Secure against What?

Posted on 14 Apr 2016 @ 9:08pm by Lieutenant Commander Camila Di Pasquale & Lieutenant JG Catherine Cooper

2,582 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Security
Timeline: MD 6

It was with a thoughtful expression that Catherine entered Security. This sleep virus the Doc was trying to fix was just beginning to get crazy so she'd been called to the Chief's office after the Brass got done hashing it to fill her in on the plan...such as it was.

Camila looked up from her terminal when Cooper came into her office, a PADD in one hand and a mug of coffee in the other. "Can I help you with something, Catherine?" She asked, then stopped as she remembered that she had called her assistant chief. "I'm sorry. Things are hectic. I called you. Do you want some coffee or something before we get started?"

CJ shook her head, "I've had my limit, if I drink anymore it'll put me to sleep..." She winced, "Pun not intended...." She said a little apologetically. She wasn't kidding, she had a condition where caffeine, if she had too much, would act as a sleeping agent. Her body wouldn't process it as it was meant. A little woke her up, the right level mellowed her out, too much and she was asleep.

"It looks like we may have to double up on our duties if more people get sick," Camila said. "I know it will be hard, but the ways things are looking...it isn't good. New Risa isn't really helping confirm what's going on although they did report over fifty people have died from it so far."

"I figured, I got personnel checking in regular and when possible with a partner. If they see something that shouldn't be there they're to check in first. Also keeping a weather eye on rest of the asylum and shunting them to medical as needed. I've made a list of personnel who could be seconded to medical as field medics if it gets that bad, should be on your console. The Brass know whats up all?". All her energy focused the situation but still there under the surface.

"Well, at this point, all we can do is be ready and on standby," Camila said. "Right now, Medical is only reporting some sore throats and Ops is going to be going over transporter logs and checking the biofilters."

CJ sighed, "So hurry up and wait, I'm not sure I like how things are developing but nothing else we can do I guess...oh did my belts ever get approved?

"They did," Camila said with a laugh. "The Captain wondered what took us so long to come up with the idea and was surprised that we hadn't integrated the dermal regenerator and hyposprays to it yet. I made sure that gave the credit to you on the idea, though. I was testing them out in the training facility for him and he likes them."

CJ beamed, "So can we start issuing them to our people yet? Mine's already set I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to get finger wagged if I wear it."

"You're good to go, Catherine," Camila said. "I'm sure everyone will want to rig them to their own specs as long as they have everything included." She entered the information request to Medical and Ops for the non-Security equipment for the personnel. "I'll leave it to you to get them distributed."

She jumped to her feet, "I can do that.." she started to head for the door then realized they might not be done with their conversation yet and turned, a little sheepishly, back to her Chief, "Oh and I made a small list of suggested tweaks that should hopefully help things run smoother..." There was a reason she had a PADD next to her bed because her mind never quite shut off. "Oh and Parkour is great, I've been reading up on it. I'm sure when you have time for pointers it will be even more stellar. Wish I could Parkour off the walls in the corridor but that's on the long list of things I'm not allowed to do I understand..."

Camila laughed. "I'm not allowed to do that, either," she said. "I'm free...I think tomorrow after Alpha shift."
She checked her schedule. "Yeah. No one has scheduled any SAR training for tomorrow so far. Did you have anyone approach you for it yet?" She looked at the PADD and wondered if she would have to guess what was on it or fight her assistant to see what the changes were.

Cooper shook her head, "Not yet, I think part of it is everyone's so busy with their regular duties that taking anything else on seems a bit much. Maybe once a few start the process they can talk it up to their colleagues. You know maybe we could offer a bare bones version like with medical and basic survival refreshers that would take less time and make even the most non combatant a little more helpful in an emergency." She said thinking quickly, "items like that already exist so it shouldn't take much to include a bit of SAR..."

"I agree," Camila said. "You're right about that. So...are you going to tell me what's on the PADD or should I guess?"

"Oh Right..." She went over and opened one of the ideas which turned out to be a more efficient patrol path, including change ups and relays to keep personnel alert.

