Meeting Security

Posted on 27 Oct 2022 @ 12:03am by Lieutenant Commander Camila Di Pasquale & Commander John Reynolds

1,258 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Regrouping
Location: Ship's Armory
Timeline: MD 1 || Morning

John decided that his best bet would be to get the initial meetings with the Department Heads out of the way before the ship left dock...if that we even possible. The Security Chief was his first planned visit and would most likely be too busy for a sit-down right before leaving. At least he would've been. But that was in the past. He needed to look to his current job of meeting the crew. He expected to get most of the face-to-face introductions done by visiting the departments rather than meetings in his office. So much to do....

So with that in mind, “Computer, what's the location of Lieutenant Commander Di Pasquale?”

"Lieutenant Commander Di Pasquale is currently in the Main Armory," the computer intoned.

John nodded and headed out the door for the Main Armory.

In the Main Armory, Camila had pulled every sarium-krellide power cell from every phaser and was currently testing everything with the duty Man At Arms. She inspected each one and passed it over to the enlisted male Betazoid who wisely checked off each one dutifully in the PADD before putting it in an assigned phaser and back in the charging station.

John fully expected the Main Armory to be secure as he approached the entrance. He entered his authorization code and waited for the computer to accept it. His plan was to make himself known as the door slid open before even stepping inside. Besides, it was the last place he wanted to surprise the Security Chief.

Camila handed the cell she was holding over to the Man At Arms and went to enter her code to open the door. Seeing the older looking humanoid male with a rank pip above hers, she wondered if she were being replaced at the Chief of Security. "Can I help you, Commander?" She asked, not moving from the entrance of the Armory.

John took notice of the fact that she was still standing in the doorway. "Now see, I like that. You're protecting your armory from who knows what like any Security Chief worth their salt would do," replied John. "Commander John Reynolds, new First Officer. I'm trying to meet-up with the Department Heads in their natural habitats before we leave. Maybe find out if there's anything I can do for you now or in the near future. And it gives me a chance to familiarize myself with the ship."

"This ship is my natural habitat, as you put it," Camila said, not giving an inch. "As for anything you can do for me, I would suggest reviewing my previous submissions to Captain Geisler on previous incarnations of the Black Hawk and Black Hawk-A. However, for a start, I would like to know what the most important part of the ship is to you and why."

"Noted," he said. "I'll be sure to look those up." He liked the no-nonsense, straight to the point aspect. "The most important part of the ship is the people. They take care of the nuts and bolts and I need to take care of them. Maybe that means a down day to relax if we're en route someplace. Maybe it's making sure they're noticed for outstanding work or service. And ultimately it's keeping them safe while they're relaxing or working. If people don't feel safe, they'll be looking over their shoulders all the time."

"While that's appreciated, Commander," she said. "Every last person and part on this ship is important down to the seam sealant on the hull. I'm the one responsible for all of that. If I put in a request that may seem over the top, please take a look at our previous mission logs. Take a look of my personnel file." She gave him a steady look. "For the record, I am completely clean now and have no desire to go back to the place I was. Sir."

"I respect that and I agree," he said with a nod. "You are responsible for the safety and security of all that. And I'll make it a point to review a mission log every week since it's important to you that I'm familiar with them." He paused for a second. "I'll take a look at your file, too. And take this 'for the record' into account. I'd also like to recommend you take a look at my personnel file. According to ship's records, your last Executive Officer came up through the Starfighter Department. And while I'm sure he was a good First Officer, I'm no Starfighter pilot."

"I'd rather not discuss previous Executive Officers, Sir, if it's all the same to you," Camila said. "I also don't feel it's important to me to read the logs. It's going to be important to you. This ship...has a reputation. That reputation is in the logs. As for you, I prefer to evaluate in the field as things happen. No offense, Sir."

"None taken," he replied. "I'll make sure to read up on the reputation. How's the inspection going?" John nodded towards the armory.

"It's proceeding according to schedule, Sir," she said. "Short of any modifications that have yet to be approved."

He chuckled. "Probably be the only thing to go according to schedule. Once a ship leaves dock, it's like rolling dice. Speaking of approvals, if you have anything with you that need me to look at, I can take it with. Cut out the middle-man and all that."

"I could give you a list like you wouldn't believe and Admiral O'Connell wouldn't approve, so I'll stick with what I have," Camila said. "However, I would tell Operations to really stock up on trade goods out here of whatever the locals want. There's a database of goods traded for under GC One Trade."

John made a mental note to mention that when stopped by the Operations department later. "That's a pretty good idea. I'll pass it along." It was then that he realized he was still standing in the corridor. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Just approve whatever I request for Security and we'll get along great, Commander," the Chief of Security said with a bright smile that some would say was a predator baring its teeth.

"You know," said John, "I don't think that's how it works, getting whatever you request approved. At least it never did for me. Probably won't for you, either. We'll just have to see how things work out. Thanks for the insight, Commander. I'd better let you get back to changing batteries."

Camila only kept the smile but it didn't reach her eyes. "Just read the mission reports, Commander...then get ready to rethink what I said."

John nodded. "Read the reports, got it. Study the history of the ship and its missions. And then I'll know more about what's going on."

She gave him an appraising look. "I may seem like a demanding, grabby, standoffish type to you, Commander," she said. "But I earned it. This is the third incarnation of this albatross Starfleet has seen fit to curse us with, so yeah. Read up and put in requisitions for everything extra I could use to keep this ship and crew safe."

"Seem," he said. Then he considered the terms 'albatross' and 'curse' that the Chief used to describe the Black Hawk. Those weren't descriptive words that he'd heard used before in reference to a Fleet ship. "Okay. Sounds like I've got my work cut out for me already."

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