Log beat out a rapid tempo against the metallic floor with his boot as he stood waiting at the office doors. He was early, maybe slightly too early but his mother had always told him that 5 minutes early was far too late. He could hear her admonishing tones now from across the quadrant, her course voice echoing in his ears. ‘Straighten your shirt, pull down your sleeves, those boots look like you’ve been trapsing through the mud baths.’ She always meant well, but like any Tellerite mother she had an opinion on all matters and was vocal in expressing them. He rapped his fingers on the back of the padd in his hand, his short nails tapping a speedy rhythm in counterpoint to his boot on the deck. Commander Roberts was possibly the most senior officer he had encountered in his few short weeks aboard Bravo and a decidedly unexpected encounter. His assignment to the tactical preparations team had been out of the blue, but Log had a knack with fiddly sensor arrays and a supervisor that didn’t mind shouting about his team’s skills. He needed to make a good impression, his future on the Starbase might depend on it. 

A cough interrupted his rickety train of thought, causing him to look at the officer behind the desk near the wide set of office doors. With a tilt of the head and raised eyebrows she motioned to the doors that now sat ajar, summoning the young Tellerite into the den of Commander Roberts. 

Kay had been busy preparing for the new implementation of tactical plans that the Director had approved. The truth was Starbase Bravo had been attacked on a few occasion and the current event going on put the base under more stress. The tactical operations was a huge part of knowing how to react if the worst happened. She had been working on the tactical preparations team decided to assign a rather new member to the base an Ensign Log. 

The need for tactical preparations were apparent even in the engineering department. She had been in a meeting and had to delay her meeting with the new Ensign by a few minutes. Once she was ready she signalled for the Ensign to enter. She stood as the Tellerite walked into her office and motioned for the chair in front of the office “Hello Ensign, I am Commander Kaylynn Roberts the Deputy Director of Tactical Ops. I am sure you have some questions and I am happy to answer. Would you like something to drink?”

Log’s eyes widened to dinner plates, in all his practice conversations his mental projection of the Commander had never offered him for a drink. His mind raced, he could use a refreshment, after all he’d been rummaging through the jefferies tubes all morning chasing a particularly obstinate bio-neural gel pack. Then he’d skipped lunch to make sure he got back to his quarters to clean up before the meeting. When was the last time he had a drink? His panicked brain couldn’t remember a single instant of ever having held a drink let alone drinking a beverage. 

“Raktajino. Cold.” He blurted out, suddenly acutely aware the Commander was staring at him. “Please, sir.” The young man couldn’t think of a drink he wanted less but in the moment it seemed appropriate, ‘Cool officer’s drink Raktajino, everyone knows that’ his inner voice whispered, a recent Sisko biopic screaming loudly in the back of his brain. “Thank you sir.” His heart stopped. “Ma’am.” It didn’t restart. “Commander?” he offered nervously.  

Roberts could tell the officer was nervous but she wasn’t going to build off of that. “Are you sure that’s what you want? Seems like your nervous I promise you don’t need to be.” She said as she waited patiently to hear if he wanted something else.

“I’m fine…” he paused, his heart stuttering a beat as he opted for the most neutral deference  “…Commander. Thank you.” He took a step forward offering the slightly grubby padd in his hand. “I’ve finished the upgrades to the targeting telemetric as discussed in yesterday’s meeting. There were a few gel-packs that required a stern talking to but to be honest I explained to them the importance of the base’s efficient defence and they quickly fell in line. I’d already passed my updates to Lt. Markovitz but he suggested I deliver them straight to yourself.” His arm felt awkward, hovering in the gap between them. Worse, he couldn’t stop his mouth from moving. “The secondary telemetric still need some work but at this point the chances of them coming online are slim with the perimeter buoys in operation….”

Roberts held her hand up and grabbed the padd looking at its state knowing that the officer needed to straighten their priorities out and clean up some of what they did as an officer. Log had potential to be a good officer, but they needed some help. “First off great work on the upgrades and I have confidence in your skills for the secondary upgrades. That being said I urge you to maybe try and keep your equipment cleaner and to look more like an officer. It is something a Starfleet officer always tries to do is to be as clean as possible and serve with the best distinction that they can. Does that make sense?”

Log’s heart plummeted, a familiar voice echoing in the back of his mind, a stern Andorian lecturer admonishing him for appearing in his class with a grease smear across his cheek. ‘You are unbecoming of an officer.’ the elderly man had said, his voice dripping with icy judgement. A chill ran up his spine as it froze rigid at the uncomfortable memory. “Apologies Commander. I came straight from the worksite. I forgot to wash up.” His voice was cool, detached, admonished. “I’ll be better in the future.” He missed Theta Squad, it had been a much more relaxed environment, Starbase Bravo was bigger and had bigger expectations. 

Roberts shook her head “I am not saying you aren’t a good officer and by no way are you in trouble, but I am just wanting to help you be the best officer you can be. I recommend making sure to allot the needed time to make sure you are clean before meetings with superiors. I am sure in time you will learn how to keep your uniform clean. I hope this doesn’t deter you from continuing. I know Starbase Bravo is overwhelming, but everything has a learning curve and I have no doubt you will be able to adapt.” 

“Its just a big change Commander. I was aboard Daedalus before this, there was less than 100 people aboard a tiny ship.” His mouth twitched into a barely concealed smile at the memories, drinking Kanar late at night in the crew lounge with Zaya, setting up jump scares in the jefferies tubes for Hermira, leaving doodled notes for Oyvo at the operations console. “It’s taking some adjustment sir. I’ll catch up soon.” He nodded confidently. 

Roberts smiled “I am glad to hear it. I will be here to help as well. You have a promising career and I don’t want to see that wasted. If you can work on these issues I would appreciate it.” She handed him a PADD with tasks that fell under his new task with her. She decided to let him do the task and see his initiative without ordering the specifics of how to see if he followed proper regulations.

Log’s thumbs fumbled with the small object, unsuccessfully attempting to take the PADD and review its contents simultaneously. “Predictive targeting algorithms Commander? I’ve always wanted to get a peek at Bravo’s big brain.” He began scrolling intently, “I hear from another Ensign that she’s pretty smart, one of the biggest quantum cores this side of Sol, she said…” catching himself beginning to waffle enthusiastically he bit his tongue. ‘Unbecoming’ a voice echoed at the edge of hearing. “I’ll report in 48 hours as instructed Sir.” 

A friendly nod was sufficient to dismiss the young man, his boots beginning to drum a more professional tempo on the decking as he departed.