Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Main Sim Academy Hall 2c - Nkosenye Security Lecture
[snip]

Nkosenye arrived forty five minutes early. Looking at the two aides sent to assist in the set up of his lecture, Nkosenye handed them each a list of materials. A ten by five table. And assortment of small boxes ranging in size from a half inch per side to three inches. Twelve colored position markers - three, three gold, six red. A laser pointer. Video projection set up above the table so that the attendees could see from a top-down angle. Twenty-five black position markers. A security tricorder. A science tricorder. A large piece of opaque plastic, 5 feet by 5 feet. “You have thirty minutes. Go.” the giant Zulu said. As he waited for their return, he arraigned all the chairs in the hall into three sections and put a seating diagram on the presentation board: Left was Science and Medical. Right was Engineering. Center was Security.

Cross was intrigued,she had no idea what the CoS was going to present and for once stayed focused ,even though it had nothing to do with her own profession....or so the doctor thought.

Tinga arrived just as the aides were making their way out of the lecture hall.

“Sounds like you put the fire to them. Tell me chief, where does the comms officer sit today?” she asked pleasantly.

Nkosenye looked up from the presentation area with the typical Security Chief scowl and said “I have seats set aside for the ship’s crew in the back. Center. And if any of the crew wants to interject during the presentation, let me know. I am fine with additional input, especially from those who have participated in the field.”

What field? Cross thought to herself,she was tempted but not knowing what the CoS had in mind the doctor decided to stay put.

As ordered the cadets helping put things in order for the COS’s presentation and with moments to spare as cadets filed in they were finished

Glen arrived. He had now booked his flights and transfers to travel to Paris. He sat at the back where he found a seat with his name on it.

Tinga took a seat at the back with the rest of the crew curious to see what this interesting lecture would entail. She would be glad to assist Nkosenye if any physical demonstrations were needed. Andorians were known to be strong, wiry, and quick witted. The antennae made her balance exceptional and she had several years of military training before coming to Star Fleet. But, perhaps, such a thing wouldn’t be necessary.

William made his way directly to the back row, normally he wouldn’t be very interested in the proceedings of a lecture on Security but he found the mountain of a man doing the talking to be much more interesting than any potential boredom. He gave the Captain and the Andorian Coms officer a polite nod as he took his seat.

“Are you ready for your lecture?” Glen asked William.

William nodded thoughtfully “Yes, Sir. Lecturing is an activity I enjoy rather much.” He said simply.

“And yours was excellent,” Glen told Tinga. “That part miming with Nkosenye, was very amusing!”

Cross was oblivious to what they were saying,her eyes fixed on the CoS she was daydreaming ..glad that no one could read her thoughts.

Tinga glance at Cross then glanced away. She had a strong sense that the CMO was interested in the lecturer more than the lecture but it would be very impolite to make such a comment so, instead, she turned to the Captain.

“Thank you Captain, that actually went better than I had anticipated.” she commented.

“And Dr. Cross!” Glen told Miriam, even if she couldn’t hear him. “Your lecture was also excellent. Even if I don’t agree that a ship needs a Counsellor in the senior leadership team, you made a good case for them, and you probably won the argument.”

As the final few Cadets trickled in, Nkosenye spoke. His deep voice rolled out and across the auditorium. “I am Lieutenant Mthunzi Nkosenye. Chief of Security on the USS Merrimack, Mariner-class medium exploration cruiser. Our crew has been tasked with giving you some insight as to what we do. I strongly recommend that you pay attention to these lectures. The people giving them are knowledgeable and experienced, and you will not have chances like this often.” and he then moved to the far side of the covered table.

“Part of Security Operations aboard a star ship is leaving the vessel and escorting the ship’s crew on task on other vessels or planet-side. On the Merrimack, we refer to these operations as ‘Away Team’ missions. I am not presenting how to conduct these operations, as each is unique and requires the ability to be adaptable to an ever-changing tactical scenario. What I am going to demonstrate is someting I feel is lacking in what you are taught here at the Academy… the incorporation of data from other Away Team members into your security planning and execution.” and he gestured to the aid and the screen behind him came on to reveal the view looking down onto the top of the table. All that was visible was the opaque plastic covering the set-up he had designed.

“Here is a scale model of a likely scenario: Your team is planet-side. You have encountered a structure that you have to investigate.” and he picked up the Security tricorder and held it up. “Standard Security tri-corder. This detects motion, life-signs, energy sources. Current operational doctrine says this is all that is needed for security operations. It will show you this.” and he lifted the plastic. The screen now showed a model of a multi-room structure with markers indicating life forms and energy readings. “This is what you will know is present. And if you acted on that information alone… you would probably be killed in this scenario.” and he lowered the plastic and adjusted some things below it out of view of the observers and set the plastic back down. Looking up, he saw the CSO and said “I will now ask for the assistance of the Merrimack’s Chief Science Officer, Lieutenant Grey. Lieutenant, would you please come down and give a brief description of the standard issue Science tricorder, specifically what it is capable of detecting in a scenario such as this.”

• Glen, CO

William gave a look of bemused surprise as he stood up “Of course Lieutenant.” He smiled at the Security Chief as he stood up and made his way to the front of the Hall. Although he stood at an impressive 193 centimetres his thin figure made him nearly half the size of the hulking Security Chief. Turned around and looked at the full hall with the same smile, the arrogant smile that often accompanied scientists. He grabbed the tricorder and lifted it for the crowd to see as he opened the familiar device “A Science Tricorder can gather information on geological, biological and atmospheric information of its Scanner range. Utilized in the scenario described here the scanner will inform you of the size and structure of the location and the biological conditions. It can be used for detailed tight scans or general wide scans. It’s connection with our shipboard computer will grant me, the user, information on what it is we’re looking at” He looked back at the Lieutenant unsure if he should explain any further seeing as this was not his lecture.

CSO