The Welcome Aboard Packet

Posted on Thu Mar 27th, 2025 by Lieutenant JG Alexandra Ortega & Lieutenant Commander Freya Preston

1,082 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: M02 - The Sixteenth Rule
Location: Executive Officer's Office, USS Hooke
Timeline: Present

Alexandra was exhausted from the trip between getting everything onto the Cutter after the funeral and going through everything that had belonged to her parents, and the trip itself. She had made one last effort to make sure everything from the Cutter had made it aboard the Hooke before leaving the quarters that had been assigned to both her sister and herself.

Alex made her way from there up to the office that belonged to the Executive Officer, a woman she'd never met before now, and activated the chime.

Freya was reviewing the new personnel transfers that were coming aboard when she heard the chime, "Come in please." She said softly and looked up. When the door opened Freya put the data pad she was holding down onto the desk in front of her, "Oh Lieutenant please have a seat." She said with a smile. Freya sat down in her chair, prepared to speak to their new flight control officer, and the most senior one they had.

Alexandra graciously took her seat across from the Executive Officer, the number of things that needed to be done yet seemed rather absurd. She had also checked to see what shift she'd be assigned, but there was no information provided there leaving her somewhat stumped. "Thank you sir." Alex placed a PADD onto the desk for the Commander to take.

Freya assumed this was the woman's orders and took the PADD, once she'd confirmed this she signed them and placed them back onto the desk. "Welcome aboard Lieutenant." Freya remarked, "I've had some time to read your personnel profile, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your parents Lieutenant."

Alexandra was still feeling the sting from that, she'd barely grieved in the last few weeks since the funeral. This was mostly for her sister who seemed to be really struggling with it. "Thank you Commander." Alexandra said, mostly because she was uncertain what the best response should have been to this. 'Why do people say thank you to that?' She thought to herself. Alex tried to smile, though it was rather weakly done and it probably showed.

"I was looking at the duty roster and didn't see my name, I was wondering if there had been some sort of mistake sir?" Alexandra asked.

Freya shook her head, "No mistake Lieutenant Ortega," She told the new flight controller. "You'll be on duty section Alpha on the bridge. The reason you're not on there yet is because we want to give you forty-eight hours to settle in before you begin your duties. All the new personnel coming on board are going to get the same amount of treatment, forty-eight hours then they may begin their duties.

"You understand this is to settle in and get everything you need in order?" Freya asked while frowning.

Alexandra would have much rather began working, "I understand. When will Ashley be able to start class?" She asked, "Is she going to have to wait forty-eight hours as well?" Alex knew how important school was to Ashley, and delaying that would probably not go over very well.

"If she wants," Freya said. "The classroom has already been rearranged to accommodate her." Freya frowned even more, "You don't seem really excited about having a couple days off."

Alexandra shook her head, "Ashley will want to start class right away," She mentioned. "As for me," Alex sighed somewhat more heavily than she'd intended on. "I would much rather hit the ground running, but I won't argue against taking two days to acclimate to the ship either sir." She looked down for a moment, "It was mentioned to me that Ashley and I are to have some regular appointments with the ship's Counselor?"

Freya nodded, "If you would like to start duty tomorrow I can arrange for it. As for Ashley, if she wants to start school tomorrow that's fine as well. The other students were given today off to work on their science fair projects so there's no use in sending her to class now." Freya finished speaking and looked at her computer console, checking Counselor Choyi's schedule.

"Yes," Freya said at once, "I'm afraid those aren't optional though. It looks like she's scheduled some one on one sessions as well as some sessions with the two of you together."

Alexandra wondered how Ashley would handle that, but said nothing about it. She simply nodded, "I would like to start my duties tomorrow yes." She answered, "I won't argue about these counseling sessions. I just find them to be a waste of time if I'm being honest with you. I'm fine."

Freya refused to address the last part entirely because she had no experience in that department. She would mentally note talking to Counselor Choyi about it later. Freya was a scientist not a counselor after all, "All right." She said and went in to change the duty roster. Ensign Tohl was already scheduled to pilot the ship on his new shift which was Beta shift. For now they had been using a fill in. "You're in the duty roster for tomorrow morning Lieutenant."

Alexandra appreciated that part, "What time will the counseling sessions be?"

Freya grabbed one of the PADDs on her desk and handed it over to the Lieutenant, "The schedule is all there Lieutenant. The Counselor has you both doing your sessions while off duty and out of class for Ashley." She then decided to address the previous remark, "Just trust in the process okay?"

Alex nodded, she knew the Exec had meant well by this. It didn't mean she agreed with the process itself. As far as she was concerned she was fine. Her parents were gone, there was nothing that could change that. It was just her sister and her left in the world to try and figure things out. "I will," She said after a brief pause. "Is there anything else sir?"

Freya shook her head, "Just welcome aboard Lieutenant. I think you'll fit in here just fine," She said and stood up. "If your sister or you need anything at all please let me know right away."

Alex gave yet another nod, "We will." She answered with a relatively weak smile and turned around. She took this as a sign that she'd been dismissed from the office. Alex did appreciate the Exec, she just didn't think she needed any sort of guidance counseling on something that she couldn't change.

 

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