Stardate: 60703.0302
Title: New Starts
Author: Ensign Levi
Time: After 'A Handful of Quantum Rocks'
Scene: Aerowing bay, Main Operations office, Brig


Yoni gazed toward the empty Aerowing bay below him from the heights of the bay control room, where the single flight controller who manned it declared that the deck was clear. Instantly, the technical detail rushed back, clearing some equipment that was used to prepare the Last Dance for her launch, ready the bay for the retrieval of the shuttle when the Captain was done.

Smiling with satisfaction of his first actual launch, Yoni took off the headset from his head, cutting himself off from all the air traffic transmission. This job would be left to his air boss, which was exactly why he was the one manning the Flight Control Centre at these moments Relaxed, Yoni climbed down the ladder to the flight deck itself, recognizing from afar his Chief, who preferred to be present with the Aerowing technical detail rather at the Main Shuttlebay.

Observing him from behind, Yoni could stand for the man personality from his figure. He was an aging NCO, his hair is grey and his face is furrowed with nervous wrinkles. His work uniforms couldn't hide the effect of the years on his body and his belly was obtruding a little bit. His voice was amazingly low, a hint for his years in a command career, shouting and barking all day around at deck hands. As he approached him, he could notice how he was dealing with his men and could feel the uncomfortable feeling he was spreading around him - a clear message to motivate people to do their job faster and better if they were willing to get rid of his sight.

"How is it going, Chief?" Ensign Levi asked, finally making a stand after watching the elder NCO for a while.

The Chief was Zakdorn, and if there anything that Zakdorns were known for besides their amazing talent for strategy, was their lack of patience toward others, especially if they found them inferiors.

"The Aerowing made it through and that's all that's important. Now clear the deck, boy. I'm busy," was the short reply Yoni had just earned.

Yoni was also known for his temper, and it was no secret that street life brought him to what he was today. While in the academy they learned how to suppress emotions using Vulcan techniques so they can handle problematic situations like this in a calm spirit, Yoni found himself more than once on the edge of an expulsion from the academy for his rash behavior. But he wasn't stupid, and he surely didn't want to loose his senior NCO on their first conversation. He calmed himself down and decided to try again.

"Chief, I believe…"

In the middle of Yoni's sentence the Chief turned his back to him and walked away.

Yoni started to chase him around the deck when suddenly he realized that this was what the chief wanted; to show the rest of his men that his superior can't handle a simple situation such as shuttle launch without his help.

The Chief shrugged arrogantly when he found out that the slim boy with the shiny pip of his collar left him alone and walked away. He was about to bark again on another technician when suddenly a loud crush noise filled the compartment as one of the tool cases made his way toward the bulkhead and collapsed against it with a great sound. All stopped their deeds, halting from everything they were doing at the Moment.

Gazing toward the source of the sound, only to find there a furious, unknown Ensign standing there holding another case of tools in his
Hand.

"Chief, get the heck out of *my* bay. Get yourself to the brig and wait for me there." yelled Yoni toward him.

Ro'sat smiled, he was building the Ensign a nice net and he was about to fall in, "On what charge have you thought about, *sir*?" he chuckled.

I didn't ask for your approval. I gave you an order. Report to the brig. What's not clear about that?"

At that moment Ro'sat knew he was about to loose this battle. The kid was pulling rank, and to avoid a public humiliation in front of the deck hands by disobeying a direct order from a superior officer he should give up before he would cross the line, following the kid's example.

"Junior, take over," Ro'sat handed his PADD to the technical detail leader and started to pace quickly toward the exit. Before he exited the door he hesitated for one second and considered his next move.

Finally he turned around and replied, "This isn't over, Ensign. You have just given me an illegal order and you know it."

Yoni barked again, "Move!"

Ro'sat disappeared behind the door. Later, at the Main Operation office, deck 6, Yoni stepped inside the large compartment that was using as the Main Operations Centre of the ship. In front of him there were a few work stations manned by a few shift operators and a warrant officer who was manning the duty of Shift Supervisor.

To the right and left, two large displays were located just above the work stations, showing different information regarding the ship status, position and situation. At the end of the compartment a glass door led to another, smaller room. On the glass door it was written 'Chief of Operations. Welcome to our safe house, Ensign'.

The Shift Supervisor gestured toward him, the Lieutenant expects you in his office. Yonatan nodded and without a word continued straight into the Chief's office. There, on the big chair sat an unknown Lieutenant reading a report from his console. However, the second pip on his collar was actually blank, meaning he was actually Lt. Junior Grade, and not a full Lieutenant.

"I'm only a substitute until they will nominate a full Lieutenant to act as the Chief of Operations here onboard," said the officer like he was reading Yoni's mind.

"Lt. Edward Greenhill. Junior Grade of course. Assistant Chief of Operations," he was surely polite and had manners a great gap between him and Yoni.

"Ensign Yonatan Levi, Flight Operations officer, reporting for duty."

Edward rose from his seat to shake Yoni's hand and than gestured toward the chair in front of him, "Take a seat, please."

Yoni sat down with silence, wondering how long it will take this nice officer to get to the part where he threw his senior NCO to the brig.

"I can start with reviewing your record," opened up Edward with a smile, "But it will be a very short list, considering you have just graduated from the academy. I can, however start to explain to you the structure of this department and how it works, but it appears you have decided you want to redesign it by figuring out you don't need a senior NCO in your section."

Well, at least it didn't take him long to get there.

"Sir, I was merely defending my position," Yoni started.

"Tell me where is the part in this two-sentence conversation where I was giving the impression I want or I even care about your opinion, *Ensign*?"

Now he was pulling rank over him. Yoni went to silent, burying his insult.

"You haven't been onboard for one duty cycle and you haven't even interviewed anyone of your NCOs and you've already managed to cripple your relationship with one of them," Edward went on, "Are you out of your mind? What is this behavior? This man is old enough to be your father and has a lifetime experience on dozens of posts. Instead of learning from him you are throwing it behind the bars? More then that with no accusation! Is this what they've thought you at the Academy? Because if so I can send you back there for another year to learn the meaning of being and officer and then discussing again about your application," Edward smile disappeared suddenly as he frowned down against him.

"What you have learned at the street leave there. This is a Federation ship that represents its government and its policy out there and you have been given a commission rank and a command in this organization. So next time think twice before you decide to be impulsive."

Silence filled the room while Yoni didn't dare to open his mouth.

"Now get to the brig and get you NCO from there. I will have to report to the Captain about this incident and let him decide what to do with you. Dismissed," Greenhill concluded finally.

First day at work and he was already in trouble. But then again, all his life he was living from one trouble to another why should anything change here.

Before he exited the door Edward call him again, "One thing for sure, Ensign, you have surely ensured the future cooperation of this stubborn Chief of yours. I know how hard Zakdorns can get and I can promise you this: whatever comes between us, what I'm saying to you stays in this room. Outside there you will get my blind support. As long as you won't fail me."

Yoni exited the office finally, chuckling. He might have got spanked & but for this price he made an impressive entry to the flight ops department with removing the greatest rock in his way, his senior NCO.

A few moments later, down at the brig a force field was lowered. Ro'sat exited the chamber with an angry look on his face. Full of hatred toward the Ensign who stood in front of him, full with vengeance wishes, he also felt a deep respect for an officer who was willing to go this far, reading his bluff.

"Now, shall we try again?" Yoni asked with a cynical smile, "I'm Ensign Yonatan Levi, but you will call me Yoni."

The two shook hands.


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Ensign Yonatan Levi
Flight Ops Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
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