when the young officer nodded her head, she continued, "You will notice the fast food place at the end of this corridor is open, I suggest you take a moment to relax over there, and we'll be over in a bit to get you assigned quarters. Keep a receipt. I will let you stay on your travel orders until we have a more formal arrival in my office."

Jennie motioned in the direction of the correct corridor in a polite manner and turned to great the next member of her new crew.

After the last of the twenty person contingent on the last shuttle had walked off toward the corrider, she turned to Ensign Trang, and said, "Thank you for your assistance, Trang. You certainly looked the part. Now let's go find out what the hell is going on here."

She moved over what appeared to be a brand new comm panel. Seeing it was lit with power, she pressed the intercom switch. "Command Center" she intoned, and when an answering face and voice appeared on the small screen, she continued, "This is Captain Presinden, patch me through to the exec of the station."

"Just a moment, Sir, he is in Security."

"Tenson" a face appeared on the screen, the man obviously having just straightened up and dusting his hands.

"Nice to see you are alive and well, Tenson. My name is Presinden. Would you mind doing a few things for me, if you can find the time."

"Yes Sir. Sorry Sir...well I'll explain it all later. What can I do for you, Sir."

"Get someone to the McDonalds over here and pick up the incoming crew, and escort them to their quarters. It's part of my new welcome policy."

"Right away, Sir. And where will you be, if I may ask, Sir?"

"You and I are meeting in the Captain's Office in about five minutes. I am bringing my adjacent with me."

Ensign Trang kept a blank look on his face quite well despite his sudden reassignment. It was clear the young man was ill at ease, but Jennie was sure the little camera wouldn't pick up enough detail to let the Exec in on the ruse.

"Yes Sir. Five Minutes. Tenson Out".

"So let's go adjacent. If anyone asks how long you have been in my service, be polite and let them know that it is a matter of security and and you cannot speak further about that subject."

At a confused nod from the young officer, Jennie spun around and began the short journey to the command deck of the station. Fortunately, she had been able to get a clear picture of the layout in her mind, so it wasn't hard to navigate to her new offices.

Sarah stood when a short man with the Lt. Commander's two broad and thin central stripe on his collar stepped into the McDonalds.

"Lt. Commander Winston" she said as she stuck her hand out.

"And I'm Lt. Commander Bushy, the Quarter Master, at least temporarily. The Exec asked me to welcome you..." and he turned a bit so he was addressing the junior officers in the room as well, "..to Station III. We apologize for the bit of disorganization at your arrival, but we have had a difficult time over the last few days. However, now that we have all this great help, I'm sure things will be whole lot smoother".

The officers, Sarah included, smiled at the Quarter Master appreciating his smooth effort at making them feel not only welcome, but needed. It was becoming to appear they were receiving red carpet treatment, first the greeting by the Captain no less, and now one of the Senior Officers to help them with their bunks. Nice touch. She was going to like this place.

She was going to hate this place, she decided. Jennie had nearly gotten lost twice on the way to the command deck. Ensign Trang didn't seem to notice, and she realized she had forgotten something rather important. She stopped dead in her tracks, and because of the clip she had unconciously been moving, the poor young Ensign had to move like a cat in order to keep from smacking right into her.

"Ensign, why are you here?"

"Sir? You asked me to foll..."

"No no no. What is your assignment on board Station III?"

"I was posted here as a computer operations officer, Sir." his face a study of polite wonder.

"Ahh. That will become an asset I am sure." She stepped over to another comm station, and to her own wonder, it too was operational. At least someone was following the safety protocol. That was a healthy sign.

"Computer Center" she intoned, and then replied to the response, "This is Captain Presinden. I'd like to see the Center's commander in my office in five minutes. Pass it along"

"Aye Aye, Sir' replied the U.S. Marine that answered the call. It was nice to see some real soldiers on board, she thought to herself. You never knew when you might need a Marine. She had to stiffle another smile breaking out as she remembered a certain Marine who taught her that phrase back at the Academy.

"Well come on, Trang. We'll let your new boss meet your real boss, and break the news he is still without his new Computer Ops guy."

Trang once again did a remarkable job of holding his surprise and chagrin in. It was a masterful perfomance, and Jennie knew this was despite no small amount of concern the young man might be having for his well ordered computer programmer career. Tough for him now, but he appeared to have the guts she might be needing in the near future.

