Star Trek: Starbase 777 - co-ready-room

It was here Mona found herself again working under the ambient lighting, the room was actually quite dark just the way she liked it, she was finalizing the reports everything was finally in order test flights would hopefully follow soon. And it seemed some of the senior staff had already arrived, good.

A buzz was heard at the door.

She looked up from her work, she wasn’t expecting anyone. “Enter.”

Styre entered and immediately squinted. His eyes weren't accustomed to lower light levels, but they could adjust themselves. After a minute or so of idly waiting his eyes adjusted and he stood up standing at attention. "Aye, Captain."

Mona stood up out of her chair, pulling down on her uniform shirt so knock out whatever wrinkles had arrived, then she came around the desk then offered a handshake. “First Officer I presume? Stand easy.”

Styre looked down at the hand and slightly shook his head. "I apologize, I do not participate in handshakes or the like." he raised his hand in a Vulcan salute instead. "Greetings, Captain."

Mona understood and retracted her hand and instead offered a nod. “Welcome aboard, I was just doing system status reports when I had just gotten into the staff files. Can I get you anything from the replicator? Coffee perhaps?”

He shook his head. "No thanks, I just came from the Station's messhall." he stood there idly, his ears twitching again.

“Very well. Ah I almost forgot to introduce myself.” She chuckled awkwardly almost embarrassed. “Mona Caddel.”

”I am Commander Floyd Styre. You’re executive officer.”

“Ah I thought so, and you’ve arrived just in time. We’re essentially clearing the sawdust, and if the simulations are promising we’ll be ready for a test flight soon enough. Is this your first post as executive officer?” She said once again crossing the room and having a seat of her desk, offering the chair in-front of the desk to her XO, of course she cleared the mess of padds so that the table was clear enough to set her hands on top of it.

”Yes, this is my first post as executive officer.” he tilted his head curiously. “Sir, clearing the sawdust? I do not believe there should be any sawdust aboard.”

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The Captain grinned then decided to explain quickly. “It’s an old expression it means finishing things up, my mother used to say that a lot whenever she was getting done with a project I guess I picked it up. Have you had a chance to meet any of the other crew?”

“I’ve met the chief science officer in the mess on the station.” He said with a quick nod, acknowledging what the captain had explained about the sawdust.

“Really? What did you think of them?”This was certainly a development, somehow Mona hadn’t realized the CSO had come aboard, they play a relatively large role on the ship, as it is as much a science vessel as it is a ship of defense. Not to say every officer aboard didn’t play important parts. But without an officer specializing in the sciences devision, this ship’s scientific capability dropped down to a measly zero.

"They seemed competent enough for their post. I've got no reason to distrust their placement, Captain." He nodded. A curl fell onto his forehead as Styre moved to brush it away. "Besides that, I have yet to meet anyone besides you and them."

“Good, the opinion of my first officer is very important to me. This actually happens to be my first command, so I guess we have that in common, what were you doing before being promoted?” She asked curiously, she wondered if he had been second officer or third officer like she had been once. Mona would’ve really preferred Floyd told her right then and there rather than she read through the file herself, she really despised reading through files and writing the reports were even worse, the joys of being captain.

He nodded as he moved to sit down in the seat she had previously motioned to. He sat down and crossed his hands in his lap prior to speaking. His voice remained stoic, monotone, bland and without any emotion to it at all. "I served on a Station for nearly 15 years, then I transferred to several vessels. My most recent post was the Chief Science Officer aboard the Tygra."

“So are you anxious to take the role of executive officer? Something tells me you had no intention of being first officer, or was that always your goal? To become captain of your own ship?” This certainly surprised her, he started out as a science officer, humble beginnings almost like her, she had started out a communications officer and had struggled to work her way up to the chair.

"I feel no anxiety in my post, no. I believe I am competent for the position. Was it my goal? Not necessarily. I much prefer research and scientific studies, but it was a logical advancement in my career to take command tests, to get promoted. Afterwards, my scores were perfectly great and I was assigned here as the Executive Officer. I do not intend to ascend to captain, but if they wish for me to take command of a vessel, I will." he commented. It was true, he much preferred the lively interactions between scientists, promoting and advancing his very niche field, but alas, he was not one to disagree with a placement.

“I understand, I never intended to be here either, I was a communications officer. And much like you I thought it was logical to advance toward command. And rest assured I’m going to put that experience and promotion to use, so look forward to sticking by my side for most of this part of your career.” She said this in the best way possible, like most of her captains she had performed honorably and she was expecting nothing less from Floyd, and she knew that he would give his best.

"I do not believe I will advance to Captain. I will be able to retire here soon, and when that reaches effect I wish to move onto Vulcan, possibly teach at the Science Academy." he responded nonchalantly. "But whilst I am here I intend to provide my experience and expertise when in my post. I shall serve honorably by your side, Captain."

“We’ve hardly known each other and you’re already planning to leave me? We just met and I’m already gonna miss you. Welcome aboard again, I’m pleased to have you.” She said Mona maintaining her subtle smile, that was once again followed by a nod. “If there’s nothing else you’re dismissed.”

He gave a quick nod as he stood up, but not before issuing a final comment. “I shall leave when the time is right, Captain. I do not have plans of abandoning my most for the mere plight of leaving Starfleet.” He turned and left out the door.

Feeling her time here was completed. She switched off the monitor and rubbed her eyes, taking off for the door.

