A Return

Posted on Wed Apr 19, 2017 @ 5:57pm by Lieutenant Commander Kelani Tetanal & Commodore Michael Aravan

Mission: Avatar
Location: Ready Room - Utopia Planetia
Timeline: MD 9 || 0900 Hours

Michael sat in his Ready Room going over one report after another and wondered if Commander Weisz had simply dumped them all his desk without looking at them. That wasn't the case as the Executive Officer had signed off on many of them and he reminded himself that his Yeoman, Ben Efits, had been in sickbay as a result of getting hurt during the battle by the Orion Nebula.

He saw that dozens more crew were coming aboard for which he was grateful, including a new Science Chief. The name rang a bell with him and he searched through the old personnel manifest and came across her. Kelani Tetenal, the former Assistant Chief of Science. She had gone back to the Academy for a period of time and now was being assigned back to the Triumphant.

Seeing that she was due aboard the ship any minute, he cleared his desk of PADDs and got up to make a cup of fresh brewed coffee while he waited.

Kelani exited the turbolift, entering the Bridge quietly. Memories came back as she moved to the Ready Room to report in.

As she crossed the Bridge, Kelani wondered what had happened to many of those she had served with before, but decided it might be best not to know.

Taking a deep breath, she pressed the buzzer.

"Enter!" Michael called as he released the door lock from the huge LCARS conference table.

Kelani entered and came to attention. "Lt Kelani Tetanal reporting for duty."

She looked around for a moment, memories stirring, before returning her attention to the Captain.

"At ease, Lieutenant Tetanal," Michael said. "Would you care for a refreshment before we begin?" He gestured towards the stand that held a fresh carafe of coffee on it which smelled delightful. Off to the side was a replicator and several shelves full of different types of bonsai trees.


"Some coffee, if you please, sir,". Kelani replied as she moved to one of the chairs, waiting to be seated until the Captain returned to his seat.

She watched as the Captain moved to the table, noting fatigue in his manner.

Michael went to get a cup of coffee for her and came back with the cup, a saucer and a small container of cream and sugar. "It's not a problem. How did you find your Academy training?"

Kelani nodded appreciatively as she accepted the cup, adding a small amount of sugar to it.

At Michael's question, she smiled, saying, "It was quite stimulating, sir. The additional training has helped me gain perspective...". She paused for a moment, continuing, "One must be--open-- to whatever comes. I am not so naive now...."

"I didn't think you were naive before, Lieutenant," Michael said as he sat down at the table. "You've obviously impressed some people to be back to the Triumphant as a chief of your own department now. Do you have any questions for me?"

Kelani smiled saying,"Perhaps naive was not the best choice of terms. It seems that the additional training has made me more--self assured--than I was. It is important to me, since I was honored with this assignment. I want to do well."

At Michael's question, Kelani fell silent. "I cannot think of any questions at this time, except to ask what changes, if any, have occurred since my previous time aboard?"

The Captain activated the LCARS on the table and spent ten minutes going over the mostly small changes since she had last been aboard before he focused on the Science area. "You now have more lab space, more personnel and more access to departmental functions since you're now the Chief of Science."

"This is all quite impressive,". Kelani said when Michael finished. " I am looking forward to serving here again. One last question, if I may? Are there any studies in the lab still pending completion? If there are, I need to learn the particulars about them."

"None that I'm aware of," Michael said. "However, you may need to check with Lieutenant McNamara to find out what Lieutenant Krem was going before he was reassigned."

"I shall certainly do so,". Kelani replied. "Thank you, sir. Is there anything you need to ask of me?"

"Not at the moment, Lieutenant," he said as he came to his feet. "Welcome back to the Triumphant."

"Thank you, sir,". Kelani replied, rising also. "It is a pleasure to be aboard Triumphant again."