RP Log: Ensign Hayes Reporting For Duty

Roleplay Log
Participants: Hayes	T'Hana
Location(s): Chief Engineer's Office <USS Coleman NCC-91807>
Stardate: 137192.46
2026-01-30 16:04

Chief Engineer's Office <USS Coleman NCC-91807>

This small sized office can be utilized by any ship personnel without a dedicated office of their own. The design is multi-functional and provides a workspace for a single occupant. The carpet is olive-green with pear-green trim, with the bulkheads, walls, and furniture in a subdued pewter colour. The room is bathed in a soft glow from the overhead lighting panels, and a glossy black panel set into the bulkhead opposite the door provides access to an LCARS interface. A small teak desk is positioned to one side of the compartment, with a tall backed swivel chair behind it. A display curves out of the desk with a touchpad set into the desk at its base, and on the opposite end is a tall, built-in lamp. In front of the desk is a single mid-sized chair with its back to the entry door.

[T'Hana's Commbadge] Sending request for communication to Ensign Hayes.
[T'Hana's Commbadge] Communications channel to Ensign Hayes open - audio only.

[T'Hana's Commbadge] Hayes says, "Ensign Hayes speaking."

"Ensign Hayes, this is Lieutenant T'Hana," comes a voice. "Please report to my office on Deck 7." The words have no emphasis. No pause to underline the point. Her tone is even and unadorned.

[T'Hana's Commbadge] Hayes says, "I'll be there immediately!"

[T'Hana's Commbadge] Ensign Hayes double taps her commbadge.
[T'Hana's Commbadge] Connection to Ensign Hayes terminated.

Ensign Hayes arrives from Deck 7 - Corridor.

T'Hana is seated behind the desk, reviewing a PADD. As the door opens, she looks up. "Ensign Hayes," she greets evenly. "If you require a beverage to accompany you in our conversation, you may help yourself." She gestures with an open palm to the food replicator. The office is, as it happens, uncomfortably hot.

"I don't think I need a drink-pal to get through our conversation, but thanks." The Ensign says after stepping inside. Her hands are clasped behind her, fingers unable to fully be still in the quiet of the Chief's office. She doesn't sit, but she does reach up and tug at her collar a little.

The Vulcan's eyebrow rises fractionally at 'drink-pal' but she files it away as something to research later. She nods. "Very well," she replies. "Please sit. I am Lieutenant T'Hana. I am the Chief Engineer on this mission."

Randy doesn't seem to register T'Hana's brow lift, which really does warrant some attention. That's not an every day occurrence. Instead, Randy's eyes seem to be wandering her surroundings, taking in each detail. Her eyes return to the Vulcan with a polite dip of her head before she takes a seat. "You already know who I am. Lieutenant Ramirez told me you were my boss." Obviously. "Nice to meet you." She then waits for the Vulcan to take control over the meeting, eyes roaming around once again as if there were all that more to find.

T'Hana remains quiet for several seconds. "That is correct," she agrees simply. After another fractional silence, the Vulcan lifts her PADD to indicate it. "I have reviewed your Academy record," she explains, looking across the desk with unnerving precision. "I understand part of your time was spent on a remote outpost." She presents that fact as-is to let it inspire Hayes to surrender information about it on her own.

Randy should have known this was coming. She just didn't spend a whole bunch of time agonizing about it, and not it's here. Her new boss has read her record. Her shadow follows her. "...Yes." Randy looks left, then right, wondering where the question is after she fills the silence with the single word. Did she miss it? Was she not paying attention? Oh well.

T'Hana lowers her PADD, perhaps as a symbolic gesture. "The USS Coleman's current mission will likely involve elements of border patrol," she explains. "As your record does not include analogous conditions, there is no data that would inform prejudices." She continues to sit up straight, not moving a muscle unless she has to. "In other words," the Vulcan continues. "I do not believe your record is reflective of how you may perform on this mission. Nor do I believe in my inability to form opinion independent of those included by your instructors." At this point, the Vulcan sets the PADD down entirely. "I believe you would describe this as a ... 'clean slate.'" she adds.

"Is my record really that bad?" Randy's thoughts leak ahead of her prefrontal cortex...aloud. She seems nonplussed, used to this kind of lack of control or unaware of its intrusion upon normative etiquette...it's unclear. "What would that require of the Engineering department? Just, making sure everything is up, running, and ready to go at all times right?" She makes it sound so simple, as if it is that simple to her. But her mind betrays it's strange route when it bounces back to an emotional reverberation of the whole 'clean slate' ordeal. "Thank you," she says with more stillness.

T'Hana stares without expression. "I do not believe you require me to tell you," she states simply. The Vulcan remains motionless, except to speak. "The Engineering department focuses on the technical and mechanical functionality of the vessel and its auxilliary, the USS Yenisey, which is currently secured in the shuttlebay in Deck 6," she explains. Her half-lidded eyes flick to the PADD and then back to Hayes. "Lieutenant Ramirez has assigned the temporary billet of Junior Systems Engineer," she adds. Anticipating that Hayes will ask about that, the Vulcan continues. "A Junior Systems Engineer is a generalist engineer who assists in the operation, maintenance, and repair of all ship systems. You will be expected to support the ship's full range of mechanical and technical operation. It is your choice to remain a generalist or identify a specific area of interest."

