Catch up with Kurt

Posted on Fri Feb 23rd, 2024 @ 8:23am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Kurt "Berlin" Vogel

Mission: Season 6: Episode 4: Memory Lane
Location: Commodore's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Elysium
Timeline: MD6 -18h00
742 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Phoenix wanted to check in with each of her senior staff to see how they were getting on.

So, she made up a timetable and sent it out to the Senior staff, asking them to present themselves at a set time to her office for a one on one.

08h00 – Chief of Intelligence
09h00 – Marine CO
10h00 – Chief of Science
11h00 – Chief of Security/Tactical
12h00 – Chief of Medical
14h00 – Chief of Counseling
15h00 – Chief of Engineering
16h00 – Chief of Operations
17h00 – Chief of Flight Control
18h00 – Group Commander
19h00 – Chief Diplomat

Then she set up her office, ruthlessly moving her desk to the far corner of the room and shifted her couches closer to the window as she wanted this to be a relaxed meeting.

The door chimed. Once granted entry, Lieutenant Kurt Vogel strode in before coming to stiff attention, raising his right hand, palm outward, to his right eyebrow.

“Leftenant Vogel reporting as ordered ma’am.” He said in his light Teutonic voice.

"At ease Lieutenant, please be seated." The commodore said pointing to the couch opposite her. "Thank you for coming by. I know you have been busy."

Kurt sat in the offered seat. He even relaxed…slightly. Only a handful of people intimidated him aboard the Elysium, and the Skipper was at the top of the list. Vogel was sure she could swallow a deuterium rod and not even suffer a stomachache.

“Oh yes ma’am,” Kurt replied, “We’ve been overhauling the engines of the Vals; they should get an extra seven percent thrust afterwards.”

"And I bet your pilots are looking forward to that extra speed." She smiled. "Tell me, how are your people handling the current state of things, being stuck so far from home?"

“Like most professionals: to each according to their unique styles and experiences. No one is ‘cracking’ if that’s what you mean, ma’am.” Vogel answered.

"Well it would not be surprising if there was some mental health concerns among everyone but I am sure you are watching them closely yes?"

“I’m fully caught up on my mental health awareness training, ma’am, as are all my first line supervisors.” Vogel responded. “We will ensure to take appropriate steps if we see warning signs.”

"Good. I do not want our people to be in a bad state in the current circumstances. I know things are going to get rougher as we go along. Just reading history tells me that." she smiled. "Do you have any concerns, things you need to discuss with me?"

Kurt shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“Well…” he hesitated, afraid his question could be seen as insolence or even nitpicking.

“Forgive me if my question seems…insolent, but how much of a ‘free hand’ shall I be granted to train and lead my pilots? It’s just…certain skippers have different ways of doing things, and different requirements of their senior staff. I haven’t had a chance for us to conduct an initial counseling yet, and I want to ensure that I do not overstep any boundaries in my…enthusiasm.”

"As it is your team. You know how best to train them. Train them as long as the training is within Starfleet Standards."

Vogel felt almost insulted. “Of course ma’am. I’ve been fully briefed by the XO. Although there are some differences in operating procedures between the Reserves and the Active Fleet, we use the same standards and regulations. I will train my pilots hard, but fair. But above all else, I will ensure that they are pilots you can point to with pride and state: ‘Those are mine’.”

'That sounds very good. That said,I believe we have cadets in the academy who may be interested in learning to be pilots. Would it be possible for this to happen once we are out of this section of space?"

“Natürlich Frau Kommodore.” Kurt replied. “We would more than ready and able to train any interested parties.”

The German shifted in his seat.

“Would you be interested in the flight training yourself, Skipper?”

"I am flight qualified on shuttles and starships. I was a flight controller at the start of my career before moving to Operations. " she smiled. "And if I told my husband i was going to jump into a starfighter... it might end in an argument. " she had to grin at the end. "I will let you know."