Of memories and the winds of change

Posted on Thu Jul 26th, 2012 @ 11:49am by Eldred Skyler PhD & Lieutenant Torin Drell
Edited on on Thu Jul 26th, 2012 @ 11:51am

Mission: Episode 1.0 - "Enduring Legacy"
Location: Aft Viewing Lounge, USS Yorktown
Timeline: MD 07, 1700 hours

ON: [[Aft Viewing Lounge, USS Yorktown, Mission Day 07, 1700 hours]]

Lieutenant Torin Drell had only been aboard the Yorktown for an hour but in that short time the Legacy class vessel had made a major impression on the Trill. Having served aboard the Nova class USS Majestic for just over five years, Torin had become accustomed with confined spaces; shared quarters, shared meals with most of the crew in one small room and intimate familiarity with every rivet in the hull of the small vessel. The Legacy class was about as opposite from the Nova class as a vessel could be, Torin mused and he was certain that even the corridors aboard the Yorktown had broader measurements than his quarters aboard the Majestic. It was one of the largest ships in Starfleet and to the Trill it might as well have been a Starbase.

After coming aboard Torin had first stopped at his quarters and had been astonished with the luxuries that his domicile provided. Two separated rooms, a living area with a fully functional replicator and a bedroom complete with a detached full lavatory. He had taken several minutes to explore the room's various features before stowing away his belongings and proceeding to his next stop; his office. The Operations Office was located on deck three, a single deck below Torin's quarters and only two decks below his primary post, the Bridge. Traveling from his various duty posts would be a simple matter and he appreciated that at least one thing would be similar to the confined spaces he was used to.

Torin had found his office to be comfortably cramped, while the room itself was significantly larger than the Ops office aboard the nova class the Legacy class' contained additional computer terminals and analysis equipment. It was a veritable laboratory with the ability to analyze and repair virtually any small to moderate sized device aboard the ship. It was apparent to Torin that the office had already been occupied as well, at least, occupied for a short time. All but one of the room's access terminals was powered down and a few looked as if they hadn't been powered up since the ship left the fleet yards. Beside the one powered terminal rested a small stack of PADDs and after examining the topmost unit Torin determined that his direct subordinate, Ensign Marshall Doering (PNPC) had already been hard at work.

After leaving the Ops office Torin had planned on heading for the bridge to check in with Captain Naros but a door plaque caught his eye as he passed on the way to the turbo lift. The doors slid open at his approach and a few strides later Torin found himself standing in an intricately adorned lounge with viewing portals stretching most of the the way from floor to ceiling. The sight instantly brought reminded him of a similar room aboard the Constitution class USS Olympus, which Vexel Drell had served aboard nearly one hundred and fifty years prior. His skin crawled with goosebumps as he approached the ornate "Captains Wheel" mounted at the rear of the room and placing his hands aboard it's knob grips he looked out into the stars as if preparing to set sail.

"Amazing, isn't it," a voice said from the semi-darkness, "how the feel of dead biological material can bring back even the deepest of memories."

Torin spun on his heel until he was facing the shadowy figure toward the side of the room, he hadn't noticed the young man standing there when he had entered. The apparent youth in the man's face belied the wisdom in his voice and eyes, though he appeared to be Human Torin found that he seemed strangely Trill. "Yes, it is amazing," Torin replied with a hint of astonishment.

Eldred (PNPC) stepped forward from where he had been leaning against the bulkhead, watching the activity beyond the large aft viewports. It had been quite the interesting morning and a visit to the aft viewing lounge had been just what the El-Aurian needed to refocus his own thoughts. Turning his attention to the Trill now standing before him, Eldred was not the least bit concerned by the fact he did not immediately recognize the young lieutenant. There were still plenty of personnel moving back and forth from the station, not to mention new ship's personnel arriving each day.

"Doctor Eldred Skyler," he replied with a small smile, "though you can just call me Eldred. Most people do."

"Torin Drell," the Trill responded, his posture easing into a more relaxed state. "I am the Chief of Operations, though I only just arrived. You are a civilian doctor? Not of the medical variety I take it..?"

"Cultural sciences," Eldred clarified, "Officially, I'm here as a representative of the Cultural Archival Society to help apply some of the information we've been able to gather in more practical settings." There was a twinkle in the El-Aurian's eye as he spoke and he took another step toward the mounted ship's wheel, turning his attention toward the object which had sparked their conversation in the first place. "I take it this isn't the first time you've seen something like this aboard a starship," he observed.

"Very perceptive," Torin replied, his suspicion that Eldred was far more than he seemed intensified. "Vexel, Drell's third host was a Starfleet officer as well, he served during the mid twenty third century and was quite partial to a lounge very similar to this one aboard an old Constitution class vessel. Personally, I am not certain that I could appreciate relics such as these myself but through Vexel's perspective there is something almost... Romantic about it's rustic simplicity. The feel of the wood's grain, the smell of the varnish..." Torin stopped abruptly realizing that he was rambling. "What brings you all the way up to deck three?"