Randy seems to yield the floor to the Vulcan easily, simply listening and trying to remain as still as her boss is more than enough. At least the ceaseless eye wandering has indeed, ceased, and the Chief has her Ensign's full attention. She opens her mouth at one point and then closes it again as the Vulcan elaborates. But when T'Hana finally comes round to the choice to specialize being Randy's own, the young woman's brow furrows. "I don't know all of the specialties, so I can't make that decision. I guess I should just be a generalist." She shrugs, pressing her lips together with thoughtful uncertainty, but uncertainty nonetheless. Such an inspiration.

T'Hana inclines her head slightly. "It would be illogical for you to make this choice now," she points out. "Your time spent as a Junior Systems Engineer will offer you opportunities to discover your interests." She pauses for a calculated length of time, just a second and a half. "Do you have objections to this billet assignment?" she asks. None of the Vulcan's speech includes any inflections that would emphasize any particular word or give clue to any of her own opinions, should they exist at all.

Randy nods, presumably in agreement as the Vulcan lays out the only logical path. "Not that can tell. Seems to be the only reasonable billet to take, and sounds like it will keep me busy," which sounds like it is a positive thing, especially since the human grins at the thought. "Do I need to d-I'm getting ahead. Sorry." She's obviously received feedback on her communication of some kind before.

T'Hana remains expressionless. "The Senior Systems Engineer, Lieutenant Perim, will be instructed to provide whatever guidance or support you require to complete your assignments," she adds. At the false-start, T'Hana inclines her head. "Please continue with your query," she requests.

Randy, for her part, keeps that easygoing grin. "Okay. Perim-Perim," she vocalizes quietly to herself as if she's trying to keep it in memory while looking for a spot to explicitly store it. "Lieutenant-Perim-Hmm? Oh." Randy shrugs and tilts her head, "I forgot what it was. It probably wasn't important."

T'Hana doesn't react visibly. "If it was not important, forgetting it is an efficient outcome," she remarks in her usual, deadpan fashion. After a measured pause to establish a change of subject, T'Hana continues. "You are assigned to repair all non-functional food replicators aboard the USS Coleman," she states. "You will report to Lieutenant Alue to receive the location of all food replicators that require servicing." She continues to sit motionless. "The USS Coleman and, by extension, the USS Yenisey, are currently engaged in their... 'shakedown' cruises. The entire crew's immediate task is to ensure that these vessels are ready to enter service. The reports available to you in the USS Coleman archives will provide additional context."

"I'll admit, that's the first time I've heard that perspective, but I agree, not that I've done it intentionally," Randy admits casually. "Yes, I was reviewing the reports in my quarters...well just outside my quarters when you summoned me." Which she was not instructed to do. She was instructed to report to the Chief Engineer after getting settled, which she now realizes with a flick of her eyes and a pause in her speech. "I will get caught up and find Perim. Thank you. Do you need anything more from me?" she wonders aloud, letting it slide instead of getting self conscious about it.

"Lieutenant Alue has the locations of the malfunctioning and non-functional food replicators," T'Hana reminds. "But it would be logical to also consult with Liuetenant Perim, should you determine it necessary." She does not shake her head at Hayes' question. "I do not," she answers. The Vulcan pauses again, another calculated length of time totalling two full seconds. "I believe it is customary to offer a sentiment to welcome you aboard," she adds, rising from her seat. "Welcome aboard."

"Oh yeah," and Lieutenant Alue. Randy grins and nods. She's got it now. The human doesn't seem discomforted by T'Hana's limited forms of expression and it doesn't seem to derail her from her own. "Well I think it's important that I know what Perim looks like, and not just some holo of him. Those always look weird. Too still. But that's not as important as the food replicators, so I'll work on that first," Randy explains, as if the Chief has time for this. Luckily, the Ensign seems to be rather quick, not full of long pauses in these little thought-bursts. "Okay." she says as if to reset herself in a beat, "I don't know if there's any return custom, so...thank you. I guess I'll get out of your hair now?"

T'Hana turns her attention briefly to her desktop terminal. "Lieutenant Perim is the only Trill on board the USS Coleman," she explains. "It should, therefore, be trivial to recognize him." She turns back to the human. "Before you depart..." she adds, opening one of the drawers attached to her desk. Her hand disappears into it and returns holding a hyperspanner. She holds it out for Hayes to take. "If there is meant to be ceremony in this moment, I am unaware of it," she explains.

You hand Hyperspanner (57336) to Ensign Hayes.

"Oh. Thank you," Randy says for the handy bit of information T'Hana reveals. She rises, but freezes when T'Hana turns back. Her head cocked to the side, grey eyes fall on the gadget with apparent interest. "Is that-" she takes it into both hands and grins. "Me neither, but this is awesome. Thanks! This is mine-I mean I know it's Starfleet's, but this is /my/ hyperspanner..." she rattles on to herself as she turns, "...coool," and starts to pad her way out of the office.

T'Hana watches Hayes leave her office, not commenting.

"Oh, Ensign?" T'Hana calls out before Hayes actually leaves. "You may wish to obtain some items from the Replimat. You will find that a PADD and Tricorder are essential items."

Randy pops her head back into frame of the door after it wooshes open again, detecting her presence. "Got it! PADD-Tricorder-Perim-Perim-Alue-No." and then she switches up the order of her mantra before the door closing cuts her off.

T'Hana watches in silence as her door cuts off the conversation. The Vulcan raises an eyebrow and then returns to her desktop console.