SIM:German Galven - Mentor & Mentee

((Main Engineering, Starbase 118 Ops))

German was about to call for Kudon and ask him for his mission report, plus an evaluation as well in the Denobulan's office, but he decided to take a walk instead. Engineers tended to be incredibly busy so the second officer didn't want to interrupt anything important such as fixing, repairing, and installing whatever the backbone of the unsung heroes who were more like miracle workers.

After walking with his temporary cane firmly in his grasp and riding the different turbolifts to finally get to his intended destination, German was thinking the next time he travels to the engineering department that instead he just might take advantage of the transporter hub. Would definitely save some time and less energy.

He glanced around the enormous room filled with bulkheads, turbines, and way too many jeffries tubes to count. Finally as he stepped forward a few more kilometers, a very familiar Vulcan was in his line of sight. With the noise so loud in every which way and direction, German had to raise his voice some in hopes that Kudon would hear him.

Galven: ::keeps walking:: Kudon! Ensign Kudon!

Kudon was hard at work continuing to gain full understanding of what this stations power was capable of. Last time he had been on the Starbase, Hael had given him a large number of PADD’s with detailed schematics on the fusion generators. He had been reading up on them, with his eye on seeing how efficient they were and any inefficiencies that might be repaired. His focus on readings from a computer station was broken by a loud voice.

Kudon: Ah...Commander Galven. I’m very glad to see you are walking again. I assume you are feeling better?

Galven: ::glances down at his cane, then back to Kudon:: Much better. Thank you for asking. Dr. Bailey has helped me a lot with my recovery. How are you holding up?

While he had been going through the mission reports from his team, German had noticed that Kudon was more or less upset with his performance. He'd known the Vulcan long enough that he wasn't like most of his species when it came to emotions.

Kudon hesitated, since he did have much to say about how he did in the last mission, but he wasn’t sure if Galven was the right person to do so with, especially since he was now on the spot.

Kudon: Well...it is hard not knowing how successful or not the mission was. We never even found out if the Breathers worked.

Galven: I understand. The ways things ended wasn't what we wanted to see happen. However, that's not your or anyone else's fault. Throughout the mission, you proved how valuable you were to the team.

Kudon: Thank you Commander. I do appreciate the sentiment...

Kudon paused, wondering if he should say more about what he was really feeling. In that moment, he decided Galven had shown enough that he could be trusted. He looked around, making sure that no one else was close enough to hear the conversation.

Kudon: Sir, there’s more. I had never been in battle before and I experienced fear on a level unlike anything ever before. I’m concerned that my fear interfered with my judgment and ability to make good decisions.

Galven: ::takes a seat at an empty chair next to a station:: It's okay to feel that way. I've been in those kinds of situations before.

Kudon: In battle you mean?

Interesting choice of words. He'd never had in mind that missions were like battles. After thinking on it, German could see how it worked both ways.

Galven: ::nods:: In more ways than I would've liked. There's unexpected things that come up that don't always go according to plan.

Kudon: I see. What was it like?

Galven: ::rubs his ridged chin:: One mission I can recall, my superior officer and I had separated from our group inside a mine, covering more ground. One moment we're heading further down and then the next, we were buried under debris and rubble when it collapsed on top of us. ::smiles wanly:: Definitely not something we planned.

Kudon: How did you deal with it?

Such a heavy question made the Denobulan stand up with the help of his cane, then turned around as he was now side by side with Kudon. He patted the engineer's shoulder, then glanced over the large room.

Galven: I figured out that I couldn't deal with it myself. There's a vast variety of crew members who are your team. Much like how we had each other's best interests as a team during the mission. You, much like everyone else on Ops, are here to help one another.

After being under Galven’s command, Kudon had developed a certain amount of respect for him and since Galven was about 10 years his senior, Kudon was curious to learn from his experience.

Kudon: So what could I have done, in that moment, when I was afraid? When I knew it was affecting my judgment?

Galven: There's nothing you could've done. Being afraid only means you are still relying on emotions. Isn't that what you've been using as your own philosophy?

It was a good question that made Kudon think. What was his philosophy?

Kudon: That is true that this is how I have decided to operate. But my philosophy has always been that I would operate better, on the whole, with emotions than without them. And part of me wonders if that really was the case down there. To have my fear potentially put others at risk is not something I had foreseen.

He knew that Kudon was understanding more, but there was something about him that German wanted him to know. For such a curious nature about the man, the Denobulan was seeing a lot of himself in Kudon.

Galven: Don't try to do your best all at once. Do what you can do now, then try better the next day.

Kudon: That seems reasonable, sir. If there is, or rather I should assume, when there is a next time that a mission evokes fear, I would need to anticipate it more, be ready for it, so I could use as an instinct of self-preservation, but not let it overwhelm me.

Galven: ::chuckles:: Kudon, you did the best that you could with all things considered. Far better than what I was doing back when I was an ensign. I know one thing's for sure...

German’s chuckle made Kudon realize perhaps he was overthinking the situation. His predicament did not need to be figured out at this very instance. He would have lots of time to process it.

Kudon: What is that, Commander?

Galven: ::grins:: That you're destined for great things. Be spontaneous, make mistakes, but most importantly, learn, live, and adapt.

Kudon: Thank you sir. I appreciate that. I am often hard on myself, but I also have so few role models. No Vulcan, as far as I know, has made a decision like I have to live with emotion. In a way, I am creating a new path and there are so many unknowns, so you are correct that I can only learn, live, and adapt.

Kudon suddenly realized he did not know why Galven had come to Engineering in the first place. The talk was very helpful, but he was still an Engineering Officer.

Kudon: Anyway, sir, was there something that originally brought you here to Engineering?

Galven: Initially, I wanted to talk to you about your performance during the mission, but now that you mention it… ::he thought back to when he had spoken to Sal back on the Narendra:: Would it be possible to transfer the information about Vankoth II's atmosphere from the atmospheric lab and see if there's anything we can do to cross reference on any repairs here?

Kudon: Hmmm...that is a good question. Let’s take a look at a computer station.

They walked over to another station and German watched the engineer perform at what he did best. Rather, one of his many talents as he tapped on his console, bringing up some readings on the computer monitor.

Kudon: It’s hard to say exactly, but it certainly seems plausible that we could do that.

Galven: I'm sure you'll be able to find out. ::grins:: That's if you're not busy with anything else?

Kudon: I have nothing pressing right now, so I can work right on it. Would you like to stay or should I just update you once I have more information?

Galven: You don't need me hovering around. ::pats his shoulder:: Take the lead and keep up the great work, Ensign. ::glances around:: There's quite a few crewman around here. ::shares his gaze with Kudon:: Ask for help. You don't have to do things by yourself. ::winks::

Galven’s reminder that Kudon could ask for help made him smile a small laugh, because Galven was right on that Kudon often expected himself to do too much.

Kudon: ::smiling:: Yes, sir. I won’t do this all myself.

German gave one of his wide signature Denobulan grins and then turned on his heel with cane in hand, then headed out of the engineering room. He enjoyed just having a conversation with Kudon. Something he'd hope to do more often. Now, he needed to get back to his lab to get more of the transfer process in order and see if there were any problems with the former cult's planet which he hoped there wasn't.

Meanwhile, Kudon grabbed a crewman and the two of them got to work on analyzing the data from Vankoth II’s atmosphere.