"A little of this and a little of that," Eldred said, recalling the morning's events, "but the simple answer is that I find the aft lounge a good place for collecting thoughts. It's certainly not as crowded or active as the Midway Lounge, yet still offers quite the view."

"That it does," Torin replied as he glanced back out the portal. The aft section of the Yorktown stretched out before them and seemed to go on forever before tapering off somewhere in the distance, the sight was truly awe inspiring. "I have to say, I've never seen a ship quite like this one. I have studied its specifications of course, I could probably find my way to just about any EPS relay on board without much effort but seeing it like this... The technical schematics really don't do it justice."

Eldred nodded slowly. Part of the whole reason he had agreed to serving in the field on behalf of the society was precisely for that very reason. Just as the technical schematics never fully prepared one for the experience of seeing a vessel, field culture reports never fully prepared one for encountering another culture first-hand. "Next to the Enterprise, the Yorktown has perhaps one of the most famous and extensive lineages in history," the El-Aurian offered, "and there are quite a few people who feel this vessel makes a fitting tribute to that heritage. Nothing like feeling you've got a name to live up to, eh?"

Eldred's comment carried more meaning for Torin than he knew, or did he know? It was the never failing fear of most joined trill, the inability to live up to one's predecessors. He hadn't considered the previous crews of the USS Yorktown, he surely knew of their exploits from his academy history classes and even a few stray memories from Vexel's time with mention of the prestigious vessel. "I hadn't really thought of it quite that way to be honest but now that you mention it I suppose we do have some rather large shadows to walk in."

There was silence for a moment as Eldred grasped one of the wheel's spokes with one hand, echoing the lieutenant's motions from earlier. He could sense the stories it might have been able to tell almost as clearly as he could feel the texture of the wood beneath his fingers. Were they really walking in the shadows of others or were they being given an opportunity to build a brighter future?

"Tell me more about yourself, lieutenant," the El-Aurian said, motioning to the room around them, "what brought you to this place?"

Torin strode away from the wheel to give Eldred some space there and took a seat in the nearest chair. The recliner was well cushioned and extremely comfortable, so much so that Torin resigned himself to spending more time in the lounge when he could. Eldred's question was harder to answer than Torin had thought on the surface and he didn't reply immediately. After a long thoughtful pause he answered, "chance I suppose. I mean to say that I hadn't requested this assignment, the Majestic, my previous post has a new Captain now and I felt it was time for a change. Beyond that, I suppose my life in Starfleet was inevitable, between my parent's ambition for me and my own. Now though, I think I am past all that, there's some strange comfort in letting go and entrusting yourself to the winds of change."

"Strange comfort indeed," Eldred mused aloud. El-Aurians were known across the galaxy for their ability to live out that very statement, going here and there as opportunity may take them. There were only a few who truly knew how harshly his people had been thrown about by those very same winds. Still, there was something to be said for the experienced wisdom with which the young Trill spoke.

"What about you?" Torin countered finally with a grin. "I have to admit that you have me a little perplexed, whats your story?"

Eldred slowly removed his hand from the wheel and placed it securely behind his back as he stepped around the display. "I'm a long way from where I started, that's for sure," he said, "in more ways than one. You could say I'm an academic. Spent most of my life either attending or working in cultural studies at the university level. One thing led to another and I found myself with an opportunity to serve aboard a Federation starship...albeit, in a civilian advisory capacity."

The missing piece of the puzzle finally fit into place and Torin realized that he was talking to the author of many of the papers that had become required reading for cultural studies students at the academy. Indeed, the works of Eldred Skyler had even been known to Drell's two previous hosts.
"My apologies Doctor Skyler," Torin said with respect as he stood. "It wasn't until you mentioned working at a university that my familiarity with your name finally became apparent. I have read some of your work regarding Parallel Development. I would not have thought to meet someone of your prestige aboard a starship, it is a rare pleasure."

Despite his academic accomplishments to date, Eldred often had a difficult time thinking of himself as prestigious. Each of his published works had been borne out of a purpose to assess a particular subject, contribute to academic conversation, or to inform readers of new possibilities. "The pleasure is mine, I suppose," he said after a moment, "but please...call me Eldred. The last thing I need is for everyone around here to think I spend all hours of the day pouring over dusty tomes like some ancient wizard."

"You mean you don't? " Torin chuckled lightly. "Now you've ruined the mental image I had always maintained of those in your profession."

"Well, if it would help to continue thinking of us as studious wizards, then by all means..." Eldred chuckled as well, "It has been a pleasure to meet you, lieutenant. I don't want to keep you from settling in."

"I suppose you are right," Torin said reluctantly. He found Eldred to be unexpectedly good company and if duty didn't call he might stay and talk a while longer. If their chance encounter was any indication of things to come Torin could take away from it a great sense of confidence regarding the path he was treading. The Yorktown was beginning to feel like home already. "Likewise, it was a pleasure meeting you, I'm sure our paths will cross again."

OFF

A Joint Mission Post by:

Lieutenant Torin Drell
Chief Operations Officer
USS Yorktown

and

Doctor Eldred Skyler, PhD (PNPC)
Cultural Research Specialist
USS Yorktown
Played by: Capt Naros