Posted by Lieutenant Siarram Ch’Thaanaq (Chief Engineer) in War Room: Pre-Sim Department Heads First Meeting

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Brenna Neenna Atoded (Chief of Security) in War Room: Pre-Sim Department Heads First Meeting

Posted by Lieutenant Siarram Ch’Thaanaq (Chief Engineer) in War Room: Pre-Sim Department Heads First Meeting
Posted by… suppressed (10) by the Post Ghost! 👻

OOC: Hi Team. While we are doing check-ins and running through the process of everyone coming aboard and getting settled I decided to run this thread as a simple way to establish pre-sim, that the characters have met in some fashion. This is intended to take place after everyone’s check-ins are complete and before our current main sim distress call is received. The exact timing, I’m not fussed on but this will serve to meet the Captain and XO if you haven’t already and chat to your fellow Senior Officers.

Remember this post is available as a rough guide for anyone that may have questions about their characters uniform colour or place, or if they have an office etc: https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/7665/ and as always, I am free to chat to via email or discord if you want to touch base.

IC: Dante stood at the window in the Saracen’s War Room that looked out over the saucer of the ship and away into the space beyond. Located on Deck One off of the Bridge, it was a handy location for quick briefings, mission planning and more in depth Tactical and Strategic overviews of their area of operations.

Today, the large table in the center was operating as just that, a table. Often, the surface displayed a big digital overlay of the Fleets operational area or the Saracen’s mission zone, with real time information about ships and anomalies displayed on it. The wall display, used for communication or other mission specific functions, was instead showing a relaxing backdrop of a Risian beach. This image matched the plates, bowls and bottles on the table. Ten Forward had put together a selection of finger foods and other refreshments, as the small replicator in the room was more suited to producing drinks.

The reason, was the Saracen had recently undergone a crew rotation. Unlike most, this one had brought him an almost all-new Senior Officer Roster. A new Chief of Security, Chief Engineer, Diplomatic Officer/Counselor, Chief of Operations and Chief Tactical Officer. Each one he was going to need to spend some time with, if he hadn’t already in the short time they had been aboard, but this would let them all come together as his Senior Officers.

Turning his head slightly he looked at Bruce curled up on the pet bed in the far corner. The big monitor lizard normally didn’t come to these meetings, but today Dante had decided that the new staff that hadn’t already, needed to meet him. “Here, best behavior, alright?” Dante said and tossed a piece of smoked bacon in the big lizard direction. Bruce’s beady black eyes snapped open instantly from a deep sleep and his head came up in one smooth motion, catching the delicacy and quickly eating it as if Oscar was going to appear and steal it from him, again.

Turning back to the window, Dante sipped the hot coffee from the Saracen Limited Edition coffee mug that he held in his hand, and wondered if he needed to schedule one of the HR events as a team building exercise for his new Officers. He would soon find out, as the time for them to arrive was near.

Captain Knight, CO

Teller walked in like he had come into the war room a million times… which he hadn’t. He looked about, first one here, that was odd for him. “Maybe I should leave and come back in five minutes, Sir.” He made no effort to leave beyond a thumb gesture to the door. He found a chair mid-way on the table and sat down. He placed a pair of PaDDs in front of him and start working on some side project.

Graham

Dante snorted lightly and grinned. “Good morning, Mr Graham,” Dante nodded to him and slowly began to walk in his direction from the window where he had been standing, picking up a few slices of bacon on the way and sipping the coffee. “Help yourself to some breakfast or a drink if you like. I’m looking to keep this more of a casual briefing with the recent crew rotation.” As he began to walk past Teller, he craned his neck to see if he could catch what the Chief Science Officer was working on, and if it involved plans to remove any bulkheads and flood a deck or two. Pausing, he alternated looking out the long window and trying to catch a glimpse of the PaDD.

One PaDD seemed to have a plan for a power reclaimer and the second was a generator, on the generator side there was an overlay of the reclaimer and Graham seemed to be trying to get one device to do both functions with changing the size… a daunting task. He seemed to be doing a lot of copying of systems as opposed to designing his own. Teller for his part glanced at the food. He normally tried not to eat at meetings, but since it was offered.... After a pause he stood up and reached for a plate.

