Ebb & Flow (Part 1)

Posted on 09/25/2020 @ 12:36pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers

Mission: S2E2: The Auction House
Location: USS Crazy Horse | Deck 03 | Captain's Quarters
Timeline: Day 40 at 0700

As the Captain's right hand, the starship Crazy Horse's Executive Officer, there was more being 'Number One' than simply sitting on the Bridge with the Captain, and at time by oneself. There were the away missions, of course, the First Officer more often than not took the lead on such matters. Skunil and the moon had been prime examples of that facet of the duties of a First Officer; however, it was not all action and posture. There was also the personnel aspect of the position. As the 'XO' of the Crazy Horse, Jodon did more than wait to lead an away team or be a heart beat away from assuming command of the starship. He was also the head of the starship's personnel matters.

This had a lot more small details of extra responsibilities than simply being someone that all the crew should look up to. It meant: being briefed by the Chief Medical Officer whenever a member of the crew was not being responsible with their own health, when there was anything potentially dangerous aboard especially medical cargo, and just a general wellness report on the crew to ensure they were all fit and able to perform their duties and be assigned to away teams as needed. Jodon's interactions; however, extended beyond that of just one Department Head. He met with every department head or at the very least read over their reports frequently. Materials and Logistics in the form of the Supply or Logistics Officer always had a PaDD with a list a mile long of supplies that had been requested by various departments. J.J. would have to read through them, prioritize what he could, and eventually sign off with his approval. When people did not get what they wanted when they wanted it, ultimately, it would rest on Jodon to quell those storms.

The First Officer and Ship's Counselor were two that met more often than anyone else aboard the starship as their duties overlapped when it came to personnel. There were the monthly personnel reports, looking at who was eligible for promotion, who had 'strikes' on their service records, and a general notice of crew morale. Who was happy and who was unhappy. Sometimes, it meant examining why someone was several times overlooked for a departmental promotion or why a Petty Officer 3rd Class had been aboard a few years and never progressed in rank. Additionally, it was J.J.'s job to know as much as he could about every individual serving aboard. That was no easy task even on a Luna class starship. When transfer requests came in, it was often J.J. who had a look at them, approving and disapproving in some cases though when it came to outside requests to transfer aboard, Captain D'Anvers ultimately oversaw that though J.J. would offer as much support and advice as he could.

Lieutenant Jodon Joral approached the Captain's Quarters armed with a PaDD and his chipper disposition. He hated bothering the Captain when the man was off duty, but when you serve long enough or climb quickly enough to make Commanding Officer or Executive Officer, you were stripped of the luxury of being on duty and off duty. It was more like being a medical officer in that you were either were on duty or on call. Jodon had recently met with the ship's Counselor, Dr. Richards, and had gone over personnel performance. There were also some new faces aboard, and unfortunately, one important individual who had to disembark from the USS Crazy Horse for unforeseeable reasons.

J.J. pulled at his uniform collar and loosened it a bit. He took a deep breath and pressed the chime. He knew the Captain was likely in his quarters, he had checked with the ship's computer only ten minutes or so ago and the Captain's location was confirmed. When Jodon heard the Captain's voice granting him access, he stepped forward as the doorway parted revealing a glimpse into the Captain' living quarters. J.J. did not miss a beat "Apologies Captain, I have some personnel matters that I need to discuss with you and they could not wait any longer" the Trill said as he kept his eyes locked onto the PaDD in his hand.

"Of course," Cian said as he stepped back, "please, come in." His quarters ran on a color scheme, soft grays and white with the occasional pop of turquoise, but none of that was his doing. Starfleet decorated and he accepted their judgement. His influence could be felt in the books on the shelves and the ones of the coffee table. There was the long read (Monkey: The Journey to the West) and the shorter read (Soul by Soul: Life in the Orion Slave Markets) and the required reading, a PADD with a variety of reports, briefs, and analyses). There was the ever-present coffee cup, sans coaster, and soft, classical music playing in the background. His private office was to the left where the edge of a crowded desk could be seen and to the right, his bedroom, where the bed was made though hardly ever to the satisfaction of anyone other than himself.

He led his first officer in and gestured for him to take a seat. "Can I get you anything to drink," he asked. He covered, because training and experience had given him the ability to cover nerves and any number of feelings and thoughts, though he still felt awkward standing there, meeting the man's gaze and resolutely refusing to let his own gaze wander.

"Have to love replicators," replied Jodon with a smile as his dark brown eyes illuminated at the offer. "Never run out of coffee or tea, well not unless we have power issues. In that case, what we have in my mind goes life support, engines, shields, weapons, coffee & tea" presented the First Officer. "Though I'd move the latter up a bit and forego the engines. Starfleet can come to tow us" added Jodon with a chuckle. "Sure, how about some coffee. I'll let you be my connoisseur and give me what you would recommend."

Cian laughed, warm and deep in his chest, as he felt himself relax again. The strange awkwardness dissipating in the easy give and take that he had come to expect from the man. "You know," he said he moved over to the replicator, "I keep supplies on hand for just such an emergency. My version of a go bag and yes, I can make a decent cup of coffee with what I have in there. I figure a captain without coffee might just present a crisis for the crew he had to lead. Death wish coffee, two."

