<USS Avalon> "New Faces, New Blood"

?New Faces, New Blood?
by Commander Javan Sierra
& Ensign Tomarys Dalonega



Things weren't exactly stellar in the security offices. Things had slowed down significantly since the issue on the USS Allegiance had gotten shifted to the back burner. Rounds were taking effect slowly and accurately, but there was less of a bounce in everyone's step and that worried Javan. Morale wasn't his primary concern - it never had been - but the ability of his subordinates to function was. Sitting in his office he peered out into the foyer beyond and gauged his staff with an increasing degree of scrutiny.

He was waiting for one officer to arrive. A new ensign that had been assigned to the Starfleet Intelligence vessel with an impressive repertoire would be a great addition to his staff. Javan was looking forward to meeting her and working with her, but he was afraid her lack of experience would hinder her strengths. Either way, Javan thought, he'd mold her into a fine security officer.

The Lancelot shuttle had now taken up a course next to the USS Avalon, in the orbit of Vargas II. The young ensign Tomarys Dalonega stood among several other young ensigns and warrant officers who were being assigned to the well-known Starfleet vessel. The nervous energy in the transporter room was so thick and strong you could probably run an entire station on it. Even a Terran such as Tomarys could sense it. A smirk took shape and ran over her full lips; her father would say that the group of fresh academy crewmembers was like a herd of young calves being driven from their heifers.

Hearing that in the back of her head calmed Tomarys as the group was told to move to the transporter pad. The lean willowy tomboy walked up to the pad and stood in the middle. Long legged, Tomarys was able to see over quite a few of her comrades.
As she felt the energy of the transporter moving through her body, Tomarys' excitement grew. How much she wished her father and brothers could see her now. She knew they would be proud.

As the group shimmered aboard the USS Avalon, Tomarys took in a long breath. She had arrived.

"Commander Sierra?" A voice asked from behind him. "The shuttle Lancelot has deposited the new supply of ensigns onboard. A new security officer is amongst them."

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Javan said as he swiveled in his chair back to his desk. His strong fingers tapped the PADD feverishly as his eyes eyed the readouts on his screen. She would be on time and that surprised Javan; he wasn't use to having his new people being as punctual as she was proving to be. A good thought, he figured, another impeccable mark to add to her already meritorious personnel file. "When she arrives please send her to me first."

The young Lieutenant nodded, "Aye, Commander."

Just as soon as the group of new ensigns and warrant officers arrived on the USS Avalon they began to scatter to their new departments. Tomarys noticed that quite a few of them looked a bit lost and unsure now that they arrived in their new temporary home. She shook her head and pulled out her PADD. Already, the ensign had programmed a map of the USS Avalon in its memory. She held it up and slid her long thumb over a few keys. The PADD quickly pulled up the directions to the Avalon?s Security Office.

Her brown eyes scanned over it and then she placed the PADD back away in her pack. The security ensign wouldn't need it now with her almost picture perfect memory. Slinging her small pack over her back, Tomarys took off towards Security. Her long legs moved her swiftly through the corridors and directly to the nearest turbolift. Stepping in she called out to it calmly, "Security Department." The lift moved and began to shuttle her through the ship.

It stopped near security, opening its doors for her. Tomarys stepped out and turned towards security. As she moved towards the department, Tomarys could feel her heart race even faster. She wanted to make a good impression to her knew 'boss'. Stepping inside, she stopped to and looked at the crewmember being the first desk she came to.

"Ensign Tomarys Dalonega, ready to report for duty," she said, standing up as straight as she could.

The young Lieutenant glanced up from the PADD he was reading and was obviously upset with the interruption. He gauged her up and down for a moment and then opened his mouth, but hesitated. "I'm Lieutenant Zachary Winters, but that's besides the point. You a new recruit?" He didn't bother waiting for her response and pointed across the room to another office in the corner with a doorway open and two legs propped up on a desk. "Commander Javan Sierra, you can find him in there."

Tomarys forced back the frown that pulled at her lips. She could see that the young Lieutenant felt bothered by her sudden appearance. But, she shrugged it off. Who knows, she might have to work very close beside him in her tour of duty aboard the Avalon. Her warm brown eyes followed his hand as he pointed towards the open doorway. From where she stood, she could just barely see the boots that sat on top of the desk. Tomarys looked back at Lt. Winters and replied with a quick, "Thank you."

