Meeting Operations

Posted on Sat Jul 20th, 2024 @ 12:33pm by Commander Karl Rogers & Lieutenant Kev Walker

825 words; about a 4 minute read

Kev shouldered his day bag as he crossed through the boarding airlock and onto the USS Eclipse. He thought he would have gotten used to being shuffled from one ship to another by now, but it was still aggravating. Starfleet seemed to consider shuffling officers around to be fun game at times. To Kev, it was a game that seemed to never end. The Eclipse seemed to be a solid ship, new and advanced and all that, but his mood didn't let him see the excitement. The security guard had informed him that the first officer was meeting the new department heads, which seemed odd but he figured the captain must be busy getting a brand new ship ready for launch. Finding his way to the XO's office, he was surprised when the door opened at his approach. Heading inside, Kev dropped his travel bag and stood at attention. "Lieutenant Kev Walker reporting for duty sir," he said.

Karl glanced up and waved the lieutenant to sit down as he shuffled the padds on his desk. In between meeting new officers and getting caught up on reports, he had been going nonstop and was hoping that the tidal wave of new officers and reports would at least slow down. Finding the manifest, he skimmed down until he found the name he was looking for. "Lieutenant Walker, you're the new chief operations officer," he said.

"Yes sir," Kev said as he sat down. "I understand that operations also covers engineering staff as well. I assume that's one reason I was assigned to the Eclipse."

"Most likely so," Karl said with a nod. "I noticed that you've served in both operations and engineering, and you excelled at both courses in the academy."

"Yes sir," Kev said. "I was told the previous operations officers were all reassigned, so am I correct in assuming that I'll be starting off with an entirely new staff?"

"In operations yes, however I understand that your senior engineering officer has been assigned since Eclipse was released from the shipyard," Karl replied as he found a padd with the operations and engineering staff information on it and passed it over. "I'd get with her and see what all she knows before diving in."

"Understood," Kev said as he accepted the padd and tucked it away. "If I may ask, sir, I noticed on the schematics I was given that there's not an operations office. I'd like to request one if that's at all possible."

Karl through about it for a moment before he nodded. "I don't see why we can't accommodate that request," he finally said. "We have two empty compartments on deck one. Go ahead and take one and get the ball rolling on getting your office set up. I need to talk to the captain but the other compartment we can probably get set up into an office as well."

"Sounds good," Kev said. "If I may sir, have any of the new officers under my supervision reported on board yet?"

"Not that I'm aware of," Karl answered. "But, I'm only meeting department heads right now. I can get a copy of everyone who has reported aboard from security and check, or if you want you can check the list. I haven't been on board more than a few hours, so I'm still settling in myself."

"That's strange. If you don't mind me saying sir, I find that very odd for Starfleet," Kev commented. "Normally that command staff have fully settled in along with the department heads before the junior officers and crew start boarding."

"True, but nothing about the Eclipse is normal right now," Karl admitted. "As I understand, Admiral Shaw hijacked the Eclipse for some special pet project of hers and dumped a research team on us before reassigning almost all of the crew."

"But I was told that the Eclipse hasn't even undergone her shakedown or maiden voyages," Kev said, blinking in surprise. "That's a lot to dump on a brand new and untested ship."

Karl didn't say anything, but the expression on his face as he nodded his agreement said everything for him.

"What kind of research is this team doing?" Kev finally asked.

"Good question," Karl replied. "The short answer is the classified kind. And the head research officer is apparently some kind of a hard case with standing orders from Starfleet Command to pretty much get away with whatever she wants."

"That's not good for morale or crew cohesion, if a junior officer can make an observation," Kev said.

"You're a senior officer and while you're talking one on one with me your personal observations and comments are welcomed. We just need to remember to try to keep things professional as best we can," Karl said.

"Yes sir," Kev said nodding his head before he stood. "I'll get right on getting the operations office set up and meeting my staff."

"Very good," Karl said. "Dismissed lieutenant."

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