That was Dante’s cue to keep walking. Whatever that was on the Padd, didn’t look like an underwater reef or a cross section of the Saracen minus an entire section of deck plating. Feeling more confident he wasn’t going to have to play home to a giant space kraken that Kalani might find on her next away mission, he sipped at his coffee and kept making his way around the table.

Natasha walked into the room and stopped at the door looking at Dante drinking his coffee and staring out the window. She was still rather salty over events recently that had occurred in room 2187. Glancing around the room she debated about taking a lap and coming back in a few minutes. Of the three men in the room two-thirds of them were in the dog house with her. Unfortunately, she was not in a position to a be anything but a Lieutenant Commander. Still, there were ways to be subtle and get her point across. “Is that the Saracen Limited Edition coffee mug,” she asked looking at the mug that she knew had come from their quarters he often used. Grimacing slightly she looked at the Captain with a questioning expression.

“Absolutely, Commander Knight,” Dante replied, lifting the cup so that it was in full view of her. The shiny U.S.S. Saracen logo and caption clearly displayed for her to see.

“Is there anything wrong with the cup Captain Knight,” she responded to his comment with a rhetorical question. Wobbling her head back and forth she finally responded with, “I don’t think so but.” Natasha didn’t end the sentence with anything else. It would do Dante good to think about things.

Narrowing his eyes, the Captain slowly took a long, long sip from the mug as if daring her to have done something to it. “My cup is just fine, Doctor,” he answered in a flat monotone. She might have done something, probably hadn’t. Might have. He wasn’t going to show any fear however, as the voice of an age old biologist ran through his mind as if sitting on his shoulder. There are four million different kinds of animals and plants on Earth. That’s four million solutions to the problem of staying alive.

Bruce chewed the bit of bacon slowly and methodically as he watched his mom enter the room. Oh man dad we are on day two and she is still so mad at you. Flicking his tongue out to lick his lips as best as he could, Bruce stretched the length of his body out watching his mom move across the room and take a seat as far away from his dad as possible. If I were you I would definitely make her about two pounds of bacon and get her a new ball before you come home from work. That way we can all snack and play toss while you figure out how to turn the Siberian Yeti back into Mom again. Looking directly at Dante he blinked his eyes before settling the black orbs on his father. Because you did this. It is your fault she is so mad. It’s not like I did anything wrong, he gave Dante a tongue flick before turning twice and settling back into his bed.

“Good morning, Graham. How are you today,” she said in a distinctly opposite and perky tone making her way next to the science chief to sit instead of the chair next to Dante she normally occupied. Relaxing back in her seat she took a sip of the coffee in the enormous travel mug she brought.

Natasha Knight CMO

“What’s shaking, doc?” He asked in a friendlier manner than he felt. Graham generally was uncomfortable in meetings and it usually showed.

“Electrons in higher energy atomics,” Natasha threw back with a small smile and a hopeful expression. The attempt at humor was almost cringe-worthy and the look on Nat’s face showed she knew it. Natasha knew relatively nothing about pure science especially when mathematical computing devices were involved. Still, she was hoping Teller found amusement, even if is was a playful grimace and shaking of the science chief’s head at her bad pun. There were few times Natasha ever found herself working directly with Teller in the day to day however the few times she did it opened her eyes as to how brilliant the man was.

Sheleah often enjoyed these meet and greets but Rex did not enjoy new quarters so he had been incredibly clingy for the last few hours. Unfortunately this meant that even though she was freshly showered and dressed, she couldn’t get out the door without a few new scratches.

Entering the war room, she looked around and focused on Bruce. She had heard a few stories but had only seen pictures of such lizards, not this beautiful specimen.

“Wow! I’m not late.” she said picking up a plate.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

“Nope you are right on time,” Natasha said moving the chair next to her aside and nodding at it. She and Sheleah had hit it off. She liked the woman and it was nice to see her again. “Oh and that,” she let out a laugh gesturing to Bruce, “is the ten foot lizard sharing my bed I told you about.”

Lifting his head he looked at Natasha and the woman she was talking to. Hearing her laugh, Bruce let out a deep contented sigh. Whoever this person was, she seemed to be making his mom more mom-like and less psychotic Siberian Yeti. Maybe it was time to switch sides. Things were always better when momma was happy. Picking up the ball in his bed, Bruce bit it slowly letting out a long honking sound. Catching the side glance from his mom, he thumped his tail several times happily as she rolled her eyes. The sound made his dad crazy at times. Especially when he was in the middle of watching a playoff game or when he was trying to get Oscar to sleep.

Standing up slightly she looked at Bruce and put a finger to her lips. She really didn’t care if he made the sound now or not. What she wanted to do was make a point about the table. Sitting back down she looked at Ruby. “So I have this friend named Kelly Bordeaux. It is crazy but she has a round conference table. At first I thought it was crazy but I really like it. I mean there are no corners. No head. Made it easier to talk to everyone without having to crane your neck. Orthopedically it is a good design.”

Natasha Knight CMO

Pausing in drinking his coffee, Dante raised an eyebrow in Natasha’s direction. She had moved onto the table now? Now it was getting personal. Dante was able to and had, weathered many storms, but Cyclone Natasha was one that had yet to reach it’s peak.

Sheleah sat down and gave Bruce another look before leaning in to Natasha.

“Well I’m just glad it’s not Krull the Warrior King.” she said with a wink and a giggle before straightening up, “You know, command staff is always going to be command staff but, I do find that a round table facilitates ease of conversation and gives everybody a sense of equality. That can be really important in stressful times. Besides, who wouldn’t want a round table if you’re a Knight?” she asked glancing from the Captain to the CMO.

Being so focused on Nat for that instant, Dante thought he had heard what Sheleah had said, but did a small double take. She couldn’t have said what he thought she said. It just wasn’t possible. Aside from that, he suddenly realized that Nat was going to try and get allies behind her about the round vs rectangle debate. Clearly, she thought this was a democracy. “Good morning, Counselor,” he greeted her with a smile. “And the answer is me. Rectangle is the way to go,” he stepped forward now and ran his hand lovingly over the dark wooden mahogany of the frame of the heavy table. “There is something about a good solid rectangular wooden table. It’s a classic design, respected. Timeless. Plus, you don’t have to stand up to reach over and pass something to the person opposite you. Super functional.” He looked straight at Natasha now, his fingers still caressing the knots and polished curves of the mahogany that framed the visual display built into the tabletop.

Hearing the Krull comment, Natasha struggled to choke back the laugh bubbling up in her body. She liked this counselor who seemed to be very affable and quick on her feet.

“True but isn’t it far more functional to see everyone without having to lean forward?” While the topic might seem banal or useless to most, the choice, on some level spoke to one’s psychological outlook. Were they all about getting a job done or liked to appreciate the beauty of things? Natasha had felt a small chuckle realizing if they started to edge into the form versus function debate she might need more X’s than Y’s around the table. While most men always leaned towards function versus form, it was a personality type. Some people just like things that worked over what was pretty. This was just a fact of nature and the basis of so many comedy skits where one person asks another to fix something and is greeted with a Frankenstein monstrosity where someone proudly says ‘fixed it’.

“One for the rectangle. That is two for a round table. Teller,” Natasha called out the science chief, “what is your vote. Round or rectangle.” She had known the science chief for years. Teller Graham was a solid guy and brilliant officer. He looked at everything from all angles and she trusted his calls. While she and Teller didn’t hang out socially a lot, it wasn’t like she had never chatted with him during their time on the ship. The man had a sense of humor when he let it out and could be hilarious, at least to her, in the right setting.

Natasha Knight CMO

“Yes, Mr Graham, what do you think? Dark wooden mahogany in a fabulous rectangular shape, or Ferengi ply with a laminated fake wood top in a circle supplied by IFEA, with little plastic castor wheels on the feet and no screws in the box? I hear Captain Bordeaux had to wait a week for the Chief Engineer to figure out how to put it together.” Dante’s tone was light and conversational, and when he finished speaking he took a small sip of coffee once more.

Teller looked up from his PaDDs scanned the room quickly. “Cosmetically a rectangle fits the room better. While mathematically round seems to give more area and is visually soothing, most of that increase in area is unusable because the middle is unreachable so even mathematically the space is better used by rectangles.” He turned an opinion into a mathematical fact. He blinked innocently at the rest of the officers.

