Ensign Sival - New Experiences

 ((Main Hall, Atlas Base))

Ensign Sival had been in what he would describe as a standing meditation. The room was buzzing with the noise of vibrant conversation and laughter all around him. Since he found it hard to regain his composure amongst the flurry of emotions, he had momentarily closed his eyes and did what he had done countless times before - imagining himself to be the calm eye of a hurricane as the winds screeched all around him. With each breath in and out, the mental storm in his mind had gotten quieter and quieter, until the flurry of activity around him had calmed. Not a sound could be heard. For a moment, he felt completely serene.

Sival opened his eyes. 

Instantly he realized that the reason not a sound could be heard was that the room really had gotten quiet. So quiet in fact that PADD stylus could be heard if dropped on the floor.

To his further surprise, he also noticed that he was the only one standing, as all of the other occupants in the room had been seated, with the exception of Commander Shayne, who he had spoken to earlier. 

He noticed one or two crew members looking his way, perhaps wondering who this unfamiliar face was who was now conspicuously standing visible to the entire room.

Sival felt an emotion stirring deep inside him, which he recognized as embarrassment. Exercising his mental control, he submerged it into his subconscious while quickly deciding the most appropriate course of action in this situation would be to find a seat himself. 

He found what seemed to be the row for ensigns. Seated was a female, who appeared to be Deltan, at least in part. Next to her were three humans, one female and two males. Sival quietly addressed the female who he believed to be part Deltan.

Sival: Excuse me, Ensign. Would you mind if I sit here?

R’Ariel: Response

Sival quickly sat down. At that moment, Commander Shayne began to address the room.

 

Shayne: Welcome, all- I am pleased to see each of you. 

 

Sival noticed that the Commander’s upbeat attitude was no longer visible on his face. 

 

Shayne: Before we begin the proceedings this evening, I feel it is important to recognize the absences that have been left in our ranks. 

 

Shayne: In the course of the events that brought us to Atlas Base, Crewman Gonzalez was killed by a malevolent being of great power. 

Sival had read about the incident during his journey to Atlas Base. To him, the circumstances of Crewman Gonzalez’s death were not agreeable. 

Shayne: I could tell you about his family and his career, about his training and ambitions. I could read you letters of commendation. But those things are anecdotes. They’re convenient ways of avoiding the fact that most of us never got the chance to meet Crewman Gonzalez. 

 

Sival noticed that the room had become even quieter than before, if that were even possible. Sival had studied various human mourning rituals as part of his psychology degree. He found it odd that a speaker was ‘not’ talking about the deceased’s life, as was common in most human customs.  

Shayne: If you like, feel free to look up his public file. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with his achievements. But we will not do that for the moment. For this moment, accept the vacuum, the darkness. The chances that never were. Recognize what was lost, so that we may all recognize what we have now. 

 

Sival pondered the phrase, “accept the vacuum, the darkness.” A remarkably stoic expression to hear from a human. And his advice was practical, perhaps even logical.

Shayne: I’m afraid I also have some… alarming news. Most of you are well aware of the events leading to our current situation. What we encountered was but a part of the whole. As we speak, the Sheliak Corporate is continuing its push into adjacent star systems. Federation space is not being violated, but other worlds are less fortunate. 

While briefed about the Arrow’s recent encounter with the Sheliak Corporate, Sival was largely unfamiliar with the larger dynamics of the conflict. He was curious to learn more. 

Shayne: Starfleet Command has begun, and is continuing, negotiations with the Corporate in order to stop their push into occupied territories, and to permit unrestricted transport between previously unclaimed space. As it stands now, however, Theta 122 is surrounded on all sides by Sheliak forces. A buffer zone of ten light years around Theta 122 has been put in place, and the Sheliak have agreed to not attack any ship within it. Moving out of it, however, places any vessel currently in the vicinity of Theta 122 in jeopardy. 

 

Having heard the premise, Sival waited for the inevitable argument to be built upon it. 

 

Shayne: Starfleet Command has assessed the situation, and they’ve determined the following; if hostilities were to break out between the Federation and the Corporate, the Federation would almost certainly prevail. But the cost in lives would be well into the millions, and could forever alter this quadrant. Therefore, in accordance with my purview as Arrow’s commanding officer, and at the suggestion of Starfleet Command, I volunteered Arrow and her crew to stay in the vicinity of Theta 122 until a peaceful solution to this crisis can be found. Our goals will be to assist any ship we can in accordance with general orders, facilitate diplomacy, and protect the ships and people within the safe harbor of Theta 122 from whatever threats we can mitigate. 

 

Sival found the situation unsettling. While he did not know much about the species, he did know that the Sheliak were uncompromisingly rigid in any conflict. And any encounter would surely be a conflict, as, as far as he knew, Sheliak were not a species to compromise. They felt entitled to their actions, bound by immutable law. There is rarely common ground to be found with groups who adopt such a mentality. 

 

Shayne: This is not the information I wanted to tell you. This is not the mission I thought we’d be tasked with. But it is, and we must each of us work to accomplish it to the best of our abilities. If you have any questions, please submit them to your department leader, the first officer, or myself. We will do our best to answer. 

 

Sival did not believe he had questions. He would leave this matter to the ship’s leadership. It would not be his place to ask questions or offer advice. He was content to leave it there. 

 

More pressing to him instead was his own duty. The remark briefly reminded him that he had orders to report to certain officers as well as part of his induction into the crew. 

 

Shayne: And yet, we prevail. 

The commander’s demeanor noticeably changed. Surely he was preparing to deliver more pleasing news. 

