SIM:German Galven - A Hefty Goal

((Officer’s Lounge, USS Montreal))

::Once they all left, German drank the rest of his glass and turned towards the bar and placed his glass on the bar. He was watching everyone mingle with each other and couldn’t be happier of the crew that he was a part of. About the time he was about to leave, he noticed Mei’konda nearby and all of a sudden had a realization.::

::He turned his attention back to the bartender and asked for another Al-Leyan spiced tea when he noticed that Mei’konda had a spot of tea for himself.::

Galven: ::smiles:: Good evening, sir. Great party.

::While the Captain took a sip of his tea and nodded, the bartender had produced his request and gave it to German. He raised his glass and then took a drink.::

Mei’konda: Indeed, Lieutenant.  Congratulaations, and thank you again for your hard work.

Galven: I was actually wondering something. There’s no second officer. Why is that?

Mei’konda: A second officer?  The Montreal has a very small crew, so there has not been a need for one.  Why do you ask, Lieutenant?

::The way Mei’konda’s ears perked up made German smile more for the fact because he had a feeling the Caitian had a feeling that he knew the Denobulan was up to something. Either that or he still was getting used to German being random.::

Galven: Well, if you ever are looking for one. I’d like to throw in my application.

::German knew at some point in his career that he’d like to be in that kind of position. Might as well bring it to the Captain’s attention now and see what he could do. He heard a faint chuckle from Mei’konda and moved a little with his tail swaying behind him. With a smirk, German drank some more of his beverage.::

Mei’konda: Goodness.  You are ambiitious, aren’t you, Mr. Galven?

Galven: ::arches an eyebrow and smiles:: I believe one has to be ambitious in the Federation, sir. 

Mei’konda: I will keep that in mind.  But what you’ve asked is a very laarge request.  Do you know why?

::He paused for a bit and sat his glass down on the bar. He hadn’t thought about it when he was an ensign. He just wanted to see how he’d do within the science department, but once he made chief, he had enjoyed doing what he could do in making the duty post enjoyable for others like he’d done for Mr. Vardai when he was here as well as Stennin. Something he knew he’d like to do for others as well.::

Galven: Well, sir. ::beat:: The opportunities given to me in the past 8 months has made me ever so grateful for it and I’d like to further myself to reach higher goals.

::The Captain turned his attention toward the large forward facing windows and he saw him motion for German to follow him. Unlike many other starship designs, the Montreal’s primary officer’s lounge was toward the rear of the ship, and looked forward over the bulk of the rest of the vessel.  Visible in front of them and below was the bridge, and the large, wedge-shaped saucer that led the ship through the Shoals, stars streaking by them at warp five.::

::German just stood there staring at the view of it all amazed. One day, but not particularly soon. He almost forgot that the Captain was there until he spoke up.::

Mei’konda: You’re a scientiist.  To taake on the role of a second officer is to move toward command.  To be responsiible for all of this. :: He gestured toward the ship, visible out in front of them. ::  And all of the liives on board.

::He nodded and continued looking out the window just transfixed on Mei’konda’s words. All the lives on board. Standing there, he was trying to make sense of it all and nodded again. He turned his head meeting the Captain’s gaze and smiled.::

Galven: Admiral Janeway was a scientist as well, sir. Then with all that responsibility at hand, she was even more ambitious about her crew and getting Voyager safely out of the Delta Quadrant. 

Mei’konda: However, Lieutenant, if it’s somethiing you are interested in?  Begin studying command procedures.  Leaarn the ropes, and come to myself or Rosek with any questions.  We’ll help you move in that direction.  But you’re still a new officer - despite these. :: He motioned to the two gold pips on Galven’s collar. :: And you have a lot to learn.

::He nodded with gusto this time. It had seemed that Mei’konda was considering his request, but he knew it’d be a long while to study everything regarding command procedures. When the Captain gave him the bridge short time ago, it had lit a fire within German to start something. He just didn’t know what at the time.::

Galven: ::nods:: Yes, sir. I’m willing to learn and I know it’ll take some time. I just felt giving you the courtesy to know what was going on inside my mind.

::There was a moment of some understanding between the two and Mei’konda folded his arms behind his back, then nodded at German. The Denobulan didn’t know what to do with his hands so he just kept them to his side.::

Mei’konda: Of course, Lieutenant.  And just remember, when Admiral Janeway first took command, it was not straiight from the laboratory to the command chair.  She was immersed in the Starfleet command traiining program for quite a whiile.

Galven: ::smirks:: I know she was, sir. Rome wasn’t built in a day. With hard work and your help, I think I’ll be able to achieve it.

Mei’konda: Well, Lieutenant, as your Captain, one of my responsibiilities is to help you along whatever career path you choose.  And I believe you’ll get there eventuaally, too.

Galven: Is it too late in the evening to ask what made you consider becoming a command officer, sir?

::German saw that Mei’konda shook his head and was excited to hear about the Captain’s story. It wasn’t often that he got an opportunity to have a conversation other than when he was in Mei’konda’s quarters, but that was more of German letting out what was bothering him about Unimatrix Zero and the Borg.::

Mei’konda: No, not at all.  In faact, my early career bore some resemblaance to yours.  Withiin hours of arriving on the Mercury, my fiirst assignment, most of the command crew had left on… :: He paused. :: A classified mission.  And then, we receiived a distress call.  It was the USS Saratoga.  NCC-1702.

::A little bit after he transferred with Mei’konda and Lael and found out that the Caitian was going to be the commanding officer of the Montreal, he read up a little about the Captain’s service history. Of course a little meaning a lot of what he could really see given all the classified notes since his paygrade didn’t allow him to read more than he could.::

::He paused for a moment trying to remember anything about a USS Saratoga.::

Galven: ::raises a finger up to his bottom lip, recalling:: I believe that was 6 years ago. Am I correct?

Mei’konda: Indeed.  She’d been stuck in a decaaying orbit around a gas giaant for a very long time.  We found one person alive on board.  She’d been in staasis.  We rescued her.  But not the shiip.

Galven: ::arches both eyebrows:: Sounds like it was one heck of a mission, sir.

Mei’konda: Yes.  But sufiice it to saay… I had a lot to leaarn.  Thaankfully, I had good teachers.  Ones who inspiired me to want to do the same - and to want to command.  And I rose through the raanks quiickly, thanks to the opportunities they afforded me.

::The way the Captain spoke sounded a lot like what he was going through now. Captains Rahman and Mei’konda, Commanders Delano, Blake, and even Lael he had learned a quite deal from. They all were his inspiration as well as the many other crew members aboard the Veritas and Montreal.::

Galven: ::smiles:: I actually understand what you’re saying sir. 

::It looked like Me’konda was remembering something as he tipped his head back for a short time. German smiled and folded his arms, then glanced behind him and saw the party going pretty well. He noticed that Bee and Muvyn were having a lot of fun sitting at a table having drinks and laughing. He returned his attention to Mei’konda and he smiled which made German smile as well.::

Mei’konda: Now, what I appreciaate about command is the opportunity to do so much good.  In these short months since I took command, we’ve saaved many lives in the Shoals.  And there’s still more to do.

::German brought his hands behind him and folded them together just as Mei’konda had done before.::

Galven: Of course, sir. I’m excited about whatever the future brings us. ::nods once:: Thank you for this moment.