Seeing your boss

Posted on 07/30/2020 @ 8:53am by Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards PhD & Captain Cian D'Anvers

Mission: S2E1: The Skunil Incident
Location: Captain's Ready Room, USS Crazy Horse
Timeline: Day 38 at 1230

Siobhan entered the bridge and looked around. She could sense the unfamiliar atmosphere of a warship in the air, so foreign to her and also so exciting. The captain was not present, likely in the captain’s ready room, since this is where the computer directed her. She mentally recalled what she read about him in his files. A model captain. In fact, he was in the captain’s chair before she even entered the Academy. Smiling to herself, she stopped in front of the door to the room and looked down at herself to ensure that her uniform remained spotless.

With a wave, Siobhan announced her presence by engaging the doorbell. She inhaled deeply, reaching mentally inside herself and relaxing her muscles. She let a shade of smile appear on her lips, waiting for the doors to open.

He'd been surprised to find the Fair Winds making the journey out to him but then, Starfleet in all its supposed wisdom couldn't wait to take yet another of his officers and had been reviewing the new transfers' files when the chime sounded. "Enter," Cian called out.

The door opened and Siobhan entered relaxed, graceful, curiously sweeping the room before focusing on the captain. She stopped in front of the desk. "Captain. Nice to meet you. Lieutenant Richards, reporting for duty." She introduced herself with gentle smile on her lips.

Cian gestured toward one of the chairs facing his desk and took a moment to consult the communique he'd recently received. "I understand that you're replacing Lieutenant Fawkes as our Chief Counselor."

Siobhan sat down on the closest chair and crossed her legs. She nodded acknowledging the superior officer, observing him with her blue eyes.

"So it seems. I was hoping to be able to meet with him but that might not be possible. Either way, I was planning on checking the current status of the department later today to see if there are any pressing matters." She reported and paused briefly. "Unless there is something that you want to bring to my attention already, captain."

"None that I'm aware of," Cian said, "though I was assured, in the few minutes Starfleet gave him to say his good-byes, that the department records are up-to-date."

Siobhan studied the captain and the way he spoke trying to get better sense of him. “I am sure they are up-to-date.” She agreed. “Anything I should be aware in general then? Any quirks of your command? What do you expect of me?”

"Quirks," Cian repeated as he leaned back in his seat, with the index finger of the hand encircling his teacup, he rubbed absentmindedly along the edge as he thought. "Not a question I'm asked often," he said, one corner of his expressive mouth quirking upward slightly. "I saw from your records that this is your first time aboard a ship so things may be a bit different. Being an exploration vessel, we tend to be out on our own more often than not. Having just traversed the distance yourself, you understand that we're about 38 days travel from the nearest starbase and that won't be uncommon. So there's that to consider. We have no morale officer on board but there are a number of activities that the crew can participate in during their off duty hours. Because I haven't spent much time with the crew, I don't know yet how they'll handle that." He took a sip of tea and returned the cup to the desk. "As to what's expected. You'll handle problems that arise with the crew and participate in away teams as the need arises."

Siobhan had to agree already with some indications brought up by the captain. The long trip on board of USS Fair Winds was an interesting experience and it gave her the taste of what was going to come. On one hand, it was something she certainly would have to adjust considering her experience so far. On the other, she absolutely loved it. It was very much what she dreamed.
“How long do you expect we will stay out here, outside Federations space, captain? Weeks? Months? And what off-duty activities do you have in mind specifically?”

"We go where the work takes us, Lieutenant," Cian said. "The Crazy Horse hasn't been assigned a patrol route as yet. For now, we'll remain in the area to investigate the situation on Skunil. I haven't received final word as yet but I believe we'll be out here for some time to come. As for the rest," he spread his hands, palms facing her, as though indicating surrender. "I have no idea what the crew would like or not like. Tell you what, why don't you take on the duties of the morale officer and then we'll both know. Within reason, I'm fine with creativity but any events you plan will require approval either from myself or the first officer."

The morale officer. Cute. Siobhan squinted her eyes briefly.

"Will you participate in those activities? I ask, captain, as the isolation of the long range patrol will set in, everyone would be affected, including you. Bonding together, as the crew, as friends can elevate the negative effects. Please consider that unique nature of such assignment might require you to be closer to others, for your sake but also for their sake."

The academy taught, and Starfleet reinforced, the need for a separation between command and crew; Cian weighed that now against her proposition. "I can promise to attend such events and, if needed, fill the role of judge if one is required, but nothing much past that I'm afraid."

"I understand, captain. Thank you for that." Siobhan replied with appreciative smile and continued, her tone neutral. "But please take in account that us being so far away from home, unable to take proper shoreleave for extensive period of time, constant threat of being in the unknown, and possibly hostile environment, might benefit from you opening up a bit more. Maybe if not to the whole crew, at least to the senior officers. It's not that I am trying to interfere or influence your command style. I am merely pointing out that an assignment like this, in case of lengthy period of time, is more akin to old times submarine duty rather than regular surface vessels at the time fleets were roaming oceans." She finished with slight nod. "I wanted you to be aware."

"I will take that under advisement," Cian said. "And I appreciate your concern. If this is an indication of the care you will take with the crew, I think we will all be in capable hands."

"Thank you captain." Siobhan commented. "If there is nothing more..." She trailed off ready to stand up.

"Welcome aboard the Crazy Horse, Lieutenant," Cian said. "You're dismissed."

Siobhan stood up.
"Captain." She turned around and left, walking with a bit of sultry sway of her hips.

A Post by:

Commander Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse

and

Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards
Counselor
USS Crazy Horse