Shayne: As Arrow is the first Starfleet vessel to spend any appreciable amount of time in this region, I’m delighted to award all hands with the Explorer’s Ribbon. 

 

Shayne: In keeping with the bluish palette, I’m pleased to award all hands the Legacy Ribbon. 

Sival made a note to research both accolades. 

Shayne: Ensigns R’Ariel, Wilde, Nakada and DeBarres, please step forward. 

 

The three people sitting next to Sival stood up. Sival suddenly found himself seated in the row alone. Conspicuous again. Only this time, no eyes were upon him.

 

Shayne: Ensign R’Ariel, your swift actions and selflessness prevented further harm from coming to any member of this crew during and after the Sheliak’s telepathic assault. For your immediate courage, I am pleased to present unto you the Silver Lifesaving Ribbon. 

 

R’Ariel: Response 

 

Shayne: What have we here? Counselor, I dare say you are out of uniform! Truly shocking. 

Shayne: Then again, I suppose that I can’t blame you for this situation, seeing as the rest of your uniform has yet to be presented. 

Sival rarely noticed the subtleties in sarcasm and humour. And this event was no exception. As expected, Sival was confused by the exchange. Of course regulations required an officer on duty to be in uniform. But it was hardly an occasion to be ‘shocked’. Sival was eluded yet again.

Sival was more concerned to learn about this ‘telepathic assault’. He made a note to follow up with the Counselor once aboard the Arrow.  

Shayne: Congratulations, Lieutenant Junior Grade R’Ariel. 

R’Ariel: Response 

 

Sival politely clapped upon announcement of the promotion. 

 

Shayne: Mr. Wilde, your first day on the job was an education in chaos theory. Even my first day was not that chaotic, and I… Well, that’s a story for a different time. The point is, Mr. Wilde, that you showed conspicuous gallantry in the face of overwhelming circumstances, and as such, I am pleased to present to you the Good Conduct Ribbon. 

Wilde: Response 

 

Shayne: Hmm. I see Lieutenant R’Ariel is not alone- you, too, appear to be slightly lacking in terms of uniform compliance,  Mr. Wilde. Let’s see what we can do to fix that. 

 

Sival waited for further elaboration on the matter of uniform compliance. The matter was apparently of great concern to the Commander. Yet, the Commander did not explain how he would ‘fix’ it. Regardless, Sival made it a note to remember always to be in compliance with Starfleet uniform code. 

 

Shayne: Congratulations, Lieutenant Junior Grade Wilde. 

Once again, Sival clapped politely. 

Shayne: Mr. Nakada, as a former chief engineer, I know just enough to know how much I don’t. So long as there are engineers as innovative as yourself amidst our ranks, I should never fear for the state of my ship, and nor should anyone else. For exceptional inventiveness in the pursuit of avoiding further damage to your ship and crew, I am pleased to award you with the Innovation Ribbon. 

 

Shayne: Congratulations, Lieutenant Junior Grade Nakada. 

Nakada: Response 

 

More applause.

 

Shayne: Ensign DeBarres, your work at Ops was instrumental in allowing us to survive the crises we experienced- so instrumental that I’m willing to supply you what you need to fix that uniform of yours. 

 

Now Sival was convinced about the importance the Commander placed on uniforms. He heard laughter from the audience, which he found peculiar, as he resolved to treat the matter seriously and with the highest level of importance. 

 

DeBarres: Yes, Sir.::Unsure of what was coming next. Feeling a bit pale standing on her feet.::

 

Shayne: Congratulations, newest lieutenants of the Federation Starship Arrow!

 

Collins: Three Cheers for yer Captain and Crew! HIP HIP!

 

Assembly: HOORAY!

 

Collins: HIP HIP!

 

Assembly: HOORAH!

 

Collins: HIP HIIIIP!

 

Assembly: HOORAY!

 

The sudden choral shouting in the room was unexpected to Sival, and it caused a reaction in the Vulcan that humans might interpret as ‘slightly annoyed’. Humans were a most unpredictable species. Nevertheless, Sival recognized and appreciated the congeniality of the crew amongst him. He found their harmony to be agreeable.

 

The four promoted crew members sat down again. Sival was no longer seated in the ensigns’ row. Sival took the opportunity to address them.

 

Sival: Lieutenants R’Ariel, Wilde, Nakada and DeBarres, congratulations on your promotions, Sirs. I am Ensign Sival, assigned to the USS Arrow as a Medical Officer. It is agreeable to meet you.

 

Sival made the traditional gesture of greeting for a Vulcan.

 

R’Ariel: Response

 

Wilde: Response

 

Nakada: Response

 

DeBarres: Response

 

Sival: ::addressing R’Ariel:: Lieutenant, I would like to express my concern about your recent telepathic encounter with the Sheliak. Would now be an appropriate time to discuss the matter with you?

 

R’Ariel: Response

 

Sival: I understand, and apologies for my impropriety. We can surely discuss the matter at a time you feel is more appropriate. ::Addressing all the Lieutenants:: May I ask about the Commander’s apparent obsession with the uniform code? 

 

Sival asked the question in all seriousness, thus he did not understand the politely stifled chuckles he believed he heard from the other crew members. 

 

Sival: Have I made another indecent remark?

 

(Any) R’Ariel / Wilde / Nakada / DeBarres: Response

 

Clearly Sival had much to learn. Regardless, he was pleased - as much as any Vulcan would admit - that he had found a new home with such a good-natured crew. Sival was optimistic about the journey ahead with their companionship.

----

Ensign Sival

Medical Officer

USS Arrow, NCC-69828

A239709S10