Another one was an updated training scenarios that focused on fighting against overwhelming odds and other serious items of the situation they currently found themselves but with a bit of a twist. As in one was an intruder alert with Camille and Cooper being the intruders, titled 'hide and go seek'. Complete with twists and turns to keep their personnel guessing.

Another was a list of ship personnel who should be encouraged to cross train as security/tactical with a secondary list for personnel who weren't considered critical in a combat environment and so could be spared.

And so on along those veins. Ideas to improve efficiency and to increase effectiveness of limited resources.

Camila looked over everything, but her eyes glinted at the 'Hide and Seek" one. "I really like the Hide and Seek, but we'd have to notify personnel in advance so we wouldn't get shot on sight with how twitchy everyone is." She stamped her approval on the other ideas. "We should get the entire ship involved once this sickness passes and they can try to find us."

"Definitely, you see it was common in the middle ages to hide life lessons in games and song. Their stories warned of con artists and hard life choices but they were very entertaining. My thought is if we can do our own version of billy goats gruff.." She paused as though a really good idea occurred to her then she grabbed the PADD and started typing a note to herself then handed it back to her Chief. "Anyway that's for later, my point being is its a bit of fun which we need while teaching them important life skills."

Camila let her assistant take the PADD back for the moment. "I would think that in the current situation and environment, plenty of lessons are being taught. Would you care for something to drink?"

"Yes Chief but what about the right ones? It's important to take into account the threat and train for that yes and no doubt but I've also been seeing people still being jumpy around security, around other crew. It is my hope that group training's will begin to rebuild, at least in a small way, the trust we've lost. The trust we need if we're going to overcome the Consortium. We need to be alert for them without this becoming a witchhunt." And one could see the serious consideration and concern behind the humor she wore constantly like a second skin. Then she blinked seeming to come out of her own head, "Yes drink, Birch Beer would be fine." A non-alcoholic drink like root beer but with a ginger kick.

Camila got up and replicated the drink for Catherine and handed it to her. "I agree on that note. I have a feeling that me and the Chief Engineer are going to have words very soon. She has been hostile towards me since I became Chief not long ago and I don't even know her."

CJ took the drink and too a sip of the strongly flavored drink in appreciation. "Left over from the um coming out of Consortium, maybe?" She asked gently.

"Yes," she said as she sat back down at her desk. "At least that's what I think."

Nods, "Alot of damage to be repaired there, in addition to what I've suggested is there anything else we can do to work toward it?" She asks thoughtfully, now sitting on hop of the chair her legs crossed over the arms as she sipped her drink.

"For now, all we can do is take it one step at a time," Camila said. "But I think you have some really good ideas and that they would help pull the crew together more and let them know they can depend on us and each other."

Catherine nodded, "That's my hope, we need to be ready for the enemy, the true enemy and not looking for monsters under the bed. Unless they are actually there then you know stomp that sucker..." She took around drink of the Birch Beer.

"Which is why I keep a stun grenades in a flower pot next to my bed," Camila said with a laugh even though she was serious.

Equally serious was Catherine's reply, "Behind the toilet." Then she burst out laughing.

"I keep a spare phaser in my vents, too." Now it turned into a contest of what weapons were kept where.

"Knock out gas in a Buddha.." Catherine replied, happy to accept the challenge.

"Ceramic blades under the counter ledges," Camila said.

"Nice I'll remember that one, titanium baseball bat under clothes." She replied having fun.

"Duranium wire garrotes disguised as clothes hangars," the Chief said.

"Damn. Phaser between the headboard and mattress."

"Anesthizine dispensers in the ceiling."

Looks disappointed, "That beats my short sword behind the dresser...."

Camila laughed. "Mek'leth hidden in behind a panel in the sonic shower."

"Palm phaser behind the shower head in a little tea cozy knitted by my Grandmother" She crossed her arms, like 'top that'. A smile on her face.

Camila burst out laughing. "Okay, okay...you win. That's one I never would have thought of, but wouldn't someone suspect a tea cozy in the bathroom?"