TO: @Mona┊Vlon FROM: @Holly┊Kyrt REGARDING: Incident Report: Ensign McLellan

Find attached my incident report regarding Ensign Jack McLellan. [Attachment: IncidentReportEnsignMcLellan.pdf]

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PADD Message

From: Lieutenant Austin Whidbey, 777 CoS To: @Mona┊Vlon I don't know if you've read through Commander Styres report on the incident between Ensign McLellan and his father but I would like to personally issue a note of protest. It is the belief of myself aswell as several other members of security that the punishment to Ensign McLellan is overly harsh. He is in an emotional vulnerable state and I believe it would be cruel to withhold the presence of his friends and significant other because of that. I look forward to hearing back from you, Lieutenant Whidbey

It was here that the captain had resided she had made the executive decision to skip the PACT altogether. She wasn’t busy, she simply just wanted to use the time for herself while the other officers were probably away enjoying the festivities. The chime heard from the computer and went to check it only to receive. Another message, she read the first one, then the report that followed. It was quite peculiar, she would’ve rather went into further detail with the officers that were involved with the punishment and the incident itself.

14:14

The Captain had gotten up from her chair and had proceeded out the door.

[D] After only a little bit longer thinking and talking with Wink Austin had come to a decision. He gulped deeply as he rang the buzzer to enter the captains ready room. He was unsure as to exactly how this would effect their friendship and he could never be sure if it was truely the right decision but in spite of his doubts he was ready.

The Captain was crossing the room from the replicator slot, she left the work for just a split second to get something to drink. Pomegranate flavored carbonated juice of some form. No way she was gonna drink coffee this late in the day. Mona was taking her seat and getting comfortable again in the chair when the bell alerted her to a visitor. She looked toward the door with anticipation. “Enter.”

Austin walked in, keeping his arms crossed behind his back. "Mona... Captain Caddel, it's good to see you again." He paused for a moment, saying 'Captain Caddel was gonna take some getting used to. "I've been thinking... you don't have a chief of security right?" He narrowed his eyes slightly as he delivered the question. Both of them no doubt knew the answer but Austin wanted to see how long it would take her to catch on.

The Captain didn’t raise an eye brow just yet. But she did tilt her head to one end slightly as she had always done when she was curious about something. And Austin was certainly something to be curious about, but with him these days it was almost a fine line between curiosity and concern, the man had been acting quite strange over the past few days, was this a follow up? No because he was asking about a position on the ship. Mona ignored the fact that Austin started right off the bat with her first name. She nodded in response to his question. “That’s correct. Why do you ask, Lieutenant?” She gestured toward one of two empty chairs in the ready room.

He nodded as he took a seat infront of her. He leaned forwards and placed his hands on her desk. He quieted his voice down, it was a subconscious decision stemming from him still not wanting people to know the truth. "Well you know I've been miserable on the station... there's not really much doubt about that..." He paused for a moment. "And you know that I've been wanting to go back to a ship." Austin then immediately switched into defending his actions on a presumption Mona would be against his transfer. "I promise you I'm a good security officer, you can just look at my record on the Vancouver, it's literally perfect. I just need to be back in the right environment for me... you know?"

4

The Captain made continuous eye contact with the COS she was almost ready to beat him to the punch. She was also surprised he hadn’t considered the idea earlier. Mona would’ve loved to have him aboard, his record was assumed to be in good condition, you didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that you needed some experience before you would be trusted with the lives of thousands on a floating monstrosity known as a star base. She turned and looked out the window into open space for about ten seconds thinking about what Austin had just said, then she turned toward present company again and leaned back just slightly in her chair and placed her hand on the edge of the desk. “Austin,” Mona began then continued, “she may be a starship but she’s not the Vancouver. You could try a thousand ships before you find the right fit again. But I need you to understand this is a warship, no luxuries of any kind. You might find that the environment here is just as complex as the one on the station.”

A slight sense of dread filled home, Was she about to deny him? he gulped lightly and then nodded. "I understand that Captain, I promise you that you would not regret bringing me aboard. I understand that the Eventide is different from any other ship I served on but I've been around. I've served on the old California's where we literally had to sleep in hallways. I'm used to not living in luxury, that's fine by me. I can also assure you that I'm ready to fulfill any mission that comes our way with absolute confidence."

Caddel nodded along but then realized she had made a mistake in the last sentence. She made the effort to correct herself before she made a fool out of herself not knowing the purpose of her own ship. “Very well then. And that was my mistake the Eventide isn’t mainly a warship. I guess my thoughts still go to the Vortex. She was certainly a warship through and through. But a research ship is a different environment as well. If this is what you want. Then I would be pleased to have you aboard as Chief Of Security. You’ll have to submit your transfer orders to me and I’ll work with me of course and you’ll have to notify Captain Mo. If you want I’ll speak to him.”

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To: Captain Mona Caddel From: Captain Mephistopheles Mo Subject: Tour? To Commanding Officer Caddel, I'd like to know if you are free for the aforepromised tour any time soon. If so, please suggest a date and time that would be most convenient for you. - Station Commander Mo

To: Captain Mona Caddel From: Captain Mephistopheles Mo Subject: Re:Re:Tour? Sure, that sounds agreeable. I will be there shortly. See you in ten. - Station 777 Commander Mo

And with that Caddel made her way out of the ready room. It was quite perfect that the Captain was messaging her now.