Being Accountable

Posted on 06/16/2020 @ 7:38pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers & Lieutenant JG M'Raul Kothar III

Mission: S1E3: Visit to Starbase 375
Location: Captain's Ready Room, Deck 1
Timeline: Day 2 at 1030

After sending word for his First Officer to join him, Cian prepared a pot of strong dark tea and settled in on the couch to think things over while he waited for J.J. He rested his head on the back and stared blankly up at the ceiling while his agile mind began working the problem.

Lieutenant Joral arrived outside of the Captain's Ready Room and hit the chime, though it was unnecessary. As soon as he approached the proximity detector would have probably alerted the Captain to a guest. Nevertheless, he waited for a response and for the doors to open.

"Enter," Cian called out and quietly added, "and this had better not be about further antics on the part of the children."

Walking through the parting doors, J.J. spotted the Captain and gave the man a small salute. "Captain," he said addressing the man with a high level of professionalism, before easing off a bit. "Tea or coffee?" he asked the man.

"Tea," Cian answered. "Strong and fresh brewed. Feel free to pour yourself a cup. You can sit here with me while I call in Security to discuss their part in last night's events."

J.J. looked at Cian and smirked. "Uh, just tea? I have a feeling you and I both might need something a little stronger than tea when this is all said and done, Captain" the Trill said as he poured himself of the freshly brewed tea. "I'm glad security is coming in. I have some concerns about kids with codes."

"You and me both," Cian said with a tired sigh. "Not to mention how the party going on in the cargo bay was completely missed by the patrols. If they can miss that, I fully expect to see someone looming over my bed with a phaser rifle pointed at my nose one of these nights." He leaned forward and poured himself a cup of tea, taking in a deep breath as he did so. He flashed a glance at his first officer. "I'm annoyed. Does it show?"

"Only when you close your eyes and have that bit of forehead wrinkling going on, and a bit of heaviness underneath your eyes. Does not look like you've had a proper night's sleep in a while" replied J.J. My previous host would say 'That's the markings of a CO'" added J.J.

Cian nodded and took a cautious sip of tea. "I did have that midnight meeting with all of the parents on board who somehow managed to forget where security was." He grumbled softly over the top of his teacup. "I'm used to doing without sleep. Just not usually happy about it."

The door chimed, Tahlin on the other side of it. She wasn't looking forward to this meeting, not one little bit. Still, as head of department, she had to endure a dressing-down. Better her than her people getting black marks on their records. At least she had answers for the captain, and that was more than she'd had at the meeting with the parents. Mendyar had come through, confirming her suspicions.

"Enter," Cian called out. The relaxed posture was deceptive at best though the tic in his jaw had subsided. He looked up as his Chief of Security enter and nodded by way of greeting. "Lieutenant, we'll wait for Lieutenant Kothar to join us before we begin."

The Caitian was only a few steps behind. "No wait necessary" he said stepping across the Threshold. "Lieutenant M'Raul Kothar reporting as requested" the Caitian added.

"So," Cian said quietly, "just how was it that a group of children managed to take over the cargo bay last night without anyone being the wiser?"

"It appears that two of the children watched their parents closely, either while those parents were engaged in work in their quarters, or while following them around. Its not entirely unusual--there have been a few times where children have been known to be around their parents while at work. Its been a ship-by-ship decision whether or not to allow it. They were able to enter computer codes to get access to the cargo bay, and to get material for their little... Party." Tahlin's tone was brusque, frustration and annoyance evidence. "With the biolocks installed, and I'm assuming we won't be allowing the kids to be with their parents while on-duty, I don't expect any more direct problems. However, that doesn't excuse the fact that Security was not attentive. We should have been keeping an eye on things... And we weren't."

The Caitian was in agreement and felt responsible. His tail flicked and his hair stood up a bit. "These children could have been harmed. They were careless and insubordinate" he said with a growl. "Caitian children would not behave in such a manner."

J.J. scoffed. "Unfortunately, Lieutenant, we are not dealing with Caitian children" the First Officer replied. He looked at the Security Chief and took a deep breath before proceeding. "Children learning their parents' access codes to areas as potentially dangerous as a cargo bay disturbs me. This was absolutely unacceptable. We cannot have children learning access codes. Today it is access codes, tomorrow what is it then? Launch codes for torpedoes?'

"My people tell me that, as a good amount of the crew were on shore leave on the station, they didn't think any incidents would occur. I've already had words with them about this, but I think it also shows a lack of leadership on my part, sirs," Tahlin told the command team, sorrowfully.

"Security is at fault here, and I am disappointed. I will not say otherwise, but these parents need to be held accountable as well. I do not care how high functioning their children are or what their IQs are. It is gross incompetence for any member of this crew to allow a minor to learn access codes. We are a Federation Starship, not an unarmed relay station" added J.J.

"I would have to agree, Number One," Cian said, directing his attention to the security officers before him. "I am disappointed in Security's performance as well as that of the parents. They were careless enough to permit their children access to sensitive information but were also blatantly lobbying for their children to be rewarded for their efforts. As I understand it, the children have the same access as any civilian boarding the vessel, that is to say, general information only. Why didn't the computer figure out that Mizi, let's say, was not her father?"

J.J. chimed in "I would very much like to know that as well. It sounds like an oversight and something a cyber security or computer systems specialist should look into. We need better security walls in place. There's no reason a child should be able to undermine us like this."

"We'll have to have Operations and Engineering take a look at the system," Cian said. "Maybe this is somehow related to the virus."

"Its possible..." Tahlin frowned. "I thought we got everything related to the virus, but we might have missed something... I can assign Ensign Mendyar to work with Operations and Engineering, though if I had someone else as good as he is, I'd put them on it."

J.J. looked to the Commanding Officer "Cap, I have no objection to this" the First Officer said. "We need to get things sorted out and the ship running smoothly. I think we can afford to allocate personnel as appropriate."

"Agreed," Cian said. "Have Mendyar work with Operations and Engineering. I want to know how this happened and what can be done to prevent such occurrences in the future." He paused to take a sip of tea and then continued, addressing himself to J.J. "I think you should also have a word with Ensign Seshel about allowing his daughter access to his codes. That was unacceptable."

J.J. nodded in agreement. "It was entirely unprofessional" he replied. "We won't have a repeat this incident" he added.

"And the both of you," Cian said, addressing himself now to the Chief and Assistant Chief of Security, "need to come up with a plan to greatly improve the security of this vessel."

"I was going to suggest that, Sir," was Tahlin's response. "We'll work on it, and have something for you. Give us... Two days? Will that be soon enough?"

"Acceptable. I will be waiting," Cian said. "For now, you're both dismissed."

The Caitian said nothing. It was not his place to and so he just gave a nod that he understood. It was a small time table, but a necessary one.

(Final Tags)

A Post by:

Cmdr. Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse

and

Lieutenant Jodon Joral
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse

and

Lieutenant JG M'Raul Kothar [PNPC - Joral]
Assistant Chief of Security
USS Crazy Horse

and

Lieutenant JG Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security
USS Crazy Horse