Who is this guy?

Posted on 09 Dec 2012 @ 4:53am by Lieutenant Theron Rhodes
Edited on on 09 Dec 2012 @ 6:35am

2,649 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo - Security Office
Timeline: MD 13 - 1945 hrs

ON:

Following the encounter with Chief Kiwosk, Theron felt it was very important that he meet this new Chief of Security for himself. With Chief Kiwosk being summarily dismissed without reason or violation, Theron was very uncertain of what kind of person this was.

Theron first went to his quarters and sat down behind the console. "Computer. Provide personnel file and history on Lieutenant J.G. Jeremy Stone, recently made Chief of Security/Tactical for the USS Galileo."

The computer replied, "Access to confidential file requires security access authorization."

Theron expected this, but it also meant that Lt. Stone would be notified that his file had been accessed. "Computer. Security authorization code - Theron Rhodes, Six three six, Theta Omega seven four three nine, Bravo."

After just a moment the computer chimed and the personnel file for Jeremy Stone appeared on the screen.

The carrier of Jeremy Stone was quite enlightening to Theron. It appeared that Stone has issues and quite a past to deal with. He realized that his initial oppinion of Stone was way off. He would have to approach this first encounter with openness and reservation.

Theron closed the personnel file and went in to put on his Starfleet uniform. He thought it best to represent the best of who he was to the new Chief.


Security Office

Entering the security office Lt. Rhodes nodded to the security personnel in the area. Looking towards the Chief's office, he noticed a chair in the doorway. Looking at Bree, Theron asked, "The door giving us problems again?"

Looking up from the table CamiBree replied, "Yep." Then added cautiously, "The . . ah . . new Chief is over there." Looking toward the main security console and brig cells. She then said softly. "Enter at your own risk."

Theron understood the meaning and only nodded. He turned toward the brig cells and walked up and even though the door was open, he rapped on the doorway.

Jeremy glanced up and saw the officer standing at the door then went back to working on his PADD. "Come in," he said.

Rhodes walked up to the main security console, came to attention, and announced, "Good evening, Lt. Jeremy Stone I presume. I am Lt. Theron Rhodes your Assistant Chief." He wanted to say, 'until you throw me out becaue I am Tandaran or 5 centimeters shorter than you.'

Continuing to work on his PADD Jeremy simply stated: "Lieutenant Theron Rhodes, Starfleet ident robert tom six seven seven two one eight eight." He made a few notations on the PADD then looked at Theron with just a slight frown. "Did I arrange a meeting, Lieutenant?"

"No, Sir." Rhodes replied, "I felt it important to contact you as soon as I heard that you had arrived on the ship."

Jeremy picked up his PADD and walked around his desk. "I have been aboard the ship for almost two days now," Jeremy said as he easily navigated around the chair and into the security offices. He went to brig cell four and activated the security field. "Computer, initiate privacy cell four." He tried to put his hand through the field but jerked back so hard, he twisted until he was standing sideways to the field. He checked readouts on the PADD.

Rhodes glanced at the cell force shield and back to Lt. Stone and considered, He may have been here for two days, but had not notified the teams. Very odd.

"Assistant chief?" Jeremy asked, checking his chrono. "You are responsible for beta shift, are you not?"

"Yes I am." the junior officer replied.

Once again Jeremy checked the time on his chrono. "I should inform you that your shift has been shorted by the departure of Chief Kiwoski." Jeremy failed to see the looks he received on his pronouncement. "I will have a revised duty roster posted tomorrow that should help cover the hole left by Kiwoski's departure."

Theron was irritated by the misprounciation of the Chief Kiwosk's name, but only replied, "Yes Sir. I will review that and make the necessary changes." Theron then added, "I just spoke to Chief Kiwosk within the hour."

"Within the hour of what?" Jeremy asked as he once again checked his PADD. He went to the security console and looked at an officer sitting there. "You are in the way," he said to the officer while checking something on the left side of the screen. Once the officer moved, Jeremy crawled under the console. "Computer, seal and isolate central security console."
He heard the beep and then opened the panel.

Rhodes felt just a touch confused by this attitude, but understood about his condition. "Approximately 45 minutes ago, I spoke to Chief Kiwosk outside the ship. Who informed me of his dismissal from this department."

With the panel open, Jeremy looked inside the console, not finding what he was immediately looking for, but then again, he'd been learning that just because schematics say a thing should be one way, didn't necessarily mean that as the way it was. Looking deeper, he found couplings that should have been easily accessible from the panel. Reaching in he began shifting them. After a few minutes he replaced the panel an crawled back out and stood, wiping dirt and lint of his uniform. He set his PADD on the console and typed out a quick note: Talk to Gamma shift re: cleaning duties

Theron could not believe how rude Stone was, basically ignoring him, continuing this maintenance check that the security/engineering repair teams needed to be scheduled to do.

"Reiniitialize main security console." He waited for confirmation and then the display to light up again. He flicked through several displays, seemingly at random and as fast as his fingers could call them up and then change them.

Theron remained passive and patient.

"Send a team around the Science labs on extra patrol. I am," here he seemed to almost shudder again, "guessing there was an unauthorized entry in one of the labs." He looked up then, noting that there were several officers that appeared to be lounging in the office that were more than capable of doing a few sweeps around the Science deck. "Make sure," he looked at Cambibree, "to check each of the door seals for proper lock and authorization clearances."

Petty Officer Christoph didn't say a word, but nodded her head toward the other security officer across from her and they both stood and headed for the door.

Stone added, "Look for anything unusual."

"Aye Sir." Christoph said and then cleared the door.

Then his fingers stilled and he picked up his PADD and turned to Theron and his brows furrowed while his lips pursed.

"Schedule a review of all Beta and Gamma shift personnel for two days from now. Full inspection, but on their shifts," he stopped for a moment to consider something, then looked at his PADD, "I am not paying for overtime."

"All right." Theron said more causually. Why two days out, he did not know.

Jeremy stared at the PADD for several long moments, listening to the relative quiet of the room. Frowning momentarily he made a note on the PADD jokes regarding overtime are not amusing, he noted the 'amusing' column had yet to have a single entry, he continued, "I've also been going over personnel files and may be making some other changes to the department duty roster before we leave Vega colony."

"I understand." Rhodes replied still standing and waiting to discuss the situation with Chief Kiwosk.

Having said this, Jeremy went back toward cell four. He stopped halfway there then turned to face one of the petty officers that hadn't left yet to do a sweep of the Science department. Jeremy looked at the scuffed and dirty boots, noting that Vega colony tended more on the orange/red shade so the dirty wasn't from there. The uniform was ill fitting and his hair was longer than allowed by several very noticeable centimeters. His rolled sleeves displayed tattoos on both forearms. "A full and comprehensive review," Jeremy said before going to the wall and began tapping. Once again, this is where the schematics said he should find the panel.

Lt. Rhodes looked at the other petty officer and motioned silently with his head, meaning for him to get out.

After the officer had left the area, Rhodes took a couple more steps toward Lt. Stone. With a touch more authoritiy in his voice he asked, "I would very much like to understand this situation with Chief Kiwosk. Will you explain?"

Stopping for just a moment, Jeremy blinked several times. "I'm afraid I am unable to explain it. Chief Kiwoski chose to continue his career in the Marines." Why anyone would decide to be a Marine, rather than a security officer, was beyond Jeremy, but there it was. He found the panel he was looking for and opened it. Again the schematics said what he was looking for should be...here. Jeremy continued looking through the open junction box.

"Send current uniform guidelines and dress code to all security officers, as well as rules of conduct regarding members of the security department. If the newest guidelines are less than three months revised, forward them to me as well."

Theron made a mental note concerning the uniform guidelines. He did not want to be sidetracked from the matter at hand.

Finding what he was looking for, Jeremy had to squat and attempt to reach in. No wonder engineers were usually so small, they didn't make a lot of room to make these things easy. This part, at least, only took a few moments.

Standing he glanced at Rhodes before returning to his PADD and running a diagnostic scan. Then stopped and turned to face the lieutenant. "By your appearance you appear dissatisfied by something."

"Dissatisfied is a word, but not the one I wish to use." Rhodes retorted, then added. "Understanding and respect are the words we should discuss."

"Is there some reason why we would have differing views on the definition of those words?" Jeremy asked, checking the result of the scan then squatting back into the junction box and making another adjustment. "If so, I suggest we make sure we are operating from the same dictionary. Then we should both have similar comprehension. I do not see why there needs to be a 'discussion' regarding something that is easily rectified."

With full authority and confidence, Theron stated. "As your assistant! I need to be able to back you in all situations. I am not here to disagree, correct, or change your mind. But, I need to understand you or. . .any disagreement and lack of trust between us will permeate our relationship."

Standing, Jeremy ran another diagnostic. "I see. Your reasoning is flawed." He flipped to another screen on the PADD while running the diagnostic and then another. "Making the presumption you are to remain in the position of assistant security and tactical chief, disagreeing with me is a vital function of the position. You correct inaccuracies of understanding and attempt to dissuade me from a course of action that you believe would be detrimental to the..." here Jeremy faltered...he always hated the term as it might apply to other species but thus far there was nothing better. "...men, women, agendered and transgendered personnel of the department." Jeremy went back to the diagnostic then pocketed the PADD so he could replace the panel. "That should satisfy your dissatisfaction."

Theron was uncertain of his own feelings at that moment, but answered with conviction, "If worse came to worse, I would request transfer before asking you to change your attitude or decision making."

Moving back to the central station, Jeremy cycled through the security fields, engaging privacy mode in a sequence. "Tendering your resignation based on a flawed understanding of your unofficial job requirements would be unfortunate." Jeremy slowed his sequence as he stared longer at the data coming across the screens. He also spoke slower. "However, if you feel that you cannot perform those functions adequately, now that they have been explained, I would not deny your transfer request. I happen to know that Starbase Six Hundred is in an open application process for an assistant chief of security."

Theron kept a straight face throughout Stone's dissertation and ignored the last statement totally. But replied with, "The issue is that you have not explained nor helped me to understand your dismissal of the Chief."

"I am afraid I cannot explain it to you," Jeremy said, stopping what he was doing and turning to face Theron. "I did not 'dismiss' Chief Kiwoski. I accepted his impassioned arguments and reasoning as to why he choose to continue his career as a Marine and relieved him of an obligation that interfered with that desire. He was not 'dismissed'." Jeremy picked up his PADD but didn't look at it. Instead he waited on Theron, to see if that was enough 'explanation'.

Theron had no idea where to take this conversation now. It was not his fight to go to the hilt for, but this was just possibly the first hurdle for the way Lt. Stone worked through things. He chose to difuse the situation a bit saying, "I will go now and look at the scheduling for Beta and Gamma shifts. I will schedule the inspections as requested." He said nothing for a moment with a straight face. Then added, "Will there be anything else, Sir?"

"Yes, Lieutenant, it is my understanding, that the previous department heads have been rather 'lackluster' in their duties as chief, or overall. This appears to have created a culture of lackadaisical approach to duty. Today, for example, per ship regulation, Beta shift begins at 1545 hours. You need to start your shift on time, not several hours later. You are an example to those who serve under you and should bear that in mind."

He would have preferred to go into a complete explaination of why he was not on time for duty, but Theron believed that it would not have helped the situation, just replying, "Yes Sir."

"Also, two more things. It seems that my confidential personnel file was accessed using security clearances that were either administrative staff or security officers. I trust 'curiosity' has been satisfied and no further need to access confidential files outside of a legal and proper investigation need to continue?"

"I understand, Sir."

Here he glanced at his PADD again and seemed to be reading from it. "Thank you for your engagement in this moderately disagreeable conversation."

Rhodes found that reading very typical of the person in Stone's personnel file. "Yes Sir. Thank you for your time." He hesitated for a moment allowing Stone the opportunity to dismiss him, instead of just walking away and seeming disrespectful.

"I apologize," Jeremy said, "my presence here intrudes upon your duties as shift supervisor. I'll go to my office to finish up a few things and then will leave the security offices. The only thing of note to report from today was the arrest and subsequent 'in lieu' release of a Rigelian crewman. Also the aforementioned discussed departure of Kiwoski. Also, I have just repaired the malfunction in the privacy functions of the security fields. They may be used again. I'm expecting Ops to stop by and repair the malfunctioning door controls." he thought for a moment then added, "Anything else will be on the shift report I sent to Beta shift. The shift is yours, Lieutenant."

"Yes Sir." was all Theron could say. He felt very frustrated and uncertain at the moment.

Jeremy checked his chrono as he went to the office.


OFF:



Lt. Jeremy Stone
CSTO, USS Galileo

&

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Asst Chief of Security
USS Galileo

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