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Side sim: The Chat in the Corridor

Posted Sept. 14, 2021, 12:29 a.m. by Lieutenant Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) (Lucas Foxley)

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Side sim: The Chat in the Corridor

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Side sim: The Chat in the Corridor

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Side sim: The Chat in the Corridor
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Today was not Roman’s day. His paperwork had taken longer than usual, there was a new crew member he should probably go meet, and one of the science Ensigns had spilled a thankfully safe chemical all over him. And yet, as per his own rules, he had to take a precautionary chemical exposure shower and change his uniform.

Presently, he exited his quarters in a fresh uniform, his hair still wet and uncombed from the shower - quite unlike the first officer, but he hadn’t had the time just then to stop and comb his hair.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

As Lt Cmdr Roman Alden came around a corner he would see three officers, their uniforms identifying them all as ensigns, standing outside the transporter room. One was Yeoman Rand. Suddenly she turned and moved away from the group. She was walking with focused purpose. This was in truth to help her calm the anxiety the encounter was attempting to cause as well as to maintain her professionalism. What it looked like to others could have been many things. All Rand wanted to do was get away and find the next piece of work to do. But there was nothing - the whole next 90 minutes had been blocked out to assist the new crew. And Rand being the efficient person she was, was so ahead of schedule there was no work she could insert at the moment.

Yeoman Rand

Roman rounded the corner and the first thing he saw were three Ensigns outside the transporter room. He quickly recognized one of them as Rand, turning and leaving the group. He was quite aware of her tour and to his knowledge, giving a new crewmember a ship tour was her assigned task. So where exactly was she going? “Ensign Farquharson, haven’t you a tour to conduct?” He asked as he caught up to her, away from the group of Ensigns. His voice was icy calm as he did his best to hide his annoyance. It wouldn’t be fair to take his mood out on Rand, regardless of the duties she might be neglecting.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand stopped and looked up coming to very strict attention as the Alden approached her. Rand was quite familiar with his moods and voice inflections now. He was annoyed and would not tolerate long drawn out or even short precise excuses. She resisted the urge to glance back at the other two ensigns. Why couldn’t people let her do her job instead of making fun of her? “Yes, Cmdr Alden.” She alternated clutching and releasing her grip her grip in her PaDD.

Yeoman Rand

He had always appreciated Rand’s lack of meaningless excuses. Why one hadn’t done what needed to be done carried little importance, save for very extraordinary situations. What mattered was that things got done and ran smoothly. “Making our new crew members feel welcome should be important. Helping them get used to the ship is an important part of that,” he said to her.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

He was disappointed as well as annoyed. Rand always strived to make a good impression with anyone, especially the commanding officers she worked with. But this bothered her more than that. She nodded firmly. “Yes Sir. Protocol allows a member of the new officer’s department to conduct the tour instead because it creates familiarity with others you work closely with.” Dagget and E’usha were not the same department, so it wasn’t within protocol. Despite how Rand felt she had been treated, she didn’t throw the other two under the bus - that two old Academy friends were having a reunion rather than completing onboarding. They were bridge crew together and that might be protocol adjacent, but it was Rand’s job. She had been assigned to Dagget and E’usha for onboarding because they didn’t exactly have a department head. Their positions made it tricky. But she knew Alden was sharp enough, if he wasn’t distracted, to remember this was the new Nav officer and didn’t have a department. But she wouldn’t pass the blame. It was her job and she should have been firmer. Alden was going to reprimand her, and it really really bothered her. But she’d just disappoint him if she tried to explain why she wasn’t where he knew she should be. She was going to have a long cry that night.

Yeoman Rand

“As a navigator, Ensign E’usah doesn’t have a designated department head. It’s up to you to show her around and introduce her to those she’ll be working with. If I’m not mistaken, Ensign Dagget counts, but Dagget is new as well, and cannot be expected to take on your tour duties.” Roman continued. Apparently, he was indeed on point today, despite being distracted by the difficulties in the lab - the spill had been troublesome. He didn’t mean to be overly strict with her, in fact he’d rather not reprimand her at all, but it was his way of doing things, and necessary. He would impart the importance of even seemingly small tasks.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand didn’t mind that the Cmdr was reprimanding her, that was his job, and she was in the wrong. It was the first time, ever that Rand had been in trouble. She had broken protocol because she’d let her anxiety and uncomfortableness get the better of her. Protocol was what allowed her to manage and actually serve. Maybe…maybe everyone back home was right. She had no business serving. “Yes Sir, Cmdr.” That seemed to be all she could get out. She blinked once, swallowed to clear her tightened throat, “It won’t happen again. I will take care of it.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman appeared satisfied with her answer. He could tell she was upset, he was getting good at reading her tells. But it wasn’t in his nature to try and soften or help, he simply wouldn’t know how. And to him, it would make him look weak. Instead, he gave a curt nod. “See to it.”

~ Lt Cmdr Alden XO/CSO

Rand waited for Alden to dismiss her or move off. Once he did she moved back toward the transporter room, but stopped by the small yeoman’s office to grab a form. Sentinel being so new it wasn’t necessary, plus Rand did the inspection already, but it would give her reason to find the two ensigns again. Hopefully without being belittled again. The few minutes in the office let her pull herself together. Alden was really upset with her. She deserved it and she couldn’t quite figure out why his disappointment hurt so much. He hadn’t been mean or cruel. He had simply clearly stated what she had done wrong and his expectations for her performance. She blinked several times and took a deep breath and left the office. They weren’t on deck 3 anymore, and she didn’t find them at E’usah’s quarters. She searched for a bit before sneaking back to her quarters as her anxiety and nerves worsened and her composure disolved. Alden didn’t usually do formal write ups for first offensives, but he could, and he knew Rand knew better. It would be justified…

Yeoman Rand

Roman considered his options as he headed back down to Deck 9. He wouldn’t write up any of the other officers for this sort of offense. Not for a first time. His verbal warning was well enough, no need for a formal write up. He’d have expected the same and said the same to a science Ensign for an equal offense. In fact, he’d been about the same to the Ensign who’d spilled all over his uniform that early. So why did he feel he’d been too harsh on Rand? Expectations for the yeoman were the same as for any other ensign. Logically, his reaction was not only justified, but expected.

He had to put it out of his mind just then. Stepping back into the lab, he found that the chemical spill had been cleaned to his expectations, but the work would need to be repeated and done correctly…

~ Lt Cmdt Alden, XO/CSO


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