Security Staff Meeting

Posted on 26 Sep 2015 @ 8:54pm by Chief Petty Officer Sergei Andropov & Lieutenant Commander Roget del Rosario

1,438 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Rude Awakening
Location: Security Briefing Room
Timeline: MD 1 || 1130 hours

Roget had finished his meeting with Captain Geisler and immediately gone to the security department. As he walked into the antechamber, off of which were several offices and workspaces, he took notice of the young human woman staffing the front desk.

"Crewman," he started, "what is the status of the Security staff?"

"Uh...," she began, before seeing the rank insignia on his collar. "Most of them are on leave. Security is currently being provided by the station's staff."

Roget grunted softly. "Recall the entire department. Have them report to the department briefing room in 30 minutes. In uniform."

"Yes sir," the crewman replied.

The middle-aged Security Chief walked passed the desk and into his office. He picked up a PADD and accessed the shift staffing he had been working on previously. He had spent the last week studying the personnel files of his staff. He also read through the department reports to get a feel for how the department functioned. From that information, he was able to craft a new duty roster, one that would maximize the effectiveness of the department, and, ultimately, the safety of the ship and it's crew.

=====

"I'm not sure what's going on up there, but it just...felt strange," Sergei said to the rest of his table. He had accepted an invitation from some of the other NCOs from the Black Hawk. The ten of them were enjoying a meal at a local sports bar and the conversation was lively. All of them had noticed that tensions were running high among the Starfleet crew of the DS11.

"Of course things are weird. With all that happened....I mean, Admiral Adislo is in custody. What do you think the the atmosphere would be like on the BH if Geisler and Kos were arrested?" Chief Walker replied. The senior sensor tech tossed back another handful of roasted aswai nuts.

"It's more than that," Andropov insisted.

"Surge is right," Talia Pollack, a staff geologist, chimed in. "Even accounting for the situation with the Admiral, people are acting very out of sorts."

Before she could continue, Sergei's communicator, and that of Chief Wayerhauser, chirped. "All security personnel are being recalled. Please return to the ship immediately and report to the security briefing room."

"Come on Hatto," Andropov said to the other security NCO. "Hopefully we'll be able to catch up soon."

The two veteran security officers headed for the security department. When they arrived, they entered the briefing room. There were two others present, an Andorian Ensign and a Human Petty Officer. Andropov and Wayerhauser sat near the front of the room. Over the next ten minutes, the remainder of the security department arrived. The last to enter was a darker-skinned Human man with a very serious face. He was wearing Lieutenant Commander insignia. Sergei wasn't sure how old the newcomer was. The deep lines in his face likely made him look older than he really was. He could be my age, the nearly 50 year old Russian thought, or much older. Too hard to tell.

Roget trudged into the briefing room. The room was large, and organized like a classroom, with the dais at the front facing rows of tables and chairs. Because of the size of the Black Hawk's security compliment, when full, the room would be a tight fit. It was designed more for shift briefings, division staff meetings, and the like. Rarely would the entire Security department be called to a meeting at one time.

He approached the podium and placed the PADD he'd been carrying under his arm onto the lectern before him. His eyes browsed the room, his brain working to connect the personnel files he'd reviewed with the countenances the now confronted him.

"I am Lieutenant Commander del Rosario. As the Black Hawk's new Chief of Security, I have called this meeting to inform you all of some things," he began. His voice had always been a struggle for him. It was not as deep or as loud as he would like, which meant that he had to learn to push his voice to produce additional volume. Combined with some irreversible damage to his vocal cords and throat, his lifetime of forcing had left his tone gravelly and strained.

"I have read the security logs of this ship. Things have operated poorly. The Syndicate takeover of this ship is a blemish on this department." He paused, again looking out at the assembled crew. "The procedures in place here are insufficient. The shift rotation is weak. The very organization of the department is in need of repair." There were some looks exchanged by the security officers.

"Can you believe this guy," Hatto whispered to Andropov. "He's trying to reorganize the department. Bet you anything he screws everything up."

Sergei hushed his friend. Hatto Wayerhauser was a security department lifer, unlike Andropov. Sergei had served in Operations and Engineering off and on throughout his career, though the bulk of his time was Security. It was where he felt at home. He enjoyed working as a weaponsmith, repairing and maintaining the phasers. He also liked operating the phaser range.

"Excuse me Commander," Wayerhauser began, standing up from his chair. "I don't think there's anything wrong with the department."

"Dammit Hatto!" Sergei exclaimed, pulling his comrade back into his seat.

His cold brown eyes locked onto the source of the outburst. "If there is, as you claim, nothing wrong with the security department, Chief Wayerhauser, why am I standing here? Where is Lieutenant Reza? Or Lieutenant Moore?" he prompted, mentioning his two predecessors as Security Chief, both of whom had died in the line of duty. "On this ship's last mission, both Lieutenant Reza and Ensign Braxus from Engineering were killed. After being taken hostage by an enemy force. That is unacceptable." Roget's eyes remained locked on the middle-aged German chief petty officer. "Immediately prior to having half the senior staff being hold hostage, this ship was sabotaged. By a member of its crew. The Captain's former yeoman. That is unacceptable."

"That could have happened to any ship," Wayerhauser started.

Roget cut Wayerhauser off immediately. "NO!" he roared, his voice much louder than he usually could muster. The extra stress caused his vocal cords to ache. When he continued to speak, his voice was scratchier than usual. "The performance of this department leaves much room for improvement. That is why I am here. To bring this off-balanced system into order." He paused to activate his PADD. "To that end, I am reorganizing this department. Effective immediately, the department shall be structured in four divisions; Security, Tactical, Detention, and Computer. The Computer division is constituted from data specialists and cryptographers from Operations and Engineering. The division will be headed by the Computer Security Officer."

"The remaining divisions will be made up of existing security personnel. The Detention division will manage all individuals taken into custody, including operating the brig. Ensign Snell, stand up."

At the back of the room, a slim, mousy young woman stood up.

"Ensign Snell, you are now the Warden. I've submitted paperwork for your promotion to Lieutenant JG. Warrant Officer H'rall and Chief Wayerhauser are your Assistant Wardens."

Sergei watched at Hatto rolled his eyes and, again, interjected. "I work a beat..."

"Not any more Chief," Roget responded coldly, cutting Wayerhauser off. Again.

"The Tactical division is largely unchanged, as that seemed to be one place where this department managed to hit performance markers. There are some personnel changes, triggered by Lieutenant Jackson being reassigned to the Lexington. Because of that, Lieutenant Barna is replacing him as Assistant Chief Tactical Officer." Roget continued on detailing the promotions within the Tactical division.

"Lastly, the Security division," he began, addressing one of his areas of concern. "The Armory now has a permanent team assigned. Chief Warrant Officer Graton will head that group up."

Graton will do a great job, Andropov thought. I won't mind working with her.

"Each shift will now have a dedicated Watch Commander. This will be a senior NCO to whom all security division personnel that shift will report to. Chief Andropov will be the Alpha shift Watch Commander."

Sergei froze. He loved working in the armory, but he was intrigued by the new opportunity.

The meeting continued for ten more minutes with Roget explaining the remainder of the department changes.

When the meeting ended, Hatto stormed off, grumbling about getting stuck working detention. Sergei decided to head to his quarters to try to sort out his feelings about his new assignment.

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