“This is starting to turn into a sporting event. Two to two,” Natasha counted out the votes so far.

“Not quite,” Dante held up a hand to keep Natasha in check. Mr Graham just explained that mathematically rectangle was best, and everyone knows the universe runs on mathematics, right? So technically, the Universe also prefers a rectangular table.” Dante formed his hand into a finger gun, taking an imaginary pot shot at Natasha. “Thank you Mr Graham, that was valuable.”

“To be fair the directions are proprietary and were in Ferengi. Oh and it also came with wheels.” Taking a sip of her coffee, Natasha thought about it. “Okay regardless of the shape I am a firm nay on putting it on wheels,” she laughed.

The doors opened again to allow the new CoS to enter. Her gold uniform was immaculate and her blonde hair was pulled back in a French rope braid. Her black eyes swept the room and she headed over toward the table. She was followed by three large Earth Siberian Huskies - the largest a black and white, the smallest a grey and white, and the third a red and white. They were roughly 3 years old and all from the same litter. They padded quietly across the room, noses twitching and eyes looking, but they didn’t wander off. Bruce seemed to draw curiosity from the dogs but they didn’t approach him. “Good morning Captain,” Brenna greeted as she passed him on the way towards the table.

“Good morning Commander Atoded!” Dante replied cheerfully. “Welcome to the War Room, take a seat at my table, and help yourself to something. Nice dogs.” He indicated the three and smiled. Bruce, on the other hand raised his head and his beady black eyes tracked the three from the moment they walked in the door, his tongue flicking out testing the air to get their scent. Oh ho ho he thought to himself. What are those things, they look like Kalani’s furry snack thing but bigger and their ears are smaller. Without looking at him, Dante tossed a piece of bacon in Bruce’s direction which the big lizard caught without taking his eyes off the three dogs.

It was quite obvious to Brenna from the tension in the room that something was going on. Especially the stress the captain put on the word ‘table.’ This was going to be interesting. “Thank you captain.” She looked at the dogs, “They won’t be a problem. I thought this would be a good time for them to identify and learn to recognize the senior staff. Just in case.”

Brenna took a seat at the very end of the table on the other side of Dr. Knight, putting her at a corner with no one else on the other side. This way she could see the whole table, but had a clear sight of the dogs as well. They were highly trained and disciplined, but she was still responsible for them. With a look she sent the dogs to sit against the wall out of the way where they could watch and become familiar with the senior staff. Brenna filled her place with a small selection. She turned to those sitting near her with a friendly smile. The whole purpose was to get to know one another, and Brenna saw no reason to be shy about it. “Good morning,” she greeted Knight and Graham and Sheleah offering her hand in turn. “Brenna Atoded, new CoS.” Though they probably already knew that. Had to start somewhere.

Atoded, CoS

“Nice to meet you Brenna,” Natasha said. “We just might need you to break up a verbal riot. Tell me what are your preferences pro and con about round vs. rectangle tables?”

“Round vs Rectangular tables?” She’d heard right, but got the feeling there was more going on, and of course the dogs confirmed it because they could smell the hormones given off in the air even if they didn’t understand it, but before she could answer the door opened again and the dogs perked right up, and their excitement was palatable to Brenna and she knew immediately who was coming through the door.

Richard entered the war room wearing his new uniform and was still getting used to the gold coloration as opposed to the command red that he donned as the Executive Officer of the now decommissioned U. S.S. Constellation. He was clean, well shaven, and fit. His blue eyes scanned the room to get his first look of the leadership team that he would be working with and then laid his eyes on Brenna for a simple moment. Richard definitely missed her, but after the events that he had been through in the past six weeks it would seem like something was off with him. He pivoted off of his back right heel and took an open seat at the opposite side of the table quietly. Per the usual pre-meeting ritual, he read over his PADD while waiting for the event to start.

