The Intelligence Department fills

Posted on 22 Jul 2014 @ 4:22pm by Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos
Edited on on 23 Jul 2014 @ 10:24am

1,395 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo - Chief Intelligence Officer's Office
Timeline: MD6, 1600 hours

ON:

Amynta Markos frowned as she stared at the file in front of her on the PADD, her blue eyes narrowed. She wore her hair up today, her makeup was impeccable, from the grey eyeshadow and black eyeliner to the almost peach lipstick. A perfectly painted nail tapped the PADD before she sat back, her legs crossed in her skirt uniform. So this was her new assistant. T'Vanna Sophia Murray was a young halfbreed. Vulcan and human, a mix that seemed to work with only some disadvantages. And judging by her profile picture, she had gone more human than Vulcan. Looking at her new Assistant's age made Markos feel old. Very old. "She better be good," she said to herself, with annoyance.

While her new boss was browsing through her file, T'Vanna had taken only a few minutes to check out her new quarters after meeting with the XO, and freshen up a little. She tired easily the last week or so and she just needed a moment to herself. After a few minutes, she headed down to the intel section, tugging down the flowing tunic of her maternity uniform. Like the normal tunics it still had the annoying habit of creeping up but it was a hell of a lot more comfortable.

Tucking a stray lock of her auburn hair behind a delicately pointed ear, she raised her hand to press the chime. Unlike her boss, she wore no make-up whatsoever and her hair was hanging halfway down her back in a loose braid, with stray locks that were only just too short, falling out in slight waves.

Amynta looked up as Murray entered, watching her for a long moment. "Oh. You're pregnant," she said, looking back at her file. And there it was. Well. Nice enough. "How long maternity leave are you planning to take?"

"Yes ma'am I'm pregnant," T'Vanna replied, just not rolling her eyes at the woman for stating the obvious. "I have none planned ma'am, I guess that depends on how well the delivery goes. Maybe a day or two to recover? I honestly don't know, I've never done this before and I don't know what's acceptable. There's no-one else involved in this ma'am, just me."

Amynta stopped and watched her, taking her in for a moment. "You will need more than that," she said bluntly. "Regardless how quickly you...snap into shape. So be realistic," she motioned for her to sit. "My name is Markos, I am your Chief. You'll be working with me in what is a rather small department. We blend in with the Diplomats, however that works. Now, do you have any questions regarding the job?"

"I just need to know what is expected of me ma'am," the younger woman answered smartly, "I'm well aware I don't have a whole lot of experience as I only graduated a few months ago, but I excelled in diplomacy at the academy."

"I am sure that will come very handy," Amynta said dryly, watching her for a long moment. "Just...do as you are told, delegate anything you need delegating and if there is anything unusual, you tell me."

"Of course." T'Vanna stood uncomfortably, wondering if she should just sit down somewhere despite not having been invited to. "Do you have any questions for me?"

Markos watched the other woman for a long moment before shaking her head. "No. Not anyone that has anything to do with work anyway. So you can either sit down if you feel chatty, or go somewhere else. Choice is yours, Murray."

T'Vanna sat, if only to ease her body for a little while. She grimaced visibly as her baby chose to go turnabout right that instant. "This is the first time I'm not getting asked about my child's father, why he isn't here," she admitted. "Everywhere I go, I go alone...and I get looks, or questions, or whispers....and yet you asked none."

"Because it is none of my business," Amynta said as she met her eyes. "We're not bound by any rules that says my nose belongs all up your business. All I care about is how long you can work and that when you return to work after your maternity leave you stay focused on the work." She paused before shrugging, standing and moving to the replicator. "You should have something to drink."

"Tea please," T'Vanna replied without pause, "you're right about my privacy but isn't it a CIO's job to know all about everyone?" She shifted a little, trying to get comfortable. "Even on leave there's no doubt I can work from my quarters or sickbay if I have to. I'm pretty determined not to let this affect how I operate. I didn't plan on getting pregnant, but that's not the child's fault is it. Somehow, anticonception failed, and I'm stuck with the consequence. The father does not know, I never saw him again nor do I intend to tell him."

"Again, I told you, none of my business," Amynta's voice got sharper as she frowned, replicating some tea for her and coffee for herself. "We're not sisters or friends. I don't care." She carried the tea over and placed it down before taking her own coffee and sitting down. "And you don't have to justify yourself to everyone who asks. Tell them to bugger off."

T'Vanna noted the sharp tone. "I never said we were sisters or friends. The first is a biological impossebility. There's no reason for you to snap at me, you told me to chat...I am trying to uphold a conversation."

"I did not realise you were going to spill your life story, or else I would have rephrased that," Markos replied as she met her eyes, her own cool. "I thought that you would talk about your scores at the Academy, or areas of interest within Intelligence."

"I'm always open to learning new areas, after all an intelligence officer has to be versatile, but my experience lies with diplomacy and just observation. I love to swim though I never made the cut for the swim team. Call it prejudice but I was told Vulcans were no waterrats and therefor I didn't fit in the team."

Arching an eyebrow at that, Amynta sipped her coffee as she considered it. "I see. Well, I hope that taught you to prove them wrong at each and every opportunity." She watched the girl and frowned. She was only a couple of years older than her son. And that was a frightening prospect for Amynta.

"Quite," T'Vanna grinned, baring perfect white teeth in the process. She sipped her tea, watching the woman in return, studying her. "And I intend to prove to everyone that I can be a single mother, and still excell at what I do."

"Hmm..." Amynta took a deeper breath before sighing. "Time will tell on that one. Determination helps apparently."

"Fortunately, it does. With your permission ma'am, I'd like to go and get settled...I still have to see the CMO too..."

"Of course," Amynta nodded, her eyes going towards her work again. She had enough to do and was quite glad to have this practical social conversation over and done with. She really could not believe how young people on this ship were. "I will see you on your next shift. Meanwhile, you can send me any questions you have via messenger."

"Yes ma'am." Stiffly, T'Vanna rose to her feet. "One more question ma'am...does this vessel have a pool?"

She looked at her, with clear surprise. "Why the hell would a ship the size of a makeup bag have a swimming pool?" she shook her head, with a frown. "When most of us are piled on top of each other like corpses. No, honey. This vessel has no pool. But there is a holodeck so you can book in and create one if that'll please you."

"It would," T'Vanna smiled. "Thank you ma'am. I'll see you tomorrow..."

Amynta gave a weak nod and picked up her PADD, starting to read the latest reports distributed to the Federation ships in the area, letting her new Assistant Chief see herself out.

Shaking her head at the rudeness of the woman, T'Vanna waddled out of the office.

OFF:

Ensign T'Vanna Murray
Asst Chief Intel Officer
USS Galileo

&

Lt. Amynta Markos
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

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