Roles and Expectations

Posted on Sun Nov 16th, 2025 @ 6:10pm by Commander Steven Greco & Lieutenant Dezarac Talvon

1,348 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Year One: The Point of No Return
Location: USS Moore - Main Engineering
Timeline: MD: 002 - 10:30hrs

Commander Greco glanced up from his PADD when the doors of the turbolift opened with a soft swish. Dropping the device to his side, he made his way down the corridor casually. He gave a brief smile and nod at two crewmen doing maintenance on a power relay as he followed the pulse of the ship down the corridor to it's source in main engineering.

Surveying the room, he glanced around for the new chief engineer, curious to watch how the El Aurian worked and led the department.

Dez hurriedly shuffled to the end of the center console. Wide-eyed, he all but pushed the two junior officers out of his way that stood in his path. The floor was littered with lengths of cable feeding from an open access hatch beneath the control interface. He crouched down, joining the officer that lay prone underneath the console.

"No, not that one!" he said, his voice littered with more than a touch of annoyance. Reaching in, he grasped the end of the cable in the other officer's hand and gestured to the back of the cavity. "This one here, that one there!" he exclaimed.

Brushing his hands on the legs of his uniform that already boasted stains, Dez stood to realize that the XO was his honored guest. Squaring himself, he smiled crookedly.

"Morning," he said, his greeting raw and casual.

Steve slowly approached the chief engineer, tucking the padd with his personnel file under his arm. A warm smile tugging at the corners of his lips, he silently observed how the crew reacted to their new department head, the things they wouldn't say. "Redesigning the warp core?" He asked dryly, eyes watching where he stepped between the cables scattered across the floor. "You'd never guess we just left dry dock." He added as a mild tease, extending his hand to the El Aurian. "Steve Greco, a pleasure."

Dez looked at the hand extended towards him. His face contorted into a crooked smile as he wiped his hand on his leg again, grasping Greco's hand firmly. "Pleasure, Commander," he said. He glanced back over his shoulder to double-check the progress before returning his attention to the XO. "Nah, nothin' like that. Just a minor interface upgrade. They put so much auxiliary cabling in these things it slows down the diagnostic timing. Just pruning what's already there, is all. Don't worry. Everything is fully operational."

Resting his hands on his hips, Dez looked out over the Engine Bay. It was teeming with activity, everyone about their assigned jobs. He couldn't deny that everyone seemed to know what they were doing and when, which made his job easier. He exhaled slowly and deliberately. It wasn't so much the Engineering staff that he needed to get to know—it was this Prometheus class starship. It was an enigma to him. He'd served all across the fleet, but this thing was unique to say the least.

Steve took this in with a nod, leaning against the railing of the warp core console as he briefly glanced around the room before his attention settled on Talvon. "How are you settling in? Going by your service record, you know your way around a warp core." He commented before bringing the padd up to review the personnel file again. "But your last assignment was....unstable." The tone having a hint of professional assessment - of finality - to it.

Dez grinned, leaning forward against the railing with the XO. Listening to the warp core, he counted the pulses. It still felt like a stranger to him—like he was a mere passenger dancing around this pending connection yet to be forged. He let it linger— let it settle trying to feel the rhythm, memorize it.

"Unstable," Dez chuckled again. "That's a good way to put it, Commander." He paused, contemplating his next words, what needed to be said. "Well, you know the important parts, I guess. Never claimed to be a model officer. But as ya say, I know my way around an engine room. I'll keep her moving, Sir. Don't fret yourself on that," Dez said with confidence. "And as for the rest—well, ask your questions. I'll answer 'em if I can."

Steve glanced down at the padd and shook his head, his eyes flicking up to Dez with a small knowing smile. He stood taller and to his full height, despite having to look up at the El Aurian. "Says here you were suspended for a year back in '84. Care to explain that, Lieutenant." His voice having an edge, revealing he knew the answer but wanted to hear the engineer's version of events.

Dez locked eyes with the Commander. It was only a matter of time until it came up. In a way, he was surprised it took this long. Letting the silence hang just a moment longer than necessary, he decided to be relieved. At least they could get it out of the way, pass it and let it be what it was—history.

"Oh, that pesky little thing," he said with a chuckle. He looked away, pausing only briefly. "This may surprise you, Commander, but folks don't take to me much." He turned back to Greco. "I know, I know. A guy with my...charming disposition. Uncanny, ain't it?" Another pause. "See, I had this friend—Sull. Back at the Academy. Only one I made there. Hell, might've been the only real one I've ever had. Well, he was a good man—a good officer. One of those that the Fleet was lucky to find, ya know?"

Dez went quiet, his face draining into a stony expression that was devoid of any and all emotion. The words that came next were plain, told factually like an official brief. "Ship he was posted on got into a scrape. A real wrong place wrong time kinda thing. Sull didn't make it. Probably stayed at his post, did his duty, that sorta thing. Anyway, news hit me hard. Harder than I would'a thought. I ain't proud of it, but I let that define me for a bit. Grief at away at me. Hit the hooch a little too much. Short story long, I think you get the idea. Conduct unbecoming an officer, and all that."

“I see.” Greco’s voice stayed even, almost conversational as he stepped up to the El Aurian. “Well, let me make one thing clear, Lieutenant. We already have one reckless drunk flying this ship. I’d hate to see Engineering end up the same way. Got that?”

He didn’t raise his tone, didn’t need to. The edge in his words was polished durasteel.

Dez looked at his Commander. The man had gusto. He respected that. Perhaps this was bolstering, but he couldn't blame the XO to be concerned. He certainly would be if the roles were reversed. Dez didn't back away or tense. All he did was smile. It was a subtle smile that was neither blatant nor provocative. It was merely his own form of comprehension.

"Aye, Sir," Dez responded. "That was a long while ago." He paused. "I could tell ya that you'll get no issue from me, Commander, but I'd rather just prove that."

Steve just held Dez’s gaze for another moment before nodding slowly. A small ghost of a smile began to tug at his lips. “We’ll see, Lieutenant. Carry on.” He ordered simply, collecting his padd and headed for the door to continue his rounds without another word.

Dez stood still for a moment, thinking over the conversation that had just passed. He had to admit that he was a bit surprised. Normally, he could peg an XO—or a CO for that matter—on the type of impression they would try to make with him. Commander Greco was a bit of an enigma, he decided. He couldn't tell if he'd just made a friend or had to watch his back now. Time would tell, he decided as he turned back to the mess he'd left.

 

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