Posted by Lieutenant Maria Beckett (Chief of Security) in Arrival/DH check in

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Ebru Tan (Intelligence Officer) in Arrival/DH check in

Posted by Lieutenant Maria Beckett (Chief of Security) in Arrival/DH check in
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Ebru shuddered as they re-materialized on the transporter pad of the memorial, the experience incredibly strange with the new addition of their symbiont. It felt different, and they were creeped out even as Sogum’s memories assured them it was a normal sensation for the joined. “Ebru, intelligence.” They offered to the transporter chief before realizing that was no longer accurate. “Er, Ebru Tan, that is.” They flushed, feeling wrong-footed, but Ebru straighten up nonetheless. “Where can I find Lieutenant Beckett?”

-Ebru Tan, Intelligence

The transporter chief. “Welcome to the Memorial. I believe Lie–” He paused as the doors opened, admitting a dark-haired woman in her late thirties with piercing blue eyes, wearing lieutenant pips. She was slightly taller than average, with the weight and build of someone who spent their entire career engaged in frequent vigorous exercise. “Right here,” she said and offered her hand to the junior grade Lieutenant. “Lieutenant Beckett. You transported over a little faster than we expected.”

Ebru shook her hand with a small smile. They wouldn’t call their new chief intimidating, but she had the air of someone who knew exactly what she was doing. “Yes ma’am, they thought I would need to gather my things.” Left unsaid was that they were straight off of a mission, meaning none of their things had been theirs.

“If you’ll come with me,” she gestured and led them out through the door into the corridors. Pulling out a PaDD she sent a quick update to Mazie. “I understand you were only recently joined with Tan?”

Lt Becket, COS/CIO/CAG

Ebru ducked their head in acknowledgment, grimacing slightly. “Yes ma’am. Mebil, the ambassador that is, refused any visible security, so I took the place of his aide.” They knew the mission report was available in their file, but why make her search it up. “Certain people weren’t happy with his political career.” They realized it was likely incomprehensible to someone without an understanding of Trill culture. “Tan’s first host was a politician, and Mebil came too close to reassociation for them,” they clarified. Symbionts were supposed to have new experiences, but to Ebru a planetary ambassador and a local governor seemed different enough.
-Ebru Tan, Intelligence

She nodded. “I can see where there would be overlap. Both are involved in politics. But ambassadors don’t make policy. They just influence those who do. But a former politician makes, sometimes, for a pretty solid ambassador. A strong background in political science and knowing how politicos think is always useful.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t blame some trill for not seeing where the distinction is though.” She flashed Ebru Tan a momentary smile.

Ebru smiled back. Their new chief seemed kind.

“So what would you say our specialty is? I saw from your records, between all your various hosts, you have a wide range of skills. Do you have a particular focus or are you more of a –” She paused for a second. “I would say a Jill of all Trades, but it doesn’t really translate well with a plural pronoun.” Waving it off, she tilted her head, a silent gesture for them to continue walking. “However you want to frame it, what’s your strong suit?”

Lt Beckett, COS/CIO/CAG

Ebru winced slightly as they walked beside her. “I… can’t quite utilize their knowledge on demand yet. A proper joining would have come with months of practice and trading for assimilating the past host’s knowledge,” they explained. “I’m lucky I could be joined at all. The most likely result was my body rejecting Tan, and both of us dying. Right now, all of Tan’s previous hosts are like… especially helpful intrusive thoughts.” They knew what people expected from joined trill, especially with a symbiont smile old as Tan, but they simply weren’t equipped for it.

Ebru quickly changed the topic. “I’ve always been good at blending into the background, playing a role.” They were, of course, combat trained, but they hardly looked it when it was so much more helpful to seem like a civilian. “I sort of… disappear, and people forget to be worried that I might be listening.” After all, trill could be found on almost every planet in the Federation and surrounding space, their commitment to new experiences leading them farther and farther from home. “Now I just… have much better first aid training that I used to.”
-Ebru Tan, Intelligence

The lieutenant nodded, with a small chuckle. “Good. Having a combat medic on hand is always a good thing. As for becoming a lampshade, well.. that’s never bad to have either. Tell you what, we’ll see if we can’t get some help from the Guardians. In the meantime let’s … see what we can do. Your file’s pretty thin. What’s your clearance level, and what were your previous postings?”

