#63 A Change for the Better

Posted on Sat Sep 16th, 2023 @ 8:46pm by Captain Tore Bjorgo & Lieutenant Commander Billi & Lieutenant JG Ainkara "Kara"

Mission: Mission 10. Move to the Lagoon Nebula.
Location: USS NAZGUL
Timeline: current

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For the past few months Commander Tore Bjorgo had been in command of the USS Nazgul while their commanding officer, Captain Taavis, had been assigned to aid Starfleet Intelligence, Federation Intelligence, and Federation Security. As was presented to him, Tore was told that she had insights into various areas of concern that would prove invaluable to a safe and secure United Federation of Planets. So, having been told only as much as he was privy to, Bjorgo was fine with it. If anything could be done to rebuild the infrastructure that had been time and again tested for its resolve, he was all for it. All the conflicts over the past fifty years had put a toll on Federation resources. The Dominion war above all others. Fleets of ships had been lost, gutting Starfleet's ability to defend the borders and secure its citizens.

Sitting in the Ready Room, which also doubled as the main conference room for staff meetings, Bjorgo was behind his desk. Having just leaned back in his chair after a long call from Rear Admiral Stone and receiving his promotion to Captain, as well as, complete command of the Nazgul, Tore stroked his goatee while he was in thought. Ejo and Covenant had done an outstanding job of placing discreet holo-emitters throughout the ship, in both vital areas and secondary systems. They were there to aid in the training of the 40 cadets they had received last week. They were here in their final year, the ever popular cadet cruise that would determine starting officer rank in Starfleet, and placement throughout. As was proper, the cadets would be assigned to various departments, doing the work the ship needed done, while being observed and aided by the veterans. So far, according to reports, they were comprising themselves well. Many of the holo-emitters had been placed at the behest of Tore himself, wanting to put the cadets through a form of Kobayashi Maru of their own devising. A training scenario that would create fictional enemy vessels on sensors, with a false overlay over the main Bridge window so that they would 'see' the enemy even though they weren't there in reality. He had to admit, Ainkara had done a bang-up job with the programming.

Tapping the comm key on his desk top, Bjorgo spoke up. "Lieutenant Billi, report to the Ready Room, please. Bjorgo, out."

Having been watching the Bridge while at the same time observing a cadet at Helm, Billi acknowledged the call. She waved in Ensign Jazmin Al-Sahir. "Ensign Jazmin, please assist the cadets. Ainkara, you have the Bridge." With orders given, Billi left the command deck. Arriving at the Ready Room, and having been called, she did not stop and ring the chime as she walked in and went towards the desk as if to stand before it.

Seeing her enter, Captain Bjorgo sat up and forward in his chair, motioning casually for Billi to have a seat in a guest chair. He had already changed out his rank pips. "Good morning, Billi."

"Good morning, Sir." Billi acknowledged his greeting, then went and sat down in the offered chair, not missing the new 4-pips on her CO's collar. She was, after all, an Orion, and if there was one thing they noticed first it was any kind of bling a person was wearing and any weapons they may have concealed. "Are congratulations in order, Captain?" She gave a grin.

"That they are," answered Tore, giving a grin of his own. "Not only the rank, but also the position. Nazgul is now officially my command. Captain Taavis is out working with Federation Intel and Security in vital areas of interest out this way. M-69 has their area of operations and Taavis will be mixed up in areas just outside of that, from what I am to understand."

"You mean, from what you were told, Captain?" Billi's grin left her face, but she remained casual and focused.

"That, too." He chuckled. Tore got back to the reason he had called her to him. "Lieutenant, you have been Number One for months now. You've assisted in keeping the Nazgul in tip-top shape, you know the crew and the systems. Are you still comfortable as Number One, or would you prefer it get passed on to another?"

Billi's eyes met his gaze. "I am committed, Captain. To you, and to the crew of Nazgul. Please, don't take this away from me."

Bjorgo held a hand up casually. "Not my intention, Billi. I was just making sure you are still comfortable with your duties. In speaking with Admiral Stone and amid the discussion on my own promotion, I was given permission to promote my Number One. You served on M-69 for quite some time, with your record showing that when it was necessary you would go above and beyond with your department to get things done. Now, here, you continue to show that same level of commitment. On occasion Starfleet allows for fudging the brevet list, and with that in mind, I hereby promote you to Lieutenant Commander." He saw Billi's eyes widen in surprise, which caused him to give a laugh and get up, coming around his desk quickly and extending his hand. Billi stood to meet him properly and he clasped her hand in his, shaking it vigorously. "Congratulations, Commander!"

Billi returned the handshake, with Bjorgo laying his other hand over the two that were clasped, showing how happy he was for her. It was a handshake of trust, honor, and friendship. "Thank you, Captain! I...I didn't expect this so soon. Being Orion I know that some people look dow..."

Bjorgo released her hand, then made the gesture of 'talk to the hand' in front of her. "Aht! None of that on this ship, Commander Billi. You wear the same uniform as everyone else. With me it isn't about what you are, but WHO you are." His hand dropped to his side and entered his pocket, taking out a rank pin. "If I may?" His eyes motioned toward her collar.

"Of course, Sir!" Billi did not stand at attention, but she still stood up straight with her shoulders squared.

It took a less than two minutes to change out one pin of pips for another, placing her old rank pin in his pocket to dispose of it later. "There, much better. Now I can send out the daily to inform the crew of their new Captain, and their new Lt. Commander and Number One." He stepped over next to his desk, reaching out and tapping the send key. Every information board on the ship received the message and posted it for all to see when they checked ship's news. "There, we're official," he said with a smile. "Should we go to the Bridge and do a ship-wide announcement?"

Billi gave a nod and smile. "I think that would be appropriate, Captain. They deserve to hear it from you personally, rather than having to stop what they're doing and read a news stream."

Tore chuckled. "Well said, Number One. I knew there was a reason I liked you. Shall we?" He motioned towards the exit, allowing his XO to go first, as any gentleman would, following closely behind her until out in the corridor, where he got in side-by-side. "Are we prepared for the training simulation?"

"Aye, Sir," Billi replied, glancing over at him. "I went with Ainkara to the holodeck and she showed me the prototype programming. If I didn't know that it was fake I would have thought the Nazgul was coming apart around me. She is good at what she does, Captain."

"Agreed, and why I am glad she is the science chief." Bjorgo stated, just before they stepped into the lift. The doors they entered closed behind them, the lift car rotated, and the Bridge doors opened. As before, Bjorgo motioned for Billi to go first and then followed, speaking up as they entered. "Helm, all stop."

"All stop, Aye," said the Cadet at the controls, bringing the ship to a standstill out in space. "Ship velocity zero, and at station keeping, Sir."

"Thank you, Cadet." Bjorgo then looked over at Resch. "Lieutenant Resch, ship-wide intercom, please." Griffon gave a nod and did as ordered. "You're on, Sir."

Bjorgo spoke out, seemingly addressing the Bridge crew, but his voice was heard throughout the ship. "Attention crew of the Nazgul. As of one hour ago I was duly promoted to the rank of captain, and as such, also received the post of commanding officer, USS Nazgul. Captain Taavis has been assigned to aid the Federation in other areas where her expertise is most needed. I know this is sudden and unexpected, but having worked with you over the past few months I know we will improvise, overcome, and adapt. Support each other, look out for each other, and know that this is your home so long as you are here. We are a family as much as we are service members." He paused a moment to let that part sink in a bit, with crew around the ship all standing near to screens and watching the Captain as he stood on the Bridge and said his piece , the internal sensors providing the news feed.

"Aside from the change in command, there is another promotion that needs mentioning. With the approval of Starfleet Command I have promoted Billi to the rank of lieutenant commander, and she will remain Number One." Tore explained. "As is her due as the Executive Officer, she will see to your issues and concerns as expediently as possible, and take weight off of my daily duties as captain. With that in mind I would like to add that both of us, CO and XO, have an open door policy. No rank is too low for us to hear you out personally, if need be. It is my hope that all my department heads feel the same. As I said, we are here to look out for each other and support each other. I know there are people who just can't get along for whatever reason, and if that comes up, we will do what we can as Starfleet to accommodate requests for a venue change, separate duty rosters, and the like. Thank you for your dedication and commitment, crew. Without you I would not have much of a command. Thank you for your attention and your time. Please, return to your duties and private. Captain Bjorgo, out." The transmission was cut.

"Intercom is cut and all reader boards received it, both in text and video for those who may have missed it," Resch informed his Captain.

"Thank you, Griff." With all that said and over with, Bjorgo went and sat in HIS chair. No longer borrowed. It felt good to be in command. "Number One, would you get with the quartermaster and have my personal belongings moved to the Captain's quarters? You'll need to make a move yourself, Commander."

Billi gave a light giggle and a smile. "My pleasure, Sir. With your permission I'll leave the Bridge and see to that."

"Granted, Commander." Bjorgo watched as she spun on her heel and stepped into the lift. "Helm, plot a course for the Unre Expanse, warp one."

The cadet began to tap keys to set the ship for the jump. Ensign Jazmin was at the man's side, observing his actions but not interfering unless there was hesitation. None occurred, and the cadet announced, "Course set, Captain. Engineering reports we are ready for warp speed."

"Punch it," ordered Bjorgo. The Cadet did just that, pushing his warp line up to 1.0, the forward view turning from dots of light to a streaking tunnel of light whipping passed the ship.

"Holding at warp one, Captain," Helm announced.

"Thank you, Helm. Steady as she goes," Ordered Bjorgo. He spun his chair halfway around to look to his right at his Science Chief. "Lieutenant Ainkara, please correlate all data we have on the Expanse in the Starfleet database. Too often ships and probes have entered the deeper morass of static discharge and gases and have never been heard from again. We need to find a way to circumvent that unfortunate circumstance."

Ainkara turned her chair enough to look over her left shoulder at her CO. "Aye, Captain. I have been researching it from time to time while we've been on patrol. I shall endeavor to uncover more. And, also, congratulations to you, Captain."

"Thank you, Ainkara. On both counts." Tore said, giving a nod to back up the thanks. "We need to know more about the Expanse, and Starfleet Command agrees. A twenty light year sphere of impenetrable dust and gases. If anyone can find a way to penetrate it, we can. My mind has a hard time believing that it is just that, a ball of gases and ionic forces, with no hollow center. The Xindi lived in an Expanse, as did other species within it, for many years before Enterprise NX-01 ventured within."

"I have read the logs from the NX-01 missions, Captain. It was most intriguing. To find another expanse with that much life within it would be quite a breakthrough. However, there are many things that hide in the dark, and most of them don't want to be found." Ainkara said, needing to give a warning as the Science Chief.

"Agreed, Lieutenant. That is why we won't just charge in where angels fear to tread." Tore turned his chair more to a forward facing position. "All departments are encouraged to look into the Unre Expanse data, and provide theories and hypothesis we can all read and think on. The more brainstorming we do the better." Pulling has PADD up from the sleeve on his chair, Bjorgo began to type away on it, giving a message on the reader boards to that fact. Officers and crew alike were free to view the data since it was everything Starfleet had on the phenomenon, and open to all who served. Barring anything that was for people of certain security clearances and above. As he had stated in his crew announcement, they were all in this together.

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