• Marsh, CTO

“Well I suppose it depends on what it’s for. Round tables are wonderful for game nights, but not always building puzzles as the corners hang off and the pieces disappear. For comradery amongst friends for dinner they are wonderful, you can see most everyone, except those immediately next to you, without straining. However if you have a lot of people, the table ends up being so big you can reach across to pass the rolls as it were. You also loose the space of the corners to place all the extra food and drink. Easily fixed with a sideboard though. But there is something to be said for a well made rectangular table. In a situation like this it is quite useful. It clearly and easily allows a reminder of each of our places in the hierarchy of the ship. And despite flowery words and descriptions, we are a hierarchal organization. When dealing with potential allies or enemies, a rectangular table is a useful power tool. Where you invite a person to sit says so much. In a more personal setting I can reach more people at arms length than at a round table, and they are more space efficient. Can you imagine how little room there would be in here to move around if the table was round rather than rectangular? Hmmm, I guess I like rectangular tables.” Brenna shrugged with a laugh, “But luckily it’s not my decision.”

“Three to two,” Nat again summed up the score in the imaginary game of table shape. She liked the COS’s answer. It incorporated the social and practical sides. It also showed the woman wasn’t going to just blindly go with the Captain’s answer or abstain.

“You’re forgetting the Universe,” Dante reminded Nat casually, then discovered his cup was empty and turned for the replicator.

Sheleah was glad she didn’t bring Rex after all. Too many new people and now, too many new creatures. She wanted to introduce him to the ship a few people at a time. As she waited for the formalities to begin she couldn’t help but notice Richard. It would be something to delve into later.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

Richard smiled in agreement with Brenna, “I agree with Commander Atoded on the rectangular table option. That is the way to go without a doubt, unless the Captain is King Arthur and we are his knights of the round table of course.”

• Marsh, CTO

Brenna didn’t need to be telepathic to share her thoughts at that moment. Richard knew that look that crossed her face, humor along with a slight rolling of her eyes. He could almost hear her saying ‘Real subtle Mouseheart, real subtle.’

“Commander Marsh, welcome!” Dante smiled as he walked to the Replicator to get a refill on his coffee. “Take a seat, grab a bite. I understand you and Commander Atoded know each other? Fancy that! It’s a small Galaxy!” While Dante smiled, he noted his Chief Tactical Officers choice of the yellow tunic of Operations instead of the Red of Command. Clearly the man had been busy and not seen the note that the Saracen’s CTO position was a Command position reporting directly to him, and he could wear the Red tunic as a result. It didn’t worry Dante to be honest, if the mans favourite colour was yellow, so be it. Dante could work with it, he was flexible.

Captain Knight, CO

Richard nodded his head once in acknowledgment to his new Captain, “Happy to be here Captain and you are right as rain. Commander Atoded and I go back quite some time.” He turned his head to face Brenna, made direct eye contact with her with his powerful blue gaze, and projected his thoughts to her assuming she was listening to him, What did you tell him about us?. A slight smile came across his lips, “I am truly happy to serve with you once again Commander Atoded. We will continue to make a glorious tandem.” He clasped his hands on the table and his expression relaxed.

• Marsh, CTO

Brenna shrugged but didn’t say anything to his thoughts other than a smirk. “If our luck doesn’t run out, Cmdr Marsh.”

Atoded, CoS

Richard grinned in response to Brenna, “Well they say that luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” He raised his hands gesturing to the group around the table, “This appears to be an experienced group of leaders, so let’s hope that luck continues to hold Commander Atoded.” He lowered his hands to the table clasping them once again listening intently to the group conversation.

• Marsh, CTO

“Well it’s a good thing we’ve never failed to prepare, Cmdr Marsh.” That was one thing they had always done well together, prepping and focusing on the task at hand. Even before that horribly fateful bet, they had thought along the same wave length, asked the same type of questions, seen the same possibilities in the data and information given.

The doors slid open again and Cmdr. DaVinci Colter entered the war room. As large as the man was, he moved with grace and fluidity that seemed remarkable for the gladiator sized XO/CIO.

“Sorry I’m late, skipper. Having two people in the same quarters takes longer to clean.”

“No apologies needed Number One,” Dante grinned. “I know what that’s like and we haven’t quite started yet. Especially when something that belongs in a certain place suddenly no longer belongs there and has a new home you never knew about.” Pausing, he turned his eyes on Natasha and his eyebrows rose ever so slightly.

