First Impressions

Posted on Fri Oct 9th, 2009 @ 7:03pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Lieutenant Commander Mark Anderson

Mission: They Arrive on Tuesday...
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD04 1310

ON: [[Mess Hall, USS Endeavour, MD04, 1310]]

Ben entered the mess hall and took a quick, cursory glance around, before returning his eyes to the information on his PADD. The room, and indeed the ship, was certainly much more lively than it had been when he had first come aboard, and the lounge was filled with casual chatter of the junior officers and enlisted personnel occupying it. Though the lounge was busy, Ben didn't bother searching to see if there were any seats available before heading towards the bar to order his food, eyes still intently looking down at his PADD.

Having disposed of his meal, James collected his PADD and started for the door. It was getting really hectic at this hour and he really needed to get back to unpacking. Besides, he and his father were supposed to go visit Uncle Simon later and he certainly didn't want to miss that. In his haste, he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. A moment later, he felt himself collide with another individual.

Ben was able to instinctively raise his arm to bring the PADD out of the way at the last moment when he realised he was about to collide with something. Someone, he corrected himself when he saw who had walked into him. "You want to watch where you're going, young man," he said to the teenage lad, as he stepped back a little to re-establish each of their personal spaces. With a better perspective of the boy in front of him, Ben waved his PADD absent-mindedly in his direction as he thought who the boy was. "You're Commander Anderson's boy, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir," James replied quickly, straightening up. Silently, he berated himself for not watching where he was going. What a way to make a first impression, he thought to himself as he watched the commander.

"Nearly made me drop my PADD there," Ben said with a slight smile, trying to ease the boy's worries. He was so stiff he looked like he would snap his back at any minute.

"I'm sorry, sir," James explained, "I didn't mean to run you down."

Ben waved the boy's worries away. "Doesn't matter, doesn't matter, there was no harm done." He beckoned over one of the lounge staff, and handed them his PADD, with details of the midday meal he and his family would be having today. "Delivered to my quarters, please," he told them quietly as he they went to prepare the food.

"So," he said, turning his attention back to his first officer's son. "Your father showed me the proposal you drafted for the Academy. Quite impressively written, I must say."

James barely choked out his reply. "Thank you, sir," he said, "You really think so?" He had spent most of his last day aboard the Houston and the entire trip aboard the Raleigh drafting that proposal. Now that he was older, he didn't want to be spending all his time in a classroom. He wanted hands-on experience, but he needed approval from the Academy and the commanding officer to do so. The fact that he was receiving such praise from the commander could mean that his prospects were looking up.

"Certainly," Ben replied. "I've already scheduled a visit to the Academy tomorrow so that I can discuss it with the Commandant." He could of course just send it through subspace, but he'd promised Jacob both a trip to Earth, and a ride in the Captain's Yacht, so it provided a perfect opportunity to fill all three tasks.

James couldn't believe his luck. He'd only been aboard less than twenty four hours and, already, things were looking good. Despite his having nearly ploughed the man over, the commander was still willing to make the effort to carry James' proposal through. "I appreciate that, commander," James said.

"I expect your complete focus though in any practical lessons my staff give you," Ben said seriously. "Students studying remotely need to show even more dedication to their studies than those in San Francisco, you know."

Nodding enthusiastically, James replied, "I'll give it everything I've got, sir." To be able to have such an opportunity was rare and it would give him an edge when he ended up attending the Academy proper. He wasn't going to let that go by without giving his best effort to prevent it from slipping away.

"That's good to hear," Benjamin replied. It always made him feel good nurturing young talent in Starfleet, though usually the ones that he did were already Ensigns, just out of the Academy, rather than looking to enter it. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should get to my quarters, before my lunch beats me there."

"Right, sorry," James said, stepping aside to allow the commander a clear path out of the lounge.

Ben smiled at the young boy. "I look forward to seeing your work." With that final comment, he departed, to join his family for lunch.

--------------
Commander Benjamin Byrne
Commanding Officer
USS Endeavour NCC-86105

&

James Anderson (NPC)
XO's Son
Played by LCdr. Anderson