Return to Work

Posted on 04 Feb 2015 @ 10:28pm by Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos

950 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Deck 5 - Intelligence Office, USS Galileo
Timeline: MD 43 - 14:00

ON:

Lt. Commander Markos looked over the file in front of her, dispassionately, before sitting back. First real day back in her office after everything. Inspection coming up. So much to consider. And with it, there was her Assistant Chief. Who was coming off maternity leave as well. Which meant a back to work session. She found them a waste of time...why should they accommodate anything, this wasn't the civilian world. But a part of her, that niggling part that at times said things to herself, it...well...reminded her that people were different than numbers or scenarios. That she should do this because it was standard procedure.

Didn't mean Markos had to like it though.

Well on time, and without her baby, T'Vanna walked into the CIO's office and calmly took the seat opposite of the desk. "Good morning ma'am," she greeted quietly, only a touch of nervousness about her as she watched her boss. She was eager to get back to work, but a little anxious as well. This was her first job as intelligence officer, and she had little experience in the field. Her field of study had been diplomacy, and she knew she had a lot to learn still.

"Morning," Markos said and as she met her eyes, arching an eyebrow. "This is just a back to work talk, so that we can adjust to your...motherhood," she added and looked at the PADD. "I take it Beta shift would still work for you? Childcare has been arranged?"

T'Vanna nodded. "That has been arranged," she confirmed, "and I have a
few friends to help out too when needed so I don't have to rush off anywhere." She smiled. "I have no intention of letting my daughter interfere with my duties, barring of course serious illness or danger to her."

"And if your child is sick, will you be expecting to leave your shift?" she asked, meeting T'Vanna's eyes. Actually, Amynta didn't care one way or another about that. She just wanted to know so she could adjust to it.

"That depends on the situation. And on how sick she is. If her caretaker can handle it then I can stay where I am. So barring emergency I stay at work."

Amynta nodded as she looked back at the PADD. "And you will be alright returning to a full shift, rather than a half one for the first few weeks?" he asked as she once more met T'Vanna's eyes, raising an eyebrow.

"I had the fortune of having a shoreleave fall right together with my official maternity leave," the Vulcan woman stated bluntly. "I'm ready for full shifts."

"That is good," Amynta nodded and looked back at the PADD. "Anything on your mind? Concerns, suggestions, ect?"

"Only that I don't really feel like a proper intelligence officer, given my background in diplomacy. I feel a little out of place and I'm somewhat worried about letting you down."

"Well, that does sound like you're setting yourself up to fail miserably," Amynta relied bluntly and met her eyes. "If you can analyse information and make a good judgement of what is relevant to the command staff, you should be okay. For more delicate work, I can use Hex until you're more....'comfortable'. I will give you plenty of opportunity to practice."

"I'd welcome the opportunity to practice," T'Vanna replied gratefully, "and yes I can analyze information well enough. But I think I'm more suitable to observe negotiations and gather information that way. When available of course, because I know we're not always observing negotiations."

"Very rarely, in fact. I never believed observing the diplomats working very useful. We need to give them the information beforehand, not afterwards," Amynta said and gave a weak nod. "But we can explore that if you truly want."

"I think I would be better suited for that yes, or maybe oversee the diplomats we have on board and brief them? Be the link between the intelligence department and as such, you, and the diplomats."

"I sincerely doubt the diplomats would want to be 'overseen' by you, or anyone for that matter," Amynta said and shook her head. "I prefer to do briefings as a whole. We will have to wait to see on the situation but I cannot promise you such an...supervising role. As my Assistant Chief, I will expect you to be able to take over my duties should something happen. If you are busy with basically managing a sub-department I doubt you will have the time."

"I do not require promises ma'am, only a chance to learn and improve."

"Well, that's sweet," Markos have a small nod as she watched the other woman. "And we will certainly do both of those. Now...anything else? If not, I am going to let you start reading over the reports we have gathered. Nothing special, just things to catch up on."

"No ma'am there's nothing else, except...I do have my own office right? A quiet place to work?"

"No, you do not have your own office. But you will use mine during your shift," she said and smiled weakly. "Unless I am here, of course. Then you have to either sit with me, or sit outside with the rest of the Support staff on the shift."

T'Vanna smiled back. "I'm not picky," she promised. "I can work anywhere, to be honest. Permission to get started?"

Amynta nodded weakly, the smile gone as quick as it came. "Of course. You are dismissed."

T'Vanna nodded, picked up her PADD and left the office.

OFF:

Ensign T'Vanna Murray
Assistant CIO
USS Galileo

&

Lt. Commander Amynta Markos
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

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