Posted by Warrant Officer Hsull (Tactical Officer) in Reporting aboard - Meeting the XO

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Renveer (Executive Officer) in Reporting aboard - Meeting the XO

Posted by Warrant Officer Hsull (Tactical Officer) in Reporting aboard - Meeting the XO
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Hsull had served on many ships in several capacities, and while piloting and operating small craft, especially fighters was a first love, the Tactical side of warfare drew him in like a favored mistress. He enjoyed the give and take and working to get an edge or advantage by studying the enemy and using their supposed strengths against them. Hsull was a staunch ally and an implacable foe, there was much he felt he could contribute to the Dresden and he was anxious to get started. The time that he had to spend in recovery and rehab had weighed heavily on him, so now he stood outside the XO’s office, the PaDD with his orders in hand. He understood that the XO was an unjoined Trill ,and that alone raised his curiosity a bit. He always felt it was good to know the command staff and how they operated together. Tactics worked both ways. He straightened his uniform, remembered to not dig his claws into any carpet and keep them retracted during proffered handshakes. He rang the door chime and stood squarely in the door.

Hsull - Tactical Officer

BUMP to XO

“Come in!” Renveer called from inside the office, prompting the door to slide open. The executive officer sat with one leg crossed over the other at the knee on a high-backed wing chair in the middle of a modestly-sized room. The space was arranged more like a counselor’s office than that of an executive officer. Renveer’s chair was positioned across from a similarly-styled loveseat and recliner, and the three seating options were bridged by an ornate, finely-crafted wicker rug. Soft earth tones warmed the space and the lighting was a few shades more yellow than elsewhere on the ship. The walls were adorned with an array of abstract original art pieces from across Federation space and beyond, a collection of work from diverse cultures. The desk, usually the centerpiece of the room, had been pushed into one corner and appeared to be almost entirely unused.

Renveer stood and offered a welcoming smile as he moved to shake Hsull’s hand. “Chief Hsull, it’s good to meet you. I’m Lieutenant Commander Renveer, executive officer of the Dresden. Please, make yourself at home.” He swung a hand out to motion to the seating choices before returning to his chair and resuming his signature perch. Renveer was a rather plain trill man, with a unremarkable face whose expressions were easily interpreted by others. The trill marking along his temples were the most interesting feature of an otherwise unassuming demeanor. Although entirely unintimidating, Renveer carried himself with a practiced professionality and grace.

The arrangement of Renveer’s office was no accident. He had been the Dresden’s counselor before his promotion to executive officer and preferred this set-up. For that reason, he often took particular interest in the psychological profiles of new crewmates. Hsull’s mysterious injury and time in rehabilitation with Starfleet medical had not escaped his notice, though Renveer was a bit surprised to note that the limp was still present. “How’re you feeling, how’s your recovery going?” The question was born from genuine concern and good manners, nothing more.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Hsull entered the office and was mildly surprised at the relaxed atmosphere and comfortable surroundings. He reached out to shake the XO’s hand, seeing the carpet as he stepped forward and reminding himself, “no claws, no claws”. He took the hand and felt it warm and friendly, “I feel fine sir, it’s just a matter of getting the muscles loosened up and used to the new arrangements.” Hsull sat in the recliner, placing his bag down beside him. He handed the PaDD to the XO, “My orders sir, I’m anxious to get started and am looking forward to serving aboard the Dresden.” Hsull sat back in the chair and attempted to cross his legs then thought better of it, the hip and knee weren’t quite there yet. “I understand we have an unknown species on our hands who need help, but don’t exactly speak the lingua franca.” Hsull straightened in the chair and flexed the claws on his bad leg without digging them in to the carpet. “That always seems to make for an interesting encounter, assuming of course that they really are peaceful and this isn’t a ruse.”

Hsull - TO

“Good,” Renveer stated with content in response to Hsull’s positive report about his health. “I’m sure you’ll get plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs when you’re given a tour of the ship’s main facilities.”

Renveer leaned back as well, folding his hands in his lap. He observed the chief’s body language with a practiced eye. “Indeed, Mr. Hsull.” The executive officer was silent for a moment. “I saw that you have specialized in flying small fighter craft in your previous postings.” He chose his words carefully. “It’s my understanding that fighters are usually deployed once it’s been determined that the use of force is necessary… you spoke of a scenario in which an unknown faction has unknown intentions. How much experience do you have with exercising that sort of intuition?” Without saying it directly, Renveer was asking if Hsull was a ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ type of officer. Renveer himself would pretty obviously be inclined to the opposite approach.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Hsull stretched his bad leg again before answering. “I wouldn’t exactly call it intuition, let’s just say I prefer to err on the side of caution. I believe one of the past Terrran presidents said <Walk softly, but carry a big stick>. Diplomacy, of course is first, but an unknown species using unknown technology requires a tad of caution.” Hsull sat forward in the chair resting his elbows on his knees, his ears flattened slightly. ” In the specific case where I received my injuries, there was a pair of Federation freighters who reported they were under attack by an unknown species and craft. We sent out a flight of six fighters to investigate and defend if necessary. I was flying lead. Upon arrival we found the situation critical with both freighters having sustained damage and we moved to attack positions, phasers and mini torpedoes had little effect as the shields the ship was using changed harmonics to effectively negate them. The freighters were in a bad way and the crews were preparing to evacuate. I was out of torpedoes and my phasers were overheating, I decided to try ramming the damn thing in hopes of driving them off. I managed to use the escape transporter and was floating there watching the impact. Apparently the warp core exploding on impact was enough to damage their shields and they pulled away. Unfortunately for me I was hit by several pieces of shrapnel from the explosion, one of the freighters managed to beam me aboard and I woke up with a new hip, knee, and heart.” Hsull sat back once more and his ears relaxed. “Sir, I’m not saying automatically assume someone has an ulterior motive,.... I’m just saying be prepared in case they do.”

Hsull - TO

Renveer nodded and maintained a steady attention as Hsull recounted his experience. The executive officer was an expert listener. He took note of the ramming maneuver, a tactic that (to Renveer’s knowledge) was not common among Federation pilots. “Those freighters and the Federation owe you a debt of gratitude then. I’m glad they rewarded you with a promotion, it’s well-deserved.”

Renveer considered Hsull’s statements for a moment, passively staring at one of the painting over Hsull’s shoulder as he thought. “The Dresden in of itself is a… ‘big stick’, yes. You’re right, that’s one of the unique advantages we have when initiating diplomacy with more… aggressive members of the galactic community. But it’s a difficult balance to walk between seeming prepared and seeming eager. If we start talking with our shields up and phasers locked, the anxiety that elicits from the other faction may necessitate that the encounter turns hostile. So how does one remain prepared for conflict while maintaining an aura of calm?” Renveer’s eyes snapped back to the tactical officer as he finished his question. He was not being so subtle anymore… this was a test, of sorts. Renveer was attempting to garner information about how Hsull’s brain worked.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Hsull sat forward in his chair again, regarding the XO and considering the question. He steepled his fingers, “That is an excellent question and one that has perplexed tacticians from time eternal. You want to appear friendly and willing to negotiate, but they are an unknown quantity. Can you trust them, are they being honest, do they have something else up their sleeves ? Sometimes you not only have to have a plan-A and -B, but a plan-C as well.” Hsull sat forward on the edge of his chair as he warmed to the subject at hand. “The very nature of my job is to be somewhat suspicious of the unknown, and to try and prepare for any eventuality. Hopefully all goes smoothly, diplomacy works, we’re all friends, and we go our separate ways peacefully.” Hsull took a deep breath and gestured with his hands, “But if things don’t go the way we hope they do, my job is to prepare in advance a plan that gives us the optimum chance for survival. I don’t do this all by myself, there’s the Captain and yourself, the Security Chief, the Marine CO, sometimes Science and Engineering get involved, even Medical. I hope we can form a tactical team to consider all the angles and come up with various solutions.” Still gesturing Hsull spoke in a lower tone, “In my twenty something years in Star Fleet one thing has always been true,.... and that’s no one person has all the answers, someone may come up with an idea you had, but put a different skew to it that you hadn’t thought of. Use the people and experience that are available, it’s your greatest asset.” Hsull sat back in the chair again and sighed. “You’ll have to forgive me for ranting, I tend to get a bit dramatic at times.”

