Complicated Arrivals

Posted on Wed Feb 26th, 2025 @ 7:33am by Commander Steven Greco & Lieutenant Evelyn Stewart & Commander Calvin 'Cal' Maraj & Lieutenant Commander Keishara Davaris

1,356 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Year One: Strange Bedfellows
Location: USS Moore - Transporter Room 1
Timeline: MD 031 - 10:30

Stewart stepped off the turbolift along side the acting first officer. "I still don't understand exactly why Greco felt I needed to be present to welcome the new captain aboard. One blowhard is the same as the next." She commented, annoyed that she was being brought down from the bridge to meet the new commanding officer with Keishara and Greco.

"I've never liked this kind of stuff." Keishara agreed. "Why do you think I've avoided the first officer chair for so long?" she asked rhetorically. "All smoke and mirrors. Impress the new captain, show him the best version of yourselves and the ship even though they'll still pull it apart and be unhappy about something... don't know why you're here either." she shrugged.

Stewart sighed as she glanced at the El-Aurian. "Because of protocol. You know I'm technically acting second officer and you know how Greco is obsessed with protocol. Let's just be grateful he didn't have us pull out the dress uniforms." She teased with a laughed as they walked into the transporter room, nodding briefly to the chief and Greco before they moved to his side, as expected.

"I considered it, Stewart." Greco said with the mildest hint of a smirk. He knew the woman had been through a lot these last few weeks and was giving her a bit of latitude. In truth, he wasn't exactly looking forward to a new commanding officer, no one ever was especially when it was due to a death.

"I wish this wasn't happening because of this. Do you know who the new captain is?" Keishara turned to Greco. "I've tried to find transfer orders, travel itinerary to put security in place but I've been stonewalled for some reason..." she huffed a little.

Greco shook his head at the question. “New protocols, Commander. Something about security procedures.” He said before he gestured to the transporter chief to energize.

The haze of the transporter began to fade and it revealed a large, 6ft 4, black man with a large muscular physique donning the command red Starfleet uniform and Commander pips on the collar. There was a twinkle in his eye, a mischief that he'd held since his younger days and one he was never afraid to let out, but also an imposing figure that many who dared to provoke lived to regret.

Stepping down from the transporter pad he headed for the other man in red.

Greco eyed the man and his pips in silence as he materialized in the transporter pad before extending his hand. “Commander Maraj, I’m Commander Steven Greco, your first officer. Welcome aboard.” He said as evenly as he could, hiding all trace of his annoyance and judgement of the man who was placed in command over the ship he felt he should have received.

Calvin stuck out a hand, his grip would be tight, maybe a little too over the top for their first meeting but Cal had heard of the man who turned on his fellow officers during wartime whilst on the Columbia. In fact, one of those officers had been one of Calvin's old classmates from the Academy. That didn't need to air on their first meeting though. "Good to meet you, Commander." he said as they locked hands.

Steve set his jaw, holding the hand and not showing any reaction. When the new commanding officer let go, he stepped back and turned to the officers waiting. “This is our chief tactical and security chief Commander-“

“Cal?” Stewart interrupted as she dropped protocol, surprised and in disbelief as to who was assigned the command of the Moore.

Snapping his attention to his shortened name, something he'd never have expected to be called in meeting some of his new crew he saw someone he hadn't seen in a long time. "Evie?" he called out as he moved closer to her. "You haven't aged a day!" he brought her into a bear hug, a quick tight squeeze before releasing her and his hands resting on her shoulders. "Now I know why there are scrapes on the hull!" he joked and slapped her arm with one of his bear claw hands and laughed.

Keishara watched the scene in front of her unfold and frowned at what appeared to be a strange break of protocol and stared at Evelyn before back at Greco with raised eyebrows as if to ask what the hell was going on.

Evelyn grinned as she hugged back the commander as tightly. The feel of his body against hers brought back flashes of certain memories and she blushed in response to them. When he teased her, Stewart looked at Cal with mock indignation, about to respond with her own playful jab when the first officer spoke up before she had a chance to.

"You two know each other?" Steve asked in confusion. He knew this was Stewart's first real assignment to a starship, having spent of her career assigned to academies.

"Cal was assigned for advance flight training at Psi Upsilon III when I was an instructor there two years ago." Stewart explained, "And I can see they were quick to get you out of the cockpit. Starfleet only has so many ships." She teased back with a smirk at Maraj.

"Ahh! Fragile things they gave me!" Cal waved away the remark. "After my training they promoted me anyway... waste of time as usual. Starfleet at it's best!" he poked fun at those he worked for before turning to the woman he'd overlooked.

"My apologies madam." he extended his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you also.

"It is Lieutenant Commander sir, not madam." Keishara spoke firmly. "Keishara Davaris. As Commander Greco has began to tell you I am your Chief Security and Tactical Officer, also serving as ships second officer." she took his hand but only because it was offered. She didn't like the touch of unfamiliar men, or men in general.

Cal smirked. "My apologies Lieutenant Commander Davaris. Sometimes being respectful of someone has it disadvantages when someone does not with to receive such titles." he added with his thick Caribbean accent that he'd tried hard to keep. Going back home with a diluted accent was out of the question and his mother would see to him if he did. "I am sure the ship's security drills run tighter than an Admiral's underwear."

Steve was taken a bit back by the officer’s candor. His choice of words were interesting as well. He glanced at his two officers and ignored Stewart’s smirk and nodded to Davaris before moving on. “Right, well maybe we should continue our discussions in the Ready Room to bring you up to speed.” He offered to the taller officer, leading him towards the corridor after giving the briefest of nods to the female officers on their way out.

"Commander, Lieutenant." Cal nodded also and left with Commander Greco.

As the men lead the way out of the transporter room, Stewart saw the look Keishara was giving her. "What?"

"What? You're whating me?" she asked. "Your cheeks flushed. Your cheeks don't do that." Keishara commented.

Stewart went to deny it and instead simply scoffed, looking embarrassed and uncomfortable. “What’s your point?”

"You've been intimate with him, haven't you?" Kei asked point blank. "I can feel that from both of you. He caught you by surprise and you let that slip out." Was she about to become the captains favourite? Not that favouritism bothered Keishara, but it could be dangerous.

Stewart eyed the transporter chief and led Keishara into the corridor back towards the turbolift and heading for the bridge. “Have you ever been to the Psi Upsilion system? There isn’t much to do out there. You make your own entertainment.” She said as way of affirming without confirming Kei’s suspicions.

Kei raised her eyebrows as she understood the subtle message sent. "Well, it should at least have the ship's rumour mill busy. That transport chief saw the interaction, all bets are off on lower decks." she smirked. "Come on, let's go. Things to do and all that."

 

RSS Feed