Transfer & New Duties

Kovar weighed the title, examined it in his mind's eye.  It wasn't a promotion - not that he was personally concerned, one way or another, with rank - but seemed rather a recognition of his accomplishments and skillset as a security official for Starfleet for nearly half of his life.  The newly-commissioned Vanguard had need of one with the experience and temperament to forge the crew into a cohesive unit, prepared to encounter whatever hazards they may encounter during their first year's missions.

And to ensure that discipline was maintained.

Taking one more look at the PADD that displayed the crew manifest, Kovar committed names, ranks, and positions to memory.  There were still gaps in the roster, so he would have to ensure that he received regular updates from transfers from the Captain and XO, which itself would be an indicator to the ship's leadership style.

No matter, things would work out as they will.  He would do what he could to optimize the efficiency of the ship's operations, hopefully without stepping on too many toes this time.  The Vanguard was not a Vulcan ship, so he needed to temper his expectations.

Dropping the PADD into the case that held his meager belongings - his various decorations, a holo-crystal containing pictures of Jurisa, his parents and his siblings, and a stack of small paper squares - Kovar snapped the case shut as the door chime sounded in his quarters.

"Come," he called to the door, which obligingly whooshed open to permit the ship's executive officer, Commander Dece Yemo, entry into Kovar's spartan quarters.

"Commander," Kovar greeted his superior, standing straight.  "I was not expecting you."

Dece waved off the formality, replying, "You didn't think I was going to let my best security guy go off quietly to his next assignment, do you?"

Kovar internally chafed at the 'security guy' comment.  Despite having received and acknowledged his new orders, and the Veracruz pulling alongside the Vanguard for his transport, he still considered himself a member of the Veracruz's crew, and the informality - especially from one of his superior officers - annoyed him.  However, he'd learned over many years, and many postings, that non-Vulcans considered informality to enable better relationship-building, so he'd come to internalize his perspective.

"No, I suppose not," Kovar simply replied.  The two had worked closely over the last several years, over the closing phases of the Dominion War and its aftermath.

Dece smiled, his Bajoran earrings sparkling in the light with the movement.  "Well, you'll be missed.  You've been a tremendous asset to the crew and invaluable to Starfleet's ground operations, and I have no doubt that you'll whip the crew of the Vanguard into shape in no time," the XO complimented.

"I have--" Kovar started, then realized that Dece was using a euphemism, and that a leather discipline tool should not be used in his next assignment.  Instead, he accepted the compliment with, "Thank you, sir."

Looking around, the XO commented, "Not much to pack, eh?  Ready to go?"

"Sir," Kovar confirmed, collecting his travel case, and motioned to Dece to lead the way to the transporter room.

Kovar never thought of himself as a philosopher, though sometimes he found his mind wandering down paths of thought that caught his attention.  For instance, as his matter stream finished materializing on the pads in the Vanguard's transporter room, he mused whether his body was precisely the same one that had been de-materialized on the Veracruz, or if this was a new one that merely housed the energy patterns that made up his mind, his personality, in a new location.

He'd read the report from the Enterprise-D, many years before, of the ship's doctor being sent through the transporter to de-age her body after an unusual incident.  If that were possible, could the transporter be used to effectively keep individuals immortal?

<Prepsterous>, he dismissed, <the finest minds in the Federation would surely have examined the possibility long before now.>  The line of thought continued for a few more moments as the materialization process completed.

Stepping from the pad, Kovar nodded to the transporter chief, then turned to the Chief of Operations, Commander Lektar who awaited his arrival

He'd never encountered a Drokari before, and was briefly fascinated with the Lieutenant Commander's dark skin before remembering his place, and presented a small PADD containing his Starfleet jacket and orders.

"Commander, Senior Chief Petty Officer Kovar, reporting for duty," he said as formal introduction.  "I am honoured to be here."

Kovar took the proffered PADD, saying, "That is appreciated, Commander."

Studying the updated dataset, he added, "I understand that there are vacancies within the crew.  I would like you and the command staff know that I will make myself available to fill in any gaps in shift rotations...  Provided that doing so would not affect my primary duties, naturally."

Pausing to allow the head of Ops to digest the offer, Kovar asked, "Would it be possible to speak to the Captain and Executive Officer?  I would like to start setting up weapons and tactical training sessions with the crew onboard."