The Story - Prologue 6

Prologue 6

Lt. J.G. Solasho

Aiden stepped off the Griffin's transport pad, still dressed for Risa's weather. After a year of acclimation to Andoria's climate during his extended leave from Starfleet, the vacation world he'd been dropped off on to meet his new assignment might as well have been hell. It certainly had all the sun of a realm of torment, and was too warm by half after four seasons of perpetual winter and thirteen standard months of gloom on the Klingon homeworld before that. The "native costumes" had taken some of the sting out of the experience, but it was a relief to be back in the climate control of a ship after so long. Two years. (Should I be nervous), he wondered.

He handed his orders to the transporter operator, brushing her hand just so. She blushed. (Probably too young for me anyway), he thought. "J.G. Solasho Aiden, reporting for duty. Can you direct me, Ensign? I'm not sure if I need to introduce myself as is or should hit my quarters first." He brushed a few sweaty locks back from his field of vision, hoping it was the latter. "Do you know what the Captain prefers?"

"Well, the XO handles all personnel, as is usual, and to report in for duty to her you should be in uniform. Eventually you have to report in to your department's Chief too. But the Captain's a really social person; she likes to meet everyone in her crew personally. It doesn't have to be formal. It's likely she'll seek you out before you get the chance to find her." She blushed again slightly when she realized she was beginning to ramble.

"Thank you, Ensign. You've been most helpful." His mind traced over the gestures of thanks and farewell for the last few cultures he'd been immersed in before settling for a smile and a nod. Hefting his bond cases and insulated long-carry, he made his way out into the hall, narrowly avoiding a collision with a gentleman wearing lieutenant's pips and engineering colors.

Crawford recognized the Cygnan from his file, not that the ship was exactly flush with a crowd of them for him to hide in. "Solasho?"

"Yes, sir." Aiden pushed back his hair again, smiling, since there was no point in fussing about the unmade bed he was in when nothing could be done about it.

"Lieutenant Jason Crawford, Chief Engineer." He started to offer a handshake, and then turned that reach into collecting some of the oddly shaped cases his new assistant was carrying. "I've read some of your papers... not sure what you have in mind for my ship."

"Empirical opinion sampling to build a sub-personality database for sentience testing."

Aiden's initial report on the subject described the computer monitoring conversations in common areas of the ship. "Sounds more like eavesdropping to me," Jason replied. He started leading Aiden toward his quarters. By first impression, the Lieutenant thought this one seemed a bit more confident than might be prudent.

"It's unobtrusive, sir. The computer isn't set to pick up anything a crewman couldn't overhear just walking by."

"It's also unethical, Solasho." Jason paused at Aiden's new quarters. "Find another data sampling method and we'll talk."

"I'll see what I can come up with, sir, but most other methods result in a biased sample." He put his long-carry on the bed, mapping out how he wanted to arrange his belongings in his mind. "It's something of a pet project anyway. I'll be happy to table it altogether until something can be worked out."

"Good enough." Jason gestured with the cases still in his hands. "Where do you want these?"

"I'll take them." He set the protective cases on his workstation, opening the larger of the two first. The bat'leth was going to take up the most wall space, so it should be arranged first anyway....

The sword looked far too functional to be a souvenir. (Guess that Klingon officer exchange in his jacket was a bit more than a busted tour for him.) Jason figured the XO could handle it, if it was going to be a problem. "I'll leave you to get settled, Solasho. Welcome aboard."

"Thank you, sir." Aiden hadn't missed the man's eyes widening when the case opened. "I hope my 'hobbies' won't color our dialogue on this project," he said, smirking.

"If the Security Chief doesn't mind, I don't mind. See you on duty."

Aiden busied himself with the rest of his arrangements, placing the fighting knife rack above his bed and finding balanced locations for his meditative aids around the room. He did not have a large number of belongings, so the two small rooms he had been allotted suited him well. After a cool shower, he pulled on the first uniform he'd worn in a long time and got ready to face the Griffin's Number One... and, eventually, her Captain.

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