"I know right? She's great. If you think I'm bad my Gran Cooper's a wild one, still runs amok on this hover bike of hers. Actually formed a biker riding group called 'Hell's Grannies', I want to be that cool when I get old.

"Really?" Camila said as she perked up. "I ride hover bike, too. I have one in the cargo bay."

"Ok now I'm really jealous, I had to leave mine back on Earth. Sometimes I miss the wind."

"I fought to bring mine with me," Camila said. "I had to call in half a dozen favors, but it was worth it. The funny thing is, I didn't take it to New Risa with me."

"How do you miss a chance to ride bike on an open world?" She asked genuinely confused as she sipped her drink.

"I was...occupied," she said evasively, but grinned from ear to ear.

Cat laughed, "oooooooo, Look at you Chief being a bad influence. Lucky. Now my jealously is the level of a thousand white hot suns. Do I get to know who and how many laws of physics you broke?"

"Hmm, now wouldn't you like to know?" Camila said with a grin. "He's tall, has brown hair, and has hazel eyes."

"Yes I would..." Pulls out a PADD and looks at personnel records using the criteria to narrow it down, 'Not enough more detail, minus ones already in a relationship. taller than 5'10...come on Chief give me more, I gotta know. Details, woman, details. I went camping alone you gotta give me something..." She joked.

"Catherine!" she exclaimed with a laugh. "That's cheating."

"Hey I'm using my gods given skills as a trained investigator, now I've narrowed it down to about dozen, it is this guy..." Holds up PADD of a lanky engineer, then shakes her head, "Nah he looks fragile..how about this guy..." Holds up the PADD to show another security officer. "Come on woman spill or I'll bust out the spotlight..."

"That's not him but he does wear a gold uniform while he's on duty," Camila allowed.

Catherine nodded and tapped a few more keys then grinned, "The Ops Chief?! Woah nice." She held up his personnel file picture.

Camila grinned like a cat that had eaten a canary. "Mayyyyybe."

"You have all of my hate..." She said jokingly with the attitude of 'damn girl, lucky' she even gave a thumbs up. "And here I went camping alone. No justice in the world." she quipped.

"It's not like we planned it, but they have some really potent liquors on the planet," Camila said. "I was making drinks for us...and it was the next morning. I don't know what happened during the night, but I was naked in bed and he was naked on the couch and well...the rest is history."

"Please tell me you remember enough otherwise that's just too sad, and you gotta get me that drink list sometime, do you think you'll keep seeing him?..."

"I'd like to," she said. "We made new memories that morning which I'm not likely to forget, and the spots do go all the way down."

Catherine put her drink down on the desk and swung back so she hung behind the sit she'd been sitting on and basically hung upside down the back side of it. "All of my hate.." She called again good naturedly, "Well good for you, finding joy where we can, making connections this is a good thing..." Then, using only her legs swing back up into a sitting position.

"You were the one that your parents had a hard time getting to sit still, weren't you?" Camila asked as she watched her assistant.

"Yes fortunately they are genius's at keeping me occupied so I didn't do too much damage..." She grinned.

Camila laughed again. "Then you won't mind meeting the new Armory officer and doing an inventory with him, right?"

"Oh no a chance to play with weapons...the horror, no Chief you horrible person..." She said very jokingly.

"You were a Master-at-Arms just like I was," Camila pointed out.

Catherine laughed, "Yeah I totally can do that." She finally said, "I was going to tinker with a few of the lesser performing ones anyway."

"Go over everything and make sure the former Chief didn't tamper with anything," Camila said as a moment of thought.

Cat sombered and nodded, "With a fine tooth comb Chief." She promised.

"Thank you," Camila said. "I have faith you can do it, Catherine."

Cat nodded then jumped to her feet, "I'll go get right on that if we are set here?

"We are," she said. "Get to it and report back when you're finished."

"Can Do Chief." She said and leapt to her feet, never stand when leaping will do is her motto. And she was gone.

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