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Wanderings and Wonderings (XO)

Posted Sept. 11, 2021, 6:04 p.m. by Lieutenant Pretha Oberon (Security Officer / CRIT Leader) (Melissa Aragon)

Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in Wanderings and Wonderings (XO)

Posted by Lieutenant Pretha Oberon (Security Officer / CRIT Leader) in Wanderings and Wonderings (XO)

Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in Wanderings and Wonderings (XO)
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Pretha laughed. “Sometimes replication is all we can manage. I had real food at one of the stations we were at, once. Was so rich, I was full far sooner than I was in my quarters. Was interesting to say the least.”

She smiled at the comment about rowdiness. “Well if you ever want rowdy, lemme know. Happy to oblige with assigning you a shift on holiday nights, or a sim to give you enough rowdiness to sate your appetite. I have plenty of knock ‘em down sims in my library to keep you occupied. From mild security dust ups to full on Klingon spar programs. You just let me know and I’ve got you covered there.” She laughed lightly at the idea of someone other than herself coming off the holo deck with a limp and a satisfied grin. Though, something told her, this woman wouldn’t be made to limp very easily. She had a way about her, and not just the rank, that told Pretha that in a pinch, she would be an amazing asset to the ship. And Pretha wouldn’t have to worry about her not having an escort with her from the get.

Pretha
CRIT

Shedda shook her head, “Probably out of my league. Though I probably should pick up some kind of advanced hand to hand training. Round out my skills a bit. Can’t always fall back simply on greater strength providing physical force. Anyone on board teach such classes?”

Mal’athar, XO

Pretha thought for a moment. “There are several training sims. But if you wish, I am happy to work with you. I am no great instructor. But I can teach you enough to defend yourself till others arrive or escape if need be. Not everything you bring to bare needs to be energized or edged. Learning to use your body as well as your mind can help you in times when, as you say, brute force isn’t always the key.” She had been in enough scrapes to know that being female, and wily, were sometimes the best weapons one could have.

Pretha
CRIT

Shedda nodded, “I certainly wouldn’t mind some one on one, but there is something to said for class instruction as well.” Shedda hadn’t gotten her command certification without understanding how to think her way through situations rather than using physical force. She was a scientist at heart so her combat training wasn’t as in depth as someone with a security or tactical background. And that was fine, but Shedda did enjoy stretching her skill base when she had time. She finished the coffee and returned it to the recycler. “I don’t suppose there’s a track in the gym? Walks and wanderings are great, but running helps me burn more excess energy.”

Mal’athar, XO

“I use the holodeck or corridors for running, myself. Decks twenty two to twenty four are usually empty after the start of third shift. And the Jeffries tubes at each end make for great run/climb workouts. Might help a bit more than a track. But more interesting as well.”

Thinking about the sparring, Pretha added, “I’m sure you would be welcome at some of the security trainings if you wished a group setting. And if you desire one on one, I’m at your disposal, as you wish.” She nodded with a wink and a grin like a servant offering themselves up. She knew the woman wouldn’t take the hint badly, and hoped she take it as she meant it.

Pretha
CRIT

“I don’t know, seeing the XO running down the corridors in the middle of the night might make people worry. I’ll keep it in mind though. I am always up for learning from others. You are our CRIT leader, correct? If I walk with you, would you tell me about it? It is a team unique to the Manhattan isn’t it?”

Mal’athar, XO

“Well, let me know if you want to run. Happy to join you so no one thinks anything crazy is happening.” She laughed at the idea of the two women racing across the corridors and up and down the ladders as they ran off their days’ stress.

At the request to join her, Pretha nodded and stepped back to activate the door for them both. “CRIT is unique, yes. But I believe there are other ships implementing the program as well.” Once in the hallway, Pretha turned right and headed down the length of the ship. “It’s made up of folks from every level of the ship. We use engineers, medical security and even science to make up the response teams. The idea is that whatever the main situation, priorities are set and that special needs is overseen by those best in knowledge. If there is a breech and ship is in danger, sometimes just brute force from security is not enough. Issues involving the engines are best led by those engineers in the know. A contamination issue is best handled by medical personnel. And anomalies of unknown origins can sometimes best be responded to with scientists. No one is in charge, so to speak. But those whose specialty the area falls in are the leaders in that moment. Once that crisis is past, the next priority is led by those best able to handle it. And so on.” She wasn’t sure if the explanation made sense or not. A small laugh bubbled up as she headed for the lift. “I’m not much of a recruiter, sorry. That’s more the Captain’s specialty. I liked the idea because it makes everyone on the team learn outside their comfort level. We need scientists that can jettison the core if need be. And security people who know about anomalies. Engineers able to fire weapons and medical personel able to do more than merely heal. When it works, it works well. But we are still fairly new and learning.”

Pretha
CRIT

“So how is CRIT different than a well selected away team or in the case of an onboard situation, our own specialists?” Mal’athar could easily surmise the difference but she was interested to see how Pretha viewed it.

