Posted by Lieutenant Riley Dekker (CNS & 2O) in Alt-Timeline - CNS’s Office - XO Check-Up

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Magnús Pétursson (First Officer) in Alt-Timeline - CNS’s Office - XO Check-Up

Posted by Lieutenant Riley Dekker (CNS & 2O) in Alt-Timeline - CNS’s Office - XO Check-Up
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻
After finally finishing his Medical Examination Magnus rushed to the turbolift and called for deck 8. After a few minutes, he arrived in front of the Counsellors office just in time for his planned session. He pressed the Chime and waited.

Magnus - XO

Riley was sitting in one of two blue-grey chairs that, along with a similarly patterned couch and glass coffee table, formed an intimate and comfortable sitting area for his conversations with patients. His last had just left and the Counselor was only beginning to scan through the file of his next appointment. He was keenly curious to learn the sort of person that was their new First Officer. He was partly interested as he knew they would be working together, possible for quite some time, but he was more intrigued in the dynamic that would develop between Marius and the man.

At the sound of the chime, RIley stood, straightening his uniform, “Come.”

Dekker, CNS

Magnus walked in, giving the counselor a friendly smile as he scanned the room. Noting the layout and memorizing where everything was as per his training. He took a few steps in, stopping just short of the couch. “Lieutenant Commander Magnus Peterson, I believe you’re expecting me” He introduced himself.

XO

Riley took in the well-muscled and well-tailored XO as he extended his hand in greeting. Peterson wasn’t quite as large as Marius, but he was prettier and Riley could appreciate that. Still, his tastes had always run more toward men who, like David, were often described as svelte.

“Of course, Commander, welcome aboard the Genesis. I’m Riley Dekker, ship’s counselor. Please, have a seat. I was about to order a cup of coffee. Can I get you anything?”

Dekker, CNS

“Water, please, cold.” He said with a courteous nod. He took a seat in the middle of the couch. It didn’t take him long to make himself comfortable, leaning into the back and putting one leg over the other, putting his arms on his thighs. He seemed very comfortable.

XO

Riley returned with a mug of coffee in one hand and a glass of water in the other. He set the water down in front of the commander before settling into the chair he’d occupied before the chime rang.

Hot mug cradled in his hands, Riley smiled, “So, Commander, tell me about yourself.”

Dekker, CNS

Magnus accepted the water with a polite smile and took a sip “Oh well that’s quite the question” his tone amused “Well I’m originally from earth, grew up on a small island in the northern Atlantic. When I was eighteen I applied and was accepted into Starfleet and have been in the service since. I’ve served on five ships, including this one, one starbase and as an instructor at the Academy.” He took another slight sip “Oh and I have a fondness for fresh fruit”

XO

All but the fondness for fruit was aptly detailed in the XO’s file. What Riley noted on his PADD was that a question posed to the XO to describe himself had led to a recitation of his resume. It was a common response in Starfleet officers for whom their service record was an integral part of their identity, but it wasn’t what the Counselor was after.

“I’d be happy to order up some fruit if you’d like,” he smiled. “I see from your file that the island you refer to is Iceland. Picturesque place, from what I understand, if remote. Tell me what it was like growing up there.”

Dekker, CNS

Magnus stifled a smile. He’d long since accepted the necessity for meeting with a psychologist but the first sessions were always the most difficult. In fact, seeing a new counsellor was much like dating as a teen, awkward and filled with exposition. “I don’t know, good I’d say. I grew up with a close-knit family. I was very short and…” He paused “wide. I had a big growth spurt at sixteen, grew almost a full foot in a year.” His hand fidgeted slightly “I was very close with my cousin Baldur, still am actually. He’s being stationed somewhere on the Romulan border I think. He’s two years my senior so I followed him around a lot as a child”

XO

Riley wasn’t surprised that the XO could describe himself as once “short and wide”. He seemed to take great care in his appearance, not an uncommon trait in those who once knew what it was like on the other side of beauty standards.

“Did you follow Baldur into Starfleet as well?”

