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Checking off Boxes (TAG Anders)

Posted May 29, 2023, 8:30 p.m. by Commander Shedda Mal'athar (Executive Officer) (Jennifer Ward)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Juliet Anders (Chief of Security) in Checking off Boxes (TAG Anders)

Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in Checking off Boxes (TAG Anders)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Juliet Anders (Chief of Security) in Checking off Boxes (TAG Anders)
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻

The new COS had arrived and Shedda was glancing over her service record again. She and Alex had read over it before choosing a new officer for the position. Service records weren’t everything, but Shedda liked to get an idea of who the ‘officer’ was. She had yet to meet her, and as a member of the senior staff they would be working together. Shedda querred the computer and then set off toward the Lt’s current location.

Mal’athar, XO

Juliet, when the XO inquired, was in holosuite two on deck ten. The door wasn’t locked and the program open to anyone who wanted to enter.

Entering the small holodeck, the scene wouldn’t be a normal program. There were no security targets, no bars, no script of some obscure story running. There was space.

Stepping into the suite would land the person on the edge of a small asteroid surrounded by the colorful swirlings of a recently exploded super nova. The dust and debris spinning amongst the stars that surrounded the small rock. Juliet was sitting, legs crossed, hands in her lap, with her back to the door. A slight twitch of her head, at the soft whooosh of the door is all that the woman would do to acknowledge that she even knew anyone was joining her.

Juliet Anders
CoS

Shedda stood quietly where the program had placed her upon entering. She was content to allow the Lt to finish whatever meditation or rest or whatnot that she was doing. Instead the XO marveled at the range of experiences holo technology could provide. Her thoughts turning to a school room and a group of children and their teacher and then a very bulky but older Orion man and a Klingon, and then farming fields.

Mal’athar, XO

After a heartbeat or two, Juliet spoke up. “You are welcome to join me. It’s mere a place to relax and let the quiet… settle.” She paused instead of voicing that the quiet in her head was what she was seeking. Sometimes being able to read others was a hazard. While she never purposefully peered into anyone’s mind, just walking by someone sometimes left impressions. Like a million people softly whispering. But it was emotions and not always words.

It was then that the Lieutenant turned. Her eyes grew wide realizing it wasn’t just another crewman who had wandered in. Rising up and running her hands down the front of her leggings, she smiled. “Ma’am. Forgive me. Had I known it was you.” There was a pleasant smile on the woman’s face that, despite her age, made her appear much younger. Her dark black tunic top hung nearly to her knees and the matching boots over the soft tan colored leggings was a pleasing color pallet on the woman. “I can stop the holo if you wish.” She started to move towards where the arch would appear.

Juliet
“Jewels”
CoS

Shedda smiled her brows going up. If she had known it was her the greeting would have been more formal and less relaxed? The friendly gentle welcome was an insight into the woman. “It’s quite alright, Lt. I didn’t mean to disrupt her meditations. We hadn’t had the chance to meet since you came aboard. I thought it was time to correct that. When you are finished, come by my office. Do not end early on my account.” The feelings were sincere and there was no pressing matter that required Shedda to interrupt her time.

Mal’athar, XO

“Computer, end program.” Juliet smiled and held a hand as the arch opened. “I am available, now, if you wish. The holo is merely a distraction. I’d already worked out, did my reports and ate. So there wasn’t much else to do.” She nodded back to the now black gridded room. “This seemed like a good way to kill some time.” She stepped back to allow the XO to precede her out the door. She didn’t fuss with her uniform, or raise a hand to check her hair. There was a strange ‘ease’ about the woman that Shedda would likely notice. Almost as if the woman had been around rank so much, once she knew she didn’t need to salute, or stand on circumstance, she was merely treating the one before her as a peer.

Juliet
“Jewels”
CoS

Shedda began walking, at an easy pace, her hands loose at her sides. “What do you make of the Manhattan so far, Lt? How are you adjusting to being all the way in the Delta?”