Mal’athar, XO

Pretha thought for a moment. It was a good question. She understood her own reasonings for it but wasn’t sure she could explain them. “I think, when you have an away team, or even a group on the ship, there tends to be a leader. And there isn’t anything wrong with that, but when you hit a snag, say, a trouble from some other corner, the leader tends to want to maintain control. With CRIT, it’s not like that. We all work together seamlessly to know that whatever situation we are in, the most capable person because the lead but there really isn’t a leader. If that makes sense. And the fact we train together also eliminates the unknowns in a swiftly put together team.”

She bit her lip a moment before continuing, her mind half beating her up for rambling. “When most ships hit a snag, externally or internally, the away teams and response people are usually from a random pool of whoever is on duty and available. You may be on the surface with Ensign Jameson and Lieutenant JG Fitsguard this time, but next time it may be Lieutenant Jones and Ensign Madison. While such things are definitely not a bad idea, you have no idea the strength and weaknesses of the people you are with. And you don’t know how they react in different situation. With CRIT, we are called each time, every time. The same people, every time. There is no need to pause and say “Who has this piece of equipment? or “Who knows what this is?”. We can instantly know who can lead, who can follow, and who can guard.” She shook her head and shrugged with a slight laugh of nervousness. “I don’t know if that makes sense, but it’s the gist of it. It’s the knowledge, team building and trust that makes us more effective than just whoever tossed into the assignment because they happened to be awake.”

She wasn’t sure if the Captain would appreciate her response. But it was what her reasoning was. Sure, there were probably more bureaucratic responses and political ones. But in her mind, this was the main thing. A cohesive group of individuals who trained well enough to know one another and handle situations with swifter responses than anyone else.

Pretha
CRIT Ldr
((dummy? lol))

Mal’athar took the time to think over Pretha’s response. “So why not constantly rotate who is doing these trainings? Require the whole crew to train for such instances? Of course that’s a lot of people to cross train with, and the logistics would be mad. But why not work towards the whole crew? What happens if that one expert from engineering that you NEED for CRIT isn’t available or gets taken out? How do you know who to replace that person with? And how do you prevent members of CRIT from feeling like they are superior to others in their department? Or trying to ‘lead’ on a regular away team simply because they are CRIT?”

Mal’athar, XO

Pretha laughed. “Answer a couple questions about CRIT, huh?” She took a moment then nodded. “You’re right. Cross training the entire ship would be a nightmare. But honestly, you have mini teams already around the ship. Security teams for different scenarios. Sure, some names overlap, but they’re just teams. And yes, sometimes someone is missing. But that’s why there’s more than one person per department. They usually train as smaller groups, but large scale trainings occur as well. So they know one another that way as well. So replacements, to a point, aren’t a an issue.”

She took a breath before continuing. “As to god complexes both in the department and on other missions, it hasn’t been an issue. CRIT is a special response team. As such, they know they are different, but not superior. I suppose it’s like folks in Special Ops. Sure, they know they do things others don’t. But they don’t brag about it. Because they know if they’re called, something’s gone sideways, if not completely upside down. And the ones in CRIT, so far, know they hold no special ranks or privileges. If on regular away teams, they follow the lead of the leader. Maturity seems to come hand in hand with the other skill sets.”

So far she hadn’t heard of anyone getting uppity either in they specific jobs or in various other situations. Perhaps someday it would happen. But right now they were lucky enough to have a good group.

Pretha
CRIT ldr

Shedda continued to walk at a steady pace thinking over the woman’s answers. She seemed…uneasy. Her answers showed a competent and capable woman, but her body language or her tone maybe seemed to Shedda to indicate she wasn’t quite settled in her position yet. Or maybe it was just late and Shedda was off. “And how would you handle such missteps were they to happen?” Pretty was the CRIT leader and it was her job to handle such things.

Mal’athar, XO

Pretha thought a moment and shrugged. “A question like that has a million answers, ma’am. It would depend on how it manifested. Simple misunderstandings could be explained to better the understanding of both sides. Blatant disregard for orders would be handled one on one with either the person being removed from the situation or attempt or in their place with private reprimands happening behind closed doors.”

She shook her head again and wondered about all the permutations that such things could bring about. “Insubordination and lack of ability to listen and follow commands happens in every department all the time in small infinitesimal ways and large ways that demand brig time or discharge from duty. Each one is handled in the moment and geared to the situation and people involved. As to how to handle an expert on a particular team not being available, we have backups on the form of the other teams. And barring that, we go to that department and ask for aid. We would do whatever’s necessary to save the ship and crew and carry out the orders of the Commanding officers in whatever shape that took.” Her final words were strong and sure. She had no doubt in her mind, whatsoever, that the ship and her crew could withstand nearly anything thrown at it. And while not saying so outright, she gave the impression she was letting the XO know that she and the CRIT team would defend her and the rest of the crew to their last breath.

Pretha
CRIT ldr
(sniffs yup… Just a little pride there lol)


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