Nobody's in Trouble

Posted on 15 Nov 2012 @ 7:46pm by Lieutenant Kiri Cho
Edited on on 15 Nov 2012 @ 7:46pm

1,721 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo, Deck 2; Observation Lounge
Timeline: MD 03, 1545 hours

[ON]

After Bal Kenyal had left the observation lounge only Maenad and Kiri remained. Maenad moved the PADD from her lap to the tabletop and folded her hands on her knees. "I'm excited to see what you do with the sensors, Miss Cho," she said across to her. "But I was unaware that this hadn't yet been presented to Commander Holliday,"

Kiri looked slightly confused, "I have only carried out work on what was possible this morning. I did leave it as a footnote at the end of the report," She was starting to worry that she had done something wrong now, "I wanted to have a plan to present to the Commander before going to him." Swallowing the lump growing in her throat, lifting her right heel nervously, "Is there a problem?"

"I saw the footnote," Maenad acknowledged. "There is no problem," Maenad raised her hand to reassure her. "I know that you have been used to running the department and that I gave you full discretion over the repairs, however presenting something such as a complete overhaul and upgrade to the sensor systems is something that you should have first taken to me, which I would then take to the first officer." She made a half-smile to reassure Kiri that she was not angry.

Kiri didn't quite know where she stood here. Maenad was the head of the Science department, but she was the ships Sensor Analyst, knowing more than almost anyone else about them. She had talked to the XO several times before and it was a project that she would be running. To her it did fall under the repairs, it was replacing several damaged systems with brand new ones. Kiri's eyes dropped, she must have misinterpreted the orders, what she was allowed to do, even if she couldn't really plot how. It was the chain of command, even if it did seem inefficient. Her voice still paled, despite the reaction she was given, "I, misunderstood, sorry sir."

Biting on her lip for a second before trying to recover herself, failing she looked rather childish, "I will put a full project report together, would you like and overview of previous sensor layout? I can also provide, provide the materials that I based some new elements on, though some are not yet published." While she didn't feel so inside she was panicking. She had planed to bring it forward herself and be able to answer any questions on it asked. For someone else to do it, she'd have to write a large report explaining everything completely. Something she was only planning on doing after she had permission to go forward with it.

"I would like that," Maenad tried to look confident for Kiri. "But, since you've already put so much into this, I don't mind if you take it to Holliday yourself. I will fully sanction it, and if he wants to know why I'm not there I will explain it to him." She smiled. Maenad thought it was ironic that she was giving a lesson on the chain of command considering how frequently she used to be chastised for deliberately circumventing it. "Before you speak to him, though, I want to know exactly what you're going to say."

Trying to suppress everything that wasn't what she felt an officer should be Kiri took a deep breath. What she wanted to put forward wasn't very complicated, "I," It was only just starting to work, "I would explain that the chance for repairs to the ship would allow us to upgrade the sensors to provide more accurate scans over a longer distance. That there is a plan to do so with all of the materials required that can be delivered within a seven day time frame. That all work should be finished in tandem with other repairs to the ship, then the increase power requirements that would be needed to operate the upgrades." Kiri was still rather twitchy, not really sure how she stood right now. If she was in trouble or not, if Lieutenant Panne was okay with her or secretly angry. She was distressed, "I would answer any questions he had about it, that the previous Chief Engineer agrees it would work, and." She worried, this was a personal one, "As if he would be able to help me with another helm training session."

"I didn't mean this second," Maenad was still smiling and gave a quiet laugh. "But thank you," she shook her head. "Tell me what he says; I still haven't Commander Holliday, but if he has any sense he'll take your recommendations." There was a brief pause before she added "Don't tell him I said that," her voice serious.

"Oh," Kiri looked rather sheepish, there she was misunderstanding again. There didn't seem to be much ground she could take so verbally she staggered forward, "Can I, can I tell him you approve of what I have so far?"

"Please do," Maenad gestured toward her with one hand. "And, like I said, if he asks why I'm not there, tell him that I've invested my full confidence in you and that it is your project, which I fully support." She looked outside for a moment and followed a passing shuttle with her eyes.

Kiri bowed her head, taking the several seconds of silence to try and collect herself, this time it worked somewhat. When Maenad turned her attention back to her Kiri tried a very weak smile, "Thank you sir," Another awkward silence came for a few seconds before she asked, "Is there anything else?"

"You're taking helm lessons?" Maenad asked surprised, as if she had just heard Kiri say it. "Are you going to find any time to relax?"

"Y, yes?" Kiri looked slightly confused was it just interest now or something else, "I have been trying to take some advanced training, so I can be more productive and improve my future prospects." As for relaxing, there wasn't a whole lot of time for that. Tucking her hands into her lap, keeping the same position in the room she answered, "I will attempt to organise a social event for a few people on the crew in the next few days. I am also organising a optional security training session for department personnel, which will be a change of routine." Neither of them were all that relaxing to her, they were meant to be though, to normal people. Becoming very slightly more informal Kiri asked, "Would you be interested sir?"

At the mention of a security training session, Maenad crumpled. They were a science vessel. It was only a matter of time before she was reminded of the more... militant ways of some of the crew. She supposed that after whatever had happened on the last mission, it probably made sense. As far as social events went... she usually just drank and went home. It was obvious, however, that Kiri was trying to make an effort, and it would probably mean something if she went - even if she weren't going to enjoy herself. "I will try my best," she said truly.

Kiri managed a small smile, things seemed stable. She wasn't in trouble, everything seemed to have worked out okay, even if she had made another mistake. Her stance became slightly less ridged, "Thank you, is there a time which is best for you?" This was the first person she had asked that had said yes, it was surprising.

Maenad frowned, looking at the table for a moment before looking back at Kiri. "No, I don't think so. Tomorrow is the award ceremony, and I need to spend the rest of today unpacking my quarters," she thought aloud. "I will probably go to bed early," she thought of the night before and the days that preceded it. "I haven't slept much this week," she admitted. Then, she abruptly shot back to the subject. "How many people are you inviting?"

Kiri's thoughts at once went to how little sleep she was getting. Between the mountains of work she was making for herself, being attacked by Klingons and now the horrible dreams she was having she hadn't slept much since joining the ship fifteen days ago. With the subject changed she escaped into it, "Ten, but I don't know who would come," Her social standing with most of them she regarded as low, "Would the day after tomorrow be okay?"

"Sure," Maenad nodded.

"Thank you, would you be interested in going for a meal?" It was Pola's idea really but it seemed the best, even her new counsellor seemed to agree with that. It was a burden on Kiri's shoulders but it was getting more hopeful if not lighter as she got someone to say yes to her.

"I will be happy to do anything you like," Maenad laughed quietly. "Yes, I would love to get a meal," she realised that she had not yet eaten lunch, and it was nearing supper. "In fact, I think I will go get one now, if you would like to join me. Unpacking can wait." She then remembered the report Kiri wanted to prepare for the executive officer. "If you have time."

Eating real food with people seemed to open a lot of social chances, it was quite useful. Ration bars seemed to be something of the past now she was eating meals with people, having not eaten anything since breakfast Kiri couldn't say no. Maybe she could even try and work on the report while eating with someone else, maybe. Plus Lieutenant Panne was her commanding officer, saying no was never really an option for Kiri to start with. Bowing her head again she nodded, "Thank you sir, that is kind of you."

"Good, good. Let's go," Maenad stood from her chair, lifted her PADD and led the way out of the observation lounge. Not being a particular fan of the mess hall - her experience with Kiwosk had already turned off of that place for months to come - she decided to go there anyway; her quarters were in no condition to have somebody over, especially her assistant.

[OFF]

Ensign Kiri Cho
Asst. Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Maenad Panne
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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