From: Matthew Cunliffe <Miris@cunliffe.demon.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 1997 09:14:07 +0100
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Elanna's First Day at School

Stardate: 90823.1023
Mission Date: 15.0645
Scene: Elanna Miris' Quarters

The alarm brought Elanna out of the first restful sleep she had
had for ages.  For a moment, she couldn't work out where she
was, and then it all came to her.  She was now the XO of the USS
Chesapeake.

After a moment of reorientation, she requested her breakfast from
the replicator:  a cup of Earl Grey tea and delicately buttered toast 
with marmalade.  Sitting at the table, she imagined herself a lady
in a nineteenth century manor house, waited upon by servants
and young bachelors hanging onto her every word.  She sighed.
Why wasn't Betazoid history as interesting as Terran?

Humming to herself, Elanna took a sonic shower, forgoing the
luxury of water for once.  It seemed like a perfect day.  For a
moment she frowned, as she remembered the antics aof Mr
O'Graeach.  Captain Brennan had been too soft on him.  When
dealing with situations such as the Corellian-ShipOres dispute,
one false step could result in a complete breakdown in
communication.  She fervently hoped that the FCO had not the
instigator of such a disaster.

~~~~
Mission Date: 15.0800
Scene: Bridge

The turbolift door opened, revealing the bridge, as the crew
changed shift.  Walking down she noticed Captain Brennan in the
Command Chair, checking over notes before the second round of
negotiations, and the meetings with the Duchess Livia and Mr
Meredith.

"Good morning Commander,"  Brennan stood, indicating the seat
next to his.  "Welcome to the Bridge."

"Captain.  Thank you."  Elanna sat, taking in the changes in crew.  
The Security Officer, Ensign Keyrin stood behind them at the TAC 
controls, whilst th'Tellan sat on the other side of Brennan.

"Commander."  The tall Romulan nodded an acknowledgement.

"Commander th'Tellan.  I have a request to make of you."  Elanna
had given this some thought before arriving on the Bridge.

"What can I do?"

"It looks like I have rather a lot of work on my hands, particularly 
after you gave me all those PADDs.  I was wondering if you could
find me a decent Assistant?"

"Hmm.  Well I'm sure Ensign Abromowitz would be only to happy
to..."

Elanna cut the 2O off in mid-sentence.  "Thank you.  However, I
think she already has enough work.  Is there anybody else?"

A hint of a smile crossed th'Tellan's face.  "I'll see what I can 
do."

"Thank you." replied Elanna.

Brennan glanced at the chronometer.  "Mr th'Tellan.  Join me in
the Observation Lounge.  We have a meeting with Mr Meredith and
then theDuchess.  Commander Miris, you have the Bridge."

As the Captain and the Romulan Ops officer left the Bridge,
Elanna settled into the Command Chair.  It felt strange, knowing
that she was in command of the vessel for the first time.

"Commander Miris to all departments: Reports please."  Elanna
called over the comm.

 ~~~~
Mission Date: 15.0945

Elanna smiled.  So far, her first shift as XO had gone smoothly,
and the Chesapeake was maintaining a constant velocity in
relation to the two planetoids that were the subject of the intense
debate in the Observation Lounge.

Making an annotation on a PADD that contained a written report of 
Gamma Shift's status, she put the PADD to one side, noticing an 
officer standing just to one side, waiting for her to finish.

> "Good morning, sir.  I am Ensign Tarell Armstrong, Chief
> Engineer aboard the CHESAPEAKE.  I just wanted to
> make your acquaintance and hand deliver my status report."

"Ensign.  I'm pleased to meet you."  Elanna paused.  "Although I
was hoping to meet you last night at the Reception.  I presume
you have a good reason for your absence?"  Elanna resolved to
remain sitting.  The gigantic half-Klingon would have dwarfed her.

The strong burr of a Scottish accent was becoming more
apparent.  "Aye sir, I mean.."  The CEO collected himself.  "We had
a problem with confinement in one of the fusion reactors."

