Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Cassidy Abrams (Chief of Security) in CNS Office- A Consultation

Posted by Lieutenant Siennadye Nox (Counselor) in CNS Office- A Consultation

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Cassidy Abrams (Chief of Security) in CNS Office- A Consultation
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Okay, she hadn’t expected that! Cass went to say something but the air swallowed the words and she had to regroup. “Right, okay. Now what? I mean, on paper Trenton has a lot of promise and I am always going to encourage my team to play to their strengths and work hard at their weaknesses. But I don’t know how to do that in a way that is consistent with my personality in this case. We’re supposed to have a department social night in the lounge soon. Isn’t that just a recipe for disaster in this case?”

Abrams, COS

Sienna’s hand came up to touch her lips lightly as she contemplated this new problem. While most people would not view a company social night to be the time to flirt with your coworkers, some people did and Trenton was probably one of those. Sometimes dalliances happened at such gatherings, especially inappropriate ones. Photo copies of butts came to mind and a million movies on the subject too.

“I guess it comes down to understanding that you are allowed to have boundaries. The only person you can control is yourself. If they choose to flirt with you despite your obvious discontent and lack of reciprocation, you may have to take them aside and tell them to stop in stronger, more explicit terms. It is your job to maintain your distance in this regard. Try gently correcting them if you can, but don’t be afraid to be more bold and authoritarian.”

Abrams nodded. She wasn’t above being tough with her team when needed, and certainly there had been the odd occasion, but why did it feel so weird to think about doing so this time? Was it because it used to be her dating her boss before? Though Cass knew that her and Steven were a very different situation. They had been colleagues who got together before he was promoted. It was different, wasn’t it? Besides, she wasn’t reciprocating Trenton’s advances. Or at least she hadn’t been intentionally.

Her hand dropped from her lips and she lifted her coffee mug once more. “I have advised Trenton to be more discerning in their choice of flirtations. When they met with me, they flirted with me to either make me uncomfortable on purpose, or to see if I would flirt back. Both were quite inappropriate reasons and actions. We did discuss it and I hope they take my words to heart.”

“My professional assessment is that they are very lonely but I have concerns that they are more here to find a mate or mates than to do anything else on this ship. They may do their job, but only because it furthers their ability to find mates. They have interest in higher level security and intelligence work, but their lack of reading social cues and obvious boundaries is a hindrance to those goals. You can’t work in those areas without a keen ability to read a room, read people, understand motivations, and hide your true feelings to do the work at hand.” She shrugged. “However, people have surprised me before and this is only my initial assessment.”

Nox, CNS

Cass nodded, bracing her elbows on her thighs and rubbing her hands back and forth, letting silence fill the room for a few moments. “First impressions are important, but they aren’t the end all and be all. My… hope here is that we will establish clear boundaries and that I can then help Trenton learn and grow so that she is able to work towards those goals. I don’t want to arbitrarily set up extra obstacles based on a less than ideal start. But I can see that there is some definitely hard work to be done on her part.”

Abrams, COS

She nodded as well. Abrams was a very able leader though she doubted herself like a lot of leaders did. It was nice that she came to the Counselor to talk about it. Not everyone on the ship was ready to deal with their feelings or doubts about anything, much less their leadership roles. “I think that is a good plan. A lot of new Ensigns have work to do on maturing on an emotional level. Some reach for the highest honors of their careers and fail. Some make it. Who is to say which one Trenton will be? With you as guide, mentor and boss, I am sure they will be given every opportunity to succeed. My predecessor was confident in your abilities and I can see why.”

Nox, CNS

With a growing smile, Cassidy exhaled. She braced her arms on her thighs. “When I made the switch to security that was the goal. I didn’t think beyond that. I wasn’t sure I was ready to lead the team, but… I like to think I’ve grown into the role. Maybe I had been ready a long time ago but it took changing up my career in order to see it.” There was a part of her that could see where that might have come from too. She was at least a little self-aware.

Abrams, COS

“Perhaps. Often we are ready for something quicker than we can acknowledge. One must master one’s courage to combat the fear of something changing or something new especially when we have to depend on ourselves in a way we feel is unproven or untested.” She smiled back at the woman. “I have heard nothing but good things from your staff. Your record speaks for itself in a lot of ways. Your direction of concern for Trenton does your instincts justice.”

Nox, CNS

Cassidy sat back up and gave Nox a warm smile followed by a small nod. “Thanks. I mean, I know if there had been any issues with my leadership or my department’s performance, I’d have heard about it by now, but still, it’s nice to hear anyway. So thanks.”

Abrams, COS

“Anytime.” She said smiling. It was nice to know she had helped Cassidy gain some perspective and reassurance. Sienna meant every word. Even if she hadn’t been observing the Chief of Security and speaking with her staff about her leadership, she could have gone off the notes the other Sienna had left behind. “IF there is nothing else, I will let you get back to your duties.”

She stood so she could see the Lt. out but paused, turning back to the woman. “And thank you… thank you for trusting me to help you through this. For trusting my judgement and having the courage to come to me.”

Nox, CNS