“Colter,” Nat yelled out almost as if she were trying to lay claims to him as if this were some child hood game of kick ball. Before Hannah, Colter would have fallen into the function grouping but now that he had a live-in…well that changed things. Much like Dante, he probably nodded at times and blindly agreed when Hannah asked do you like this simply because his main focus was making the woman he loved happy. Men were easy and simple like that. Once they loved something, they tended to always want that person to know they were the only thing that mattered. This posed a problem for Nat though. Where did Hannah’s decorating tastes lie? “Round or rectangle tables. What is the best for seeing everyone and creating a sense of equity?”

Moving to take a seat at the table, he noticed the empty seat next to Dante, normally occupied by Dr. Knight. Looking at the people gathered about the table, he saw Natasha on the opposite side, as far away from Dante as possible. He gave a slight shiver and added “Someone been messing with the environmental controls in here again? This room seems to be chillier at least once a month or so.”

“I really should get that fixed,” Dante agreed pleasantly. “I think the computer AI must have an issue in the environmental scheduling. I swear that at times it turns off life support entirely for a time in my quarters. Care to swap?”

“Don’t dodge the question. Put on a sweater if you need to,” Natasha shot back trying not to laugh. Whether it was his keen eye for intelligence and learning people or the plain fact he had known half the people around this table for years, the man was deflty and expertly trying to dodge the question.

Moving to his normal seat on the other side of the captain, DaVinci passed Bruce lying in the corner, the XO looked down and stated, “It’s a good thing you’re cold-blooded, big boy, you probably don’t feel the chill in the air. . . .or do you?”

Colter (XO/CIO)

Bruce let out a deep groan as he shifted his body in the bed and stretched his feet out in front of him fanning his hands. Okay so it is time for the more evolved brains to point out the obvious, he let his eyes drift around to each person at the table. The key to solving this debate is…opposable thumbs. Splaying his hands out for a visual, Bruce continued. You all with your fancy opposable thumbs have no idea what life is like for those of us that are thumbless. Think people think. How do you move around a table with corners when someone, he glanced specifically at Natasha and Dante, chooses to push the bacon just a little too far back? You stab yourself in the stomach with the sharp corner trying to find a way to get leverage or feel like you are being sawed in half as you try to pull yourself up on the long flat sides.

Bruce let his tongue flick out in full judgment of those around the table who at some point in their life moved a plate of delicacies out of the way for a dog, cat, or lizard that was poised for a nibble. I speak for all those without thumbs that round tables are the way to go. You can lay your hands flat on them and push up. You can balance as you walk around it looking for the best angle because lets face it aside from opposable thumbs your bi-pedals are all about putting things at your waist. Round tables have a softer edge that is far more gentle on the abdomen as we try to crawl up on the table. Take a tip from the greatest furniture designers off all time the Japanese. Low it where it is at. Viva la round! Viva la round! Bruce yelled out thunking his tail to the beat of this chant.

Natasha Knight.

DaVinci got comfortable in his seat and thought quite seriously about his answer. All common sense said he should agree with Dante, yet Natasha did work with Hannah in Sickbay. She could put all sorts of devious thoughts into Hannah’s mind if he didn’t play his cards right. He may wind up moving back into his old quarters. . . alone.

In all seriousness, he began. “My professional opinion, Dr. Knight, suggests we should throw a bunch of big, fluffy pillows or bean bag chairs all over the floor. Everyone can just flop down wherever they want. . . .and put a bar over there, in that corner. Make sure it’s stocked with a lot, I mean A LOT, of Miller High Life. Of course, we’ll have to take a trip back to the 20th century again to build up my stores. I’m starting run low, and the replicators just can’t get the flavor quite right. I’ve tried to tweak the recipe, but nothing I do can create a match.”

“Okay, I’m listening,” Dante said, and to put a punctuation mark on the point, the cup of coffee didn’t move an inch towards his lips. “Maybe we get Engineering to set up a brewery in a spare storage locker? Kalani set up a terrarium in one, why not something that’s more important to crew morale?”

He paused to take a breath, then continued. “We get an Atari 2600 connected to the viewscreen. You guys would love Space Invaders and Asteroids. My friends and I used to play those for hours and hours. Oh, and one more thing in the opposite corner of the bar–a small stage with a stripper pole, yeah? Of course that’s just my professional opinion.”

