Provisional Logic

Posted on Mon May 26th, 2025 @ 1:02pm by Commander Grace Vetur & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii & Lieutenant JG T'Avia Espinosa

1,091 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: USS Ontario | Deck 01 | Bridge

The turbolift doors hissed open with a soft pneumatic sigh, and Lieutenant Junior Grade T’Avia stepped confidently onto the bridge of the USS Ontario. The starship was a living fossil in some ways, a starship that should have been long since decommissioned. She raised a brow at its continued service.

The sweeping, horseshoe-shaped command center of the Ambassador class starship buzzed with quiet activity, consoles glowing with pale LCARS readouts and officers seated at their stations, focused but relaxed. The Ontario was at port, not at red alert yet the bridge still carried the subtle weight of purpose, of a crew accustomed to readiness.

T’Avia’s dark eyes swept the room with practiced precision, taking in the layout and nameless relief personnel: a helmsman making subtle course corrections; relief tactical officer running a systems check a very junior science officer quietly comparing irrelevant data. She inhaled, savoring the cool, filtered air of the Ontario, her new home — for now at least. She was only there as long as needed on loan as it were. The USS Ontario required an Acting Chief Science Officer, and that was her.

One elegant eyebrow arched upward in that distinct Vulcan expression of mild intrigue as she noticed the slight asymmetry in how the portside display was aligned. “Curious,” she murmured, the faintest smile ghosting across her lips with a small distinctively human quirk she’d never bothered to suppress, one of her many.

She moved deliberately but made no haste. T’Avia’s short brunette hair was shaggy, somewhere between a pixie and wolf cut. Her uniform? Regulation-sharp, but there was an energy to her step, a vibrancy in the way she scanned the room. She passed the command chairs with a polite nod to the command officers.

Without preamble, T’Avia extended the PaDD to the lower ranked Efrosian seeing as he was presumably the Executive Officer. “Commander, Captain," Her tone was precise and crisp, but her eyes sparkled ever so slightly. “Lieutenant T'Avia Espinosa. I trust that my orders will meet with your satisfaction. Permission to begin my duties. I believe your Chief Science Officer has...well, conga lined his way off the premises."

Grace raised an eyebrow at the new arrival. "You arrived quickly. Were you in the area?"

"You could say that" T'Avia replied gesturing with her hands. "I arrived at the Starbase and have been awaiting your arrival. Several restful nights and a few horchatas later you've arrived. So, yes, I arrived quickly. The Ontario was mildly delayed compared to calculated arrival."

"And that is why there is generally a window of time rather than a specific one," Grace replied casually. "Please, tell us what your specialties are and where you recently served."

As both Grace and T’Avia talked, Yiv took the younger Vulcan's proffered PADD and looked over the details. Nodding to himself, he saw the transfer details were in order. A temporary replacement while Percy was ... away. 'Yes,' Yiv said mildly, and smiled, 'tell us about yourself.'

An interview thought T'Avia. Unconventional given they needed a Chief Science Officer, and her orders were in their hands. Nevertheless, she would satisfy their curiosities. "Very well. I am not your standard issue Vulcan. That I can assure you," she said, subtly turning her head to show the blue butterfly tattoo on her neck.

Her provisional rank pips adorned the other side around her collar. "I was born and raised in the Bajío region of Mexico. I attended the Vulcan Science Academy where I double majored in Philosophy and Biology, minoring in Ethics. I began my service aboard the VCF T'san s'at, was then placed aboard the USS Westminster for a few years. Now, I am here."

'An interesting service history,' Yiv replied warmly. 'I'm sure you'll fit in with the rest of the crew here.' He stood, and half-raised his arm. 'Are you touch-averse, or is it acceptable for me to shake your hand?'

"Efrosians are a very communal species by nature, emotional and impulsive with predominantly sexual promiscuous relationships" stated T'Avia. "I am not touch averse, Commander" added the new Acting Chief Science Officer.

Though she would undoubtedly ensure she cleaned herself with sanitizing lotion after such a physical gesture from such a progressive species.

Yiv raised an eyebrow.

Grace almost smiled at T'Avia's comment about Yiv. She wondered, briefly, how Percy would have reacted to such a comment. "As you can see, we are a curious group. Yes, you may take your position. However, we will remain at the starbase for two days. If there is anything you wish to do on the station, now is a good time."

"No thank you, Captain. I spent more time aboard that station than I would have liked. It was interesting at first, but the novelty wore off. I will suffice with learning more about this crew and the Ontario in the meantime."

"Very well. I don't fault you for that. I plan to spend most of the next two days on the ship myself. I plan to use this time to read or catch up on things while everyone else is away." Grace smiled. "I believe that all we have to say to you now is, welcome aboard and we hope all goes well for you while you are here." Although Grace couldn't exactly ensure that, not with the ship's record so far.

Grace turned to Yiv. "Have you anything to add?"

'Not right now,' Yiv smiled, 'save I hope you have a satisfactorily temporary tour here,' he shook the Vulcan's hand firmly, ensure he had a tight grip.

"Thank you. I am sure my time aboard even if it is brief will be insightful," replied the new Acting Chief Science Officer.

"It'll definitely be interesting," Grace replied. She wasn't so sure about how insightful it might be.

'Assuredly one way of putting it,' Yiv replied, settling back in to the XO's chair, and flashing a small smile that vanished quickly.

"Since we are on a brief shore leave, feel free to settle in and meet the crew. We leave the day after tomorrow," Grace added.

T'Avia nodded. "I will do so, Captain. Your Chief Medical Officer is one of my top priorities."

Grace nodded, "Very good. We will see you in two days, then."

A Post By

Commander Grace Vetur
Commanding Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant-Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii
Executive Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant JG T'Avia Espinosa
Acting Chief Science Officer
USS Ontario

 

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