Ready, Willing and Able

Posted on 08 Nov 2015 @ 5:10am by Lieutenant Commander Roget del Rosario & Lieutenant Commander Camila Di Pasquale

1,044 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Rude Awakening
Location: Security Complex

As soon as she was given permission to beam over to the Black Hawk, Camila was on her way with only one small oddly shaped case in her left hand. Once she was on the Akira class vessel, she consulted the nearest LCARS to discover where the Security office and nearest turbolift was and quickly made her way there. The rest of her belongings had already been transported aboard the ship except the case in her hand and she hoped the Chief of Security wouldn't mind her having a little personal baggage before she was able to get it secured in her personal quarters.

Approaching the door to the Chief of Security office, she checked her uniform for any spots, stains or creases that would make her look less than professional. Satisfied that it was spotless, she pressed the chime and waited to be admitted entrance.

Roget looked up at the sound of his door announcer. He could see through the window next to the door that no one was attending to the front desk. And the Watch Commander office was empty too. Andropov he could excuse; watch commanders often found themselves having to leave the office to manage situations in the field, make rounds to check in with each patrol, things of that nature. But there should always be someone at the front desk. He made a mental note to talk to Andropov about the desk assignments.

"Enter."

Camila entered the office and came to attention as she studied the distinguished looking older Commander who was to be her Chief for the current tour of duty. "Lieutenant JG Di Pasquale reporting for duty, Commander," she said, her voice light and polite but with a trace of an Italian accent lurking in the background. She reached to the case she carried and pushed a concealed button on it, causing an isolinear chip to pop up from beside the button. Retrieving it, she handed it to him. "My orders, Sir."

Roget took the offered chip, turned it around in his fingers twice, a while maintaining eye contact with the young woman. Finally looking away, he inserted the chip into the reader in this desk. The transfer orders appeared on his display screen.

"Have a seat Lieutenant," he ordered. "Tell me about your security background."

Sitting, Camila set her case down beside the chair and gave the man her attention. "I just came from Deep Space Eleven where I served two years as Security/Tactical Officer and Master at Arms. Prior to that, I completed the Search and Rescue pipeline where I learned Combat Water Survival, Aerospace Insertion, Zero Gravity and Spaceborne Operations, Piloting, EMT training, and survival skills in a wide variety of terrain."

"I can see that in your file. What can you tell me that isn't here?" he asked coolly.

"I will do absolutely anything within the regulations to get the job done, Commander," she said. "and if it isn't covered in the regulations, that's when it's time to improvise."

He sighed audibly. "Just like every other officer. What makes you different? Maybe you're just a regular officer. There's nothing wrong with that. But I always hope for more of my department. So, what do you possess that I need or want on my team?"

"The fact that I am one of the ten percent that ever made it through the Pipeline should be worth something, Sir," Camilla said. "I may be young and I may not have much practical experience, but I struggled hard to set a standard above myself and distinguish myself as an officer who is not willing to settle for less than the best. There is also the fact that Starfleet assigned me to the Black Hawk. I didn't request the assignment and if you think I'm not good enough, then perhaps you should request a different assistant chief. One who can't pass on new skills and training to people in your department. Sir."

He picked up a PADD and slid it across the desk at her. "We do things a little differently here. This department is made up of several divisions, each of which has a senior officer. Lieutenant Barna heads up Tactical, Lieutenant Snell runs Detention, and CyberSecurity reports to Lieutenant Stovan. Security is yours. We
hold department senior staff meetings every Tuesday at 1030. Security division staff meetings are currently held every other Wednesday afternoon. You're free to change that, provided it doesn't conflict with other meetings."

"You'll be working Alpha shift primarily. Chief Andropov is Watch Commander that shift. He's a seasoned professional. I advise you to trust him. I'll typically be on the bridge for Alpha. Or here in my office. Your office is two doors to the right. If you want to pick up shifts manning tactical on the Bridge, talk to Mister Barna. He should be able to fit you into the rotation somewhere."

"Questions?"

Camila accepted the PADD, wondering if her outspoken view changed his mind about her or if he had been testing her. "Yes, Sir," she said. "Would it be possible to begin training some of our personnel in various aspects of Search and Rescue? It would be extremely beneficial on away missions."

"Draw up a training curriculum, a methodology for selection of who to train, and a schedule that will accommodate both training and regular duty shifts. Submit it to me when ready. I'll review it and, if I like what I see, I'll obtain command approval for you."

"Anything else?"

"Are there any members of the crew who have a tendency to get in trouble more than once?" she asked him as she began to mentally work on a regimen for SAR training.

"I won't do your work for you. Check the crew files."

Camila laughed. "Yes, Sir!" she replied. "I'll get right on that and will have a report ready for you in a few days for SAR training. Until then, if you need me, you know where I am." Leaning down, she retrieved the case she had brought in with her and waited to be dismissed.

"Yes," Roget said, waving her away.

Giving him a nod, Camila got up and left the office with the case in hand, heading for her own.

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