Colter (XO/CIO)

“I like your style,” picking up his PaDD, Dante made a note in it. “But that might get a little distracting for War Room décor. Lets stick to the rectangular table. For now.”

Natasha’s laughter echoed in the room. She always liked the intelligence chief. He was this fascinating mix of kill you in a back alley and invite you over for poker night. Give him ten minutes and he could convince you that there was some subterfuge in the room or distract you so that you completely miss a spy exchange happening immediately to your right. He could make you breakout in laughter or set you on edge that you look over your shoulder wondering if the glance he was sending your way was for you or praying he was talking to the person behind you.
Dr Knight wasn’t the only one who laughed. Brenna already knew from her meting with Colter that they would get along well. He was sharp and perceptive, and apparently had a wicked sense of humor.

“Sounds like at least two votes for the piloows, bar, and pole,” DaVinci replied.

Staff meetings by no fault of the attendees tended to be rather drab events. As much as she liked Teller, when he began to give reports in science-ese, she felt her head swim. Colter, when he finally showed up, would give his reports using only pronouns making his sentences a grammar exercise in three card monty. Aside from these two men that Nat had known for years, everyone around the table was new elements. She was excited however to get to know all of them. Leaning over to the counselor, Nat spoke and waved a finger around the table.

“You have your hands full with this crew,” she said good naturedly. “Dante never finds yes men or ladder climbers. His senior staff is the best and brightest of thier fields with a knack for wit and humor.” Natasha didn’t know the group past names on a dossier but she had a great feeling about them. The fact everyone had some witticism over the table was a good start. While Nat was not in pscyhe services, she was well aware of how humor and comraderie amongst a crew helped in times of crisis.

Sheleah had been watching the interactions of the crew. The verbal jousting between husband and wife each seeking to shore up their position wet, avoid throwing one another out the airlock while doing it. She wondered if Natasha was always so Machiavellian and if a bath pouf could really be at the heart of this whole conversation spiral.

When the XO had walked in, she glanced up recognizing but, not having met the man in person yet. What did Bruce think of this whole situation? She often wondered what Rex thought of her life and Sheleah was quite boring compared to Dante and Natasha.

Sighing, she stood up and went to the replicator again muttering to herself that there just wasn’t enough coffee for this situation.

On the way back to her seat, she passed the plate of bacon and picked up a hefty slice.

“So what’s the protocol for feeding Bruce?” she asked looking between Natasha and Dante.

“Breakfast, lunch and dinner. We try to limit snacks to one before bed and one before dinner,” Natasha replied taking a sip of her coffee. “For the most part, he is a carnivore like his father. Rex has a taurine requirement like most big cats or no,” she asked Ruby.

Natasha Knight CMO

She could feel the slight flush on her cheek as she almost blurted out Krull the Warrior King.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

Graham

Sheleah put down the extra piece of bacon she had thought to offer Bruce before slipping back into her seat.

“Yes, he does have a taurine requirement like most other felines. We found each other in Brazil and I tried to give him a lot of approximation of his native diet with some interesting things thrown in because they meet the requirements. Come to find out, he absolutely loves chicken livers.”

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

“Oh go ahead and give the big lizard a treat,” Dante waved his hand towards Bruce, who, had raised his head and had been watching Sheleah and the bit of bacon. “He’s allowed out for a rare meet and greet, give him a bite and he’ll love you forever.” Looking towards the three extremely well behaved dogs off to the side, he looked back to Brenna. “How about your three, Commander Atoded? They’ve been sitting pretty quietly, are they allowed a treat?”

The dogs perked up when the gaze was focused on them. They looked curious but made no effort to move. Brenna glanced over at them and looked back at the captain. “Normally not while they are working, but it would certainly provide them the opportunity to identify the individuals in the room. They won’t approach the table unless invited. Though I will warn you, anyone who does give them a treat will find themselves begged to play when they,” she pointed at the dogs, “aren’t working.”

Atoded, CoS

Pausing a moment he looked at the new Counselor, he noticed the flush on her cheeks. barely there but there all the same. “Are you feeling alright Counselor? Can I get you a drink?” Natasha hadn’t been able to keep quiet and dinner that night about her meet and greet with Sheleah earlier, and while he had yet to sit and chat to her, he was particularly happy that the two women had clicked so well so early.

