Honor, Courage, Committment

"I’m sorry Sir, can I help you?"

    “Probably. I’m here because of an appointment with Admiral Benett, but he’s nowhere to be seen.”

Kat looked over the other man before checking her computer. There was in fact a meeting scheduled with her Commanding Officer but it seemed that the Admiral had been called away. "I'm sorry, Sir" she placated, "but it looks like the Admiral's attention was required elsewhere. Is there anything I can help you with? Or one of the officers even?" 

"Again Sir, I’m sorry" Kat replied, unable to give him a clear, direct answer. "I applied? Saw the opening for a Comm Specialist and I just decided to try."

"Give me a rundown of your qualifications."

Kat sighed softly, not wanting to upset her new Commanding Officer but still expressing her annoyance at the situation. "I graduated in the top five of my class at the Academy" she replied, shoving her hands in her pockets so she wouldn't nervously fidget with them. "I've been working in Intelligence for a while now. But I've been around the Alliance for as long as I can remember. Both my parents were Officers too." Giving him a sweet but daring look, she continued. "Anything else you'd like to know that can be easily found in my file, Sir?"

Before long, Kat’s entire body ached. The brightness had been replaced by dim lighting and the screams of her wounded comrades yielded to electronic pings. She moaned softly as she tried to move, finding it difficult due to various IV’s and bandages. A cough made her wince in pain, her chest feeling like it had been set on fire. All she did was try to reach out, hoping someone was there…

The slightest noise from Kat lifted his head and then he was rising from his chair, catching her hand and guiding it back down to her side but not releasing it. “Easy, Kat. You’re in Huerta.” Eamon paused. “You’re alright.”

"Are you?" Kat croaked, her throat burning. How long had she been asleep? When had they brought her to Huerta? More importantly, how bad were her injuries that Dr. Chakwas couldn't help her in the med bay? "How long...?" came another strangled attempt at speech. God, this was exhausting. 

The compliment brought a small smile to the Lieutenant’s face. It wasn’t often that a soldier was talked highly of by Commander Shepard. “Thank you, Ma’am” she replied happily. “I couldn’t imagine a better a post. Can’t lie to you, a lot of the others in my team were jealous when I was assigned here.”

     ”As they should be. The Normandy’s the finest vessel out there — and I’ve heard the CO’s quite the lady,” she joked lightly, grinning. “That being said, if you need something — anything — please let me know, and I’ll accommodate you to the best of my ability.”

Kat hadn't expected the Commander to be so warm and welcoming. She'd expected to feel a bit at ease aboard the Normandy due to it's prestige, but she already felt at home. "Thank you very much, Ma'am" the Lieutenant replied. "I truly appreciate that. Really."

"My apologies, Sir" Kat replied politely, standing at attention and saluting. "Lt. Kathleen Collins, Sir. I’m your new Communications Specialist."

"And you were stationed here…why?"

"Again Sir, I'm sorry" Kat replied, unable to give him a clear, direct answer. "I applied? Saw the opening for a Comm Specialist and I just decided to try."