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Alt-Timeline - CNS's Office - XO Check-Up

Posted April 9, 2019, 10:47 p.m. by Lieutenant Commander Magnús Pétursson (First Officer) (Hjortur Ingi)

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

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

It was a perfectly serviceable answer. This appointment wasn’t a test, but if it were the new XO was passing admirably. Riley enjoyed learning more about his crewmates, but he knew too when to draw a session to its close.

“I won’t keep you much longer, Commander, but before I send you to your next duty, I’m curious about what it is you hope to gain from your time here on the Genesis.”

Dekker, CNS

Magnus breathed in deeply through his nose. He’d been considering that exact question “Well in the next few years I’ll be finishing the first third of my life. I’ve always planned on not dying until I’m at least a hundred and fifty years old, but I don’t kid myself in thinking I’ll be out here for that entire time” His smile turned thoughtful and maybe sad “I have another two or three decades in me I’m sure. But I know I can’t keep changing directions so often, I don’t plan on retiring a Lieutenant Commander or Commander for that matter. Rank has never mattered but it is my currency, It’s how I know I’ve impacted the world around me, someone noticed what I’ve done and decided that those actions merited awards, responsibility and trust. Two years ago I went against my belief, putting family first and it was the first time in my life I had been reprimanded. I believe it was worth it but it set me back.”

Magnus looked up after a moment “I think the Genesis can provide me with some much-needed stability, a ship of science and exploration far from the Politics of the Federation Core, somewhere I can help in a different way, teach in a different way and hopefully learn. Become better tomorrow than I am today”

XO


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