CSO Reporting for duty

The form that materialized on the transporter pad raised all eyebrows in the transporter room of the USS Phoenix. Contrary to popular belief, unusual lifeforms were not all that common to Starfleet officers, even in Lotus Fleet; despite the multiracial crowd of Starfleet Academy and the universal acceptance of differences on the one hundred and fifty member worlds, most Starfleet people were still either Human or very similar in appearance like Bajorans, Centaurans, Deltans and Betazoids. Even Vulcans didn't have features all that alien to 25th century people and, up to this day, all artificial lifeforms had been modeled on the Terran frame. Those that were markedly different, like Andorians, Caitians, Edoans and Saurians were in fact few and far between in comparison. And that was even more true when considering starship crews where, for obvious practical reasons, the tendency was to regroup officers and crewmembers that were, if not of similar species, at least of similar physiology.

And among all of those diverse sentient beings that shared life and duty within Starfleet, there had been no distinctively Avian ones.

Until now.

To the credit of those elite crewmembers that were part of Lotus Fleet in general and of the roster of the USS Phoenix in particular, transporter chief Krystal Dontae and her assistant Risal as well as security guard Randy Deloit barely showed their surprise seeing the tall, feathered form with stars in his dense mane that patiently waited for the scanners to finish identifying him and for the forcefield to wisk off.

As for the raptor-like officer now stepping down to offer his ID PADD to the chief, if he was himself surprised at being met by them, his enormous golden eyes and massive hooked beak would not reveal it.

"Welcome aboard, Lieutenant. Your orders and assignment are confirmed and recorded. Please report yourself for duty to the captain. You will find him by using the computer interface on the wall panels anywhere on the ship's bulkheads."

"Thank you, Chief," acknowledged the Avian officer.

It was only after he left the transporter room that the transporter chief realized that he had spoken to her in her grandfather's old native Celtic.

Once in the corridor, the newcomer ignored the side glances thrown into his direction by passing crewmates. he was quite used by now to the novelty effect of his presence and, anyway, he had never cared about it, understanding quite well the reaction of all those young species. Turning to the black glossy band on the wall, a few lights flashed in the thick feather covering of his head and a dotted line flashed to indicate a specific direction uin answer to his silent query. Without a word, he followed the moving lights, nodding in passing to everyone he met on his way to meet his commanding officer.

Turning the corner of the corridor Commander Riker did not look up from the PADD he was reading, it was this lack of attention that caused him to bump directly into Lieutenant JG Livingstone.  As the PADD fell from Commander Riker's hands he bent down quickly to pick it back up holding the PADD Riker looked up at the officer he had just bumped into.  The only sound Riker could manage was a silent startled gasp as the PADD fell to the deck again as Riker jumped back slightly.  Attempting to keep as much composure as possible Riker spoke.

"I apologize Lieutenant, I did not see you there"

"Please, Sir, it is I who must apologize. I WAS looking where I was going but didn't manage to avoid you. Again, I'm sorry, Sir; I'm not yet entirely at ease in these enclosed spaces. I hope you are unharmed, Sir."

The X'Ell could not refrain himself from rubbing his own shoulder. Those Humans were as dense as stone and colliding with one was something he had always deftly managed to do... until now. He was also quite mortified at having being so distracted by the ship itself around him; a lapse he hoped the Commander would overlook from someone pretending to become their chief of science.

Pretending as if his startled reaction did not occur at all Riker continued.  As he bent down to pick up the PADD again.

"You must be Lieutenant Livingstone... I am Commander Riker, first officer.  I was just reading the new crew reports our Chief of the Vessel assembled."

Pointing to the PADD and still slightly shaken  by a combination of shock and embarrassment from his reaction Riker pointed down the corridor and continued.

"You should check in with the Captain Mr. Livingstone he is expecting you."

"Yes, Sir; of course ,Sir; right away, Sir," the nervous lieutenant acquiesced with a nod of his head atop his long slender neck that made the gesture all the more comical.

Nodding to the young feathered alien Commander Riker walked around him and continued on his way hoping his first impression was not as terrible as it had seemed.

And so did the new officer, wondering if this was what qualified as the 'assault on a superior officer' court martial offense he had read about.

More careful than ever so as not to bump into anyone else, the X'Ell made his way to the nearest turbolift and called for the bridge, as the computer indicated that it was where his new commanding officer was located. And again, when he exited the cabin, all eyes went to his peculiar silhouette as he stepped up to the central chair and the bearded Vulcan almost as tall as himself that sat there.

"Captain Syntron Sir; Lieutenant Junior Grade Jonathan X. Livingstone reporting for duty as Chief Science Officer."

The Vulcan commanding officer gazed up from the center seat upon the unique avian officer that just approached and spoke to him. He was a tall and slender specimen with long-limbs and purple-tinted feathers. The captain's gaze ran above  the new officer's beak and into the large-spaced golden eyes.

Fascinatingthe captain thought to himself. He vividly remembered the mission several years back involving the Dyson sphere that introduced the Federation to this compelling X'Ell species.

As he stood up to greet his new CSO, Syntron's  gaze into those golden eyes was only slightly lower in stature than the position of his own.  With his arms folded behind him, the Vulcan addressed him.

"Welcome aboard the USS Phoenix Lieutenant Livingstone. It is an honor to have you serving aboard as our new chief science officer. Have you had the opportunity to get settled into your quarters yet?"  

"Negative, Sir. it would have been improper to nest before getting permission to roost. Your own Starfleet rules themselves specify that one must report to one's commanding officer before engaging in personal needs."

Livingstone looked at Syntron for a moment, blinking his large eyes before continuing.

"You are Syntron of Artemis, one of the Visitors, those who opened up our shell. Sir, the honor of working with you is all mine. Because of you, my people and myself have finally hatched. Hopefully, we will spread our wings and soar through the stars as you do; as I will presently in your company."

He straightened up at attention.

"Orders, Sir?"

The captain turned slightly and espied his yeoman lurking nearby as if she did not have an ear tuned to their conversation.

"Yeoman Albera, I would like you to meet our new chief science officer, Lieutenant Livingstone."

Her youthful exuberance was barely contained as she practically leaped over to join them.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Sir. I've never had the honor to meet someone of your species before."

"I am the first and only one of my kind, so far, to go outside our homeworld."

Syntron continued.

"Please escort the lieutenant to his quarters on deck six and afterward when he is situated, to his science office on deck eight."

"Yes Sir," the golden-brown haired human responded with diligence.

As Albera started heading toward the turbolift, the captain brought his attention back to the avian officer.

"Once you are nestled in Lieutenant, report back to me and we can discuss your upcoming orders."

"Acknowledged, Captain," answered Livingstone who had not yet moved until his commanding officer had dismissed him.

With his peculiar careful gait, the X'Ell then followed the Yeoman into the turbolift, his enormous eyes blinking in every direction with obvious interest about everything and everyone his wide-angled, powerful sight could embrace, until the lift door slid shut.

As the turbolift began to descend, Yeoman Albera cast her sparkling eyes toward the new avian officer as she inquired "So Lieutenant Livingstone, what do you think of our ship so far?"