A Second Job

Posted on 28 May 2020 @ 12:09pm by Lieutenant Sovok

796 words; about a 4 minute read

It was the middle of alpha shift but that wasn't a problem for Lorelei, because she worked beta. She pretty much never had reason to go to the bridge, but today she did, and to be honest? She was a little excited. It felt kind of...important to go to the bridge. She wouldn't have imagined it before, but she was told to go there to find Lieutenant Sovok, the new chief of helm, and it was pretty easy to figure the Vulcan fella at the helm console was him.

"Lieutenant Sovok?" she asked politely as she made her way toward his console.

Sovok was at his station as predicted. The middle-aged Vulcan male sat at his console with a variety of displays up in front of him. The chief helmsman was meticulous about each bit of detail he could get his hands in, for any sort of deviation could spell disaster for the Odin and her crew.

"You are correct." Sovok said without turning around right away. If Lorelei looked at his station, he was wrapping up a warp field diagnosis, trajectory analysis, and a academic paper on transwarp technology all at once, but after a few moments, he locked his station and turned around to face the petty officer, his keen azure eyes falling upon her.

"How may I be of assistance?" He asked with a genuine interest in his voice.

Lorelei flashed one of her usual smiles, although she knew it wouldn't have the usual effect. "I'm Petty Officer Lorelei Romanov. I've signed up to be a secondary helm officer, since we've been told the department is thin. I'm reporting in, then."

Sovok dipped his head in greeting to Lorelei. "It is agreeable to have you aboard, Petty Officer Romanov. As you know, my name is Sovok. I will be supervising your training on the helm. Tell me, what piloting experience do you have?" He asked in an even tone.

"Well, can't say I ever flew a ship like this," she replied casually. "But I'm a fighter tech and work down on the flight deck. My brother pilots one. I've got time in the simulators working with fighters and shuttles. I've done some short-run shuttle flights, too."

"Which makes you more qualified than most of my students when they entered my flight school at Starfleet Acedemy." Sovok said evenly but with a reassuring tone. He paused to observe her for a moment before continuing. "Piloting a starship such as this, in principal, is similar to piloting any warp capable vessel. The difference is the dynamics."

"Yes, sir," Lorelei agreed with a nod, but then she paused and tilted her head slightly. "Are we starting the training now, Lieutenant?"

"We are." Sovok said with a nod. The vulcan helmsman turned back towards his display screen and controls. He gestured to the area next to him, speaking calmly, patiently in normal vulcan fashion. "Come and familiarize yourself with this display. I find it easier for students to see the controls before they get bogged down in training and academics."

Nodding once, Lorelei moved closer as he indicated and looked over the controls. "It looks somewhat similar to a runabout control panel," she commented.

"Indeed." Soval said with a hum. He cycled through all the main controls for her; navigation, speed, warp field specifics, power distribution, and all other essential controls from the helm. He did so slowly so she could become familiar with the layout, and all throughout this, he kept an eye on the numbers he was showing her so that he could continue his duty while instructing. "Think of this starship as a very large runabout. In essence, that is what it is. Piloting it, while different in some crucial parts, in essence, remains the same as piloting a shuttlecraft. Do you have any questions before I assign you your first reading, Petty Officer?" He asked dryly.

"No, sir," she said easily. She was a pretty bright girl. At least the experience she did have provided a half-decent base for learning this.

"Good. I will have a PADD sent to your quarters on the specifics of the ship, the sciences you will learn for requirements of your duty, and will arrange time in the holodeck for us to test what you have learned. Dismissed, Petty Officer." Sovok said evenly, though there may have been the slightest bit of anticipation in his voice. It would be nice to have a crew under his command again. It would certainly mean he did not have to work as many shifts and could resume his studies and meditations, but before all that, he would have to be sure she was ready, and vulcans are rarely kind teachers.

=/\= End Log =/\=

Lieutenant Sovok & Petty Officer Third Class Lorelei Romanov

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