Office Rearranging

Posted on Sunday, 24 October 2021 - 4:50pm by Captain Pippa Whitley & Ensign Oriana Skye Sety

Mission: Operation: Mirror of Madness
Location: Captain's Ready Room | USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2394 - MD 01

ON:

Oriana had been busy from the moment the new Captain walked in. She'd personally supervised the sterilization of the CO's quarters the cleaning of the ready room, the recall of the staff that Vali and she had been working on. Vali had done the re call but Ori had been running and checking in people and getting department reports. She'd returned to her quarters late and had passed out. Doctor Rose had told her it was still too early for her to go back but she had duties. She also had Hamura to talk to...for some reason Hamura had sounded serious and Oriana was scared shitless of serious.

Now, finally, a day after the woman reported aboard Ori was standing outside the ready room ringing the chime.

The doors parted and Pippa was standing there with a mug in hand. She sidestepped and gestured inside. "Come on I, Ensign. Get yourself something to drink. We can go over whatever you have for me."

"Yes ma'am." She gave a nod and hurried over ordering a cup of hot caramel macchiato. She took a sip. "Mmmm coffee." Realizing that she'd said that out loud she blushed. "Sorry..."

"No apologies necessary," Pippa piped up. "It is a beauty and the beast story in the morning with me. Before my coffee? I'm definitely the beast. Afterwards, I may just be a beauty."

Oriana smiled, "I'm pretty much the same way." She sat down slightly nervous. This morning she'd talked to Hamura briefly at breakfast and Hamura had said the Captain was nice but as with anything new and any change Oriana had some anxiety about it all. She wasn't good with change, at least internally.

"Where do you work, Ensign?" Captain Whitley inquired. "I know you are basically my Yeoman...Aide-de-camp, but where are you set up?" clarified the Commanding Officer. "I have been more focused on tactical information than the logistics and layout."

"Well...I work in my shared quarters...I share quarters with Ensign...Hamura..but I think they are moving to Senior officer's quarters. I also work in the XO's office a lot. Mostly I float between departments, check in with department heads, and here when you're not using it. I try to help out where I can. I have learned a lot about engineering, although I share Commander Soral's dislike of it. I have basic medical training. I listen to crew members and take suggestions. I try to boost people. So I guess I work everywhere in a way."

Pippa shook her head. "Hmm I can't say I am loving that arrangement," the Captain said. "Unless you are married to being in Soral's office, I would like to have you moved." The Captain took a sip of her beverage and cherished it.

Off the ship, She almost asked. "Okay. Where would you like me moved?" She tried to keep the weariness from her tone.

Pippa pointed to the corner of her Ready Room. "I dare think that potted plant could go elsewhere. This sofa is lovely, but I'm not here to entertain guests. We can have a desk set up over there for you."

"Oh...that would be nice," She admitted. "It wouldn't bother you?"

"Frankly, I would prefer it. Perhaps it is the Efrosian part of me, but I quite enjoy company. I don't do so well isolated from others, and it makes the most sense that you be in here with me. We can go over reports and compare notes more efficiently."

She smiled, "I'd like that! If you'll excuse me for saying many CO's seem to want Yeoman, or assistants, or whatever title we hold to be seen and not heard. Hamura was right about you … you are different, in a good way."

"It's been a long road getting from there to here, but I don't believe in returning to the days of low cut skirt uniforms and rendering you as space waitress. Clerical workers and anyone in Administrative support positions are the nerves of starships and stations. Without you, I cannot do my job properly."

Oriana's eyes misted slightly. It wasn't everyday that someone said that. She'd spent her entire life growing up and being told by family she was not worthy or was a hindrance. Then on her own she fought for everything she had and sometimes she'd needed support or a pat on the back but it was never there. She swallowed hard. "Okay..." She said, her voice slightly cracking. She took a sip of coffee. "For the record I kind of like the skirts," She said to lighten the air.

"Oh don't get me wrong," replied Pippa. "I don't mind the skirt. I have been known to adjust my uniform with one every now and then. I just cannot stand toxic masculinity...when those with a hard on for nostalgia fancy themselves a Captain Kirks, but are nothing more than Captain Jerks off gallivanting across the stars with their cowboy diplomacy."

Oriana laughed, a deep belly laugh. “I like that a lot. I agree. Besides I was always a Spock girl…with maybe a little crush on Janeway.”

"Reasonable," Pippa replied. "Now then, do you need me to sign off on anything. I've already asked Lieutenant Vali to begin crew recall from shore leave. I'll need to draft a bit of an apology to the crew for that."

"They understand trust me." She smiled and handed over some PaDDs. "These are reports from the department heads. Most stations are ready, there are a few more to report in in the next hour and we should be great. I don't think any apologies are necessary, in fact I think you may get a gift basket of thanks from Lieutenant JG MacKenzie... he's in Tactical...and he and his husband Haru I mean Lieutenant Hernandez were supposed to leave on a honeymoon to Risa....Mac hates Risa."

"Oh dear," Pippa replied shaking her head. "I'm not ruining a honeymoon. Have they left the ship already? I do not want to cost them a honeymoon on Risa."

"No Haru was wrapping up the investigation of Commander Soral's...mental state when he left the ship. Don't worry trust me both are anxious to figure this out so they will be happy to stay."

"You seem to know them well. Please pass along a message from me. I'll give them an extended leave for a longer honeymoon. "

"I will, I promise. Trust me Haru is all about duty and loyalty to Starfleet. Mac...is just happy to help Soral, they're like brothers." She shrugged. "Sorry...I tend to talk a lot."

"Talking passes time," replied Pippa. "I welcome it. I come from a family of talkers."

She smiled. "Well then that's okay." She looked at the Captain. "Oh a few things to watch out for."

"Yes?"

“Our lifts play music, sometime dreadful ones but the crew likes it, we have an onboard … gossip group where the crew expresses themselves quite liberally and anonymously, and avoid the mess hall from 5pm to 6pm it’s usually empty as the replicators for some reason produce bad food. Hamura’s working on it but…it’s on a lower priority.”

"Nothing wrong with a fancy little jingle to brighten the moods," Pippa noted. "Make those replicators a higher priority. I don't want the crew eating any worse than I nor senior officers do. We need to keep morale up on all fronts," added Pippa as she settled into the seat behind her desk.

OFF: