New assignment

Posted on Fri Oct 16th, 2020 @ 6:11am by Commodore Mardel Shayron-Connor & Ensign Simon Hunter

1,268 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Refit and Restock
Location: Starfleet headquarters -Dan Francisco

On

Simon had not long been home to visit his mom and Dad, when he received word to report in at Starfleet headquarters, he guessed that it was to do with his new assignment but where was he to be posted? As he entered the building and approached the reception desk, he said "I am here to see Captain Conner"

The clerk replied "second floor and room 216" as she have a weak smile, Simon replied "Thank you" as he headed towards the Turbolift.

Mardel sat at the desk in the office that Starfleet had given her to use while on Earth as the Aldrin was unavailable at the moment. She was speaking with all the new crew being assigned to the Aldrin personally so that she could get a feel for them. She had some key positions that needed filling and knew that only the right kind of people would be able to fill those positions. There was a list of potential crewmembers on a PADD she was looking at and reading their records, when she was informed that a possible candidate for ops was on his way up. She set aside the PADD and clasped her hands, waiting for when the chime sounded. When it finally came, she called out, "Come in."

Simon entered the office and the door closed behind him, he said" Lieutenant junior grade Simon Hunter reporting as ordered Ma'am " as he came to a halt in front of the admiral's desk, as he knew that this could be something that he could be a or better than his last position.


"Please, sit down, Lieutenant." She said simply and smiled at the officer. "Is there anything you'd like to drink or snack on while we talk? The replicator is over there, please, help yourself." She had a glass of what looked like chocolate milk and a small bowl with a strange fruit from her home world of Orion in it. She didn't offer to share the fruit and was slow and careful how she ate it. It was clear from her bright green skin, dark green hair, and brilliant green eyes she was a full blooded Orion. She sat calmly and waited on Simon to decide if he wanted anything, get it, and then sit down.

"Thank you Ma'am," Simon replied as he moved towards the replication unit to get himself a coke and a bowl of mini cheddars, it had been the first time that he had been in front of an Orion. He thought oO I wonder what position is available on her ship? Oo as he tapped out command on the unit and waited for the unit to do it's job.

After a few minutes and his request now had been fulfilled, he returned to the offered chair and sat down placing the bowl on the desk, he said "So Ma'am, what may I ask why I was brought here?"


"My ops officer has transferred. I need a new ops officer, one that I know can handle the post." She said simply and thoughtfully chewed one of the ginjan fruits on her desk. "Please tell me, how you would react to a red alert situation where shields are failing, we are under fire, and we have hull breaches."


Simon looked back at his new commanding officer and replied,” close off the sections where the breaches are,” as he leaned back and the chair and continued “and try to reroute as much power to the shields to try and get us out of the situation,” as he hoped that he had said the right things to her.

Nodding thoughtfully, she looked at Simon again. "Okay, one more question and this one might be a little trickier. We are in the middle of a unfriendly situation where there is an exchange of fire. There are a lot of injuries and the enemy has taken out the main power generators. Sickbay is requesting more power to treat the injured as they back up generator was also taken out, but the main shields and phaser banks also need the power to stop more injuries. And one of the injured in sickbay is myself. What do you do?"

"If I am the highest ranking officer on the bridge I'll assume command of the ship," replied Simon "and get a status report from the bridge crew," he Continued speaking as he continued to ponder the question some more, He finished "and I'll take the proper course of action that are required after the team have given me the facts," as he looked back at her hoping that he had passed the test.

"I see. And if you aren't the highest ranking officer on the bridge? How do you decide where the power reserves go? The shields and weapons or sickbay and life support?" She asked again, in the same neutral tones. This was important to get the right fit, especially when it came to bridge crew.

"If I am not," replied Simon looking back at the her, "I'd transfer life support and power from the Decks that are not in use" he continued looking at her once more, he finished," And divert half of it to weapons and the other to Sickbay," as he hoped that this would satisfy her questions, He knew that the job came with risks and choices had to be made and as the chief of Operations he had to bake them and get them approved by those above him.

Mardel nodded. "I'm satisfied with your answers, Lieutenant Hunter. The position of Ops is open on the Aldrin. If you want it, it's yours. I just need to know I can count on you in times of stress as well as in times that are more relaxed. Contrary to popular belief, life on a Star ship isn't always life and death, it's a lot of boring day to day with a few encounters to break up the monotony. So, can I count on you?"

"Yes Ma'am, You can," replied Simon looking back at her, as he knew that he had passed the test and that his next assignment was to be the Aldrin as it's Chief Operations officer, He asked," Do I get to Pick my own team Ma'am?" as he knew those he trusted would be better than someone he didn't know.

"We have a strong bridge crew, Hunter. If you have someone you want to add in your department, you need to let Starfleet know now, so there is time to transfer them, if they are available. I'm afraid though that you might not get everyone you wish, Starfleet is sometimes funny about that. But you can put in recommendations." Mardel said with a wry smile. "Do you have any other questions, Hunter?"

" I have a few in mind Ma'am and they will be passed to you in the next few hours," replied Simon as he continued "and as for any Questions, I have none," he finished looking back at her, as he knew that now he had work to do setting up his team and getting or try to get those personnel here in time before the ship left.

Mardel stood and held out her hand. "Welcome to the Aldrin, Hunter. I will see you at the end of the month when we leave orbit. Until then, enjoy some shore leave time." She shook his hand and watched as he left her office. Then she sat back down and looked over the next name in the list of those she had to interview and welcome or not to the ship.

 

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