Starfleet gets a person thinking in certain ways, doesn't it?

Sariel looks slightly sheepish as she replies, but he hasn't reprimanded her yet, he hasn't called her out on anything, and that seems as though it counts for something. "When Captain Kirk mentioned you to me, I thought much the same thing, sir." Beat. Two. "To confirm--yes, sir. I have."

She doesn't explain in greater detail just yet, but whether that's a touch of the same uncertainty or simply her waiting to be asked isn't clear. Probably both.