Mal’athar, XO

Juliet fell easily into step with the XO. “It’s fine. This is a great ship. As to being in the Delta Quadrant,” she shrugged, “honestly it’s just more space, to me. I know most of it’s unexplored. And we are out here with, basically, no back up to speak of. But to be truthful, most deep space runs are that way. Not everyone can work in the area around Earth or Vulcan or any other major system where there is help. I think being out here may be more dramatic and exciting for most because of the unknown. But I’ve had moments of the ‘unknown’ on every ship and station I’ve been on. Isn’t that why we are out here? Because space, no matter how close or far, isn’t mundane and all known yet?” She fiddled nervously with her fingers as she walked. It seemed like a wrong answer to give, but it was the only one she had.

She knew lots of the crew were of two minds; crazy excited to be in Delta, or deathly afraid. But to her, it was just another job, on another ship, around more stars. Perhaps being alone for so long meant she didn’t have ties so it didn’t bother her where she was.

Juliet
“Jewels”
CoS

Shedda nodded, “That’s a very logical view of it, and accurate.” The XO found the perspective refreshing and reassuring from a security chief. She wasn’t looking for the proverbial boogie man. “What about your department? Have you had a chance to really give it a good look yet?”

Mal’athar, XO

“I’m working on it.” Juliet nodded. “Rotated some shifts that hasn’t been rotated in a while. Mixed up some of the rosters. Want to see how everyone acts and reacts. We have our first big meeting tomorrow, actually. Wanted to give it a bit too see how they did. Some good, some bad. But I don’t want them complacent and used to everything. Things get missed that way.”

She smiled and added, “But they seem like a good lot. They’ll do what’s needed, push comes to shove. How are you liking the ship, and being out in the Delta?” Her sapphire blue eyes glanced at the XO.

Juliet
CoS

Complacency was something to be avoided no matter what you did. Out here though, everything was different and new and unexpected so it negated some of that. But after awhile the newness, the excitement became routine too. “This is my dream position. I love it out here. I’m a scientist, archeologist by training, and the Manhattan is like a playground. I just don’t get to tinker around in the labs as often as I would like.” Shedda laughed softly, “But there is always something new to see and study. And I enjoy working with Cpt Cochrane.” Shedda stepped onto a lift, “Deck 8.” and it began to move. “Meeting new cultures fascinates me, and I think so far that has been the best part of this assignment, is meeting all the new people.”

Mal’athar, XO

Juliet joined get in the lift and smiled. “We’ll, being XO means you can go to the labs when you wish. And there’s also the Holos. Have you considered a lab program? Perhaps look through Fleet records to see what things are being pondered and use their information to continue the work. Sometimes being immersed in the science can give you blinders. So that working on various projects have been in then so long they can’t see the stylus beside themselves on the table. You’d be seeing it all with fresh vision and perhaps even see something they didn’t out come to a conclusion that warrants being followed. They may have absently dismissed it because “well that can’t be it,”.”

She smiled at the XO wondering what reaction her suggestion would bring.

Juliet
CoS

Shedda chuckled, “That’s true, I can come and go, and I suppose when I have time I will.” She nodded, “There is quite a bit of that type of evaluation that goes on in the science spheres. It’s something I did quite a bit on my last posting. Bias and prejudgement are a very real thing, especially when the scientists have committed years and resources to their studies. It’s also why peer-review is so important in the publishing process.” She gave a thoughtful expression. “I will have to do that, make time for it in my schedule.”

The XO stepped off the lift onto deck 8. “Is there anything your department needs that you don’t have Lt?”

Mal’athar, XO

Juliet smiled. “I hope you make time. I’ve learned that missing out on passions isn’t a good thing.”

As the XO asked about the different, Juliet got silent a moment in thought. “I don’t think so.” She shook her head after a moment. “I’m going to be starting weapon proficiency training this coming week. We’ll use the Holodecks and the fleet training programs. I’ll make it open to the entire crew if you wish. Comes in handy in a crisis if more folks can do more than turn on the safety.” She laughed.

Juliet
CoS

Shedda chuckled, “That it does. I an probably due for my recert. It’s one that always slips my mind. I’ve had to use my phaser more than once, but shards of pottery don’t tend to become hostile. Open training is always good. You should have access to all the crew records so if there is anyone that is due or past, call them in. And let me know when the training is and I’ll stop by as well.”

Mal’athar, XO


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