Welcome Aboard

Posted on Mon Jul 14th, 2025 @ 7:00pm by Captain Sandy "Fanthom" Risa & Lieutenant Commander Chester Ripley & Captain Lorut Vila

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Yesterday’s Enterprise
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD-01

Vila sat in the ready room. The very start of a new mission was always tough, but this one was her toughest one yet. She was now the Captain, and had to act like it. She was ready.

She pushed away from the computer, and hit the comms panel on the desk in front of her.

=/\=Lyo, you can bring in the new staffer now, please. =/\=

Commander Lyo looked at the new arrival, a Starfleet fighter pilot by the look of her uniform. “Right this way,” he said as pleasantly as he was able.

Their experience with fighter pilots was minimal on the Intrepid. He idly wondered if Scott Jones would transfer back into the fighter pilot fray.

Vila sighed. Onboarding a new person right now wasn't her favorite idea but they DID need an extra few hundred pair of hands.

Sandy walked in not knowing what was going happen, but she was ready to put the Intrepid through a full battery of tests of her capabilities.

"Lieutenant Sandy "Fanthom " Risa, reporting as ordered," she said calmly.

Vila smiled. "Hello! Please sit down; make yourself comfortable," she said. "I am, uh, Captain Lorut Vila," she said. She was still getting used to that title. "Can I get you anything?" she asked.

Lyo took a seat beside the woman. She seemed sure of herself. Not unusual for a “flyer” personality. Still, she held herself well and seemed overly reserved at the moment.

"Yes Captain, and there is something I need to tell you, I am a full Betazoid. Do not be startled or fearful, as I limit my abilities for certain circumstances. A Vulcan tea please," Sandy said sitting down.

“And why should that concern us, Captain Risa?” Rylen asked. His own empathy worked low-key and he only seemed to have a telepathic bond with Maxwell. A bond that seemed to have been extinguished when the ship’s former captain disappeared. Now he could only sense a - for lack of a better word - concern emanating from her.

Vila nodded, and replicated the woman a Vulcan tea, and refreshed her own coffee. She handed Lyo one of his fancy coffees.

Vila glanced at Lyo. Was this going to be how it was now? A role reversal? When the XO would be the bad guy and she'd be the nice one? WEIRD. "And I am Bajoran," Vila said. "The empathy thing doesn't bother me, if that is what your concern is. Our chief Counselor is also Betazoid, though I think she's a hybrid, but still does the mind stuff," Vila said, making a general motion near her own head. "As long as you can otherwise do your job, it should be fine," she said.

Smiling and giving a chuckle and tapped her head. "Whatever you are thinking about me is right, but and it is a big but, and I don't go walking around looking into anyone's mind. I am forbidden by what I believe in. (smiling) As far as being an integral part, I'm not here to cause trouble. I am here to work and work", Sandy said smiling. Noticing how the tension eased a little bit.

Vila nodded. "Rena, our counselor, has a similar policy," she said. "So that is fine with me," she said. "As I said...my concern is that you can fly and keep yourself alive until your bird is back in the hangar," she said. She took a breath. She hoped that didn't sound mean; she was trying to reassure Sandy that it was fine with her, but still sound professional. She was still sometimes struggling with interpersonal skills but she had made HUGE strides in the six months since Culver had gone MIA.

"Lyo, do you have any concerns or questions?" She turned her attention to her right-hand man.

“As far as her Betazoid telepathy goes, no. I believe each species has their own unique abilities. I just wanted to express that it doesn’t concern us, as the command team. Each member of our crew is special,” Lyo paused, considering a specific group. “Wait until you meet the live eaters.” He chuckled.

“As far as your job, you’re the group commander, or chief of the air group. As long as you do your job and report for duty shifts, there aren’t any problems I can foresee. Captain?” Lyo handed the conversation back to Lorut.

Lorut nodded. "Exactly!" she said. "Lieutenant, do you have any questions for us?" she asked. How did Culver used to do this?! She couldn't remember. It seemed at once so long ago and just yesterday that they'd onboarded someone new...before.

"No questions Captain. I would like to get back to checking out the fighters we have on board so far, then shuttles need to be worked on as well," Sandy said finishing her in tea.

Vila nodded. "Understood. You're free to go," she said, "Unless the Commander has anything else?" She said. "It was nice to meet you," she said, again. She liked a person who was excited to get right to work.

“Nothing from me…except I’d like to recertify for fighter training, Captain Fanthom.” Rylen really did need to recert his fighter skills. If he launched one now, he’d probably be splashed by an enemy in seconds.

Vila cast a glance in his direction. "You?" She asked. "Interesting. Well, if the Captain is willing to train you, go ahead," she said. Who was she to stop anyone who might be interested in cross training?!


Sandy got up and went to the door, " It would be a pleasure sir. Just let me know when you are ready." Sandy continued to leave the room.

 

RSS Feed