Corridor Clarifications

Posted on 09 Nov 2023 @ 8:39pm by Master Chief Petty Officer Toren Vral & Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeysa Zeror

1,628 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: USS Galileo-A Deck 1 to 2 - Corridor
Timeline: MD19 - 1000hrs

[ON]

Toren gestured for Jeysa to lead the way out of the Conference Room, his antennae twitching with contemplation. Those commanders... quite the pair. Blake seemed to dance to a familiar drumbeat, while Tarin, well, she had a spark of hard mettle about her. Now, ambling alongside Jeysa, he recognized a golden chance to get the real lay of the land from a fellow crewmate.

"Petty Officer Zeror," he began, a wry grin pulling at the corner of his lips, "Now that we've left the august company of our fearless leaders, indulge an old Andorian's curiosity, will you? How's the climate aboard the Galileo? Do the shiny pips up top treat our ranks with the respect that is due?"

"Can I speak freely?" Jeysa asked as they walked. If Toren wanted the fair and truthful answer to his question she felt he deserved then it was the only option.

Chuckling softly, Toren's eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and sincerity. "Ah, there's the age-old question. Always a sign of an interesting tale ahead. By all means, speak your mind, Officer Zeror. If there's one thing I value, it's the unvarnished truth. Especially from those who tread the same decks as I do."

"The crew trusts Commander Blake, she has been here a long time and is good at her job." Jeysa began. "Has a good balance between sternness and warmness, a little quiet about herself but she's good with people and with a phaser."

Toren's antennae swayed slightly, absorbing Jeysa's words. "Sounds like she's carved out a good reputation for herself. And that skill with a phaser... always a handy trait," he said with a nod of appreciation. "And what of Commander Tarin? I sensed a bit of a steel edge there. How does the crew perceive her leadership?"

Jeysa squirmed ever so slightly. "She is..... different. we're still trying to get used to her, this is her first go at commanding a starship she has only been here two weeks. And it has been a very interesting two weeks."

Once again, Toren's eyes twinkled with interest, particularly picking up on the hesitation in Jeysa's voice. "Ah, the challenges of adapting to new leadership. Every ship has its rhythm, its heartbeat. Introducing a new conductor can sometimes throw that off. And two weeks isn't long to establish oneself," he mused, tapping a finger on his chin. "I'm curious, Officer Zeror, what makes it 'interesting'? Any tales you can share, or is it just the natural tension of adjusting to a fresh face in the big chair?"

"She's a little.. combative, quiet short tempered. The first thing she did was inspect the entire ship, we had just been emergency recalled back to the ship in the middle of the night after beginning shoreleave. So of course despite everyone's best efforts everyone failed because we had no chance to actually do anything before the inspection." Jeysa paused as they reached a turboift, the doors opened an a crewman stepped out.

Stepping inside she called out their deck request before continuing. "She's making the officers do mandatory Pt together in a morning and not cutting anyone any slack at all, She's planning on making it mandatory for everyone even the civilian's. She put Ensign Mimi in sickbay after she collapsed from heat stroke from hiking up an active volcano."

Toren's antennae tilted forward, a clear sign of his deepening interest. He took a moment, letting the turbolift hum around them as he absorbed what Jeysa had shared. When he spoke, his voice was measured and thoughtful, "An active volcano, you say? That's a... bold choice for PT," he began, rubbing his chin. "Adapting to a new command style can be tough, especially if it's vastly different from what the crew is accustomed to. Sounds like Commander Tarin has a very particular vision for this ship and its crew. I've seen commanders like that in my time—those who believe that pushing hard and fast can whip a crew into shape. But such methods can often result in... unintended consequences."

Pausing for a moment, he looked directly into Jeysa's eyes, searching for any more information she might be holding back. "You've been aboard the Galileo for a while now, Officer Zeror. Do you think there's something more driving Commander Tarin's actions? Perhaps something from her past postings or experiences?"

"It's hard to tell, she is definitely less open than Captain Saalm was."Jeysa replied. "I know she was at the Academy when the Breen attacked earth in the Dominion War, she lost a lot of friends there."

Toren's features softened with the mention of the Breen attack—a moment in history that had left scars on many, a shared point of pain across the stars. "Loss like that, it can change a person," Toren acknowledged quietly, "forge them in fire, make them tougher, sometimes too tough." He glanced at the deck indicators as they ascended, buying a moment to collect his thoughts.

"The Dominion War taught us all some hard lessons," he continued, turning back to Jeysa. "Some commanders come out of it thinking the only way to protect their crew is to be as unyielding as duranium. It can make them mighty difficult to read, and even harder to serve under."

As the gentle hum of the lift surrounded them, he offered a small, encouraging smile to the younger officer. "All of us have roles to play on this ship. There's more than one way to steer a ship, even if you're not the one at the conn. If you ever feel like things are going astray or if crew morale dips too low, give me a shout." Pausing for a beat, he then asked, "Has the crew given any feedback on Commander Tarin's leadership so far? Anything I should be made aware of?"

"The announcement that Captain Saalm wasn't coming back for a while longer so Tarin was taking over more permanently was not met with much enthusiasm amongst the crew." Jeysa said, having faced towards the rest of the crew during the change of command ceremony the displeasure on the crews faces was evident. "She has made some unusual command decisions."

Toren's antennae twitched slightly, a sign of his heightened curiosity. "Unusual decisions, you say?" he pressed gently, his gaze unwavering. "It's important for me to understand the lay of the land here, Officer Zeror. If there are any particulars you can share about these choices, it'll help me better serve this crew and maybe find a bridge between the Commander's vision and the crew's needs. Leadership is as much about listening as it is about giving orders, after all." He folded his arms, giving Jeysa a reassuring nod, inviting her to continue.

"She's shaking up the establish routine too much too quickly, running the ship too much like a military. it's affecting moral and performance." Jeysa explained. "And then of course she let Ensign Mimi and a Klingon Captain all but fight to the death, the Klingon Captain was murdered that night..... it wasn't Mimi." She added the last few words very quickly.

Raising an eyebrow, a blend of concern and intrigue knitted across Toren's features. "Fight to the death? Now that's... not standard Starfleet procedure, last I checked," he remarked dryly. Then, after a brief pause to let Jeysa's words truly sink in, he continued, "This Ensign Mimi sounds like quite the character; I'll have to meet her."

Taking a deep breath, he said, "You know, Starfleet's primary function isn't to be a military force. It's about exploration, diplomacy, and understanding. We defend when necessary, but we shouldn't run our ships like wartime battalions in times of peace." He then added with an assertive tone, "As the Chief of the Boat, it's my duty to ensure the well-being of the crew. My door is always open. Please let the everyone know they can come to me with their concerns. It's important to maintain open communication, especially during challenging times."

"I will be sure to let them all know." Jeysa said as the turbolift doors opened and she led Toren down the corridor. "Ensign Mimi has a history with klingons, a painful one.

Toren followed Jeysa out of the turbolift, his antennae twitching as he registered her last remark. He glanced sidelong at Jeysa, ensuring his tone carried a mix of approachability and presence. "I appreciate you sharing, Officer Zeror. It's pieces of the puzzle like this that help us see the bigger picture." Toren paused at the threshold of the corridor leading to his quarters, then turned to Jeysa with a firm nod. "Make sure Ensign Mimi knows she can speak with me if she needs to. Sometimes a listening ear can do a world of good, especially for those with heavy histories."

"I think she got a lot of her issues resolved with the Klingon Captains death....." Jeysa went to continue but then they arrived at the quarters assigned to Toren. "These are yours."

"Thank you, Officer Zeror," Toren said as he gave a brief survey of the quarters before turning back to her. "Death can bring closure, but it can also reopen old wounds or complicate things in ways we don't expect. I'll reach out to Ensign Mimi in time."

He stepped across the threshold of his new quarters, then looked back at Jeysa. "And remember, my door is always open — to you, to Ensign Mimi, to any crew member. We're all in this together." With a final nod, he added, "If there's nothing else, you're dismissed. And thank you again for the briefing."

[OFF]

===

Master Chief Petty Officer Toren Vral
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Vala]

Po3 Jeysa Zeror
Captain's Yeoman
USS Galileo-A
[Pnpc Mimi]

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