Announcement to the Engineers

Posted on Fri May 14th, 2021 @ 9:57am by Lieutenant Victor Barclay de Tolly & Lieutenant Tonya King ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Lieutenant JG Louis Bordeaux ( Magnus ) & Ensign Kara Hoffman & Lieutenant JG Marcellus Sattine an Dasa ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Lieutenant JG Joral Bin. ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Lieutenant Alice Jordan ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Lieutenant JG Tarr Zell ( Barclay de Tolly )

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: Engineering Office
Timeline: MD1 - 18h30
1572 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Victor called in all the Engineering personnel to make the announcement that Captain Phoenix Lalor had been replaced with Captain Yasmine Carrington.

Alice was the first to come into the room as she felt this was important. She gave her son to take care of himself.

Kara was next into the office along with Crewman Mikaela, who looked after Tayalas on the odd occasion. Both of them stayed quiet, awaiting news.

Kara looked to Mikaela, who wore a concerned expression.

"Hey uh, Look Chief uh... we overheard some of the other crew speaking, the rumours, is it true? Has our captain been..." She stopped, if what she had heard was even remotely true, then something must have gone terribly wrong within Starfleet.

"It is true," Victor answered. "Captain Yasmine Carrington is the new captain. Captain Phoenix Lalor is being investigated. Personally I do not believe the charges but I do believe in the system. I do not know when the alleged crime or crimes happened. The XO is moved to Diplomatic Officer. We have a new XO as well."

"But she is innocent," Joral Bin says shaking his head. "She had to have been framed."

"We should not speculate and you are probably right but unless you have evidence," Victor says to them all, "You need to keep it to yourself."

Alice had a single tear going down her cheek. Her job was making sure reports reached the Captain. "The Captain was kind to me. After my husband died, she brought me on the ship. There were never ever any signs she was up to something."

Marcellus threw his hands up. "The feeling of helplessness is an old friend and I have learned to live with it. We can not fault the new Captain and XO. It is what t is."

Louis nodded. "Marcellus is right. We are just Engineers. I trust the system."

Napoleon scratched his head. "Must be something that happened off ship. If anything happened on this ship, I would know about it. If it happened on the ship, it was before I came on ship."

"Everyone stop speculating," Victor says, "If you need to talk about it, talk to a counselor."

Tonya slowly walked in. Kara came on board when she was on the Away Mission. "You must be Kara. I am Tonya and I really appreciate the protocols you did when you were Chief. You made it easy for us who followed you. I am glad you are back."

Kara smiled. "I appreciate that. So, how will the change of command staff affect our department, chief? I really do hope Lovejoy isn't gonna become a headache again, I doubt he'll try anything though, since I'm still here. He knows better. As for the new Captain however, I've heard she can be LESS than diplomatic." Kara sighed, continuing. "I've also heard she doesn't play well with others, unlike Phoenix, I don't think we want to get in her way."

Mikaela pitched in. "Perhaps but the rumours from the science department that I was told, said she's worse than all that, a real hardcase. But then they are just rumours afterall..If she was that bad, How would she still be a Captain? I mean you have to have SOME ability to get on with people, right?"

"Idle speculation and rumours aside, let's just focus on our jobs for now and hope this all blows over. I don't suggest making any changes to our daily operations, chief." Kara mentioned.

“Agreed,” Victor answered, “We continue doing our job. If we can do extra, do it. New boss in town and we need to let her know we are capable and willing. She has enough on her hands. She is not the bad guy. Who knows, the previous Captain will probably be found innocent, brought back to this ship and current Captain might get transferred as she might steal some if you away. I have seen this happen before with Captain Calhoun.”

Napoleon shook his head. “I have only been out of the Academy for over but a year. This is my first time seeing this happened. How did the other Chiefs react?”

“Those who were close to her became very upset,” Victor answered. “Some are in the brig. They are heartbroken seeing their friend’s good name smeared. She could be guilty or she could be innocent. That is not the worry. Please no side bars as in talking about this in private with each other. Kara, Mikaela and Alice, I can see this is upsetting. Any questions?”

“Just stinks,” Alice says upset. “Permission to take the day off tomorrow.”

“I can fill in for Alice,” Tonya adds, “I can do Alice’s reports. I need to take it easy for a day.”

“Very admirable of you Tonya,” Victor smiles. “Any other questions or comments?”

Louis exhaled. “This stays between us. Something is off here. Not saying any more. We are Engineers and by our nature, we are analytical. We want to see logic but like you said, things are not what they seem as in either she is guilty or she is not. If this is all, may I be dismissed. I have a date with someone in Logistics.”

“Yes,” Victor answers, “You are all dismissed besides Kara. Just remember what I say, “No gossiping, no trying to get involved and unless you have something relevant to the case which proves or disapproves the charge or charges, be quiet.”

Tonya turns to Alice, “Let’s go to your office so you can show me your system.”

“Gladly,” Alice answers.

Tonya was looking around. "I see the new guy walking in. When I was in Sickbay, they said we would be getting a new Engineer. "Lt. Junior Grade Edward Renfrew, this is our Chief, Lt. Victor Barclay de Tolly and Assistant Chief Kara Hoffman. I am Lt. Tonya King."

"Good tae meed all of you, breaking some bad I take it." He replied in his Scottish accent, and we still in dress uniform and kit and sporran

"Yes Tonya," Victor smiled, "I met him right before this meeting. Welcome. Kilt I do approve of since my ancestry is part Scottish."

"Thank ya, Sir, good to working a fellow Scotsman, mind if tag along with two ya, to look over the systems, in ma, personal experience the manual and technical journal never do justice tea to tae the real thing."

"That will be fine," Victor says smiling. "A lot of the procedures on board were done by Kara, Tonya and I. If you need help, ask one of us. I am a drinking man in case if you ever want to go after our shift ends. My favorite drink is a Rusty Nail made with the best Scotch Whiskey and I do like a Black Russian. Now if beer is your thing, I have several favorites."

"I look forward to learning the new systems and procedures, and ye a man after mea own heart, I prefer straight scotch whiskey, but I'll try anything provided it's stong of course," Renfrew replied with a grin

"Stronger the better," Victor says taking a deep breath. "It is good for the chest."

Napoleon Bond wanted to add he was a martini person but he could see Victor and Edward were becoming friends. Victor was a strange guy. All business on the job but off the job, he was all people.

"Aye, good for the chest, an the stamina too."

"I am Chardonnay or a beer that is not dark," Tonya interjected.

"Me too," Alice says as did finally began to smile breaking away of the melancholy she was feeling from the lost of her captain.

Napoleon finally spoke, "I am a martini guy."

"Let me guess," Louis says cynically, "Shaken, not stirred."

Napoleon laughed a bit because he caught the cynicism, "Actually stirred."

"Romulan ale but I have not in two years," Marcellus says, "My wife and I do like bloodwine."

"Sounds like one heck of a party, wonder wha will pass oot first."

“Well hopefully soon,” Victor says as glanced sweetly at Tonya, “We might have something to have a party for.

Tonya blushed a bit. “Perhaps but we will have to wait and see what the future has in stored for us. We must live for today.”

“Indeed,” as he said knowing most probably what that might be. “Kara, I will like for Renfrew to be assigned to you. You are the best engineer here and I feel he could learn a lot from you.”

The apeish Ingavi Intern Tarr Zell sighed. "I have only drank once in my life. It made me talk louder. Some of the other cadets seemed scared, so I have not to drink any more"

Victor empathized with Tarr who looked like a gorilla and he probably imagined some of the insults and names that Tarr had to endure. "We understand. There are a lot of non alcoholic drinks. Plus we would want you to be there if we ever do have an Engineering Department party."

"Thank you Lieutenant," Tarr replied as he felt at ease.

"Okay meeting is over," Victor says to them all. "Remember Renfrew, you get with Hoffman and if any of you have a feeling about what is going on, see a counselor."

And with that, the meeting was over. Several who were not in duty stuck around to talk to the new guy.