Initial Assessments

Posted on Fri Nov 12th, 2021 @ 1:48pm by Lieutenant Commander Tyrus Acevedo & Captain Taliserra Tigran

1,649 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Silent Scream
Location: USS Wolff | Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: 17th April 2395 - 0930hrs

As Lieutenant Commander Tyrus Acevedo walked into Taliserra's Ready Room and took the empty seat presented to him, he knew that this was going to be one of 'those' meetings. The sort where the person above you asks how you are liking the job or position, and ultimately is deciding if you are working out. He took the seat and looked at the woman who was his Commanding Officer.

Their working relationship was brand new, freshly minted, and only came about because of necessity. Ty's intended posting was obliterated by an attack, the hull scattered across the stars as part of spacial debris, and the USS Wolff needed a First Officer to embark on their next mission.

Starfleet solution? Ty needed to be assigned somewhere and the Wolff needed someone, anyone that was qualified enough. So, they took two half-empty glasses and experimented by pouring the two together. Ty was Wolff's new Executive Officer at least for the interim. How things worked out would probably make the difference of it being more of a commitment or a fling.

"So..." he began letting the stress of the vowel linger for a moment too long. "Are you ready to throw me out the airlock yet, or have I been doing an adequate job so far on our little mission together?" He flashed a smirk at the Trill.

"Well you've been here ten days and I haven't had any complaints about you yet Commander. That's a good start." Taliserra replied with an equal smirk. It had only been a short time but she already had the feeling their relationship wasn't going to be quite the typical one.

"Congratulations to us both then," he replied. "Ten days and I haven't had anyone report me for being terrible. I am surprised the Chief Engineer hasn't added me to her list of people she wants to throw onto a garbage scow," teased Ty. "And ten days in, pretty smooth so far."

"However ten days of simple cruising with little to do is not too difficult," Taliserra said, despite her best efforts it had been a very boring time. "your real challenge will start when we get to Arbazan."

Ty nodded. "Yes, it will be," he added. "I will do whatever I need to in order to be the First Officer that you and this crew needs, Captain," he said to Taliserra. "I know that I am not exactly who you probably had in mind should you need to find a new Number One, but what I lack in certain areas I hope that I make up for in others."

Taliserra smiled slightly glad Ty was willing to do what ever it took to be a good leader. "I'm hoping we can use this quiet period for crew training and acclimatisation, I have been looking through some of the crew files, a lot of them are quite new."

"New aboard the Wolff or new as in very green," replied Ty. "Either way some training will do everyone some good." He was hoping what she meant was just new to the Wolff. The thought that there may be a dozen or so green around the edges members of the crew, those with limited away team time racked up was unnerving.

"Bit of both, some have previous service but not on line ships." Taliserra replied. "Others are fresh faced crewmen."

"Ship of the line," echoed Ty with a chuckle. "Are we still calling the Luna that these days?" he teased. "She is sixteen going on seventeen...and I don't think we attract eager young lads and rogues, and cads."

"The Wolff might be getting old compared to some of those fancy ships but she still has years left in her." Taliserra quickly replied.

Ty smiled. "Good, I just wanted to make sure you haven't lost your Ops edge yet. You still stand by the starship in its age. A good trait with someone of Ops or Engineering background, but also what I want in a Captain."

"Starfleet builds their ships to last." Taliserra said, she got up and headed in the direction of her replicator. "I'm more concerned with her crew, what is your assessment of the crew so far."

Ty scoffed. "Chief Engineer is a lot to deal with, but aside from them, the rest of the crew that I have met seem alright." He looked at the Captain. "I trust them. I know that they are a good crew."

Taliserra chuckled slightly when Ty mentioned Aiko again. "Yes that woman is quite the unusual one, our first meeting was a little.... heated you might say." Before Ty could respond she placed her order at the replicator "Tarkelian tea, hot." then turned to him to see if he wanted anything.