Captain Knight, CO

Sheleah retrieved the bacon and could tell the flush on her cheeks was rising just a bit more.

“Oh no, I’m feeling fine sir but, you know, regarding this whole table situation, I’m sorry to say that the universe really does prefer circles and spheres.” she said getting up and walking towards Bruce.

At the moment she didn’t trust herself to hand feed such a large creature she was unfamiliar with so, she merely tossed it to him.

“There you go handsome.”

Turning back to the Captain, she smiled again.

“But now that I really have a chance to think about the matter, Commander Colter’s idea does sound much more comfortable although I’m not so certain about his choice of beverage.”

“Three for pillows,” DaVinci interjected once again. “That’s because you’ve probably never had a real beer from Earth, Lt. Ruby. There’s nothing like a tailgate party outside Mile High Stadium. You’ve got a fresh off the grill brat or burger in one hand and an ice cold brew straight out of the cooler in the other. . . . .it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Colter (XO/CIO)

Sheleah figured she’d probably pushed far enough and picked up her coffee again.

• Sheleah, CNS/DO

Natasha looked at Dante and then Colter with a wry smile on her face. “Did we move off of tables and to secret jobs we took in college because someone’s roommate thought it would be a great idea to make some money because we all know you can’t work at the academy to make money? So we find a place to work no one,” Natasha stressed the last part as she spoke, “would ever find us only we see two people in the audience that had about as much business being there as Kelly and I?”

“Is that the new topic?” There was definite humor in her voice as she asked the question. Slowly taking a sip of her coffee, Natasha could not help but smile at the disaster of that night. She also was smiling wondering how much the CIO did know about everyone’s redacted bits of life. It was not like she was upset if Colter had found out about that night so long ago when she and Dante were barely out of thier teens. In fact she found it highly amusing if that was what Colter had been referring to. If he knew, Natasha would have have an insane amount of respect at his skills that paid the bills. That piece of nostalgia was buried so deep even Perkin’s crew hadn’t found it. It was not like she was embarrassed about that night. It was so long ago and like most crises’ and tragedies in life given enough time, the right amount of alcohol, and the correct group of people, things like that night became a great story about one’s life. If this little meeting was to get to know your staff, it might be fun to learn the side of everyone that was not all shiny and perfect in one’s dossier.

Natasha Knight CMO

Siarram was late, quite late actually, but not without reason. He’d been working, and his uniform would quite clearly show that - he hadn’t had time to change into a fresh one. So his uniform was smeared with grease spots he’d tried to quickly wash off in the washroom, with little success. “Sorry I’m late,” He said, taking a seat. Then he glanced around briefly at the others present, there were a few he had yet to meet at all. “Lieutenant Ch’thaanaq, the Chief Engineer.” He looked down at himself and chuckled, “if that weren’t already obvious.”

~ Lt Ch’thaanaq, CE

Brenna nodded, “Nothing wrong with pride in your work. Lt Cmdr Atoded, chief of security.” She waved a pointer finger between them indicating their uniforms, “Equally obvious since we share Ops Gold.”

Atoded, CoS

Siarram smiled and nodded. “I look forward to working with you.” He seemed relaxed and laid back as he took a seat and leaned back. “So, what are we supposed to be talking about?”

~ Lt Ch’thaanaq, CE

Brenna leaned over conspiratorially, “Apparently the CO and CMO are having a disagreement and it has boiled down into a ‘discussion’ about if we should have round or rectangular tables. The CMO here is taking score of who is on which side. And that puts us all in a conundrum doesn’t it. Who in their right mind would go against their CO, the one who decides if we go on life or death missions? But then who wants to nay say the good doctor when she’s the one who decides if we live or die of wounds when we return?” Brenna shook her head and shrugged with a huge grin, “Ah but we have been saved by the ingenious XO who has decided we don’t need tables at all. Instead we need floor pillows, beanbag chairs, and a stripper pole and a fully stocked bar.” She sat back with a grin. “OH I almost forgot. The captain’s giant lizard over there in the corner, Bruce, likes bacon. If you ask the Captain nicely he will let you toss Bruce a piece.”

Atoded, CoS