Terms of Service

Posted on Sun Aug 23rd, 2026 @ 6:48pm by Lieutenant JG Tavian Rhos & Commander Vren'desh Son of Rukas

1,560 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: Through the Janus Gate
Location: Office of the Executive Officer - Deck 2 - USS Resolute
Timeline: MD001 - 1700 Hours

Tav was right on time for his appointment with the first officer, tapped on the door panel to sound the chime that would announce his presence. What a day! He was still wound up from the trip here on the Hermes, then having to jump right into his new role here on the Resolute. The pilot hadn't even seen his own quarters yet, had eaten a quick five-minute lunch during a break on his shift on the bridge, and then stayed late to cover the other helmsmen that had covered him.

It didn't feel like the best first-day on a new ship though he'd stayed positive throughout.

Now though, Tav felt a little worry. Would the XO be a hardass? Tav always tried to get along with his superiors, he really did, but his track record with XO's wasn't a good one so far. The fact that this time around his boss was a Klingon wasn't lost on him either, and while he didn't want to judge Commander Vren'desh based on species, Tav was, he could admit to himself, intimidated.

Vren'Desh grumbled to himself. He enjoyed his job, but hated all the paperwork that came with being an XO. So, the sound of the door chime was a welcome one as it gave him a distraction from the paperwork hell. "Enter." His booming voice could be heard, the door obliged and opened and revealed the officer beyond.

"Hi, Commander," Tav said as he swaggered into the office, outwardly all calm and cool. He offered a smile, didn't offer a handshake - did Klingons shake hands, or was that just a Human thing? In any case it wasn't a Betazoid greeting - and almost, almost slid into the chair before the desk. Halfway lowered into it, he second guessed himself, shrugged, and stood upright at least until he was told he could sit. "What a day, huh?"

"It IS a day. Is there something I can do for you Lieutenant?" Vren'Desh knew the Lieutenant by file only. Rhos was a Betazoid and new to the Resolute. He happened to be one of the candidates that Vren'Desh did not want on the Resolute but the Captain overrode him.

"Didn't we have an appointment, Commander?" Tav blinked black eyes at him, suddenly uncertain. "I figured it was you wanting to talk to me. Let me guess: 'I've seen your record, Lieutenant, and we won't put up with that nonsense on the Resolute.' Something like that?"

He didn't really mean to be flippant, and he wasn't trying to be rude, Tav really meant it as a joke, but it probably didn't come across very good.

Vren'Desh growled in that way that Klingons did when frustration overtook them and they could not kill what was in front of them. "Lieutenant you will show some respect to me, and this ship or you will leave this ship. Do I make myself clear?" The tone in which he spoke did not bilk any other response other than yes sir. Vren'Desh would see this man off the Resolute now before suffering any more insolence.

Tav let out a soft sigh. This really wasn't going well. He'd been afraid of that. "Sorry, sir. Very clear, sir. Respect the ship and you, got it." He tried to sound contrite and certain, though he was more confused now than before. Had it really been that bad? Tav didn't want to assume it was a Klingon-thing, any more than a handshake.

Vren'Desh took the apology, having been around other species since entering the Academy. "Perhaps, we need to start again." After a pause he looked up from his computer screen. "Evening Lieutenant. Is there something I can help you with?"

Again, confusion washed over the pilot, Tav repeated, "I... thought we had a meeting now, sir. It was on my schedule. I'd assumed it was the uh... the standard meet the new boss sort of thing. Get to know your expectations and any standing orders?" He left off the witty commentary this time around.

Vren'Desh had no record of the meeting. However, it would be standard procedure. "Yes, Lieutenant welcome aboard. It seems that with all the work of getting the ship underway it must have slipped my mind. The Resolute is more than a ship, it is a city in space in a way. Do you think you are up to the task?"

"If you mean just by mass of the ship, sir, I don't think there'll be a problem," Tav smirked a little at that. "The Meridian was nearly as large as a Sovereign-class, and I'm rated high on everything from shuttles & fighters, to destroyers, cruisers, dreadnaughts, and everything in between. Atmospheric craft too. If it flies, I can fly it."

It wasn't exactly an idle boast. Whatever else his record might say, Tav did know his job very well.

"But if you mean, handle a senior officer position, running a team of my own and working with the other departments on board?" Tav shrugged, unconcerned and confident. "Wouldn't have applied for the spot if I didn't think I could do it, and I love a good challenge. The day this gets boring is the day I resign from Starfleet."

There was a moment where Vren'Desh realized that the man in front of him may have not fully understood Klingons. He exhaled through his nose as he leaned back in his chair. "I did not mean either of those. What I meant was psychologically. When you sit at the helm you hold the lives of the thousands of warriors aboard this vessel in your fingertips. You are the frontline into the unknown." After a pause Vren'Desh continued. "I am not saying this to scare you or anything else. In truth having just met you I am not sure if much would scare you. I am saying this so that you understand the weight of a position that is often overlooked for its importance."

In return, Tav's smile grew tight, his teeth pressed hard together. He didn't respond immediately. It was easy to pick up on his expression and body language though -- he was smiling so hard to remind himself not to bite. That he would be asked this, of all things, after what had happened on his last ship...

After a few seconds, he took a breath and spoke in a very careful, measured voice.

"Yes sir, I am very aware of that fact." It was all he could say in that moment.

"Very well." Vren'desh said and then allowed the silence to hang for a moment. After a few beats he spoke again. "I have read your record, I know you to be a warrior based on your history. However, being a warrior when it is needed and when it is not needed are different things. Scale your boasting back when on duty." There was another beat before he spoke again. "Know, that should an evacuation situation happens aboard this vessel. You will not be alone." It may not have sounded like it but it was the closest Vren'Desh could come to praise. Saying that he would die along side the pilot is high praise indeed from a Klingon.

Whiplash. That's what Tav figured he'd just experienced. From one moment when he had a decade of Starfleet experience and even more than that flying being questioned, to having the recent tragedy he'd survived brought up and his actions acknowledged as honourable. He didn't know how to take it, any of it. He certainly didn't feel praised right in that moment.

He didn't talk about the Meridian. After Starfleet had closed its investigation and interviews of the survivors, Tav hadn't said anything to anyone on purpose about it. Certainly not a counselor, and definitely not a superior officer like his XO.

He couldn't talk about it, and wouldn't today.

"I'm no warrior. I'm a Starfleet officer."

"I am both Klingon and Starfleet. I have fought battles, commanded ships, explored the unknown and upheld the Federation. Tell me, what part of that is not the life of a warrior?” Vren'Desh spoke with a tone that was both curious and proud. He brought forth the point that a warrior, and Starfleet Officer are one in the same. "We are Starfleet officers. That simply means that we have chosen diplomacy, exploration, and discipline over bloodshed. Do not confuse restraint with weakness."

Tav's smile was more like bearing his teeth. He looked like he might bite he was so mad. But he did everything he could to maintain his composure otherwise. The pilot took a couple of obvious, steadying breaths, before he trusted himself to speak, though the words still came out tight.

"Is there anything else, sir?"

Looked like he was off to a good start with yet another XO. Great.

In this moment Vren'Desh felt that this pilot may not last too long on this vessel. Not with a Klingon as the XO, but then again stranger things had happened. "No, there is nothing else. You are dismissed."

Tav turned stiffly and walked out, wondering just how long he was going to last on this ship.

---

Commander Vren'Desh
Executive Officer
USS Resolute

Lieutenant (j.g.) Tavian Rhos
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Resolute

 

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