Paperwork

Posted on Monday 7 November 2016 @ 06:36 by Lieutenant Commander David Tan

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Deck 22 - COO's Office
Timeline: MD9 - Morning
1020 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON :


Entering his office he could see Lysia T'Seng, his Deputy Chief, through the plexi-glass window separating him from the Department ...

He pondered the reasons she hadn't taken, or rather, been offered, the position of Chief of Operations prior to his arrival, and subsequent change of department. They got on well considering they had not known each other long. While it was well within his purview as the department Head to look at and scrutinise the records of his Staff, it wasn't something he tended to do lightly unless something arose where it was required, not that that had happened thus far.

Lysia had an excellent record, from her enrolment at Starfleet Academy, to her first posting at Utopia Planitia, then her request to be assigned to an active Star Ship ...

He looked over her biography, somehow surprised that he didn't know she had also lost her parents at an early age, though not in any mysterious circumstances, they had been blessed with two Daughters later in life after both having devoted themselves to careers in Starfleet, so for her to loose both of her parents within a year of each other, when she was only thirteen and Niomi nine, must have been traumatic for the both of them, but they had been looked after by an aged aunt who survived to see Lysia graduate from the Academy, and Niomi begin her in Law.

Niomi, four years younger, and for whatever reason, was completely against Starfleet and everything it stood for, but then again, everyone had an opinion and she was justifiably entitled to hers he thought. She was no dissident, just someone who chose to keep her feet on the ground, so to speak.

Sat at his desk he wondered vaguely if he was going about this the wrong way, much better to ask questions in his opinion, despite his perusing her Bio already. He stood and entered the outer room:

"Lysia, got a minute ?" he asked, his deputy handing a PADD to one of the Staff and walking over.

"Something you need ?" she asked as he moved aside to let her pass.

"Nope, purely social." he said, moving to the replicator and requesting two drinks, both coffee, white one sugar, he knew that much, then went to his desk motioning to the empty chair opposite and handing her her drink, "To be honest, I'm a little curious, and peeked into your record to see if I could satisfy my nosiness." Lysia grinned:

"You 'could' just ask you know." she said, smiling.

"OK ...."

Over the next hour he got to know a lot about Lysia, and was happy he'd taken the time to do so. Her explanation as to why she hadn't got his job was simple, she hadn't been offered it. not that it worried her unduly, yes, she wanted to advance, she hadn't pushed for a space-borne assignment to sit on her proverbial, but she was also patient, stating that in her humble opinion 'They will promote me when they, and I, am ready' ... She had made the mistake of requesting Utopia Planita as her organisational abilities were above average, and she had wanted to be on the proverbial 'front line' of development for the next generation of vessels that were coming off the line, but she had realised very quickly that that wasn't what she desired, thus her request to get on a ship.

In her view, one which David actually initially agreed with, Operations was a 'stepping stone' of sorts. You needed extensive knowledge of every aspect of a Star Ship, from Command to the Midshipmen and Crewmen who served on that vessel. Following his meeting with Commander Barstow when he changed specialities, he wasn't as sure about that as she seemed to be, but he wasn't about to say so, though it had occurred to him that his options were somewhat limited ...

"So you wouldn't want to take over if I was to, leave ?" he asked.

"Why, 'are' you planning on leaving ?" she countered. but he could only grin, given he had no plans at this point, it was therefore a rhetorical question only, maybe.

"What about your sister, any chance she might move over to our side ?"

"Wow .... You make what she's doing appear to be something against the Federation." Lysia said with a wry grin.

"No ! .... Far from it. She could go far in her chosen profession, I don't doubt otherwise, I just wondered that's all. The Federation needs good people and someone with her abilities could easily go far in the Diplomatic Corps."

"So you've been snooping into her records too." Lysia said as she returned her cup to the replicator and requested a refill, "Stop fretting Commander, I know you wouldn't have any ulterior motives for looking at my file, in fact, I would have been somewhat surprised if you hadn't at some point. As for Niomi, well, she's Niomi, and has always tended to do her own thing, regardless of 'advice' from her peers."

"So no other Family ?" he asked.

"One sister is more than enough in my opinion. What about you, you have a wonderful Family, why bring them out here ?"

"Well ..." he said, draining his cup and getting up to return it to the replicator, "To be honest, I'm not quite sure how much influence I actually had in the decision." he said, remembering the conversation with Lana about his leaving Starfleet and looking for a Civilian position, and her 'persuasive' arguments for and against. He was about to continue when one of the Staff came to the open door:

"Sorry Sir." she said to tan then looked at Lysia, "Lieutenant, we're getting requests from Stellar Cartography for use of the long-range sensors from zero three hundred to zero six hundred, they want to chart the local grou ...."

"I'm on my way." Lysia said, standing, "Don't you have things to do. You 'are' off duty you know ?" she said, motioning towards the door. David grinned.

"Thanks for the chat. Appreciated. give me a shout if you need me OK." he said, leaving the office and Operations .....



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