Meeting The New Grol

Posted on Sunday, 9 May 2021 - 2:13pm by Ensign Oriana Skye Sety & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Neu Reich
Location: USS Standing Bear | Science Lab
Timeline: 2394 - MD 08 - Late Afternoon

ON:

She’d thought she had some time before she started work, in fact she was to start tomorrow but… well the XO had called on her early and she had hoofed it to his office. Her assignment was easy enough and it would only take a short time and then she had the day to herself.

Oriana, PaDD in hand, headed out to the science lab. It didn't take long, this being a small ship but since she used the climbers instead of the lift it did take a while longer then she budgeted for. She'd have to be faster, she reflected as she entered the lab. After a few questions she was pointed in the direction of the Chief Science Officer, also the XO's wife. She had to admit she was a bit curious. Vulcans didn't up and marry humans just like that.

"Excuse me, are you Lieutenant Kingsley?"

Pausing her analysis, Alex Kingsley turned in her seat to face the new arrival. She definitely had to be new. "That's me, what can I do for you Ensign?"

"I'm Ensign Sety, the new assistant to the CO and XO, it's lovely to meet you!"

"Oh, yes, I remember So - Commander Soral - saying a new assistant was aboard. Welcome! What brings you to my little corner of the ship?" Alex asked curiously.

She smiled, "Work." She held up a few PaDDs, "These are the new research updates for your library computers the Commander asked me to deliver them to you so you can integrate them and also a list of all the equipment that is on back order." She handed the woman the data.

“Thanks,” Alex offered with a grateful smile as she took the PaDDs. “We got the essentials so what we are missing we can replicate at a push. Anything else I can help you with?”

"No ma'am...yes ma'am but I am embarrassed to ask."

“Oh?” Alex countered curiously. “Now you have to ask.”

"The Captain I've met and he is easy enough to figure out but the Commander...is quite a different story. If I am to be helping him I need to figure out his management style and frankly I'm at a loss. Every time I ask he tells me that if Grol figured it out I could too...For a Vulcan I find him to be a little...unusual and I could use your help. As you know he has control over who is transferred and who isn't and I'm worried if I continue to upset him I may be transferred off."

“I don’t envy you. My advice, don’t worry about it too much. He will need to feel he can trust you, as well as seeing you are capable,” she told her.

She sighed, "I know I just...I've tried but it seems like he gets more irritable every day."

“Yeah, well,” Alex sighed, rubbing the back of her neck, “that has no bearing on you. And if he is being unreasonable then stand your ground.”

She smiled. "Thank you. I really appreciate the pep talk."

“No problem. Sometimes he needs reminding we are not all Vulcans,” Alex smiled.

"Oh...he also asked me to give you a message. He has a task for you, and every other department head."

“I’d hate to think he was being mean to just me… what does he need?” Alex asked curiously.

"He's asking all department heads to prepare list of any inter departmental and cross departmental staff. He also wants an through evaluation of each and every staff members and recommendations as department head for whether or not they are redeemable with their weaknesses or if they should be replaced."

She blushed. "I'm sorry...I know this will take forever. None of the department heads are happy about it."

“Nothing to apologise for. My staff level is pretty non existent,” Alex assured her. It was no lie. Her already small team was smaller and technically one of her spots had been ‘taken’ by Lieutenant Rogers. Did Soral expect her to kick her only help off the ship? Probably.

“What’s the deadline?”

"He's given everyone about two days," she said.

Her heart sank. Not for herself but not every department was as small as hers. And this meant Soral would then be reviewing all of the department reports and probably doing the same assessment for the department heads. So much for more time together.

“He will have mine by tomorrow morning,” Alex promised. “Does he have any other delightful tasks?”

"Not at the moment." She looked at Alex. "I'm sorry, I really am. I know this is a lot on top of everything."

“You don’t need to apologise, what was that expression… don’t shoot the messenger?” Alex assured her. “And I promise, Soral would not want anyone apologising on his behalf. If department heads have an issue with his orders, we are more than able to take it up with him personally.” She just had a few more options when it came to persuasion.

Oriana smiled. "Thank you. It's really nice to meet you."

“And you,” Alex offered with a friendly smile, “and good luck, Ensign.”

With a final nod Oriana headed out. She was starting to meet people here and she found the interesting yet the position she had called for her to maintain an air of distance from the crew. Friendships would be hard to come by except perhaps with Scarlet and her enigma, Hamura. She smiled thinking of Hamura. There was so much to unpack there yet she couldn’t help but wonder if all this was just….something that could never be. Suddenly she was hit with a sense of uncertainty, something that rarely happened Perhaps it was her anxiety at the whole situation. She’d just have to wait and see.

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