Walking Bear on Sitting Bull

Posted on 11/29/2020 @ 8:43pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers

Mission: S3E1: Time of Change
Location: Ready Room, USS Sitting Bull
Timeline: Day 93 at 0800

He'd been asked to come aboard the Sitting Bull by an apologetic member of the transition team to inspect his new Ready Room and personal quarters. Said individual had acted as though it were an inconvenience when really, Cian had been delighted for the chance to get a look at his new command though the need to meet with his new Chief Engineer had made it necessary for him to use a transporter instead of his yacht. Note to self, he thought, make them send the yacht next time. Or at least a shuttle.

The Ready Room was spacious enough, pale gray walls, gray-brown wood, with accents in teal and a bit of yellow to lend the room warmth, or so the he'd been told. He preferred a clean, modern design, nothing too fussy, with good art on the walls. His desk had a credenza behind it and a pair of comfortable chairs facing it. To one side was a sofa big enough to stretch out on and one chair with a coffee table meant to hold coffee mugs and the detritus that came with working long hours.

The artwork would be hung soon, he knew, but for the moment, the room like himself, was caught in mid-transition. He had been intending to check out his quarters and thus fulfill the team's request when the chime sounded on his door. Surprised, he looked up and said, "Enter."

The door parted and in walked a slender-looking youthful female, with two PADD's in her hands. Her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail and she was presently smiling. She stepped forward before coming to a stop before the Commanding officer's desk. "Lieutenant Odessa Walking Bear, reporting for duty sir." she addressed her new commanding officer formally before coming to attention, her gaze looking at the bulkhead over his right shoulder.

"Welcome, Lieutenant," Cian said, smiling in return. "Though the official change of command isn't until later today. Oh ... um ... as you were." He gestured for her to take one of the seats at his brand-new, never-been-used desk and he walked around to sit down for the first time. "You're to be my new Chief Engineer, if memory serves?"

Walking Bear moved foward before sliding her lithe form into one of the chairs. She placed both PADDs onto the table before her. "Yessir. Your new Chief Engineer," she explained as she gently slid one of the PADD's across the desk. "These are my orders sir." she added.

Cian accepted the PADD and took a moment to skim the formal language that assigned her to the ship. "The Sitting Bull is Inspiration Class, which is new, and we're only the third ship of the class. So, I don't expect you to be already up to speed on her specifications. The transfer of command will happen later today. After that, you'll formally become the ship's Chief Engineer and be expected to get with the engineering team that brought her here to Earth."

"I understand." Walking Bear answered with a nod of her head. "I will review her specifications while I look in on my paperwork and the other coming aboard stuff I need to handle," she added.

"Its going to take a few days to sort itself out," Cian said. "I'll take command officially later today but the crew is still reporting aboard. We'll be traveling to an unexplored area of space but part of the trip will be through Federation space. That part of the journey will also double as our shakedown cruise so you'll need to have a plan together for that as well."

Walking Bear nodded her head. "I had planned to run several battle drills... Two for each shift." she explained. "I also want to run a few readiness tests as well... Three per shift, with three different causes... They would only affect Engineering and none of the other departments..." she paused. "With your permission of course."

"Of course," Cian said. "That's the reason for the shakedown cruise. Better we discover problems while we're still in Federation space. You can coordinate with Operations on tests that involve other departments directly."

Walking Bear smiled as she nodded. "That sounds good. This is going to be a fun assignment sir." she answered. "Do you have any special questions for me that you wanna ask... Before anything goes wrong?"

He shook his head. "Your record speaks for itself, Lieutenant, and I'm sure that I'll have plenty of questions as we go forward. For now, I have to attend two transfer of command ceremonies and prepare for the ... Oh! My former ship, the Crazy Horse, is having a party tonight. The senior staff will be transferring over to this ship and you'd have a chance to meet everyone informally. If you're interested?"

Walking Bear slowly grinned. "Sounds like fun. I'll be there..." she answered. "When and where?" she inquired of the man before her. "Should I wear my dress uniform, or something a little different?"

"How about this," Cian said, "I'll make sure you get the details in time. Definitely won't be dress uniform though," responding to her grin with a shy smile, "who could have fun in one of those?"

"My sisters could." Walking Bear answered. "My eldest met her husband wearing a dress uniform," she added. "But I don't have her figure... Well what can I say?" she then shrugged, indicating she was making something of a joke at her own expense.

"I don't have siblings. So, I was spared that level of competition," Cian said. And it was true but then again, when you are property, you don't compete. You survive. A vastly different way of looking at things.

"I think for me its just that I connect the uniform with duty so, I never really relax when I'm wearing it," Cian said. "This party," he cocked his head slightly to one side for a moment with his lips pressed together, "its about change and just enjoying each other as people. Last time we're all together as the crew of the Crazy Horse and for some of us at least, the start of something new and very different. So, no dress uniforms."

Walking Bear smiled. "Then I am not missing this party," she commented. "Not a chance..." she added.

"Excellent," Cian said, eyes gleaming as he rose to his feet, "and now that that's out of the way, I was thinking about grabbing a shuttle and having a bit of a look at the ship. Interested in coming along?"

"Of course sir," Walking Bear answered, a gentle smile playing at her lips. "I've not really had must time to get to know our new ship..." I've also never seen her from the outside."

A Post by:

Captain Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
(Formerly) USS Crazy Horse

and

Lieutenant Odessa Walking Bear
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Sitting Bull