No room at the Inn
Posted on Fri Jan 20th, 2023 @ 10:25am by Lieutenant Njalia Sayffier
Mission:
R&R: The Reprieve
Location: Ops Office
Timeline: shortly after docking
922 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure
Njalia sat at her desk looking at the rotating holograms showing the stress and damage caused to the Vesta, people were going to write academic papers on how she survived when she should not have . . . once the mission reports we declassified of course. There were still anomalous areas that needed to be tagged, explored, and dealt with in some way, she thought that almost all of them had been tracked down and best of luck to those sorting through them.
On top of that, there were routine tasks that continued, providing a nice sense of continuity. Crew transfers, new arrivals, she paused, there was a flag on one of those. She called up the file. Ah, a new doctor. So what was the problem? Her quarters. She checked the notes, oh yes, those were found to contain a scale model of Luna City circa the founding of the Federation, apparently absurdly detailed and potentially a vital historical artifact and there was a team assigned to investigate and dismantle it with a time frame of . . . two weeks. Well, that will not do. The new Doctor will need a place to stay before then but nothing suitable for her rank seemed open.
Njalia activated a direct com to Ensign Amabilia. "Doctor Amabilia, can you drop by Operations as you have time, There is a slight problem with your assigned quarters."
The young Magna Roman was quick to arrive, stepping through the door barely a few minutes later. She looked no worse for wear for someone who'd just beheld possibly the weirdest sight when it came to accommodation, with long blonde hair neatly tied into a ponytail, uniform neat and perfectly clean, blue eyes alight with excitement and possibly a bit of amusement.
"Hello. I'm ensign Amabilia." She said with a slight bow. "I've seen my quarters. If it means anything I think it looks quite nice, though my bed seems to have vanished entirely." Those blue eyes of hers seemed to gleam with amusement for a moment before she added, "If I might ask. What exactly happened in my quarters to make them that way?"
Njalia stood, her antenna quirking in amusement. "Well, what I am allowed to say is that it it was 'an unusual and unexpected quantum event that must be investigated'. But unfortunately, it does mean that your assigned quarters are unavailable for at least three weeks. All of the other quarters suitable for an officer of your rank are either occupied or under repair for other reasons. Our last mission was quite rough on the poor Vesta." She smiles. "I can offer you temporary quarters of slightly less than your rank deserves." She hits a key and one of the holograms expanded to show the quarters with open rooms in green, the medical offices and sick bay in blue.
"May I get you something to drink while you consider? I have some excellent teas and coffees programmed in."
"I'm alright with sleeping anywhere, so long as I have a mattress and pillow." Cassia smiled. Really, anything was better than her old gladiator's barracks. Try sleeping in those uncomfy conditions for a year and you'll hate them too. "And I'll have a glass of raktajino coffee if that's alright."
"No trouble at all," she activates the replicator and brings over a steaming cup to Cassia. "Oh, where are my manners? I am Njalia Sayffier, Lieutenant and Chief of Operations. Nice to meet you." She set a mug of Andorian The on her desk. "Sorry about the mix-up. Since it will only be for a few weeks, you can also bunk with me." She gestured to one of the cabins, near to a turbolift. "I don't take up much room and the location is well-placed for easy access. But whatever looks best for you."
"I don't mind having a roommate." Cassia smiled kindly. "I assure you, I don't take up much space myself and I might not be around very much, seeing as I'm a doctor and all. You'll have nothing to worry about." She hoped that made for enough indication as to what her choice was. Enlisted quarters always seemed way too small and too spartan for someone who worked as hard as their occupants did to her. She sipped from the cup with a content sigh. "Thank you for obliging me, by the way. The coffee is excellent. Clearly you've gotten the replicator to do a better job than the Academy replicators do - the one in my dorm room always made raktajino that tasted a bit flat."
"Trading recipes is a major hobby in Ops," smiled Njalia. "I will happily share this one. Well, if no one else has done so, let me welcome you to the Vesta. You are not seeing her at her best, but we will be off exploring again soon enough."
"Thank you, ma'am." Cassia smiled and put down her mostly empty cup. "If that's all, I'd like to get settled in properly. I've heard things about where the Vesta has been and I'd like to start work as soon as possible."
Njalia nods approvingly. "The room is now keyed to your biosignature. Hopefully, once you are settled, we can meet for dinner."
"I'd like that." The Magna Roman smiled a dazzling pearly smile as she stood and walked towards the door. "See you for dinner, ma'am. I'd like to get to know you more then."
"Please call me Njalia in casual setting," she said with a smile. "And I will see you at dinner."
