Meetings

Posted on Mon Nov 2nd, 2020 @ 4:23pm by Ensign Paul Sleeford

Frank sat in the arboretum, some of the trees were damaged in the Kazon attack and had been replaced with some from Iota Station. He looked carefully at the pear tree, mesmerized by its crisp white blooms and soft pink centers, it would bear fruit in a few months, he was hoping to get a few and make some homemade pear butter luke his grandma made.

His Padd beeped breaking his concentration, the computer showed a notification for another Ensign. Frank stroked his beard, he thought he had met all of the new officers already and felt bad that he had missed one. "Computer notify Ensign Sleeford i am at the arboretum and would like to speak to him."

Sleeford woke and rolled out of bed, walking to the shower he stepped over the underwear of his room mate, dodging round a bra and a small pair of .. well nothing if he was honest. Walking into the shower he placed all the bottles of smellies and shampoos and lord knew what. "How much stuff does one young woman need"

Standing in the shower Sleeford let the waves wash over him, easing the tension and stress out of his muscles, turning the sonic waves to hot water he stood there letting the water cascade down his back, walking out he grabbed the cleanest towel from the pile and headed back to the small bedroom, he squatted and pulled open the under bed draw, pulling out a fresh uniform and dressing quickly, pulling on his boots, he pinned the small black ensigns pip on his right collar, he headed for the door, tripping over a pair of boots, "That damn woman will be the death of me"

Leaving the room Sleeford felt the PADD in his hand vibrate, looking at the screen he saw the message from the captain, sending an acknowledgment he headed for the closest turbo lift. Waiting until the doors had closed. "Deck seven, Arboretum"

As the car moved off Sleeford gathered his thoughts , the ship he knew had been in combat and had lost a lot of personal, a lot of the new ensigns where replacement crew, the transport out had been full of young recent graduates frm the academy, all full of vigour and excitement of their new assignments. Arriving on deck 7 Sleeford walked the short distance to the arboretum.

Entering Sleeford paused to take in the trees, shrubs and other plants, following the sound of water trickling through the stream, marvelling at the beauty of the space he wandered among the trees , taking in the scent of the white flowers.
Finding the captain standing next to what looked like a pear tree.

Frank stood as the young man walked up, "Ensign Sleeford, I presume," he said with a smile under his gray beard. " I hope I didn't take you away from anything pressing."

Smiling slightly Sleeford approached the captain, "Other then contemplating murdering my bunk mate, i must admit it would make the quarters tidier" Laughing slightly Sleeford stood in front of the captain.

"Should I contact Security?" Frank asked with a twinkle in his eye. "Ahhh the days below decks, for an Engineer like me, my entire career was below decks until I made Assistant Chief. Anyhow, I didn't call on ya to spin yarns about my career. I realized I overlooked your onboarding notice and decided to rectify that. So here we are Ensign."

Sleeford smiled at the thought of security coming too the quarters to sort out a fight between him and his bunk mate, "I read the last mission report on my trip over, I understand if things have been a little manic."

"Yes Sir, they have been a little manic as you put it. Getting ambushed and out gunned definitely raises the ole blood pressure. Other than your bunk mate, are you settling in ok?" Frank asked.

Sleeford stood there a little chastised, "Yes sir, I'm still finding my way around, she's a large ship, with lots to investigate. As for my bunk mate, thing will settle, we're both new to the ship, it will take time to get sorted."

"Well good luck Ensign, I'm going to have to get moving a Captain's work is never done," Frank said with a smile. "Before I go, is there anything I can do for you?"

As he stood there Sleeford shook his head, "No sir, nothing comes to mind. I'll meet Lieutenant Hunter later. Standing to attention, Sleeford waited for a couple of seconds and left the Captain to his thoughts among the trees.