Unwelcome Welcome

Posted on Wed Feb 28, 2024 @ 2:49pm by Captain Jason Faulkner

1,074 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: One Giant Kaboom
Location: USS Challenger
Timeline: MD 01, 1600

Percival Vega was among the last group of crew members arriving on the Challenger before it left Starbase One, boarding in a small hoard of other junior officers and enlisted who'd just arrived on an interplanetary transport from Earth. He did his best to be inconspicuous in the crowd as they crossed the gangway and began splitting up in different directions. Alas, his combination of height and distinctive green skin betrayed him, and before he could escape down a corridor a gold-shirted man caught his eye, beckoned him over with one finger, and waited patiently for him to come over while other ensigns watched out of the corners of their eyes.

Percy sighed and squared his shoulders. "Good afternoon, Captain Faulker."

Faulkner smiled. "Welcome aboard, Ensign Vega. I hope your flight went well?"

"Yes, sir."

"I don't know why we're still using those rickety old sub-impulse transports to move junior crew around the system. You'd all get here in half the time if they just stuck you on one of the daily civilian liners."

"It probably builds characters, sir. I should report to my department chief. It was nice seeing you."

With a shake of his head, Faulkner said, "The chief ops slot hasn't been filled yet. Walk with me."

Percy dutifully followed him down the gleaming corridors toward a lift station. It was a far cry from the dim and cramped confines of the old Einstein-class surveyor that Percy had spent his training cruise on. His heart beat a little faster at the thought of getting his hands on all that gorgeous equipment.

"I know I sent a card, but let me say again congratulations on your graduation," Faulkner said. "Your senior project was insightful."

Percy cringed. "I believe the term Professor Vorok used to describe me thesis was 'pedestrian', sir."

"Alright, the math portion was typical extruded cadet product, but the practical demonstration was an interesting field-expedient method for dealing with jamming," Faulkner said with a chuckled. "And now that you're an officer, I can confide that Vorok's always a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to grading. He was a bit more forgiving when I spoke with him at the cryptography conference last month."

"If you say so," Percy said, finding the idea that Vorok, a wizened teacher older than the Federation, was capable of forgiveness a bit dubious.

They entered a lift and Faulkner said, "Bridge. You should be especially proud to make the cut for the five-year mission program. There's a lot of competition and not a lot of slots allocated for new grads."

"Proud and surprised. I only put it on my requested assignment list because that's what everyone does."

Percy hesitated, but before he could say more the doors hissed open and revealed the sweeping expanse of the bridge. He was immediately enraptured by the view. It was almost identical to one of the newer simulators at the academy, but just knowing that it was the real thing made it feel completely different.

"Try to keep up, ensign," Faulkner said, already halfway to his ready room.

"Yes, sir," Percy replied, hurrying to keep up.

"You looked like you had a question," Faulkner said once they were alone again. He sat down at his desk. "Ask away."

Percy swallowed and uneasily took a seat as well. "Captain -"

"Jason."

"Uncle Jason, why am I here? Last week I had orders for Defiant and then they got changed."

Faulkner nodded. "I figured it might be that. To start with, you got the FYM slot on your own, no fiddling there. But after you told your mom, she talked to Laodemus -"

Percy groaned, because of course she'd decided to meddle and his unofficial uncle had gone along with it.

"- who talked with Gralaar over in Personnel about swapping you between ships, and then he threatened to give me a noogie if I didn't sign the paperwork. Don't look at me like that, I know I'm not T'Lorel but I still think I'll be a pretty good captain to serve under."

"This is so embarrassing," Percy said, covering his face with his hands.

"Mirai worries about you," Faulkner said sympathetically. "Starfleet's a risky business compared to anything you'd be doing at home, especially deep-space missions like this."

"I can take care of myself!"

"I'm sure you can, but parents don't always take that to heart. Your particular circumstances just make her more concerned. There aren't a lot of Orions in Starfleet, I think a Tellarite could count them on one hand."

"There's ten half-Vulcans," Percy protested, "and I bet your mom isn't pulling strings for you!"

"An even dozen, as of the new academy class," Faulkner said with a grin. "I told the group chat we should send Cadet T'Soven a gift basket, but the consensus was that it'd be illogical." His smile faded and he got a more serious look on his face. "And humans and Vulcans are Federation members. Orions aren't and there's a lot of prejudice against them."

Percy grimaced. He'd run into a little of that, in the form of pointed remarks about pirates and smugglers, stereotypes about murderous and/or himbo Orion males, or questions about why he was named for some ancient British myth instead of 'his' people. Still, he had preserved and had an answer ready and loaded.

"There have been Orions in Starfleet since -"

"Since N'tasa Kereni joined in 2193," Faulkner recited, because of course he remembered Percy's spiel. "She went on to become captain of the USS Pioneer and was a key figure in the anti-slavery campaign of the 20s. She was so successful that the syndicate ambushed her ship with a half-dozen destroyers and while they escaped, Kereni later died of wounds inflicted while fighting the boarding party that stormed her bridge. May I suggest that your mom might not be convinced by a story that ends with martyrdom?"

"Okay, you may have a point," Percy said grudgingly.

"Now, with that out of the way, I promise not to pay more attention to you than any other ensign, so long as you promise to write Mirai regularly enough that I don't get harassed for status updates. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Excellent." Faulkner waved to the door. "Go on, find your room and department. There's a lot of work to get done before launch and a not a lot of time to do it."

Percy sprang to his feet. "Yes, sir!"

 

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