As she neared the command deck, she recognized that the choas of the main airlock had been left far behind, and as she passed a door marked "Computer Center", she nearly bumped into a fast moving oriental woman who was, at the same time as hurrying down the corridor, buttoning up her tunic.

"Excuse me, I'm on my way to Command Deck..." the ops guru was saying, when she was able to pick out the rank on Jennie's collar.

"Guess I don't need to hurry, Sir" she said smiling a bit nervously.

"Guess not Lieutenant. I'd like you to meet my adjutant, Ensign Trang."

"Trang"

"Lieutenant"

The trio shook hands quickly, and then moved to the end of the corridor where a British Marine guarded the entrance to the "bridge" of the station. Expecting she might find some resistance here, she was somewhat surprised by the young marine,

Handing "Evening Sir. Commander Tenson asked me to give you these and pass the word that he will be a little late, Sir. He also instructed me to invite you over to Security, Sir. If you care to, Sir."

"At ease, Sergeant. I'll decline that offer for now, unless of course the Commander doesn't show up soon. Then I may take you up on it. Stick around"

A grin popped onto the marine's face, "Right you are, Sir." the man realizing he was being played with a bit. He wasn't about to leave his post. Then it struck him, that if she came back out on her way to find the Exec, she might indeed want to yank him off station. As she and her entourage of two other officers moved through the door, he keyed the headset and spoke quietly, summoning someone to be at his side in case he was needed elsewhere.

Since two Marines were at the door, when normally one had been enough before, Commander Tenson began to feel a little nervous. Things were changing fast, and he was already behind the power curve. Shit this was turning out to be a disaster.

Stepping into the command center, he caught the eye of Nancy Carleese, his junior Exec while he had been running the station, and she gave a grimace as she nodded her head toward the door to the Captain's Office. Oh boy this was not going to be fun.

He knocked on the door, waited for the "Enter" and then stepped briskly inside.

"Commander Tenson, reporting Sir".

Jennie had stood as the officer entered, as did the computer center chief and the young Ensign Tenson took for the Captain's adjutant.

"Can you two excuse us for a minute. Don't go far" the Captain said tightly, and as the compop officer turned away from the Captain, she caught Tenson's eye with a warning glance. Everybody was telling him he was in deep shit. As if he didn't know that already.

"So tell me Commander. Why don't I just fire you right now and get it over with?"

Tenson tensed, but realized that his best defense was to stick to the truth...at least as close as he could.

"Sir, no excuse Sir. But I would like to brief you on several items."

"Go on"

Her voice made it sound as if he had one chance, and he had better not blow it.

"Sir, after the accident with the former Security Chief, myself and Lieutenant Johnson, who has been filling in for Security Chief while we waited for that officer to be assigned, were installing surviellance cameras about the key areas in the Station. Unfortunately, the idea is to do this late in the major shift cycle, as in 00:00 am and after. We were hooking up the last of the cameras when you called. Sir."

"Uh-huh. And I suppose this prevented you, for some odd reason, to neglect the new crew members coming on board?"

"No Sir. no excuse Sir. I failed to make the proper arrangements at close of shift last night, Sir"

Jennie waited for the rest of the excuse, and when there was none, she realized the Exec wasn't going to make one. Here was the real reason. Or it was close.

"And why, pray tell, Commander, did you overlook this very important piece of protocol for our new crew members. Hell those people would have been wandering the halls if I hadn't of stepped in. You have a hankering for an early retirement, Mister?"

"No Sir."

"So answer the question, Commander. What was so important that it took your mind off this fairly boring but crucial task?

"Lieutenant Johnson and myself worked three nights in a row, and with little if any sleep, Sir. I am sorry to say that I was ...well...asleep sir." There, that was all of the truth.

"You're not serious" she replied in awe. The guy was actually saying he had failed to issue an important order because he was asleep.

The Exec's unwavering stance and rigid features told her more than he could with words. The guy was expecting the axe, and might even deserve it. But Jennie knew full too well what an ambitious officer showing initiative risked. Here was a clear case of kicking ass or giving a medal. She chose the medal.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to decide if your efforts deserve reward, Commander. For the sake of the crew and your own ability to lead, I guess we'll just have to chalk this up as a misunderstanding compounded by unfortunate circumstances and my own lousy timing. Let's hold the command handover at say, in half an hour?"

"Aye, Aye, Sir" he said, the relief only showing slightly in the straightening of his posture. "I'll take care of that right away. And welcome aboard, Sir". And both knew he meant it.
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Last Updated: Mar 4, 1996 ^M