"Well Mr Armstrong, I appreciate that the maintenance of this ship
is of the utmost importance, but I would be grateful if you could
inform us that you cannot attend."

"Aye sir. Sir, my report."  Armstrong handed over his PADD.
Things were not going quite as expected.  Despite his reprimand,
Tarell couldn't feel any irritation with the new XO.  The diminutive
Betazed looked all but helpless next to his own towering, gigantic
figure.

"Thank you Ensign."  Elanna smiled, hoping that the CEO wouldn't 
think her a stickler for protocol.  "You may go back to your
engines."

"Sir,"  Armstrong had an almost childish delight as he headed
back down to Engineering.

~~~~
Mission Date: 15.1130

[Doctor Ledoux to the Bridge]  The call came over the comm.

"Miris here.  What can I do for you Doctor?"  Elanna could sense
the feeling even through the ship's communications.  Something
akin to a deep sense of loss.

[May I speak to you?  It is of a personal nature.]

"I'm afraid I'm unable to leave the bridge at the moment. Can it 
wait?"  Having both the Captain and the 2O in conference made
things extremely difficult.

There was a tense pause before the vet replied.  [I'm afraid not.  
It's concerning the matter we talked about last night.]

Elanna thought back to the reception.  She had enquired about 
Lieutenant Murray's absence.  "I will have a word with the Captain
as soon as he finishes."

[Thank you Commander]  There was relief in Ledoux's voice.

~~~~
 MD 15.1215
 Scene: Bridge

Elanna turned as the door to the Observation lounge swished
open, disgorging the delegates and the Chesapeake mediators.
As Brennan and th'Tellan were walking down, Elanna attracted
their attention.

> "Captain?"
> 
> He turned toward her as she rose from the chair.  "Yes, 
> Commander?"
> 
> "If I may speak with you for a moment...."
> 
> Brennan nodded, a tired smile appearing on his face.  "Of
course." > He turned to the OPS officer.  "Commander th'Tellan,
you have the bridge."

Elanna followed Brennan into his Ready Room, where the worn
Commander collapsed into his chair.  He smiled as his XO
passed over a cup of tea.  "Thank you."  He took a sip.  "What
seems to be the problem."

"Lieutenant Anne Murray."  Elanna stated.  There was a groan
from Brennan.  She continued.  "Doctor Ledoux feels she is no
longer fit for duty."

Brennan nodded.  Of all the senior staff, not only was Commander 
Ledoux fit to judge Murray's health in a professional capacity, but 
also as a friend, which was not easy considering Murray's 
temperamental nature.

He tapped a button on his table.  "Doctor Ledoux.  Please come to
my Ready Room."

[I will be there shortly Captain.]  The reply came over the comm.

~~~~~
NRPG:

Takako: I was unsure whether you intended Miris to be with
Brennan that morning, so I've kept Elanna out any dealings with
the delegates.  It seems more logical to have a consistent group
of Chesa representatives.

Chris:  Care to explain why Anne should be dumped? <EG>  Sorry 
Masako!

Fabian:  I guess you could say that Miris is not impressed with 
O'Graeach - She's very tough when it comes to diplomacy and
stuff <EG>

All:  Prepare for some action in my next post!  If anyone wants to 
give a report to Elanna, feel free, but don't feel you have to <G>

Respectfully submitted,
Lieutenant Commander Elanna Miris,
XO USS Chesapeake, NCC 31813

~~~~
Regards,
Matthew

Listing of ASR Units, links to Unit homepages, link submission form:
http://www-ucs.dur.ac.uk/~gradsoc/SB.Omega/LCARS/

Personnel Required for Starbase Omega, Indigo Fleet:  Operations
Manager, Flight Operations Manager, Research Engineer, Chief Medical
Officer, Civilians.  Email K'Bronn@Cunliffe.demon.co.uk or 
jhill@banda.ntu.edu.au for further information.


Go to messages for August 1997 or latest