A Message for Elisha

Seeing the arrival of a high priority communication from Starfleet brought a chill of anticipation down the spine of Elisha Leone. It was a moment she had worked harder than most can even imagine to reach a point such as this, regardless of what the outcome would be. Yet despite the curiosity burning deep within her, she just stared at the Starfleet emblem on the viewscreen without activating  the impending message.

She closed her eyes and reflected intensely on the moment's arrival.

Brought into existence and then abandoned far outside of Federation domain from a race of slave traders and other questionable practices, even as a mere youngster she had to battle her way just to survive. She had no long-term shelter, no steady meals, and no one to care for her throughout her life.

But somehow despite these adversities, she discovered within her an indomitable strength of mind along with a sheer determination to overcome all of the relentlessly dangerous obstacles that had repeatedly befallen her. She realized that would find a way to prevail beyond this meager existence; no matter what the risks or audacity to accomplish this required, or die in her attempts.   

Later as she started to physically mature,  Elisha eventually began to capitalize on the compelling gifts that she possessed to advance her long-term objectives.

After years of exertion, exasperation and countless attempts, she eventually make her way into Federation space.  She served as an engineer's apprentice on the Beta VI colony and later as a science lab technician on several sectors of the Martian colony. 

After years of menial work, her exceptional aptitude, quick-minded diagnostic abilities and skills in both engineering and science emerged and caught the attention of visiting starship Captain Theron Burke,  a reserved and dignified officer witnessed firsthand her ability to thoroughly investigate several environmental and mechanical system malfunctions and then fix them in a manner more efficient and effective than their hired in-house engineers were able to do.

Months later this captain, known for his keen eye for talent, arranged to have Elisha take a Starfleet Academy pre-entrance exam; despite the initial objections to allow this uneducated laborer even the opportunity to participate.  She outscored all of the other examinees.

With Captain Burke's official sponsorship and special permission granted from several Academy professors, she was granted admittance to Starfleet Academy within one year.

Since that time, she had graduated from the academy with top honors every year; not that this did not come without a new set of challenges and obstacles that she also had to overcome beyond rigors the academic courses. The biggest lesson she learned during her time at the Academy was the skill to tone down and control her naturally provocative manner.

Having reached full maturity,  she possessed alluring features including intense aqua-colored eyes, silky emerald-colored skin surrounded by a thick mane of long shiny black hair. Elisha Leone had slowly adapted the unwanted and unwarranted attention that she received virtually everywhere into an equivalent of a bargaining chip . She was after all, an extraordinarily attractive Orion female and therefore most individuals that she encountered assumed her disposition to be very sensual and promiscuous.

While many considered her striking appearance an asset, she later realized it to equally be a liability. It distracted those around her from acknowledging her keen mind and diverse capabilities.  Instead, this seemed to evoke the more basal instincts and tendencies in both males and females. Women were often threatened by her potent allure to the men around her, while males would often gawk and be overly attentive to her in all of the wrong situations.

She was caught in a dichotomy between the nature of her species and her professional aspirations. She worked consciously during her years attending the Academy at repressing her sensuality along with her powerful and enticing pheromones to the point of virtually denying their existence. It was an internal battle that raged within her constantly and she kept this in-check by the sheer determination of her will.

But this was mostly behind her now.

However,  from the moment of her graduation, she had applied repeatedly to be commissioned to a starship. Yet until this moment, not a single opportunity had been extended to her.

Elisha then opened her eyes and after a few deep breaths activated the message.

From: Starfleet Command

To: Ensign Elisha Leone

You have been assigned to serve as the Chief Operations Officer aboard the Fleet's newest Flagship , the USS Horizon, effective immediately.

You are hereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.

A shuttle is en route to transport you to the Lotus Starbase in 26 hours from the mark on this transmission.

Congratulations Lieutenant

Commander Karen Schmidt

Executive Officer

Command Division

Lotus Fleet

As fierce and brave as this Orion woman was, Elisha could not restrain the tears that began to flow down her soft green-hued cheek as she read the message.