First Steps

Posted on Fri Apr 4th, 2025 @ 12:13am by Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Zara Kingston Ph.D.

Mission: Those who are left behind
Location: XO's Office

Here she was: The USS Resolution. After a fairly long trip, Zara's shuttle had docked on the Res. She was still nervous about this new assignment as a full-time Starfleet officer on a Federation starship. Sure, she had been on starships before and she had technically been a Starfleet officer for the last two years, but she had been doing what many called a "desk job." She was walking through the corridor, PADD in hand, searching for the XO's office to officially check in. She stopped in front of her door. She had taken the time to review the entire crew manifest of the senior staff. She let out a deep sigh before clicking the chime. "Get out from behind the desk they said...take a break from teaching they said...stretch your legs on a starship they said."

"Come in!." Toni bellowed half in thought and burried in paperwork which she had neglected for days on end, again. So another interruption was not something she could use right now.

The Klingon/Human scientist entered with the best smile she could muster. "Hello, Commander Stoffels. I'm the new transfer science officer, Zara Kingston." She folded her hands behind her back. "I wanted to stop by to introduce myself and check in to the Resolution."

Toni came to her feet. "Ah yes of course Lt Kingston." She offered her hand. "Sorry for my tone just now, paperwork."

Zara tried not to make a face at her being called lieutenant over doctor. She was still getting used to it. “No worries, commander.” She held out her hand for Stoffels to shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I was hoping you could give me an overview of my department?”

"Of course. We have been without a real scientist for a while so there may be a lot of work waiting for you. And there may be critical equipment missing. If you find it so do come straight to me and we will sort it out." Toni said more friendly now. "I had a glance at your record and I see you are new to life on a fleet ship and you may want some help with that as well?"

She let out a chuckle. “Yes, I’ve never officially served on a ship before.” There had been several occasions where the Office of Startleet Science had sent her to consult, but that usually only lasted a few days. “Any tips you have for me would be helpful. While I trained at the Academy like everyone else here, I suppose I’m most cautious about adequately integrating myself into the day-to-day operations on a fleet ship.”

"A lot of it will be watching and learning." Toni said. "I did it like you, you know. I first got my degree from Oxford university, then did the academy. But us academic types are in the minority here." She smiled. "I could put you in touch with some of the other young female officers if you like."

They were leaving her office for the science section now.

Zara followed beside Toni. "Oh meeting the other young female officers would really help me settle in," she replied. "And what did you study at Oxford? I'm assuming psychology since you were a counselor before assuming the first officer role? What made you decide to leave academia for Starfleet?"

"Medicine actually, I am a psychiatrist." Toni said simply. "But I was always destined for Starfleet, in my family it is a given, yet I wanted an experience away from the fleet first. Something with 'normal' people who had no idea who my father or grandfather were. And I never regretted it. I will put you in touch with Kay London, she was like my kid sister when we grew up. Here we are."

Toni opened the door to the chief science officers office which looked very much unused for a while.

"Excellent," Zara said as they entered the office. "My father was a commander in the KDF, and even though my mother is human, she never let me forget his legacy in the House of Kr'Chakik—sometimes to my annoyance." She turned to the commander. "Are there any current projects that the science department is working on?"

"You know, I am not entirely sure." She kept to herself that she and the former science chief had not exactly been friends. "The science staff on the ship is not big." Toni admitted. "Maybe you can change that as well if you come up with good plans."

"I'd be delighted to," Zara replied. "Of course, once I get settled and familiarize myself with the rest of the crew." She looked around at the science lab, excited to get to work. "Well, one other question I have commander is about my orders. I've read some of the mission logs of the Resolution." She paused. "I suppose I'm asking what my duties are, after getting my physical and psyche eval?"

"Getting this department up and running again, and when you have done that to offer science advice to the command team about missions and to do research on your own." Toni said. "How about I leave you to settle in now?"

Zara nodded. "Thank you, commander. I'll be seeing you around."