Reporting for Duty

Posted on Wed Feb 7th, 2024 @ 8:44pm by Lieutenant Katherine "Kit" Vulpes & Commander Jade Troconis

1,174 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Raising the Mast
Location: XO's office

"And so another day is coming to a close, it is almost time to go partake in a meal. Wonder what I will be having for dinner-" Jade paused as she heard the door chime indicating she had a visitor. "Computer save and end log" Jade rising up from her chair and moving towards the door. She stood back and called out "Enter," to allow the person on the other side of the door to step in.

Kit stepped through the threshold into the office, tucking the PADD under one arm. “Good afternoon, ma’am.” She closed the distance, extending the PADD. “The team seems to be in good shape. I’ve compiled a list of some needed maintenance items. I’ll get these items scheduled and into the duty rotation.”

Jade gave a nod and looked over the padd. "This looks well put together. And also welcome to the ship. I do have a question and it maybe out of the blue. If our Captain wanted to do something engineering wise would you be against that? Feeling that he should not be there?"

Kit inclined her head slightly. "Do something?" She managed a slight chuckle. "I mean, there's no shortage of items on the Honey-Do list, if he has the time to realign some plasma manifolds." She paused. "Is there....some pet project the Captain wants to do?"

"Not that I know of as of yet, I just wanted to see if you would find it strange if the Captain came down to help out with engineering chores if he was desirous of doing so?" Jade responded.

There was another laugh from Kit. "Commander, I think--" and she seemed to slip with ease into a hint of a Scottish lilt, "yer bum's oot the windae." Her hand reached up to run through her short cropping of hair. "I've never heard of a ship's captain having the time or inclination to do the kind of menial chores they hand out to the Ensigns and Cadets. I can assure you that I run a neat and tidy department, and I intend to make sure that all of those maintenance items are completed in short order." She gestured to the PADD for emphasis. "I can assure you that Engineering is in very capable hands."

"I do realize that, I am just seeing how the wind would be blowing, if you are one to chase the captain out of engineering if he was desirous of getting his hands 'dirty' so to speak." this was something that Jade certainly wished to find out. "The captain of this vessel isn't one who just sits behind the desk and leads that way. He is more of someone who prefers to get involved in some way."

Kit bit her lower lip for a moment. "Ma'am, if I can be honest--if the Captain has to come down and work in my department, then I'm not doing a very good job in my role of Chief Engineer. Now, if we run afoul of someone who puts a big hole in this pretty hull of mine, I'm all for it being all hands on deck. " She rocked on her heels for a moment. "But if I intend to keep this ship in tip-top shape-- and I'll be sure to let you or the Captain know if I need anything.--I need my department to see that there's a proper chain of command, and that means that I'm the top of the Engineering food chain, not my Captain."

Jade gazed at Katherine for a moment or two, as she thought over the woman's words. "Interesting, I see that he was right." she said musingly. "Call this a lesson learned." Jade drew a breath through her nose and let it out slowly. "I see your point, as you are the department head. And if things were to work smoothly in engineering, you need to establish that hierarchy. That's the way a smoothly working ship can run."

A half smile appeared, "Well, now that has been established, what are your feelings to where friendships are concerned between Captain, Executive officers and crew?" Jade wasn't upset about what Katherine had said. She found it rather interesting.

Kit blinked again. She wasn't entirely sure where the Commander was going with this line of questioning. "I've...never crossed a line, if that's what you're asking, ma'am. As Chief Engineer, I'll have to maintain a professional relationship with the crew members under my command. But I have no problem making friends, Commander."

"I am not worried about you crossing the line, I am just finding out where your boundaries are at. In the time that I have served in Star Fleet, I have seen crew, as well as command staff, become friends, the ranks being put aside when not on duty. When on duty, there is some form of line that is drawn."

Kit gave a nod. "I'm sure that as I get to know the crew, I'll eventually come to consider many of them as friends. But...maybe I should make it through my first day as department head, and focus on tackling that to-do list we have."

A warm chuckle came from Jade, "I agree. Is this your first time being a department head on a ship?" the XO settling herself back in her chair."and honestly I do agree with your assessment. One step at a time. Well, now that my odd questions have been answered, do you have any questions you'd like to ask?"

Kit shook her head. "No questions at this time, ma'am." She gave a smirk, which only seemed to raise the right side of her lips. "And I was the temporary Chief for four months on the Copernicus, ma'am, while our Chief was on maternity leave. She was the one to make the recommendation that I get the--pardon my saying so--"get the hell off her ship and go make something of myself". So, when this position came open, she sent in the transfer recommendation."

"Well definitely welcome aboard, I am looking forward to getting to know you, and working with you. This is my first assignment as an executive officer, and I didn't know who my captain was until after I got to the ship. Kinda amusing don't you think? And I was stuck in my dress uniform until I could find my personal things. It had been delivered ot the wrong quarters. At least it hadn't been delivered to the Captain's quarters...."

Kit chuckled softly. "At least my trunk made it to my quarters on time. I can't say that the dress uniforms are made for climbing around in Jeffries tubes." She paused. "Is there...anything else, ma'am?"

"That is all for now, and thank you for coming to report in. You are free to go." An amused twinkle in her eyes as Jade realized it sounded like she was holding Kit prisoner.

Kit gave a quick nod and smile, and left without another word.

Commander Jade Troconis
Executive Officer
USS Victory

 

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