Dekker, CNS

“Yes, in fact, he convinced me to enlist. He was finishing his freshman year and was choosing his Field Study, he didn’t often get a chance to visit the old country so we spent some time together. By that time I’d spent most of my free time between my studies and the gym. It was a good year, The Klingons had stopped their idiotic Civil War, I got the see the Enterprise-D when they visited Earth, Iceland made the Semi-finals in the European Championship league and I had my first date with Nanna Níelsdóttir.”

After a short drinking pause he continued “He took me to San Fransisco, first time I’d been to the former United States. We watched the Graduation Commencement speech by Captain Picard himself. Afterwards, we went out with our two older cousins Peter and Adam, Peter was a sophomore and Adam was a junior. Baldur told them I was considering joining. They assisted me in preparing for the entrance exam. Twenty-seven years later I’m still in the service so I’d say it was worth it” He spoke fondly of his family members.

XO

Riley nodded his agreement, “I’d say it seems so. Tell me about your choice to move into command. Was it always a goal of yours?”

Riley was a genuinely good judge of character and the warm emotions he felt emanating from the First Officer were a positive sign.
.
.Dekker, CNS

“No, unlike many Officers in the fleet I never sought Command. It wasn’t shortly after I made department head, my Captain at the time, Captain Ch’zhilnok saw something, pushed me ahead of the line. After that, I started my focus on gradually rising to command. It was thanks to a push from my former DH and then first officer. She saw that I had potential to Command. A year later I was a Lieutenant Commander, two years after that when Ch’zilnok retired he pushed for Starfleet to make me first officer. Not long after I was full Commander” He said the last with pride but also a hint of regret, as was understandable by his current rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Julien had done something similar for Riley, mentored him toward command. The Counselor had not yet fully warmed up to the idea, comfortable with his role as second officer and his ability to prioritize the counseling role he loved. Despite the XO’s own story sparking a personal thought of his own, Riley didn’t miss Petersson’s own admission of his rank demotion. The man’s files were not overly enlightening, simply describing a leave of absence and return with reduced rank.

“Before I was made second officer I had just envisioned a life as a Security Officer, maybe a Command position some time in the future when I’m old and grey” He hesitated with a smile and slight laugh, pointing to his greying temples “Greyer that is” He said with full amusement, even a hint of pride oddly enough “At Starfleet Security on Earth. When I started as second officer I went through the Command Training program under the Captain and I did very well. Captain Thys was an accomplished Diplomat so under his tutelage I started my Diplomatic training. After that, I became more focused on Command.” He seemed very open towards sharing information, something often uncommon in old Soldiers.

XO

“Mentors are really the secret ingredient when adjusting to new responsibilities,” Riley agreed. “According to your file, this is your first deep space assignment in several years. What made you choose to come off the bench, so to speak.”

Dekker, CNS

Magnus smiled slightly “After the USS Samurai was decommissioned a few years ago I wanted to return home so I accepted an offer to teach at the Academy and did that for a couple of years, then the Magellan Station needed an XO And I jumped at the opportunity. Then a situation beyond my control happened. Starfleet wasn’t very pleased so they put me in the doghouse, well as much of a doghouse as they could. I’ve been grounded for the past few years, it was supposed to be longer but I still have a few friends at Command, when they caught wind of Captain King retiring and the decision to Promote Captain Marius was made…” Magnus paused, he hadn’t told that to the Captain. He’d need to find a good time to mention that “They felt an experienced first officer was needed and my… advocate put my name forward and I was accepted.”

XO

More than the details of his recitation, Riley noted the transparent honesty. Many, new to a ship, and in a position of authority, wouldn’t readily admit to being the proverbial doghouse, let alone relying on contacts and advocates to pull them back up more quickly than expected.

“Do you feel your period of being grounded, so to say, was worthwhile?”

Dekker, CNS

Magnus shrugged “I don’t know how worthwhile it was, I can say for certain that I did enjoy it. I like teaching, sharing my experiences with the next generations of Starfleet recruits. I also enjoyed being so close to home, I managed to spend some quality time with my family, For the decade or so after the war, I only got to visit home maybe half a dozen times. So getting to spend every weekend and some evenings for close to four years. Well it was good” He took another sip from his water “But getting back out here, especially in unexplored space, well that’s were I belong”

XO