Meeting Malbrooke
Posted on Tue Jun 11th, 2019 @ 7:30am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Petty Officer 2nd Class Sofia Cipriani
Edited on on Tue Jun 11th, 2019 @ 7:32am
1,486 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 7 - Home Again
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD002 1300 hrs
Sofia was green, well in terms of experience any way as this was her first posting and she wanted to impress. Her new commanding officer, Captain Tyler Malbrooke, was from what she had heard was an impressive man and she looked forward to meeting him in person.
She had straightened her uniform out as she stood in front of the doors in the hallway. Truth be told she could have went in via the bridge but this was more private, less intrusive.
The door chime rang.
The last thing Tyler had to do before he took some much needed leave and time off was to evaluate and meet the crew transfers. The top of the list was a Crewman Sofia Cipriani, she was to serve as Yeoman. Tyler sighed heavily as he thought the idea of having a Yeoman to be silly, and a relic of the past. He thought that the status of the sector would have him too busy to show someone the ropes of Command. However, it was that exact reason that Starfleet cited the need for the Pioneer to have a Yeoman. "The volatile nature of the sector demands that someone assist the Captain in the day to day running of the ship." Tyler read from the orders. He ran his hand through his hair not knowing what he was going to say to this woman. The door chime interrupted his thoughts. "Come on in..." he called without looking up.
Sofia had a good read on people, it was something she prided herself on and it helped her get through many tough situations before. As she entered the ready room she felt that this may be one of those times. She had heard the Captains reluctance to a Yeoman, his opinion on her new found position. Sofia hoped to change his mind, at the very least he hoped he liked her. She was friends with Chloe, odd pairing but they had been friends for years and she said he was a good, understanding man who was "so hot she'd love to rip his clothes off and leave his hat on", that made her shudder a bit as she met his gaze entering the room.
She stammered slightly, "C-Crewman Sofia Cipriani, reporting for duty Captain." she stood to attention. If she was any more rigid she might snap.
Tyler looked at the young woman and smiled broadly. "At ease Crewman, before you break something. Take a seat..." He pointed at one of the chairs in front of his desk. "First off I need to say this, for any of this to work when we are in this room I am simply Tyler or Ty if you would like." He turned on the country charm in an effort to put the young woman at ease. "So you think you can handle that?"
She loosened up a little but still there was an air of unease around here. Sofia was used to rules, regs and having to show respect to superiors so this was a little odd. She sat down nonetheless on the edge of her seat, not wanting to get too comfortable.
"I think so sir." Her eyes widened, "I mean Tyler, Ty. I'm sorry this a little weird. I thought you didn't want me here..."
He sighed sympathetically "Darlin it has nothin to do with you. I feel that the position of Yeoman is simply a relic from a bygone era in the fleet. However, the fleet disagrees with me. So let's both relax and take it step by step. I need you to show me that you can be confident. If you are going to be representing Tyler Malbrooke you gotta walk around like you own the place. You git me." He smiled broadly.
She giggled slightly. "You have got a few more years on me sir, and you do own the place so..." Before she realized he may take that in a negative fashion she stopped and looked at him. "I don't mean you're old, just experienced. Chloe tells me you're nice." she said with an innocent smile.
He smiled at her, well it was more his trademark half smile. Kat said it was the smile that he got when he was thinking but had to put on a face. "I have learned the hard way that behind every great man is a greater woman. So in regards to owning the place my wife will have to give you some pointers." He laughed aloud he was trying to lighten the mood. "So, you know Chloe eh? You're not one of her trouble makers are you?"
Sofia smirked at his question, "No sir. Chloe is in a league of her own. I met her a couple of years ago before my training and we had a little rebellion in my old village. I think if you check Starfleet's library she is under the definition of troublemaker." She went back to his earlier comments about behind a great man is a greater woman and she'd never thought about that before but it made sense. Her mother was really the boss in their household.
"Yeah, and it seems our Pioneer is becoming the home for wayward troublemakers. But that is after all what makes it a home. So the Yeoman is primarily clerical work, filing reports scheduling appointments and the like. Work that can be very boring. However, it is supposed to be learning experience. So let's start with what does Sofia want to be when she goes up." Tyler spoke wistfully and then joked about her age. He never felt old until this moment, he realized he was old enough to be her father. "Starfleet is what you make of it, so tell me what you want to make of it."
"I can assure you sir I am as honest and most of the time go quite unnoticed." She said looking at her shoes for a minute in a lost thought. Perking up though as the Captain told her of her duties, "That sounds fine sir, I am used to doing that from the enlisted academy but when I grow up? I don't think I'm going to grow any more, well physically anyway." She joked. "Starfleet to me is an adventure sir. To meet new and exciting people, see things I wouldn't normally see on Earth. I'm happy to serve sir, especially under you."
"Do you have any aspirations to go to the Academy?" Tyler asked by way of figuring the woman out. Up until now she seemed to be a bit of an enigma. "Why me? I mean I am glad that you are eager to serve, but why me, why this ship?"
"Not really sir, not right now any way. I'm a pretty simple girl." she said with a fairly honest and innocent smile. "To be honest sir, I didn't choose you. Starfleet placed me here so I don't know... I just heard nice things from Chloe." she shrugged. "You seem nice... sir."
"Well thank you Crewman and welcome aboard. Your first duty will be to assist in making sure the new crew members get settled. In particular there is a Lieutenant Tallida Ovaa our new Ship's Counselor. Make sure she finds her office etc. okay. I am coffee drinker so long as you make sure there is a fresh pot made hot and ready you will go far with me. Do you have any questions for me?" Tyler sipped his coffee he could see that there was a person beneath the rigid fresh face that stood before him. He knew that in due time she would let loose.
"No problem sir, I'll make sure to get to know the Counsellor properly so I know what she needs, and I'll always make sure you have your coffee ready to go." she replied. "As for questions I don't think so, just really looking to get settled myself and get to know some people here."
"Excellent welcome to the Pioneer." Tyler said with a broad smile. Although he was still a on the fence about whether or not he wanted a Yeoman, he knew that Cipriani would be a good fit for the Pioneer. He hoped that she would be able to handle all that was yet on the horizon.
"Thank you sir, I mean Tyler." she scrunching her nose up a little as his name came out. She would have to get used to that, but that would take some time. With that she grabbed a handful of PADDs, gave the Captain a quick nod and left the ready room. She was going to enjoy it here, her first real posting...
A Joint Post By
Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Crewman Sofia Cipriani
Yeoman, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed