Posted by Lieutenant Commander Renveer (Executive Officer) in pre-sim - Reporting For Duty - XO’s office

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Renveer (Executive Officer) in pre-sim - Reporting For Duty - XO’s office

Posted by Lieutenant Belle Harper (Chief Intelligence Officer) in pre-sim - Reporting For Duty - XO’s office
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, Lieutenant Belle Harper studied her reflection. The creature staring back was a far cry from the caramel beauty she once was. Her skin had a grey-ish hue now instead of the mocha tones she had inherited from her father. Instead of the long straight black locks that had always hung down past her waist, there wasn’t a single hair on her body anywhere. Her chocolate eyes, once sparkling and alive, were replaced with a cold metallic steel grey. Previously she had been rarely seen without her infectious bright smile. This new face had never smiled once.

Belle didn’t give two shits. Trivial matters like appearance no longer mattered.

Leaving her quarters Harper made her way to her XO’s office without the aid of maps or directional beacons. She had the specs memorized. These days information just appeared in her head. She wondered if the XO would know of her history with the Dresden’s captain and Colonel Harris. She doubted it. She doubted whether the pair had even given her a second thought after she had died, let alone talked about her to members of the crew. Abandoned. She told herself.

Having arrived at the office door in a matter of moments, she activated the door chime.

-Lt. Belle Harper, CIO

Compared to Harper’s demeanor and hue, Renveer’s office was an oasis of richly warm tones and inviting furniture. It was arranged more like a counselor’s office than an executive officer’s space, with a high-back chair that Renveer sat in situated across from a loveseat and with an ornate rug bridging the gap between the two main seating options. The desk had been pushed up against the far wall, underneath a display of an assortment of original art pieces from a variety of cultures in a rainbow of colors.

Renveer himself was more understated than his office, just a plain-looking trill man with ordinary short brown hair and a “familiar face”. He looked up from the PaDD he was reviewing as the door slid open, and he offered a practiced, polite smile as he motioned to the couch opposite him. “Lieutenant Harper, a pleasure to meet you. Please, come in.” He left the welcome at that, curious to see if Harper would volunteer the direction she wished this conversation to go.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Upon the invite of the XO, Lt. Harper took a few steps inside. She took no notice of the interior design or aesthetic value of the space nor did she even glance at the artwork. She simply took a few steps in, stood at relaxed attention, and simply said, “Lt. Belle Harper reporting for duty, Sir.”

Before the door closed behind her, two security NEs, NE Laurel Hardy and NE Jimmy John stepped just inside the office. Saying nothing they each took a position on either side of the door.

-Lt. Harper, CIO

The space between Renveer’s eyebrows scrunched in concern as the security ensigns entered. He had tried to review Harper’s file, though what he had found had been sparse. Still, he had not even been aware she had been assigned a security detail, much less seemingly for the crew’s protection, rather than her own. Renveer’s demeanor turned formal as he addressed the ensigns. “Dismissed, thank you ensigns.” Should they protest, Renveer was more than ready to remind them of his rank and position. Unless the captain herself had put them up to this, he wanted them out.

NE Hardy opened his mouth to protest but was silenced when NE John shot him a look of warning. “Aye, Sir,” he simply responded as the pair turned sharply, leaving the office. A nearly imperceptible smile formed at the edge of Harper’s gray lips.

Once they were alone, Renveer held out a hand to again motion to the couch. “Please, take a seat,” he requested. He felt no apprehension, and if anything his bristling quickly subsided when the security ensigns were no longer squandering the welcoming aura of his office. Renveer was getting the impression that Harper was interested in the professional aspects of this meeting, rather than the personal, but he figured he could try to intertwine the topics. “We’ve had a number of intelligence or former intelligence officers on this dreadnaught, and it seems as if each has had very different experiences with the organization. How are they treating you?” His eyes glanced to the door where the ensigns had departed.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Though she was more comfortable standing, it seemed the crew was intent on forcing her to sit everywhere she went. She decided it wouldn’t be worth her breath to complain so she did as she was intsructed. In regards to the comander’s question she thought a moment. She could say that she felt her corpse had been desecrated, her identity stolen and perverted. Dramatically she could proclaim she had been violated in the worst way imaginable and should be resting peacefully in her grave. But she said none of that. “They are treating me fine, Sir. I mean, I’m alive anyway, after a fashion.”

-Lt. Harper, CIO

Renveer’s counselor training left him feeling as if there was something under the surface of Harper’s response, but as to what exactly he could only guess. From other stories he’d heard of Starfleet Intelligence, well… who knows. Her second sentence gave him pause though. “Yes… indeed you are,” he started cautiously. Then he did his best to shrug off the comment, at least for the moment. “Well I hope we can make you feel welcome here, too. Is there anything in specific you need, any accommodations to your quarters or duty shift assignments you’d prefer?” Although his question focused on the mundane, Renveer was trying to politely pry at what exactly it was that made Harper.... unique.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Many things could be said about Harper the way she was now, and many things have been said about the way she was before. But one thing that could never be said was that she was naive or unaware. Harper knew what the commander was asking. She also knew what she was allowed to say. “I don’t need any special accommodations. I don’t need a regeneration alcove or anything like that. The replicator is capable of meeting all my regeneration needs, sir. As for shift preference, I’m open to wherever you need me.” She felt she should go into more detail. “I can maintain above standard work levels for approximately 72 hours. After that, my mental and physical acuity starts to slow. I absolutely cannot go without regenerating for longer than 144 hours. Six earth days.”

-Lt. Harper, CIO

Renveer allowed a short chuckle. “Well don’t be too hard on yourself for that, you’re doing better than most.” He remembered again who he was talking to and let the smile fade from his face. “Thank you for the information, be sure to share it with our Chief Medical Officer as well.” It was more information than he had expected, honestly. “Have you had a tour of the place?” Renveer said with renewed energy as he looked for a new topic of conversation. “I’m not the best tour guide, but I can certainly try if you’d like.”

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

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