Meet and Greet Part I
Posted on Thu Apr 2nd, 2026 @ 5:21pm by Lieutenant Vincent 'Ghost' Zandrell & Ensign Freyja Harper
Edited on on Thu Apr 2nd, 2026 @ 5:21pm
2,427 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 3 - The One Who Got Away
Location: Office of the Emergency Services Unit - Deck 10 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD002 1000 hrs
The swish of the door had it opening for Freyja and Nyx stepping back in after their morning run, a habit she'd gotten into when she first met the sable grey dog. It gave them a chance to bond and burn off some energy, at least for the dog. While the dog headed for a drink, she headed for the replicator for a quick breakfast. A bowl of raw food for Nyx, and mug of Java for her. Although after seeing the time, she quickly sat the bowl down for Nyx and jumped in the shower.
Uniform on, long black hair pulled back into a tight braid, Freyja took one last look in the mirror to give herself a mental pep talk. Turning, she looked into the dark eyes of her partner and frowned as she pondered the proper protocol in this situation. Normally she'd leave Nyx behind unless there was need for the dog. But this was a first meeting, should she introduce herself and her partner? Well, what the hell....it was logical that they meet the full package, right? Grabbing the harness, she slipped it on her K9 partner and leashed her before they headed out.
Security, to find Lieutenant Zandrell, she had this. Although the slight press of Nyx against her leg let her know that her nervousness was being felt by her partner and she sighed before taking a couple deep breaths as she reached the department she was supposed to be at. Here goes nothing, she murmured as she took a glance around the area.
The ESU (Emergency Services Unit) Office was setup like a Security bullpen. There was monitors, which often gave overlays and information concerning the current mission, now set to the ESU Insignia. An area with the primary weapons displayed and tactical gear. A war room with a holographic emitter built into the table and ceiling to display information and small models. Along with various desks, photos, and accolades display around the office itself. Straight head, from the main entrance, was an office with the front half surrounded by a clear glass and the section in the back showing several monitors and a window displaying the space outside.
Striding into the area, not at a fast pace but a slow steady one, giving herself a chance to take in as much details of the area as she could. She wanted to learn as much as she could about the bullpen and those that she may be working with as she could with just the little things she could note. Photo's often gave a hint of what was important to people and she nodded slightly to herself as caught sight of a few. Dark eyes once more settled on the office before her, even more so on the officer within it. Fingers flexed on the leash within her left hand as she straightened both her and Nyx up a little more before continuing to the office.
Inside the office, sitting behind the desk, was Lieutenant Vincent Zandrell. He was looking through a PADD, before placing it down and looking over to the monitor on his desk. The inside of the desk didn't have much aside from personal decorations. There were only three things that were of the utmost importance to him. A photo of his daughter Cassie James and his mother, her grandmother, Cassandra Zandrell. Cassie seemed to be in a small white and pink dress, with a matching bow, and her grandmother was in a more elegant one with a matching colors to Cassie. Another was a photo on the wall of a Ferengi and Vincent. Both seemed to be smiling and in Starfleet Intelligence Uniforms. The only thing to note from the pictures was the Ferengi had an energy whip at his belt while Vincent had a shoulder holster with an EM-33 Pistol that appeared modified. The last was another photo, this time of a younger Vincent in a Starfighter Uniform with a small group of fellow Starfighter officers, standing in the foreground of two rows of Valkyrie Class Starfighters. On the side of the photo were various medals and accolades he achieved while in the group. On the bottom of the photo were the words 'Omega Squadron, Knights Unit, USS Arthurian'. Below that was the phrase: 'The Noble Knights Of the Round Table'. Of particular note was the list of names in the squadron that was listened under the phrase. Vincent's name was listed as Major Vincent 'Ghost' Zandrell.
Curiosity killed the cat, she reminded herself as questions rushed through her mind seeing some of the pictures the Lieutenant had out. Now was not the place or time to be asking questions, it wasn't logical to even be thinking about questions. It was time to introduce herself and get focused on her task on this ship, she tried not to smirk as herself as her inner voice went back and forth with things. Quiet, she willed herself as she took a couple slow deep breaths before touching the chime to announce herself.
Vincent looked away from his screen and saw Ensign Harper and her dog standing there at the door. He tapped a button on the table which turned the monitor on his desk off, locking the screen, before gesturing for her to come in. The ESU CO placed the PADD's aside before standing up, placing his hands behind his back, as he watching her enter.
Both her and Nyx seemed to move as one as they strode into the room, dark eyes never leaving the man before her as she moved to step in front of the desk. A simple release of the leash had the dog dropping into an alert, yet stilled, down position as she shifted into attention before him. "Ensign Harper reporting for duty, Sir."
"Take the ease, Ensign." He smiled, replying softly to her, as he gestured to the chair in front of the desk. "First thing's first. Would you or your partner like anything to drink or eat?"
A slight ease of her stance as she relaxed just a little with his words, a subtle movement of her hand the dark head of Nyx moved to rest down on her paws. "No thank you Sir, we are good." Freyja said with a slight smile having already given a quick glance to her partner to check on the dog as she moved to sit down on the chair.
"Suit yourself, Ensign. Offer will remain on the table till you and your partner walk out that door." Vincent said as he walked over to the replicator and tapped on the upper console to turn it on. "Jestral Tea with a hint of Oskoid sap." He ordered. As the replicator began it's process, Vincent added. "Oh... and Ensign? Inside this Office, it's either Vincent or Ghost. If you don't mind."
Ghost... well didn't that just make ones mind drift, as her gaze left him for only a moment to glance to the picture that had his name with the call name Ghost on it. "As you wish..... " Well hell, it just didn't seem logical to call a man, Ghost... at least not until one knew the story behind it. "Vincent." She said finally as her gaze once more was back focused on the man before her. "Do I get to ask the same?"
While his back was turned, and the Jestral Tea finished replicating, he couldn't help but smile a bit. Due to his Betazoid ability, he could sense her curiosity and hesitation. Because she was thinking so hard about it, he even managed to pick up on what was pulling her back and forth so much. After lifting the tea cup and saucer from the replicator, he turned around and began to walk back to his seat. "Of course, Ensign." Before placing the cup of tea on the desk, he added softly, keeping to his smile. "And... If you want to know... all you need to do is ask."
"How did you get the call name Ghost?" She blurted out after he said she could, logic be damned. Although she could just hear her grandfather groaning at her bluntness. Although to be fair, her commanding officer was going to end up learning her quirkiness one way or another.
As he sat down, he took a moment to let out a bit of a deep breath, picking up his Jestral Tea. Vincent took a sip before smiling at her. "Back when I was just starting with the Knights on the Arthurian, our Squad Leader Colonel Kijarr Vogrim, used to split up the squad into two groups and pit us against each other. I flew against a Bajoran pilot named Rud Neervos. Everyone called him Vedek on account talk a lot about the Profits and how they would guide us. Most of us would lean on him for support or advice." He paused slightly, as if pulling up a good memory, before taking another sip of his tea. As he lowered the cup again, he continued. "Anyway, back then I was still trying to prove myself and Vedek got some pretty good shots on me. In my ear I can hear Gamble, Colonel Vogrim, constantly telling me to 'keep focus' and 'I needed to show him sometimes worth keeping me at the table'. The old cat just keep wanting to see more out of me. So, I flew into a nearby asteroid belt to by me some time. While I was there, I adjust my sensors to mask my signature by using the shields I had left as an amplifier. So, when I left the belt and kept to his visual blind spot, I was able to fire back and pull away before he had a chance to react or adjust to see me. I did this a few times until I nailed him with a damaging shot."
Vincent let out a nice laugh as he remembered that day like it was yesterday. Gamble chuckling his approval as he could hear the others clapping in the background. The cheers from the others on his time and how happy he felt when he was able to land that last shot, using his piloting skill, but also his ingenuity to get out of a near losable situation. When they met up at the mess afterwards, they were all buying him drinks as he felt like he was finally part of the squad.
As his eyes focused back to Freyja, his laughing settled into a smile, he added. "When we got to the hanger, Vedek went right to the Colonel. I thought he was pissed and was gonna cry foul on me like I created. While everyone was patting me on the back and cheering me, I couldn't take my eyes off them. Whispering to each other. Eventually, they came over to us and stood there, Gamble looking at me in this cold Caitian stare. He approached me, put his hand on my shoulder and let out the loudest laugh I ever heard from him. He said 'Way to earn your chair, Son. Welcome to the Knights.' Then he walked away. Vedek looked at me, smiled and nodded his head, before saying. 'Not bad, Ghost.". Everyone cheered and started calling me Ghost afterwards." He pulled up the mug to his lips. "And that's how I got my callsign." He said before taking another sip.
Freyja had been listening intently to the story intently, taking in not only his words but his emotions and body language. He had proven himself to his team, and she'd learn a bit of how smart he could be. His laughter made her smile brighten even more as a lightness came to her dark eyes. This was a story that he was was proud of, a call name that he took pride in. It was logical to call him by that name then. "Memories like that speak much about a person, Ghost." She said with a slight nod of respect to him.
"Memories like that, bonds like that, are often what pushes people to from the dark and to keep moving forward." Vincent replied, with a smile, as he took another sip of his tea. As he lowered the cup, once again, he placed it on the dish and asked. "So tell me about you and your partner, Harper? Your training? Your bond? What makes the two of you such a packaged deal when it comes to being part of this team?"
A hint of sadness passed over her features with his questions, but then pride mixed in with it as she glanced down to the dog that laid next to her a moment. Nyx had, at some point in time figured they would be there a bit and shifted into a more relaxed position herself. "I started in forensics, that's actually where I thought I would end up at. Nyx here, was supposed to be my brothers K9 partner, he's the one that trained her, bonded with her originally." She moved a hand down to brush fingertips against soft ears that were as always alert before she continued. "There first mission out things went bad and we lost Alex... it hit us all hard, even Nyx."
She paused with a couple deep breaths, the loss of her twin still hit her hard. "Anyways, Nyx wouldn't take to other handlers so before giving up on her, I was asked to come visit her. When she didn't try to bite me, the Commanding officer over the department talked me into giving K9 handling, and Nyx, a chance. So I did." A light smile and mix of emotions showed in her eyes. "It was a rough go at first, a lot of training and determination. But it was like we bonded over my brothers loss, it was how we both moved on. I know.... many would think it illogical to for an animal to bond over something like that."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vincent Zandrell
Criminal Apprehension Officer, USS Artemis
Commanding Officer, Emergency Services Unit
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Ensign Freyja Harper
Emergency Services Unit Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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