Posted by Lieutenant Maria Beckett (Chief of Security) in Side Simm - Checking in With the Chief

Posted by Ensign Aidan Harmon (Security officer) in Side Simm - Checking in With the Chief

Posted by Lieutenant Maria Beckett (Chief of Security) in Side Simm - Checking in With the Chief
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
“Permission to come aboard?” Aidan asked as the transporter finished materializing him on the Memorial.

“Permission granted. Sir, welcome aboard the Memorial,” the tech said from behind his station. It still was hard for Aidan to wrap his mind around that he would rate a sir these days. He had enlisted in Starfleet as soon as he had gotten out of high school. He was not one for studying, and had wanted to see the galaxy for a bit. Before he knew it, one of the Chief’s had convinced him to apply for OCS, and here he was, a newly minted Ensign.

“They have you berthed in Junior Officer quarters on deck 9 sir, and…”

“Lt Beckett I’m sure is waiting for my arrival. Thank you Chief. Carry on.” With a nod Aidan hefted his duffel and walked out of the transporter room to make a quick stop at his quarters.

---

Stopping outside of the security office, Aidan tugged at his uniform making sure it was straight. He might not be as young as the other fresh faced ensigns on the ship, but it was still important to present oneself appropriately to make a good first impression.

Everything in place, he rang the chime. Hopefully the Lieutenant was in.

Ens Harmon - Sec

The chime shivered through the air, drawing her attention from the PaDD in hand. “It’s open,” she called out, and stood, adjusting her uniform and smoothing it down. She wasn’t expecting anyone at that particular moment, though she’d seen the notification of personnel arriving or returning from leave, including one of the security ensigns.

Lt Beckett, COS

Stepping through the door, Aidan stopped just inside. “Ensign Harmon reporting for duty Ma’am.”

Ens Harmon - Sec

The lieutenant gestured for him to approach casually. “Come on in.” She offered the Ensign her hand for a shake if he wished. Contact greetings weren’t used a lot in Starfleet, with so many species involved. But for humans it was a tradition that went back millennia. And in some ways she supposed she was a bit old fashioned. If he turned it down, no hard feelings. “Can I get you something,” she gestured to the office replicator. Her own drink, now empty, was already in hand, which she inserted and recycled back into energy storage, then quickly replicated another tea.

Lt Beckett, CoS

(Small bump to keep it visible)

Stepping forward, Aidan took Becketts offered hand and shook it, “Thank you Ma’am, but I’m fine.” Taking a half step back, he relaxed slightly, but waited to see what the Lieutenant was going to say next.

Ens Harmon - Sec

She had a firm grip, fast shake. None of that limp fish grip crap. At his declination she gave a small nod, then replicated herself another tea. Sitting back down she gestured toward a couple of chairs standing guard in front of her desk. “Thank you for responding so quickly.” Sure, it was his job to respond in a timely manner, but it could still be appreciated. “Your file’s rather thin, so I wanted to get to know my security personnel a bit more, if you don’t mind.” That much was true, she was making it a point to meet her people, get to know them besides what was just in the files. Part of it was training, part natural curiosity.

Lt Beckett, CoS

“Well I did try to stay out of trouble Lieutenant. Though they probably sent you my abbreviated file,” Aidan said taking the opportunity to sit down in the offered chair. “What is it that you would like to know?”

Ens Harmon - Sec

She nodded in agreement. “It’s very abbreviated,” she said with a nod. “You were Enlisted first. Been in about as long as I have, worked your way up the ranks. What made you enlist?” It was a fairly simple question. Everybody had their reasons, some were common, some could be quite surprising. whatever he had to say, she looked forward to hearing.

Lt Beckett, CoS

((OOC: Suddenly Harmon is a Chief of NeuroSciences? I think Counselor Potts will have something to say about that. :D ))

OOC: To many ships to keep track of :-P

IC:
“That would be Command for you, only sending what they think is needed. But I joined up as an opportunity to get away from home. Grew up on an out of the way mining outpost. I saw what the mine did to my family, my parents and my older brother, and I knew I didn’t want that life. The administrator of our outpost was a Starfleet engineer back in a previous life, so he helped me fill out all of the enlistment paperwork, and get all of the necessary testing out of the way. Took a bit before they could arrange transport for me to boot, but in the end it was worth the wait.”

Ens Harmon - Sec

She nodded with a smalls mile. It was familiar. Similar to her own story in a lot of ways. “So what was your specialty after you made it out of Boot? Your background in mining might lend toward Operations in general, but here you are under security and tactical.” She leaned forward a little and picked up her glass, taking a long draught then setting it back down, stuffing her hands into her lap as though she were cold.

Lt Beckett, CoS

“You would be correct. I actually started in flight maintenance out of boot. But staffing issues as always breeds necessity, and before heading back to the Academy I also was supervising a security team.

“So when I ended back at the Academy I wanted to get my wings. It was hard not to want to get the chance to fly after working for so long with the fighters. But I also didn’t want to just fly spaceships, I like something that is a bit more maneuverable. And I really liked the tactics courses. I had always been shoehorned into the maintenance/engineering track when I joined Starfleet. So after talking to one of the Academy counselors, I picked up security as a secondary specialty. When I graduated it gave me a few more options on postings, plus most ships aren’t going to turn away a highly qualified pilot. So here I am.”

Ens Harmon - Sec

“Impressive. I know when I joined the Academy they tried to twist my arm into Engineering, but … I’d had enough time with a wrench in my hand. Maybe I have some sort of damage I’m compensating for that shuffled me into security and tactical. I guess I wanted to protect people. I’ve spent more time on a ship or station than I have ever spent in real gravity on a planet, so I completely understand wanting to fly something nimble and fast.”

“This your first tour since you got your wings?”

Lt Beckett, CSO

“Everyone has a reason in the end. For me it was the path to getting out here, but wrenching was never the end run… Anyways, this is my first tour. I had just started on the shipboard quals when I got the transfer orders out here.”

Ens Harmon - Sec

She nodded listening intently. “Well, we should be able to get everything up to speed. The Memorial is a capable vessel.” The woman lapsed into silence for a moment, leaned against the desk. She seemed relaxed, but like many long-term security and intelligence officers, that was deceptive. There was no threat, instead she seemed to be weighing matters. “So with is your end run, Harmon? Where do you see yourself in five years? I know I hate that question. But you seem to be on a trajectory. And its my duty to help with that where I can.”

Lt Beckett, CoS

OOC: Whoops. Missed this thread on my last round of posting.
IC:
Aidan leaned back slightly in his chair. “For most people, fresh out of the Academy, that would be a harder question. They are still fresh with bright outlooks on their career,” Aidan said with a chuckle.

“I think long term I’d like to spend more time in the pilots seat. I really do enjoy flying, the vastness of open space, and the feeling that your destiny is in your own hands…” Aidan drifted off for a second thinking about the last time he was in the pilots seat.

“Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy these duties as well, and I’m happy to be here. But you did ask where I saw myself in 5 years from now.”

Ens Harmon - Sec