Lt Beckett, COS/CIO/CAG

Ebru grinned. “Dassun’s very helpful.” They hesitated for a split second, then shrugged. “A series of protection details, but Qo’nos before that. A few colonies, Starbases 237, 25, and Sierra.” They’d started ticking it off on their fingers. “U.S.S Pren, Mulder, Veritas, Chicago, and T’Vanya. Never for very long, but that’s just how it is.” Ebru shrugged, then blinked. “And uh, 6.” Or whatever it needed to be to allow them to carry their intelligence legally.
-Ebru Tan, Intelligence

Maria blinked. “Why the hell are you still a junior grade Lieutenant,” she asked, her tone bewildered. Not that she was disappointed in Ebru Tan. But they had enough experience to be running their own department it seemed, rather than answering to her. And with all the other hosts’ knowledge bouncing around in their head, they were likely overqualified for where they were now. Not that intelligence or competency was a threat to her, or intimidated her. But it did raise the bar for her expectations.

Lt Becket, COS/CIO/CAG

That startled a laugh out of them. “Two weeks on a ship, a month, spending the whole time in the security office researching for the next cover. It’s not exactly a team activity. Being stationed on a ship meant getting moved, and a starbase meant I was watching someone.” They shrugged. “Intelligence isn’t exactly a promotion heavy field either, but ensign is pretty suspicious.” They smiled widely at her. “Quality over quantity, yeah? I mean, you’ve probably got between 4 and 6 stations, you spent at least 6 months at each, and you headed away teams or patrol shifts fairly regularly.” They didn’t have to wait for confirmation, but they paused anyways. “I haven’t been on an away team without another purpose since my first ship and the place I’ve been the longest was Qo’nos, where I was undercover as a bartender.” Ebru laughed quietly. “I’d be a disaster as anything more!”
-Ebru Tan, Intelligence

“Actually I spent like four years on Outpost 42. First as an Ensign working security. Then inherited the Chief of Security post when my previous supervisor transferred. Wound up going in for further intelligence training. A couple of long ops in the dark. Then got tossed back to Outpost 42 as Strategic Operations Officer.” Which made her the closest thing to a station chief for the third fleet, and coordinating most of what was going on in the region. “Then back into the shadows again. Most of it dull, some of it not.” She shook her head. “They call Outpost 42 well.. an outpost. But it’s been a busy place. Especially with Gamma Tiltium IV becoming a major vacation destination. Plus the metaphasic radiation we were getting for a while.” The way she spoke of the place was almost fond, but there was a tired note there too. “Seemed like every week something new and crazy was going on. Bombing, pirates, Suliban spies.” Sheshook her head. She would have said she didn’t miss it, but… she did miss some of it. The cat and mouse games had been fun a few times.

Lt Beckett, COS/CIO/CAG

Ebru chuckled. “Something new and exciting and full of responsibility,” they pointed out. “I sit in a dark room and gossip. No crazy adventures for me.” Or at least, not any they planned to talk about. “Except the time I got married.” Ebru shook their head, laughing as they recalled the incident. “It’s nice to have a CoS who really understands there’s more than being a hero to intelligence work. Honestly, the file is thin because nothing happened except a series of transfers.” Left unsaid was that the one thing that did happen had resulted in Tan, and what was shaping up to be a long term posting rather than a few weeks in the black.
-Ebru Tan, Intelligence

Maria nodded, walking in silence with Ebru Tan for a little bit, turning the matter of this new officer over. “Alright, are there any new skills you want to pick up while you’re here? Do you have a trajectory you want to take on your career, or are you just playing it by ear for now? I ask because it’s my job to help you get where you want to go. Do what you feel led to do. Create opportunities where I can.”

Lt Beckett, COS/CIO/CAG

Ebru shivered at the feeling of being scrutinized, but it was probably positive in this case. “I just need to figure out the whole…” they waved their fingers in a spooky gesture. “Joined thing.” They sighed. “Tan’s other hosts want to help but,” they grimaced. “I had enough with one father, I hardly need 10!” Ebru shook it off quickly. “I just want to keep doing my job, and this is the best place to do it.”
-Ebru Tan, Intelligence