The First Officer dismissed the suggestion. He did not want anything as he had not planned on staying too much longer. "She is unusual and a bit difficult, but I'm optimistic that she will eventually settle in," replied Ty. "She's certainly qualified for the position. She just needs to learn when and when not to buck the system and structure. Also, I feel She needs time to bond with the engineers under her."

Picking up her tea Taliserra headed back towards her table. "Assuming she doesn't attempt to transfer them all of the ship next time we're near a port."

"She's more than welcome to try," Ty replied. "I am unlikely to support it unless she finds grounds for having them transferred. I need more than failing to appease her 'tests' as grounds. I want documentation, incident reports, and failing to respond in an acceptable time under sanctioned drills. I don't believe anyone got aboard this starship who does not have the ability."

"That is what I explained to her," Taliserra said as she sat back down. "no one would get a position on a starship without the appropriate training and knowledge to do their job. She was instructed to work with those she called 'idiots' for a few weeks and provide additional training if it is needed." She took a sip of her tea and sighed slightly. "We'll need to keep an eye on her."

"Definitely," Ty agreed and nodded. "She's one to watch for certain. I will make sure she stays in line as best I can, though I like a Chief Engineer that bucks back and knows their ship and what they want out of it. The leash will be there, but I won't yank on it unless necessary."

"Good," Taliserra smiled glad that Ty understood the balance required in command. "I hope in time she will relax a little, don't want her unusual demeanour causing trouble."

"She will settle in," Ty replied almost guaranteeing it. "She's Chief Engineer. I am inclined to suspect she will push our buttons, but not to the extent she risks her position." He truly wanted to believe she would do well by the ship and its crew.

"I agree, she will." She paused to sip her tea. "But she'll settle eventually."

Ty nodded. "Anything else on your mind?" He looked at the woman, curiously. "You and I are probably going to need to spend more time together. The bond between Captain and First Officer is one a crew usually notices if it is there or not."

"Then how about dinner tonight, just in the lounge nothing formal, just a chance to talk something other than work." Taliserra suggested, he was right they'd not really taken much time to get to know each other.

Ty smiled. "How dry of a ship do you run?" he inquired, curious if there was simply synthehol aboard, or if the genuine stuff was served from time to time.

"Dry for the crew when we're out in space unless I give permission otherwise, like for a function, Jessica does a good job keeping people in check." Taliserra replied.

"Reasonable," he replied. "Next time we are docked though, I'll be getting into some Aldeberan Whiskey that I have been holding onto for a special occasion."

"I don't drink much these days." Taliserra remarked, it had been a long time since she'd felt safe enough to get drunk. "A little here and there."

The First Officer scoffed. "With a ship like the Wolff and what it has gone through I suspect you either turn into an alcoholic or become so worn down and exhausted that you do not even bother trying to get drunk." He shook his head. "The crew needs a morale booster, and this ship needs to get itself together, brush off the dust and recover from its past. There's been too much loss aboard. You need something worth celebrating...a reason to drink."

Taliserra broke eye contact with Tyrus for a few moments looking down at her desk, of the two options he mentioned she was considerably in the latter camp. His remark of 'too much loss' was certainly accurate too. "We certainly do." she eventually said.

"Then I'll keep that goal in mind," Ty noted. "Do you have any other concerns or anything that you feel I should be aware of or focus on?" He wanted to make sure they were on the same page, that he served her well.

Shaking her head slightly Taliserra looked back up at him. "No, just 1800 in the lounge tonight, sound alright?"

"Sounds like a date," Ty replied. He was teasing of verse, but he wanted to have a little fun at the Captain's expense. "I'll see you there at 1800," he added.

Taliserra gave a small smile. "Good, dismissed."


Ty nodded, stood from the seat, and smiled. His time aboard the Wolff regardless of how long it ended up being would certainly be one to remember. The Captain was certainly going to leave an impact on him. Then of course there was the counsellor.



OFF

Captain Taliserra Tigran
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Tyrus Acevedo
Executive Officer

 

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