Reporting for Duty

Posted on 30 Jun 2012 @ 10:12pm by Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Lieutenant JG Kestra Orexil

2,354 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3 - Security Office
Timeline: MD 07 - 1730

[ON]

Ens. Theron Rhodes made his way down the corridor on Deck 3 toward the Security Office, next to the Brig.

He slowed when he saw Ens. Rice come out of the Chief's office. She seemed to take a deep breath and then said something. Theron then noticed that she smiled and walked away down the corridor. He could only assume that things had gone well for her during the initial meeting with the Chief.

Theron walked up to the Chief of Security's door and pressed the chime.

Kestra had just cleaned the used mug and moved back to her desk when the chime sounded again. Busy evening, she thought with a half smile, pressing the button on her desk to open the door. "Ah," she smiled, "Ensign Rhodes. Come in, have a seat. Would you like some tea? I can make a new pot."

Ens. Rhodes stepped forward and felt a comfortable welcoming from the Lieutenant. "Yes. That would be very nice. If it is not to much trouble, that is." Theron added at the end.

"None at all," she assured him and stood, replicating a crock of hot water and pouring the steaming liquid over the leaves in the emptied tea pot, before bringing a mug her nephew Dethan had made her over to the desk and pouring the freshly brewed tea in for Theron. "So, tell me about your time on Starbase 152."

"I was only at Starbase 152 for a couple days." Rhodes began, accepting the tea. "My previous posting was on Deep Space Five for the last 6 months or so."

"I know," Kestra murmured, refilling her own handmade mug and smiling at him expectantly. "We'll get to that. I'm interested in your experience and impression of the star base."

"Oh, I see." Theron resonded and thought for a moment. "I found it quiet restrictive, even for security officer. And no one seems to talk much. Quite interesting to me."

"See or hear anything interesting while you were on board?"

Theron looked slightly to the side thinking throught the conversations, "Most things were about current activities and family. Very little about work related items." He paused then added, "I would guess the most interesting conversation was about a Vulcan family member with twin children and them not wanting to admit of their frustrations dealing with the two small children."

She'd been hoping for more insights into the workings of the restricted sections, but he seemed not to have taken note of any of that. She nodded slightly, "You wanted to discuss your time on Deep Space Five?"

Taking the warm tea down from his lips and swallowing, he paused a moment for it to hit his stomach and give him a warm feeling all over. He then replied, "Not necessarily. It was an acceptable posting, just not the work I had been looking for." He looked down at the cup and then to said to her before she could respond, "Osch, this is very good." and smiled at her.

"Green tea, from Luna," she smiled back easily. "I try to pick some up each time I see it. So tell me, Ensign Rhodes: what sort of work were you looking for?"

"I am trained in security and tactics," he began. "I am here to defend this ship and crew from any hostile forces in any situation called upon and those crewmembers on away missions." He lifted the cup for another sip of the tea. He thought, 'I might need to get some of this for myself.'

Kestra cleared her throat over a small laugh, "Yes. I'm aware of the position's description. But you were a security officer aboard Deep Space Five as well. What was it that you found not quite to your liking?"

Theron opened his mouth, but stopped and breathed first looking both ways. Then said, "The security patrol that I was assigned to was standard constable type duty." He stopped and tried to choose his words well, "Nothing too unusual took place. Lost people to find, disturbances to break up, and a little VIP security from time to time, but I was hoping for a position to use my skills. Not just be on patrol." He looked down disappointed. He then realized that he had said more than he had intended. He raised his chin in confidence to provide assurance to the Lieutenant that he was ready for what might come their way. He then looked at the tea and took another sip.

She gestured for him to go on, sipping her tea. "Why don't you tell me a little about those skills."

Theron allowed the cup of tea in both hand to slowly rest in his lap. "Tandarans are known for their suspicious nature and/or non-trust of other, even our own people." He let that hang in the air for a moment as he set the cup down, then added, "I believe I have been able to harness that nature for a practical use. Be it investigations, or protective duties or assult on to a designated target," Theron began to be pationate with his comments, "I will use my natural distrust of the situation to make certain that I confirm the safety or tactical position," He paused a moment and became less intense, "But then, everything is relative." He reached down calmly and again picked up the tea.

"So it is," she concurred softly, sipping her own tea. "It sounds as though your skills might have been put to very good use on Deep Space Five, however. What exactly do you expect to find so different about your position on board the Galileo?"

Theron glanced up thinking through his answer. "It is not so much what I expect to find." He began, "I would say, it is more of not having the mundaneness of civilian issues to deal with." Then raising a palm to her, "Not that I am looking for action."

"Have you had experience, either on Deep Space Five or previously, resolving conflicts between researchers? Or moderating between command staff and science staff?"

"Moderating?" Rhodes parroted. "I have had some conflict resolution between team members when a discussion got out of hand and came to blows." He grimaced a little and added, "There was also a time when the gravity went out in a portion of the resident sector. I was tasked with coordinating any necessary rescues and had to calm a few residents who were totally unprepared for the incident. The counseling class at the Academy came in quite handy for those situations."

