Order of Operations

Posted on Mon Jul 21, 2025 @ 4:37pm by Lieutenant JG Ace Cannon & Ensign T'Vren

1,849 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: Ops
Timeline: MD13 - Afternoon

Operations was a two-tiered affair, spanning decks twelve and thirteen. The Communications station was on the lower level. It was larger than the station she’d had before. She took a seat and ran her hands along the console, getting a feel for the layout.

For his part, Ace was giving orders, but there was something suspicious about them. To a female ensign, he said, "I'm looking forward to reading your report. Come to my office and present it to me when it is completed, so we can thoroughly go through it together." To a male one, his attitude was markedly different, commanding, "Make certain that the resistance differential is no greater than .001. I'll hold you personally responsible if I test it and it is anything greater."

He then walked towards T'Vren and noticed the Vulcan in the operations uniform. Oh, great! Another one! he thought sarcastically. He did not hide the gaze that inspected her entire body before he spoke. Her face was too masculine and rigid, but her body.... Oh, her body was a thing of beauty. It was too bad that Vulcans did not know how to flaunt it. He considered his options and wondered if he could catch her in pon farr or just put a bag over her head. "Ensign, you look lost. Feeling up my station is a good warm up but won't get the motor running too much."

T'Vren turned her chair. Behind her stood a human, several inches taller than her. "Your station? I was under the impression that the station had lacked a Communications officer previously, making it my station. If you think it has a motor, you are clearly unqualified to manage it."

A feisty Vulcan. She has a bit more promise than I originally thought. "Your logic is flawed. I outrank you and until recently, all of Operations was mine. Any bit that you share with me is therefore a subservient portion. As to communications, I am a very cunning linguist. I invite you to give it a try someday. I'm certain that you would not be disappointed in my skill."

T'Vren raised an eyebrow. "Until recently.... So you admit that at this moment not all of Operations is yours. As the new Assistant Chief of Operations for Communications, I can assure you. The Communications station is mine. As for your linguistic skills, if the way this console has been configured reflects them, I am unimpressed. It is not optimal."

"Ensign," Ace started with a smile. "I don't require you to be impressed unless it is after our shifts. Regardless, this station is of a size that the new Captain felt that lesser important functions could be pawned off on a subordinate, i.e. you. I'm certain that it will be a great learning experience for you, having responsibility for people under you. I'm used to women being under me all the time." He grinned knowingly.

When the innuendo registered, T’Vren sighed and turned the chair of the station so that she was facing the man fully. She had encountered his type before. Consulate work brought one into contact with a wide range of individuals. “I have a bondmate. While you are of a height with him, he is a Vulcan, and you are not. Indeed, while I am shorter than you, I am a Vulcan and you are not, and I am therefore stronger than you. Please do not behave in a manner that makes the logical course of action breaking your arm. And even if all that were not true, my standards are higher than a man whose knowledge of poetry likely begins and ends with ‘There once was a man from Nantucket.’”

"Touchy touchy," Ace replied. "I'm sure that your bondmate appreciates your sunny disposition," Ace told T'Vren sarcastically. "Furthermore, you have made a faulty assumption regarding my knowledge of poetry. Interesting for a Vulcan to throw out insults and react so emotionally. Perhaps I should call Lieutenant T'Lul. She'd likely want to take a look at you."

"An assumption is not the same as an insult. You are welcome to disprove my impression of you."

This Vulcan is annoying. She thinks that she is so smart and superior. Ugh! "To assume is to make an ass out of you and me and frankly, I don't chase ass."

"A different bit of word play, but still doggerel." T'Vren turned back to the console and adjusted some of the settings. "When was the Universal Translator last updated? The most recent update corrects some issues with inflections in tonal languages."

"Your opinion is noted, Ensign. However, you will find that if you do not have a bit of fun, your stay here is going to be extremely frustrating to you. Regarding the Universal Translator, it was updated just before the attack; however, as it has not been a priority in repairs, I have not checked it since. For all I know, all updates may have been corrupted."

"I suspect our views on what constitutes 'fun' are decidedly different," T'Vren said. "And if all the updates had been corrupted, we would have noticed, as the Universal Translator would not be functioning."

If the Universal Translator wasn't working, she would still be subjected to the Lieutenant's innuendos. The downside of speaking so many languages, though she would be surprised if he bothered with anything besides Federation Standard. Even in Starfleet, she found that most humans never bothered to acquire more than one or two additional languages unless they went into linguistics.

"Are you certain of that, Ensign? Perhaps you should tell me what you think is fun. And, as to updates being corrupted, it would depend on the corruption that occurred. It may have only messed with a language or two or not implemented the updates. You have much to learn."

"Ah. When you said all the updates, I assumed you meant all of them. I will make a note that you do not mean what you say. As for how I spend my time off-duty, I am currently making a study of a collection of pre-Reform poetry that has survived the Sundering and been translated into modern Romulan. I am also working to develop fluency in both Bajoran and Cardassian. I participate in current discussions on improvements to how the Translator handles certain pronouns between languages." T'Vren looked up from the console. "For instance, Trill first person pronouns which are intended to encompass the experience of both the host and the symbiote before their joining. There are those who feel that 'we' better communicates the concept of the separate existences prior to joining, while others, including many Trill, feel that 'I' better communicates a joined Trill's subjective experience of identity."

"Certainly you must have other interests other than anything involving languages," Ace asked slightly aghast. This Vulcan was as infuriating as the Coyote never beating the Road Runner in Looney Tunes and as interesting as watching paint dry. Her face was just as exciting. One day, he would have to apologize to T'Lul and inform her that she was not the most annoying person on the space station.

"Everything is language. It is what defines us as sapient beings, not animals. Were I to undertake a study of painting, the concepts that had specific terms in comparison to those that must be described at length would reveal a great deal." She considered. "My bondmate is a construction engineer, but space stations are well standardized within their class, so there is little here to share with him."

"I'm not a philosopher, however, I disagree. Language does not make us sapient. Free will does. I'll let you argue that with another Vulcan, though."

"No, I did not think you a philosopher." She finished re-configuring the console. "There. Much better."

"I'm glad that you approve," Ace told the Vulcan wryly. He decided that he was going to have to alter the language program so he could find some choice words for the irritating Vulcan in a language that would not translate.

"I assume you mean the console, as I do not approve of your lack of philosophy," T'Vren said. "As for the console, it would be illogical to leave my station less than optimized for my use."

Ace silently wondered if killing a Vulcan was still homicide. After all, a Vulcan was not human. Would it be Vulcanicide? "What you approve of or do not approve of regarding myself is irrelevant to your position and mine above you," Ace answered wryly.

"An important aspect of holding a position of authority is to recognize that others have skills you do not." She would need to study the population of the station. Within the year, her studies of Cardassian and Bajoran would be advanced enough to start a new language. Something widely spoken on the station. The opportunities for use would be advantageous to both her personal study and her work.

He had never wanted to strangle a woman before, but for T'Vren, he would make an exception. "And yours is interpersonal relations...."

"I have never claimed that to be one of my strengths, nor have I sought to make it so."

"And that is going to be a problem for you, Ensign. If you refuse to develop interpersonal relationships, you will find yourself alone and helpless when you require or desire assistance. Nothing in Starfleet is accomplished without the assistance of others. I would suggest you seriously invest in some charm school."

"I have no difficulty executing my duties in a professional manner. My expectation of others within Starfleet is the same. Whether they find me of interest outside of that is irrelevant to that expectation."

"That's not how non-Vulcans work. Frankly, I find you to be condescending, egotistical, and pedantic. Such an attitude will not win you any friends or accolades. I suggest that you check your behavior, Ensign."

T'Vren raised an eyebrow. "And I find your behavior borders on sexual harassment and abuse of rank. I suspect we shall continue to be disappointed with each other yet must find a way to ensure the work gets done." She hummed under her breath. "'Egotistical' is new. 'Single-minded' and 'boring' are much more common descriptors."

"Sexual harassment? Hardly!" Ace scoffed. "Abuse of rank? Never. IF you're going to levy such things, you'd better have more than your piss poor attitude Ensign. You're dismissed."

The list of words Cannon had used to describe her had not included ‘stupid’ but pointing that out would simply invite another round of posturing and self-aggrandization. He was welcome to continue to attempt to aggravate her, just as she was welcome to not be aggravated. It was a waste of her time, but it was hardly the most absurd behavior she’d seen from a non-Vulcan.

“Of course, sir.” Besides, with the reconfiguration she’d done, she now had the access to do her work away from the Communications station.


Lieutenant JG Ace Cannon
Assistant Chief of Operations
Deep Space 5

Ensign T'Vren
Asst. Chief of Operations — Communications
Deep Space 5

 

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