Security & Spice

Posted on Sat Jun 27th, 2020 @ 11:27am by Lieutenant JG Haru Hernandez & Lieutenant Farizah Alani

Mission: Into The Delta Triangle
Location: USS Astraea | Dep Head Officer Secuity
Timeline: Shortly after leavng Earth...

{ON:}

Haru, having finished his unpacking headed to the Chief's office. He was always nervous about meeting a department head but as a grunt not an Assistant Chief." Obviously his record qualified him but a part of him was attacked by nerves ... not his usual way of being. He sighed as he exited the turbo lift and sprinted for the office. He soon found himself standing in front of the office tugging his uniform into some semblance of perfect and doing a last finger comb. He took a deep breath, let it out and rang the chime.

The power napping she had done a few hours previously had given Farizah a temporary relief as she fought the good fight to ward off sleep. There was too much to do and very little time to do so. She was completely untrusting of the majority of the ship's crew, and her own personnel in particular. The Assistant Chief position had been vacant. Her best option was to pull resources in from the outside and she had made the formal request prior to their arrival at Earth.

It was her request that had triggered the chiming at her door. "Come in," she said as she reached for a PaDD and ensure the doorway parted and allowed the man to come in. They, the powers that be, had sent her Lieutenant JG Haru Hernandez, a man with significant postings albeit his previous two were relatively short stays. "Please, have seat lieutenant," she said to the man "and tell me a little about yourself" she added.

He gave a nod as he entered and the a salute. When she indicated the seat he took at. "Thank you ma'am." He sat down. "This is my first posting as Assistant Chief. I have served in the capacity of Investigator and VIP guard. I graduated head of my glass. I am currently proficient in several hand to hand combat arts and just in my previous posting I was in charge of cross departmental training."

Farizah nodded. "Yes, I actually have read your personnel file quite thoroughly" she said with a small smirk. "I know. It's frightening when someone actually does there job. Though that's why I chose to accept you as Assistant Chief, lieutenant" Farizah noted. "Your investigative background is exactly what I need in my immediate subordinate right now. I believe you to be the ideal person for the position. You stood out."

"Thank you ma'am. I will help in any way that I can." He was a little speechless. Not many took the time to read his record. It through him a little but only for a moment. He wondered if there was something specific that required investigating. He was prompted into action. "I have been cleared by medical to begin my duties. I still have to get counseling clearances but will be ready to start my duties when needed."

Lieutenant Farizah Alani smiled. "Excellent, I am sure there will be some action, adventure, and excitement around the corner" she said reassuringly. "The Astraea is never short on that sort of stuff. I am glad that Doctor Morgan cleared you already. It should be smooth sailing with Counselor Styvek."

"Indeed." He studied the woman. "So how do you see my role, how is it that I can best assist you as your second in command?" He pulled out, from his back pocket, a pen and small notebook poised to take notes.

"A little old fashioned I see" she said noting the actual notepad. She herself just fetched a PaDD. "You have the authority to act as Chief Tactical Officer and Security Chief in my absence. If assigned to an away mission without me, I expect you to act as I would. Protect the crew with your life. Ensure the Captain is kept safe at all time. Investigate any threat to the ship or members of the crew. Do not mess up. Do not let yourself get complacent" the Bolian began listing a few things.

She looked up from the PaDD "Be very wary of the Chief Intelligence Officer and the Marine Commander. Both are assholes and both have been problematic thrones in my side. Be vigilant of them and be absolutely professional towards them. When matters or jurisdiction overlap, give them what they need, but ONLY what they need. Make them work for anything further."

"Understood." He wrote a few notes and then looked up. "May I ask for clarity in terms of how they have been thrones?"

She scoffed. "Marines are marines" she said shaking her head. "Bastard walked into my office and called me Smurf. The Chief Intelligence Officer? Thought it would be cute their first day to come aboard and plant 'fake explosive devices' and then belittle the Strategic Ops officer who had watch that night and then come to me to point out the flaws in security. Believe me, I know there are flaws in security. I am still new here and I am learning how terrible my predecessors were."

"Indeed. Then we will work together to show that we are one of the top departments. I will not let you down."

"I appreciate that," she said with a nod. "Bolians get the reputation of being pushovers and jovial individuals. I can be absolutely delightful, but I am also highly competitive" she confessed. "Those two came aboard and just flipped everything over. I am not pleased with either of them."

"I can understand that." He paused. "I am looking forward to working with you and learning from you."

She laughed at that statement. "Pick up on the good things that I teach you, but forget any of the bad things" she replied. "I usually play by the rules as far as they can get me, but I take a creative license sometimes, lieutenant, and if I start going down the rabbit hole to a place you aren't comfortable...don't follow. Report me if necessary."

His eyes widened. "I see that you practice absolute candor."

"I do not know about absolute candor," she replied with a dismissive gesture. "I consider myself a straight-shooter" she concealed her snicker at the irony of that. straight she thought. "I'm a Bolian, Lieutenant. My people are boisterous and flamboyant. We are great at telling you everything openly, but don't trust that everything we tell you is factual."

"I see. Delightfully confusing but I shall learn." He said with confidence. "Oh." He stood and opened a pack that was not exactly Starfleet issued. He unzipped the fanny pack and pulled out a small pouch. He zipped the pouch and sat down. "It is a tradition, and a commandment from my grandmother to not go to someone's office empty handed for the first time. I bring Agalian Lily tea." He presented the pouch to the woman.

Farizah took the pouch and smiled. "I think I like your grandmother very much," she said with a small chuckle. "The Captain has a bit of an obsession with tea. Chi especially" she added. "I think she likes something sweet and spicy that just lingers for a while and you cannot shake it from your mind," said Farizah. Probably why she likes me thought the Bolian.

He inclined his head. "My grandmother was a wise woman." His loss of her was still raw. Partly why he wasn't avoiding the counselor at this time. He missed her terribly and her funeral was still fresh in his mind.

"I'm sorry for your loss, lieutenant" replied Farizah. "I am sure you honor her greatly with your service and your kind gestures acting out o her commandments" noted the Bolian. "Well, I think we are all set here. If you need anything, just comm me."

"Yes ma'am." He gave another salute before leaving. He'd met the science officer, had his medical and now met his Departmental CO. Next it was the Counselor and the big cheese, or rather the CO that liked Chi. He filed that tidbit of info for later.

{OFF:}