Calvados and Communication
Posted on Mon Oct 28th, 2024 @ 2:49am by Captain Thorrin & Commander Marisa Sandoval
Edited on on Mon Oct 28th, 2024 @ 3:16am
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Like Sands Through The Hourglass
Location: Tuscan Cafe - Promenade - Kok Station
Timeline: MD001 1400 hrs
Thorrin sat at his new favorite table, at his new favorite cafe, a bottle of Calvados and two glasses sat on the table before him. He knew that his XO was due in at any moment and he intended on getting to know the woman. A scientist by trade her record showed someone who had a zeal for the unknown. That was why he selected her for the role of Executive Officer. There was no greater unknown then time and he had to make sure that Marisa could handle it, while making sure Isaacs what was due. A small amount of anger roiled up within Thorrin. Anger at Jerimiah and blasted Janeway for what they did to the timeline, one everyone knew about and did not care, and the other no one knew about. Well, Thorrin would make it his life's work to see both of them get what is due. He inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. Calming breaths and he could sense the anger lowering. A sip of the lovely 900 year old wine helped things along.
Marisa used the trip to the station to complete all her academic obligations. Fortunately, she had no problem writing papers on a shuttle, and she carried all her personal research with her, so she had all the material she needed. That was important to her if she was going to be out of communication for the next year or two. She even had time to change into a clean uniform. Now it was time to meet her new commanding officer.
She found him at a small table in the small café. He was clearly waiting for her. Marisa walked over and gave him a Vulcan half-bow. "Well met, captain." It didn't hurt to be formal for this first meeting, even though she was generally not so Vulcan.
"A pleasure Commander..." Thorrin's genteel southern accent oozed honey as he motioned to the chair opposite him. "Please have a seat and may I offer you a glass of this most excellent calvados. It is in fact older than I am, and that is saying something." Thorrin wore the red uniform of a standard command officer while in public. He could see that his soon to be executive officer wore the same as she followed the instructions she was given. The question here is whether or not Thorrin could trust her. Was she in league with Jerimiah? Only time would tell.
"The pleasure is mine, captain." She raised an eyebrow at the age of the brandy as she slid into the seat opposite him. "Yes, a glass would be lovely. Thank you." She watched him calmly. Most El'Aurians were good at keeping their expressions neutral and were thus harder to read--much like Vulcans. Still, she wondered if he had any tells.
Thorrin poured out a glass and slid it across the table. "I have become a connoisseur of sorts of fine wines. It is perhaps my only indulgence." He kept his eyes level and his face expressionless. Not one for beating around any bush he decided to cut to the proverbial chase. "Commander I know that you met with Director Isaacs. Which tells me you know why you are here. The fact that you are here means you have accepted the position. So, without gilding the lily tell me why you are here. And please do not tell me to do your job or some such. I want to know why you decided to disappear and join me on my mission. If you would be so kind as to tell me what you think of the Director as well. I would greatly appreciate it." The man they called Father Time leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs and sipped his wine. This conversation would dictate how he proceeded.
She wondered, briefly, why he wanted to know what she thought of the director, but she figured she'd find out soon enough. Either way, she found it interesting that he would ask that as one of his two questions. "You know my background. I am passionate about history and ancient civilizations. I want to record and preserve what I can--even if that means the information cannot be made public. It also gives me a unique opportunity to learn where we got it wrong." She took a sip of her wine, pausing a moment to savor the flavor. "Working with you allows me the opportunity to stop those who wish to alter history--past or future--for their own purposes. At the same time, I can also help preserve the present." She took another sip of her wine. "I can also be a bit...stubborn when it comes to preserving knowledge and information."
Did he use his ship to acquire the brandy? It was the most logical answer. But she wouldn't ask just yet. He'd either tell her, or she'd find out later. "As for the director, I found him pompous and arrogant with narcissistic tendencies."
Thorrin laughed heartily, it was the kind of laugh that one had when they had not laughed in some time. "Well said Commander, well said indeed. That is precisely how I would describe him, and how he would no doubt describe me. I have no love for Director Isaacs. But that is a story for another time. Suffice to say for now he wants his people on my ship, This is something that I cannot abide. The crew that I need is people who are loyal to Starfleet first, and me second. I am sure you can understand that. Especially since we operate outside the normal command structure of Starfleet." He sipped his wine and savored the flavor. "A most excellent vintage, most excellent."
"It is indeed. You have good taste in wine." She took another sip and set the glass down. "I can assure you that I'm nobody's puppet. Not Director Isaacs and not yours. I am here because there is much to learn and see and I want to be a part of it." One side of her mouth quirked up in a smile. "I also have a tendency to speak my mind."
"I would not have it any other way. My First Officer should always speak their mind in private, publicly of course you follow the orders given. As for learning you will see and learn the wonders of the universe. However, you must know that you cannot speak a word of what you see. You cannot write any papers or studies. This is simply put for your eyes only, and for only as long as you want it. For, if you want to leave the program you will forget me and all of it." Thorrin was not someone who was quick to judge anyone. At the moment he thought the woman in front of him was perfect for the position. He would keep close enough for her to think they are friends, but far enough to never know the truth about him or his work.
"Of course. Unless it is an unlawful order. Even in this there are rules that cannot be broken and it is my responsibility as your XO to inform you of such." Bending the rules was not quite the same. She suspected he was the type to bend the rules if it suited him. She liked Thorrin better than she liked Isaacs, but she wasn't sure how far she could trust him. Why was she beginning to feel like she was navigating between Scylla and Charybdis?
Thorrin smiled broadly and his fingers tented. She had said exactly what he felt, exactly what he tried to tell all of them, exactly why Janeway had to pay. "My sentiments exactly. There is no middle ground. Either something is right for everyone or wrong for everyone. You cannot ever allow something simply because it suits you." He paused to sip the wine, and closed his eyes to savor the flavor. It was a ritual for him, almost religious. It calmed him, centered him. "I believe you and I are going to get along famously."
"I can't quite agree with that, either," she said, timing her answer so he wouldn't do a spit take or choke on his wine. "Not everything is either right for everyone or wrong for everyone. Life is seldom black or white. Most decisions will affect people in both positive and negative ways. Sometimes the best solution lies somewhere in between, in the middle ground. Thus, the gray areas have to be considered. I do, however, agree that doing something that will negatively affect others just because it suits one person is seldom right."
She had to help him understand her position, or the meeting--and her new assignment--would be over. "It is logical to look at a problem from all angles before deciding on the proper course. I am both scientist and counselor, Vulcan and human, logical and emotional. I believe there are times when the best solution is compromise. You might even say my very existence is a compromise."
They now began to tread from the realm of the physical into the realm of philosophical and Thorrin knew it. However, he was not sure he could gain the upper hand in a philosophical discussion with someone who was part Vulcan. It was too late now, he had to try. "Compromise is always possible, that is one of the facets of a good commanding officer. What is not possible or acceptable I should say is exceptions. Allow me to present a hypothetical. Let us posit that you and I become good friends over the next years. Let us also posit that you perish unfortunately while on a mission. If I were to take the Herodotus back through time and prevent your death that would be against everything that I have been told about the program. Everything I tell people about time travel, about what is right and wrong about it. However, it would save my valued friend and colleague. If I did save your life, should I be punished or should I be patted on the back?" He now presented the exact issue that he had a problem with. This was exactly what Kathrine Janeway did for her crew. Sandoval's next answer may very well dictate their relationship in the time to come.
Again, she sensed there was something behind his words. "The question is more complex than that. Would my not being there cause significant harm to others? Would bringing me back be necessary to stop something or someone? Do you have knowledge that I was supposed to do something and my death prevented what had already happened? That could be a reason to go back in time and prevent my death. However, if there were no other factors involved than your missing me, then there would also be no valid reason to go back in time to save me."
"Precisely..." Thorrin interjected and sipped his wine before raising a hand apologetically for interrupting her.
He was asking her to agree with him about a specific event, and she couldn't without knowing more. "We would also have to apply your question to other theoretical situations. For example, does this position hold for non-animate things? Would you use the same argument for going back in time to save an artifact that was destroyed that could alter what we understand about history, or to bring back a lost painting by a master." She paused. "To pick up a bottle of wine? Or does your hypothetical question only apply to a living being?" If she wasn't fired after this interview, she hoped to learn what happened at some point.
Marisa sighed. She wasn't going to change his opinion, and she wasn't going to agree with him when she didn't have enough information. "Can we agree that I am not going to give you the answer you want and move on?"
Based on what Marisa had said Thorrin could tell that she understood a lot more about this than she let on. He also became of the opinion that she would agree with him should he tell her the whole story. Perhaps in due time he would tell her. All of her questions proved it. "I will say one more thing on the matter and then drop the subject for the time being. You are correct to ask all of those questions. You see time is like an old knit sweater. When you pull one little thread the whole thing can unravel. Now, we shall table this for another time. Tell me, do you have any questions for me?"
She wasn't exactly sure what she should ask. "I will probably have a lot of questions moving forward. For now, I would like to read up on the temporal laws, the ship, and the crew or what sort of crew you will have."
"Very well I will make sure that as of this moment the entire ship's computer is at your disposal. This will allow you to see any and all data that is not classified. The ship specifications are the same as a Merian Class exploration vessel. Save for the temporal technology, the specifications of which you can find in the ship's computer. As to the crew well that is a different matter entirely. You see the previous crew decided that this was, well to put it delicately, too much for them. They have all been returned to their previous lives and as of now I am taking on a new crew. I have recruited just about everyone save for an Engineer, a helmsman, and Operations officer. Do you have any recommendations?" Thorrin leaned back and sipped his wine. He crossed his legs with a smile. He had not worked with anyone who was even part Vulcan since T'Penga and he forgot how refreshing it was.
"I do not know of anyone at the moment, but I will keep it in mind. In the meantime, I do wish to have a look at the computer and the current personnel list." There was a lot she did not know, so she expected to spend most of her time over the next few days getting familiar with her new assignment. "Is there anything else you would like me to do?"
"Familiarizing yourself with the manifest is a most excellent first task for a first officer, most excellent. I would suggest doing so on the ship as any record you look up on the station will give you the incorrect information. I believe you understand my meaning there. The only other task I can think of is to make sure you become familiar with the ship's procedures in particular blue and black alerts. To learn about the technology and how it works as first officer you should know as much as I. As always if you have any questions my door is always open. Furthermore, I want you to know that when in private you should always consider permission granted to speak freely. I want my XO to speak their mind without fear of anything." Thorrin rather liked this woman and it was rare that he liked anyone. If the rest of the new recruits were anything like her he could see having this crew for quite some time.
She nodded as he spoke. When he finished, Marisa smiled. "I believe I already demonstrated my willingness to speak my mind. Even so, I appreciate the official permission." At first she wasn't so sure what to think of her new commanding officer, but he was starting to grow on her. She finished her drink and set the glass back on the table. "If there is nothing more, I will let you enjoy the rest of your day." She now had research to do and a ship to become familiar with.
"Why thank you my dear doctor. I do hope you enjoy yours as well." Thorrin said as he sipped his wine again. When he set his glass down he picked up his PADD and began to review the files he had stored on there. He would do some light reading while he was here, while he had time. Before time itself would become his master.
A Joint Post By
Captain Thorrin
Commanding Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
Commander Marisa Sandoval
Executive Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
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