Learning the Ropes

Posted on 03 Aug 2021 @ 2:37am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin & Eden Corwin

1,587 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Extinction
Location: Administration
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 0000

After Harvey left, Mila gave Eden a smile. "Come, there is much to be learning and short time to be doing it. I am having simple system, though, and will teach you best way of sorting things." She turned and headed back into her small office and activated her console. When she had what she wanted up, she turned it so Eden could see it.

On the screen was a list of all the departments and the Yeomen assigned there and the crew assigned to them. "This is always being first order of business," she said. "Having access to personnel is vital here."

Eden looked a bit nervous as she looked at the screen. There was quite a lot going on there. "I... I was under the impression I would just be shadowing."

"Da, and you are doing so now," Mila said before she glanced at her. "What is being your view of shadowing?"

"Shadowing... following you around and observing what you do day to day. I mean... I don't mind hands on learning, but I'm still a civilian and most things are strictly off limits to me," she explained before gesturing toward the screen of the console. "I don't suppose knowing this is such a big deal, but some of the things you see I know that I can't."

"But this is what I am doing, when I am not needing to chew ass," the Yeoman said. "However, let us go. We shall conduct inspection, da?"

Eden nodded. Mila was the boss at the moment. "Yes," she agreed. "Would you mind if I asked questions when I have them?"

"By all means," Mila said as she left the office. Her demeanor seemed to shift to Starfleet professional, her shoulders squared off, her steps steady and her eyes straight forward. "The number one thing to remember is that it helps to throw them off. It's why I use the accent."

The look of shock that crossed Eden's features was unmistakable. "It... it's not real?"

"Sometimes it is being real, other times, it isn't," she said as she headed into the main heart of Administration. "Especially if I don't have time to fuck around."

"Given life on a starship, and your role as Harvey's Yeoman, I can't imagine there's a lot of time for that," the young woman said as she kept pace with Mila. "You have so much to keep in order."

"You get used to it after a while," Mila said. "I've been doing it for eleven years." She came to a podium in the Administration Operations center and dismissed a crewman who quickly scampered away. "Attention in Administration! It is being O Group time!" she called out, her voice ringing over the internal comm.

Everyone around stopped what they were doing and grabbed PADDs and came to stand in an orderly semi circle around Mila.

"Report," she called and nodded to a Bolian in front on the left.

"We have seven cases of sar'nex rye left in storage and fourteen cases of the Talexian Leola Root that no one wants or likes."

"When we are getting to the next planet, trade it off two for one," the Yeoman said. "Next."

This went on for area after area of the ship with Mila always making suggestions, giving commands, or sending something up the ropes to a department head, or Commander Walsh. Finally, she turned to Eden. "See? It is being easy."

Eden looked at Mila in total disbelief. Administration was definitely not for her. There was far too much to keep up with, but the Yeoman had it down to a science. "That was easy? Nothing about that seemed easy. I don't know how you do it."

"What seemed hard to you?" Mila asked. "People told me what we had or what problem they had, I made a suggestion and it was sent to the proper place. All I usually do is sort things out for Harvey and put them in order of importance so he can throwing them all in pile on his desk to be driving me up side of wall."

"What if it's a problem that doesn't have an easy fix?" She asked, looking around at the people moving about. Eden couldn't help but wonder how much frustration they dealt with on a daily basis. "What's hard about it is trying to keep everything in line. Sorting things based on priority, fixing problems... It makes taking care of the twins look easy."

The Russian woman had to laugh, but waved a hand off. "Perhaps I was going a bit fast, but they're used to that. After a while, you learn by watching others, and you wouldn't be at the top of the Administrative chain to start out. It all takes time, no matter what department you go in, and you're going to have to remember a lot. The most important thing is figuring out what's important to the Captain and not to the person giving you the message."

"I'm not so sure Administration is for me," the young woman admitted as politely as she could. "But, I don't mind watching and learning. Not everyone has this kind of opportunity, and I don't want to throw mine away." Her expression turned curious. "How did you know this is what you wanted to do? Or did you have something else in mind?"

"I did not know what I wished to do after I graduated school," Mila said honestly as she headed towards her office. "I did not wish to go through the Academy, so I enlisted. Because I am having eidetic memory, they are convincing me to be going into Administration. From there, I worked my to becoming specialist to where I am being now. What is is that you are really wishing to be doing?"

Eden looked thoughtful as she contemplated the question. What did she want to do? She honestly didn't know. "I came back with Joey and Harvey to help out with the twins, and even before that, I worked at a daycare center. I did that almost straight after graduation," she told her. "I adore kids and working with them. Maybe I should skip enlisting and go to school to be a teacher."

"More ships are having families on them and the children will be needing someone to be teaching them," the brunette said. "You are knowing that by experience."

"So, does that mean I shouldn't enlist? Should I shadow more departments before I make any decisions?" She asked, sounding more confused than ever.

"Why not be looking into Starfleet Child Care and Teaching?" Mila suggested. "You would not have to be officer or enlisted and could still be doing what you love. There are being many starbases and subspace learning to be getting you on path to being Starfleet while you are doing that."

Eden tried not to appear too frustrated. Why did this have to be so complicated? "It seems I have to do some research. I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Then do what you are doing now," Mila said with a gentle smile. "Shadow each department, do a little research and ask plenty of questions."

"That definitely sounds like the easiest way to do it. Is there anyone in particular you suggest I shadow?"

"It is depending if you are wanting serious side that most are not seeing, or side that everyone is seeing and liking," the Russian responded.

"If I'm going to make an honest decision for myself, shouldn't. I see the good, the bad and the ugly?" The young woman queried.

"Da," Mila said. "So I would start with Operations and then be going to Security and Intelligence."

"I've already seen part of Security. The brig to be exact," Eden said. "I accidentally ended up in a place I shouldn't have been, and a drone hit me with what I was told was a transporter tag that took me straight to the brig. Your Chief of Security seemed nice enough. She asked that I not end up back there again."

Mila had to laugh. "I am sorry, but that is funny," she said. "Perhaps you should save Security for last since you know how to get there fast."

"Ha. Ha." Eden muttered sarcastically. "I was thinking I would save Intel for last. If I can even shadow Joey or one of her people."

"She's your cousin," the Yeoman said. "Ask her to give you civilian brief to read. It should look like four or five words with rest blacked out and read "Not For Your Eyes" with the remaining words."

"There's definitely more to it than that, and I'm sure there's a way to make it happen. It's just a matter of how," the young woman said as she offered Mila a smile. "So, what's next on your daily agenda?"

"Next, we are taking all subspace messages for Captain Geisler, sorting them by importance, getting them in order and delivering them."

Eden nodded her head. She felt like she should be taking notes. "I'm sure there are things in those I shouldn't know about. Should I shadow someone else for the time being?"

"I have black screen for such occasion," MIla said. "It is really just reading titles and who is being sender. Information is Need to Know if for Captain."

"Then, let's get to it," the young woman said with a smile.

With a return smile, Mila led her off to show her what a day in Administration was really like.

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