Great Expectations

Posted on Wed Aug 9th, 2023 @ 1:34pm by Lieutenant Phoebe Baxter & Ensign Helle Leed

1,332 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Prelude to Rebirth
Location: Starfleet Academy Science Building
Timeline: 1 May 2396

[ON]

Helle was walking too fast. She caused more than a few mutters when she rushed through small groups of cadets, presumably on their way to other labs or to join friends outside. She heard their discontent and moved on quickly with a broad smile on her face. The sun was shining brightly, and she could see dozens of knots of cadets lounging on the nearby grassy field, enjoying the pleasant weather.

She was hardly aware of the scientists and researchers in lab coats, some who looked startled when Helle hurried past them. Most remained hunched over terminals or engaged in animated discussions in small groups, turning the hallway into many small, spontaneous meeting rooms. She was about to meet Lieutenant Phoebe Baxter, her new mentor, who would help shape Helle's early career. Helle had imagined this meeting for weeks since accepting a post with the USS Firebird, and couldn't stop the tumultuous mix of nervousness and excitement in her stomach.

She stuttered to a stop outside lab 207-B, on the second floor of the Blalock section. Helle controlled her breath before walking in, eyes absorbing everything to remember this moment. Her heart deflated a bit when the only other person in the room was a young human woman, hardly older than Helle herself. The woman was reading a PADD, and tucked a strand of red hair behind one ear. Afraid of being caught starting, Helle cleared her throat. "Sorry to bother, I'm looking for Lieutenant Phoebe Baxter. Do you know her?"

"No bother!" the woman answered warmly, setting down the PADD as she looked up with a mischievous grin. "You happen to be in luck, as I know her quite well... she's me! Although please, call me Phoebe." She offered her hand. "You must be Helle. Um, did I pronounce that right? I wasn't sure if it was 'hell' or 'hell-Ay' or 'hell- EE'... guess I could have let you introduce yourself, I suppose, but I've been excited to meet you, so I went with 'hell', as you already heard, and well, Helle, how are you?"

"It's like Heh-leh," Helle said, taking the proffered hand gingerly. She scanned Phoebe's face for some sign she was joking. The woman was hardly older than Helle herself. Where was her veteran mentor? Where was the science leader Starfleet would assign to a valuable vessel? She could hear Elin's words, They'll not be going anywhere interesting anymore. Suddenly, Helle remembered herself and quickly dropped the handshake. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting someone so... It's that you look... Aren't you young to be the Chief Science Officer?"

"Age is relative, Heh-leh" Phoebe shrugged, locking in the pronunciation. "And not always an indicator of knowledge or experience. Also, fun fact - department head positions are always, um, well usually always at the discretion of the commanding officer. So as you progress in your career with Starfleet, you will most likely see a wide sample set when it comes to a ship's so-called senior staff. You might even find yourself serving under a department head who isn't even an officer. It's true! Sometimes, for whatever reason, a civilian might hold the position. It's rare, but it can happen. It happened to me on my second posting, with Dr. Brennen. She was the wife of the first officer and by far the most qualified scientist on board. That was a great assignment."

"She sounds great. It must have been great to work with someone who had years of experience and knowledge ready to share..." Helle realized how rude that might sound and, while that was how she was feeling there was no point antagonizing her new commander.

"But now you're here. The chief science officer. A brand new chief science officer in a brand new science lab. Sorry, I'm kind of nervous. What do you expect from me in order to be a great Ensign?"

"Well, I do have two absolutes that I expect not just from ensigns, but from anyone on my staff - honesty and safety. The work we do vitally depends on both," Phoebe emphasized, leaning back against a work table. "So as long as you never fudge any data or blow up one of our labs, we should be cool. Other than that.... well, honestly, I just expect you to be yourself. Never be afraid to ask questions! If I don't know the answer, we'll find someone who does."

She gave Helle a grin and returned the question. "How about you? What sort of expectations do you have for your first assignment?"

This wasn't how Helle had expected it to go. Phoebe wasn't stuffy like she had a phaser rifle up her butt, and seemed actually friendly. "Well, I've never blown up a lab even when I really wanted to. To vent some steam, you know? And my data is as solid as I can make it. Do people actually fudge their data? Why even do that?" Helle breathed in deeply and exhaled with some force.

"May I be honest with you, Lieutenant? I'm a little worried about this assignment."

Looking around, Phoebe spotted a couple of chairs in the corner and led Helle to them. "You may always be honest with me. What are you worried about?"

"Well, the fact that the ship is all but mothballed, has a bad reputation, and most of the graduates I know--top shelf talent kind of people--wouldn't touch it because of all the bad things that came out during the hearings." Helle's cheeks suddenly turned red as her words dawned on her. "Not that you aren't really smart, Lieutenant. But since I'm in it already, may I ask why you chose this post?"

"I didn't choose," Phoebe shrugged with a chuckle. "I was assigned, possibly as a punishment for not following the path being laid out for me... that's a much longer story that I will be happy to share some time, preferably over drinks. But even though I didn't choose Firebird, I could not be happier with where I've landed." She leaned in bit. "Helle, I think what we both have here with this assignment is a blank slate. I've never put much stock in other's opinions. I'm excited to see what this ship and crew are like for myself, and also what this posting will bring out of me."

Hearing her own thoughts spoken back at her made Helle squirm in her chair. "I told my friends the same things. Give the crew a chance, you know? There's too much experience to think we'd never do anything interesting." Helle sighed, and then realized how insubordinate her comments could come across to her new chief. Her parents had talked about brilliant people they'd found in odd places and Helle had gone right to assuming this young lieutenant was... inferior, just because she was young. Helle squirmed again. "Sorry Lieutenant, if I insulted you. I think there's a lot for me to learn and the crew has been great. Anything you need from me, I'm here to learn and help as much as I can."

"No insults taken, Helle," Phoebe assured, waving her hand in the air to dismiss any imagined slights. "I look forward to our time together, because I know I'll have a lot to learn from you, too. A please remember that my door is always open for you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, okay?"

"Thank you, Lieutenant." Helle's face warmed to a faint pink. Even though it was a pleasantry most people said and didn't mean, Helle hoped she had something to teach. She stopped at the door to smile and wave, feeling a bit foolish. "I'll be getting back to my lessons, then. Thanks again, Lieutenant."

[OFF]

Lieutenant Phoebe Baxter
Chief Science Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298


Ensign Helle Leed (NPC by Leed)
Biologist
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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