J.J. continued as the Captain walked away to fulfill the request. "Dr. Richards appears to be settling in nicely as Ship's Counselor," noted Jodon as he skimmed through the information on his PaDD. "I have been meeting with her recently to go over crew evaluations, but more so I wanted to just let you know she did well on the away team to the lunar base. Performed well given the circumstances, though her inquisitiveness can be unyielding and veroucous" explained Jodon. "Sometimes, I feel as though her mind is going at warp 9, overshooting the destination a bit."

Cian brought the coffee back and set a mug, emblazoned with the Crazy Horse's logo, in front of J.J. before sitting down himself. One of the strongest blends he'd ever tasted, he loved the subtle notes of chocolate and cherry, and he found himself taking an appreciative sniff as he listened. "She's going to auction me off," Cian said, frowning slightly as he spoke, "though I drew the line at a two-hour dinner of my choosing." He smiled, a sly sparkle creeping into his eyes, "I shudder to think what she might have suggested otherwise."

"If she's bidding, Sir, I will be sure to out bid her," Jodon replied not missing a beat. "Doctor Richards seems to have a 'healthy' fixation of the mating processes and rituals of various species and civilizations" noted the First Officer. "It may be unorthodox, but in a pinch she makes a pretty decent A&A officer. I would have valued having her down on Skunil, and she's good for keeping Cash a bit more anchored."

"How so," Cian asked as he stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles, and took a cautious sip of coffee. "Mr. Cash seems short on control so I suppose there's some logic to it having to come from an outside source."

"Richards is quick-witted, sharp, and perceptive" replied Jodon. "She may have excelled in her field of social sciences, but she is also well-read and a decent linguist for a novice, better than myself in some cases though I do not present myself as a linguist. Mathematics and physics were my strong areas as a science officer, but the Joral symbiont has always been adventurous, eager to learn, and willing to adapt as necessary."

He could not help but groan a bit when it came to Cash. "Some plants grow exceptionally well in certain soils, take to it and become stronger, healthier, and part of an ecosystem. Cash has shown some improvements, but he still has a lot of personal and professional growth that he needs to show. Dr. Richards seems to have more faith in him than I am willing to invest."

Raised on a world where he was considered property and, like so many generations before him, had no expectations of more than a life of servitude, his rescue had provided Cian's restless intellect with an outlet. He too could be considered adventurous, certainly an explorer, with a hunger to learn and grow that took years to master. Cian nodded. "Counselors tend to look at individuals as problems to be solved." A grin flashed across his face, lighting the depths of his gray eyes, as he said, "If a counselor gives up hope, its time for Red Alert and Security."

"I have far more hope in Dr. Richards than I do in Lieutenant Cash shaping up and taking himself and his position more seriously, but I have not entirely given up on him yet. If Dr. Richards sees potential in him, then I will do whatever I can to encourage her to assist him, and do whatever I need to in order to foster his growth" J.J. explained.

The First Officer made a slight transition. "I am going to miss 1st Lieutenant Nachtgeist," noted J.J. of the man who had been yanked from them. "I was hoping he would be with us longer to help ground the crew a bit, not that the majority of them need it, but still."

Cian took a sip of coffee and then set the mug back on the coffee table, pushing aside a PADD as he did so. "Do you see the crew as raw then," he asked, head cocked slightly to one side. "You speak of potential and grounding as though they weren't already capable officers. Though I do agree that human resources has once again stolen someone that would have made a valuable addition to the crew. I will miss Nachtgeist."

"We're all a little raw, Sir, no offense intended," replied J.J. feeling as though he misspoke a bit or at the very least said more than he intended to. "You are forty and Captain, not just in position, but in rank as well now" explained the First Officer. "I'm a lieutenant. I take my position as XO seriously along with the responsibilities that come with it, but this is my first position in such a capacity if you push aside my symbiont's experience. The majority of our department heads are junior grade lieutenants, a few of them have not even been out of the Academy a decade yet. So, yes...I guess I am saying we are raw, but not incapable. I will always see the potential for growth, Captain, even in the most senior officer aboard."

"Forty," Cian repeated and wished, not for the first time either, that his quarters came with some sort of a fireplace. "You make that sound so old. Among my people, I'd be considered a young adult and barely ready to take on serious responsibility. And yet, with everything I've been through, I considered myself experienced, as does Starfleet, so its really a matter of perspective. There's an Earth idiom I recall ... one year's experience repeated ten times or ten years' of experience."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I am thirty, Captain," Jodon replied with a small smile. "My symbiont; however, is much older and much wiser and more experienced than I was prior to being joined with Joral" explained the First Officer. "Between the two of us, we could outlive most of this crew" added J.J. somewhat teasingly, but it was factual. "If Starfleet allowed it and kept us together, we could be a command pairing built for endurance."

"Now that sounds like something to pursue," Cian said, returning Jodon's smile with one of his own, as he reached for his coffee mug again. "And please, when its just you and I, how about you call me Cian?"

Cian thought Jodon reflecting on the offer. Captain Joral had been very uptight with her crew, worked them hard, and had always kept them at arm's length. She cared about their well being but never sought to become all that close with them, even her First Officer. Jodon; however, liked to see everyone on a more equalized level. He respected rank and structure, but always endeavored to get to know people for who they were off duty. "You may call me, J.J." he replied. "It is what my family and friends have gotten used to calling me given the symbiont's name."

Continued in Part 2

Captain Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant Jodon Joral
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse