Meeting the Minions

Posted on Mon Jan 14th, 2019 @ 8:32am by Lieutenant Danica Kovitz

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Science Officers’ Offices
Timeline: MD -7
1167 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Danica Kovitz was settling into her desk, trying to get used to the idea of returning to work. She’d been excited by the prospect of this ship’s mission, but it still felt a bit soon to her. Everything was just happening so quickly. Not like the 4 months of monotony aboard the Grissom. At least, until the end...

One of the most fascinating new developments was her partial position of authority. In every previous podting she’d held, she’d been a junior officer, following the lead of the Department Head. And now she was Assistant Chief of Science. She had to admit, she was glad the ‘Assistant’ was there. The idea of leading the division outright seemed overwhelming. However, she was still in a higher position than she’d been used to, and that meant she was responsible for the lives of the people serving her. Before the Elysium got too deep into their current mission, she decided it’d be good to actually get to know the team.

Setting down the most recent PADD of reports, she tapped her combadge. =^=Science Specialists, this is your new Assistant Chief Science Officer Danica Kovitz. When you have a moment, I’d like to meet you all to get to know the team better. I’ll be setting up my desk for a while, so please swing by when able. =^=

Dani cut off the comm. She hoped to sound friendly AND sound like she knew what she was doing. It was hard to tell if she’d pulled it off. She’d just face to wait and find out.

Orin stopped calibrating one of his more specialized remote sensing machines and acknowledged the request. He'd spent the last few days setting up his office and tweaking the lab to be more streamlined... Not to mention fitting all the gadgets and gizmos he'd either created or adapted into standard equipment. Quickly, he closed his eyes and pulled up a mental image of the ship, figuring out the fastest way to get to get to her office, with enough time to calm his anxiety. With a few calming breaths, Orin set down the Ground Penetrating Sensor unit and made his way out.

In what only seemed like a few quick strides, he found himself in front of the Assistant CSO's office, and pressed the chime.

A calm voice came from inside. “Come in!”

Walking briskly up the hallway, as Orin hit the chime, was Chryanthe and she was casually rebraiding her long blond hair as she did so. She had been busy in her office and was grateful for the break. "Hold the door!" she called out as she moved a bit quicker.

From behind her desk, the blonde looked up at the entering officers. It felt odd addressing them as subordinates. She didn’t love the weird tension it added. But she kept it fairly professional. “Thank you all for coming. I don’t want to disrupt your efforts for too long. I just wanted to get acquainted with the rest of the science team. Can each of you tell me your name, field of study, and current project?”

It was a somewhat unnecessary exercise. She could read their reports and files. But it would allow her to put a face to a name, and she could introduce herself in the process.

"I am Lieutenant Chrysanthe Capulet, Language Specialist. I am currently working on Language courses for the on board academy as well as the one on Earth"

Orin shifted uncomfortably. He'd rather have had a one on one with a superior officer rather than an introductory circle. "L-Lieutenant Junior Grade Orin Sempton, Xenoarchaeologist. Currently setting up my lab. I'm, uh..." He colored slightly "I'm new to the ship."

Dani smiled when it can back to her. “And I’m Danica a Kovitz. As you can tell, Orin, I’m new here too. I’m also new to being an Assistant Chief, so I’ll need a little bit of patience as I adjust to it. I have experience in a few fields, but my main focus is planetary sciences, particularly gravitational dynamics. I’m not looking to disrupt the flow of anything here on Elysium, but if you ever need me, I’m here to talk, advise, or whatever else you need.”

Chrys nodded. "That is acceptable Lieutenant. "

"Perfect," Dani said with a smile. "Any thing else you need from me? Otherwise, your free to go back to your duties."

Chrys inclined her head, and then left the room as quickly as she could. She didn't hang around for the others.

Orin's eyes followed Chrysanthe as she left, one eyebrow raised. "Riiiiight..." He muttered, before realizing he'd done it out loud and clamped his jaw shut hard enough his teeth made an audible clack. He turned his attention back to the Assistant Chief. "I... I better g-get back to the lab." He began. "I was setting up display enclosures for some rather, uh, special, items. Ma'am" Orin smartly turned and stepped out, almost walking into the door before it wooshed open.

“Uh...Lieutenant Sempton?” Danica called after him, gesturing for him to return to the office. She’d picked up on his discomfort and was a little curious to see if there was a cause. When he’d come closer, she smiled to lighten the mood. “You’re not in trouble, don’t worry. I noticed you seemed a bit...on edge. Is everything alright?”

Orin's shoulders went rigid and his face screwed up as he stopped at the door upon hearing his name. Wrong choice of words and body language. So close, try another approach. He resumed a neutral look as he turned back around to face his superior. "S-sorry Ma'am, nothing is wrong. I'm just..." He paused trying to find the right words and scratched his chin with his thumb. Play candid "Ma'am, This is my fourth placement, I don't know anyone or anything here and I'm trying not to screw it up." He looked at Danica before adding "Again."

Danica nodded. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen that kind of jitters. “It’s ok, you know. Not knowing. Just over a week ago, my whole world quite literally blew up around me. I’m new here too,” she replied reassuringly. The whole having subordinates thing was new, but she’d had friends who’d messed up before. And right now, it sounded like Orin could use a friend, even if only for a moment. “I want you to do me a favor. Treat it as an assignment if you need. That stuff in your file? Ignore it. You’re in a new place with new people. It’s a fresh start, and you should treat it as such. Just...let yourself breath every once in a while.”

"Yes Ma'am." With that, Orin nodded, turned and walked out.

===

Lieutenant Chrysanthe Capulet
Linguistic Specialist

Lieutenant JG Orin Sempton
Xenoarchaeologist