Hsull -TO

Renveer broke into a smile as Hsull spoke, obviously pleased with his answer. “No need to apologize, Chief. You and I are of the same mind, it seems. I agree, being able to draw on the talents and experiences of many different people usually yields the best solution.” He sighed in reflection. “I’m not the most.... strategically-talented man. My strengths don’t lie in tactics or combat, which is precisely why we need officers like you. Captain Holloway has a quick and decisive mind under pressure, but when she does need advice during those scenarios, I know I’m not the best person to give it.” Renveer rubbed his chin in thought. “But in my experience, the captain is not so easily redirected, sometimes. What do you think, Mr. Hsull? Could you hold your own on the bridge, could you feel confident challenging an order from a captain like Holloway, if you deemed it necessary?”

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Hsull raised his right hand and smoothed the fur on his head, then massaged his knee as he spoke, “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the Captain yet. I would like to think that I could explain my reticence of her decision in a reasonably logical manner, and she would at least weigh the options available. Part of my job is to give her options to weigh,.... I often think that life in the cockpit of a fast fighter is far easier than being on the bridge of a dreadnought.” Hsull sat up in the chair, “Cdr, could I trouble you for a cup of coffee, extra cream, no sugar. Somehow I’ve become addicted to the stuff and I need to take a pain pill. I don’t really need them but medical gets upset when I just toss them down the disposal chute, and somehow they always seem to know.” Hsull reached down and pulled a small container from his bag and extracted a blue pill. “No idea what they are, but they told me to take them ‘til they’re gone.” After putting the container back in the bag, he looked up, “I’m looking forward to meeting the Captain and the rest of the crew, and I need to check in with the counselor as well.”

Hsull - TO

“Of course,” Renveer said graciously as he rose and moved to the replicator, ordering the requested beverage and delivering it to Hsull before returning to his seat.

“The Dresden’s crew is a resolute one,” Renveer said with a tired tone. “They’ve endured much together, although we’ve had quite the change of personnel recently. Still, we’re a close group, although you’ll find that more members than most seem to want to keep to themselves…” Renveer adjusted in his chair. “I hold Lieutenant Forgrave and Colonel Harris in high regard. I imagine you’ll be working with each of them quite a bit and I see no reason that you wouldn’t get along. I’d recommend that you introduce yourself when you get the chance.” Renveer smiled bashfully. “In all honesty, I’m somewhat relieved to have the three of you aboard. Should the situation call for an away team, it seems that trio would be the perfect mix of security-oriented personnel.” Renveer paused before adding, “Assuming you’re cleared for away team duties?” with a glance to Hsull’s injured leg.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Hsull accepted the coffee and washed down the small blue pill. “Thank you Cdr. , I can take them without liquid but they go down easier with something to wash them down. I will most certainly get acquainted with the Colonel and Lieutenant rather quickly, I don’t think the leg will be an issue I can run if I have to and it gets stronger by the day.” Hsull sipped the coffee, “If there’s nothing else sir, I need to finish up checking aboard and find the Colonel and the Lieutenant. ” Hsull finished the coffee and sat the empty cup on a small table.

Hsull - TO

Renveer nodded in approval and rose from his chair again, this time extending a hand for a farewell handshake. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Chief Hsull. I look forward to working with you, and I’m sure you’ll acclimate just fine.” Renveer had been impressed with the tactical officer, no doubt. He was looking forward to hearing from the other senior staff what their impressions of him were as well. The executive officer escorted Hsull to the door to see him off.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)