Just Saying Hi

Posted on Wed Aug 7th, 2019 @ 5:22pm by Colonel Jason "Jack" Frost

1,266 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: What Stalks The Night
Location: Marine Area
Timeline: Slight Backpost

Bianca made her way through the ship, heading for the Marine area. It wasn't a scheduled visit, or even one that had a purpose, more that she just wanted to take the time to introduce herself to the Marine Commanding Officer, to make her presence known and hopefully strike up something of a friendship. God knows, it was starting to seem that friendship was not going to be something that happened easily on this ship.

Walking into the Marine area, Bianca stopped a couple of times to get better directions before she found herself at his door, hitting the chime and waiting, silently hoping that he wouldn't be too busy for at least a brief introduction.

Jack was overlooking the main floor area where some marines were going about routine duties, relaxing, training, working out or stripping equipment. Such was the norm in what was called 'Marine Country'. The arrival of a woman in red stood out like a sore thumb and it wasn't just Jack that noticed it. With an inward sigh he wondered what was going on, what would bring fleet to his door and not his Exec's. "Come."

As she stepped through the door, Bianca forced a smile on her face. She was a seasoned officer, but even she felt out of her league here amid the sea of green. "Lieutenant Colonel Frost?" she asked somewhat hopefully as she extended her hand. "I apologize for the intrusion, I'm sure you have more than enough to keep you busy with out me prattling on, so I'll be brief. I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. Commander Bianca Caselli, I just came aboard as the new First Officer."

Jack looked older than he was, grey hair, scars, a rugged look to him that the life of a marine bestowed on most in a uniform that came with its own dangers. "Not at all Commander, please." Instead of offering her a seat, he invited her to stand at the window and observe the floor. "A daunting task for you, a ship this size, so many crew, massive departments." He was still coming to terms over the 800 marines he had under his command, but secretly he was enjoying it. "How are you settling in?" There was an air of steel about him, he radiated control because he liked control in what he did and this was Marine Country, his domain.

Joining him at the window, Bianca looked out at the scene below. "Honestly, it's overwhelming," she said with a quick laugh. "I mean, I knew the Dreadnought was a big ship, but I think I greatly underestimated the sheer number of people onboard. It feels a lot different reading specifications on a PaDD compared to walking the corridors. It must be different for you too, I mean, you've been with some of the same crew for a while, but how much did your own department increase by when you changed vessels? I did read the change statistics, it was somewhat jawdropping."

"My department went from 310 marines to 800 in one go. A modest increase really from my perspective but the extra manpower means Im able to do more with them." Jack replied, then considered her position. "Having come from the Ascension class, its a big leap in terms of size. I don't know if you served on one but even going from a Sovereign class to this is a step that needs a hand rail at least."

Bianca laughed softly. "My last assignment was an Intrepid Class," she said lightly. "Coming aboard the Dreadnought I felt like I needed a 'you are here map' just to find my way out of the turbolift!" It was an exaggeration, but her point was clear. This ship was positively huge compared to anything any of them were used to. "Still, a change is as good as a holiday, right?" she asked brightly. "And with a ship this size, at least I know there's never going to be any excuse for boredom."

"True." Boredom was for sure something that would find no home on board this ship. "You should take a walk down the promenade at some point, the civilian population have been creative in the selection of shops available. Its almost homely." Jack paused briefly. "So what made you pick this ship, of all others?"

Pausing for a moment, Bianca smiled. "Go big or go home, isn't that what they say?" She shrugged slightly. "I wanted a change, I think I needed a change, and this seemed like one hell of a change. I always contemplated what it would be like to serve on a starbase, just the size, the manpower, but I would miss being among the stars. This is kind of the best of both worlds isn't it?"

"I suppose in a way it is." Jack couldn't argue with her logic, the ship was indeed large, very large and the crew equally so. It had a considerable amount of equipment that most starships didn't but Starbases's did. "Not sure if the class lives up to the name, since Dreadnought is pretty self explanatory, but then again we have only just been assigned to her and yet to see combat, so only time will tell on that one."

Bianca laughed. "Well, I'm quite happy to wait to find that one out. If even ten percent of the new crew are getting as totally lost as I am, running for battle stations is going to be a rather interesting event," she shook her head. "I've taken to carrying a PaDD with me so I can run active directions for where I need to be. It saves face when I'm not stopping to ask every other crewman or ensign where to find something," she finished with a grin.

"How have your introductions to the rest of the staff gone?" Jack asked knowing that for any 'new' person in the team especially one that had served together for some time it was always hard to 'get in' to the team dynamic.

"It's been... interesting..." Bianca paused, turning her attention from the activity below to the Marine CO standing next to her. "It's always interesting when you're the new kid in the neighborhood, but you know, I'm not that concerned. Sooner or later you're all going to realize I don't bite, at least not hard," she finished cheerfully.

"You may want to watch out for Acacia, an MO in Sickbay, may look sweet with her coloured hair but shes got a bite and a bark to be respected." Jack replied with a grin.

"I'll keep that in mind," Bianca replied with a laugh. "So throw chocolate from afar until she's convinced I'm not a threat then?"

"Doesn't work...believe me, I've tried." Jack replied. "Have you managed to get a proper tour in of the ship or that a work in progress?"

"That one is still very much a work in progress, I'm getting around one bit at a time. Thankfully perk of the job means I'm almost never in my office right now and always out dealing with people and situations, so I'm getting around a decent amount. I figure at this rate I should have nailed seeing the whole ship in, Ohhh, about five years of consecutive duty shifts?" Bianca replied lightly with a shrug.

Jack chuckled. While his job didn't need him outside the Marine deck much unlike Bianca's, it meant that the need to tour the ship was not as important for him. He would, maybe get round to it, but there was no rush for it.

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