Shifting her pack a little on her back, Tomarys took off towards Cdr. Sierra's office. Stepping over the threshold, she felt her heart stop for a second and then jump back again as her nerves where trying to grip her. Tomarys pushed them back. Why was she so nervous? she asked herself. She wasn't sure if it was because she wanted to do well for her brothers and father...or just impress the heck out of the Commander she was about to meet. Of course, that would take time, Tomarys knew.

"Ensign Tomarys Dalonega, reporting for duty, sir," she quickly called out. She once again stood up straight and a bit ridged. Her young teenager ROTC training so harshly instilled in her. She looked over to the desk and saw the very relaxed Commander, as she waited for his response.

Javan glanced up at the new ensign, "Welcome aboard the USS Avalon, ensign. I'd like to formally introduce myself as Commander Javan Sierra." He let the words echo almost lifelessly in the air without the slightest hint of emotion and his face was as hard as stone. "Lieutenant Zachary Winters will be your probationary mentor until you become adapted to the life and procedures here on this vessel. Any questions, comments, or concerns can be made directly to him. If, in the event of a conflict, you disagree with Mr. Winters you can bring any relevant problems to myself or another member of the senior security staff. Understood?"

Lieutenant Zachary Winters?! She had been correct in her assumption only minutes earlier. Funny how things work out. As she stood there though, hearing Commander Sierra's lifeless tone, Tomarys wondered if this was not the norm for the ship. Perhaps she had been spoiled all those years as she heard the excitement of Starfleet crews when her father Commodore Justin Dalonega had arrived on a ship, station, or such.

Of course, she knew that in Starfleet, she wasn't anyone special. Tomarys learned that very quickly as a cadet. She nodded and remained professional in her demeanor, "Yes it is understood, Commander Sierra."

"You're more than welcome to sit, Ensign." Javan motioned to the chair across from his as he sat in the chair with his feet propped up on the desk's surface, "Is there anything that you'd like to ask me before you dive right in and get started with the fast and furious business that security handles on a day-to-day basis?" Javan was kind of surprised at her lack of questioning towards him, but he was satisfied with it. She didn't realize that this department was the busiest on the ship and would take the most time and effort from her life to handle.

Tomarys glanced over at the chair the Commander motioned her towards. Sliding her small pack off her back, Tomarys walked over and sat down. She leaned over a bit to place the bag next to her feet and the chair. As she sat down, Tomarys was trying to think of questions to ask him. But, honestly, she wasn't thinking up anything that sounded all that impressive. "I assume, sir, that I will be reporting to the department every day for my assignments and times. Not knowing the ship's current events though, is there anything I should be prepared for?"

Even sitting in the chair, Tomarys wasn't relaxed. Her long body was rigid and upright. She hadn't ever exactly been the soft, calm, and well popular girl growing up. The thin rail of a teenager and now woman had always had her nose in books or she was diving head first into athletics. One thing she wasn't that great at...was conversation.

"First, no. Second, relax." Javan smirked a bit and slid a PADD over to her. The metallic surfaces rubbed together, "this is my personal biographical profile and the other senior officers in security. They'll be the ones you should know about. I'm the only Betazoid on board that I can think of other than the partial one that Commander Skyler is. If there isn't anything else I'm sure you'd like to get out of here and to your quarters; please see Ensign Ryan Hollander for those specifics."

Tomarys leaned her willowy body forward and reached out to take the PADD that had been pushed towards her. She picked it up, her brown eyes scanning the information that was on the PADD briefly and then holding it in her lap for the moment. Tomarys returned her attention to her commanding officer and replied, "Thank you, sir. I will read up on my commanding officers as soon as possible."

The ensign stood up, pushing the PADD into a pocket on the side of her small pack. She slung it gently over her shoulder to rest on her back, making a soft sound as the fabric made contact. "Thank you for your time, Commander Sierra." Tomarys stepped back slightly, but not daring to move until she was officially dismissed.

He eyed her again and smiled that trademark smile and nodded, "Dismissed Ensign, and welcome aboard once more. I look forward to working with you."

The smile that flashed on his face made the nervousness of the moment be forgotten by the ensign. Tomarys returned his smile with her own, her long dimples showing in her slender cheeks. "As I look forward to working and learning from you, Commander,? Tomarys returned. Then she spun around on one heal and took off and over the threshold of his office door. She gave a quick glance and nod to Lt. Winter and was soon out in the corridors of the Avalon to find her new quarters.


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