"Mm," Kestra nodded. "One thing you'll want to keep in mind here is that our science officers haven't necessarily gone through Starfleet training. Many are civilians, on board for the purposes of research and exploration, and one of our jobs is going to be resolving personality differences and command structure misunderstandings in a peaceful way with people who are extraordinarily intelligent and not necessarily used to working in a team structure. It's not a battlefield. We're peacekeepers, not marines; our job is to prevent conflict, so we don't have to resolve it. Mundane is a heavenly word here. If you find the task of mediation and strategy dull..." She looked at him seriously, sipping her tea. "Well, I trust you'll let me know. I have contacts with marine ships on the borders that need security officers hungry for action and battles. I could put in a good word should you decide the intellectual stimulation here is unfulfilling." She pressed her lips together, "What I mean is, I know what it's like to be the only one in a team wanting something other than the rest. I need people in my department who find the work we're tasked with stimulating and challenging, because if we do it right, we can help make a whole world of invention and discovery possible without ever needing to fire our phasers. That's the ultimate goal, in any case. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and act as though the best is what everyone is capable of."

Rhodes did not say anything immediately. What the Lieutenant said was a great deal to ponder. He began nodding his head slightly, then said, "I understand your point. I did not mean to infer that I was looking for combat or conflict." He stroked his face and chin with his free hand. "I feel very good about my abilities to assist you with the civilian conflicts that might arise. Advance planning and prevention is foremost in my way of dealing with issues."

"That's good to hear. Nevertheless, keep me apprised of how you get on. Star Fleet isn't for getting by; it's for being the best of what you want to be. Don't let anyone convince you different. There's no shame in looking into other avenues." She smiled, waving her hand gently, and sipped her tea. "Did you have any questions for me?"

Rhodes thought for a moment then said, "Not at this time, Sir. But, I would like to thank you for this opportunity. I will do my best."

"Excellent. I am glad to hear it." She set her tea gently aside and folded her hands on the desk. "So. Tell me how you feel about your experiences with telepathy and empathy."

Theron lent back in his chair slowly and a more uncertain look came over his face. He knew this topic would be soon coming up. He looked down to select his words carefully, then looking at the Lieutenant said, "The Tandaran people are brought up to be naturally suspicious. Most do not even develop close friendships. My experiences as a boy have been slightly different with influences by the ambassador close to our family." He then added, "I have experienced some telepathy contact at the academy, and have learned to prepare myself for it." He stopped speaking. He felt a twinge of uncertainty pop up. What he had learned to do was mechanically create a mental shield, by thinking about several specific mental pictures. At least he had been told that it would help.

"I'm not very familiar with Tandaran ways; I suppose that will need to change," she mused, considering him. It wasn't an answer to her question at all. More a side step, if anything. "What sort of telepathy contact?" she inquired. "And how have you been trained to 'prepare yourself'?"

Theron was still hesitant, but wanted to explain. "Prior to the Academy, I had no true understanding of telepathy, except what I read in books. While at the Academy I befriended a young lady from Betazed." He stopped to ponder the memory. "She learned of my 'fear' and was kind. We spent time together and she showed me how using fierce strong emotional pictures, like a 'Kata' would keep out most passing attempts to touch my mind." He looked directly more calm adding, "It will not stop an all out assult, but it gave me comfort to have a tool to defend myself with."

"I can give you more in depth training in mental shield building, if you like," she said, lightly rubbing the back of her hand. "Have you found yourself in need of that skill?" she asked gently.

"Thank you Lieutenant." Rhodes replied, "I would appreciate that. And no I really have not needed it, but it does provide me some emotional security to deal with my innate personal fear."

She searched his eyes. He didn't feel afraid. Hesitant, yes, but not fearful. "Telepathy scares you?"

Rocking his head side to side looking up in thought, "There is a level of fear or being scared of something that is socially bred into a person." Theron explained. "Overcoming that has been my challenge. There still are twinges of uncertainty in dealing with someone touching my mind."

The words were unclear. But then, she found words ofter were. They were only half an idea, after all. The rest lay in the mind's eye. Did he mean that he had been socially encouraged to fear telepathy? Or that he found the idea of a race of people who had been bred to use telepathy regularly as something to be feared? He felt... removed, somehow, from his own emotions on the subject, making his statement even more obscure. "Perhaps, while improving your shields, we can work towards finding a common ground on that score."

He gave that possitive nod, "I agree that is a possible technique for working through most dificulties." Then then added, "Thank you."

"I want you to be your best, Theron. Whatever that means." She nodded to him and retrieved her tea. "If that's all, I'll let you go for the evening. You're on Alpha shift. 0800 hours on the dot; don't be late, we'll get you oriented then."

Even with the personal questions, Theron felt his first contact with Lt. Orexil had been a warm and non threatening. But now, there was an uncertainty of protocol. She had dismissed him, which meant for him to graciously leave, but he really wanted another sip of that tea. He looked at the tea and then back to her, then set the tea gently down and said, "Yes, Ma'am." Standing he added, "And thank you for the tea." He glanced down at the intersting cups. He probably should have asked about them. Maybe at another time. "I will see you in the morning."

"We'll share another cup soon," she assured him, following his gaze. She could have gone on feeling her way around the issue and discussing until the sunset birds roosted, but he came from a culture that didn't come by trust easily. Better to let him adjust to his new surroundings, have time to think over what they'd spoken about, before she began to dig in.

With that Ens. Rhodes turned and exited the office. Once out side, he felt that this posting definately had great possibilities for him. He believed that he was up to the challenge.

[OFF]
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LT JG Kestra Orexil
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

&

Ens. Theron Rhodes
Security
USS Galileo

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