"Operational Escort"
Previous Post: "Report From Higher Up"
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Stardate: 60304.1040
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Re-reading the reports that she had read several times before, the Romulan/Terran hybrid began to wonder as to how long this hiatus would last. Thinking back to how everyone had been looking forward to some well deserved relaxation time, the COO found herself longing for action, the last three days having been too peaceful for her liking.
Understanding that this attitude had originated from her time ac head of the Sec/Tac department during which time she had never given those below her more than a few hours rest, the Romulan/Terran hybrid wondered if she would not be happier back in her old function. Like as a Sec/Tac officer was not the tranquil type and the COO figured that the statement would hold to be even more true onboard a ship such as the ANUBIS. Thinking back to their last mission though, the Ops officer was forced to admit that things had been far from restful in her duties as Ops officer.
Comparing the two positions against one another, the Romulan/Terran hybrid saw a drastic difference, one that she had actually not taken care to explore before. As a Sec/Tac officer the bulk of her duties had been within the spectrum of the physical, running drills with her staff and preparing them for every possible scenario she could imagine. On the other hand, as the ANUBIS' COO the bulk of Serenna's tasks had been restricted to the bridge and more along what many would consider to be the *mental* side of things. Supervising power and resource allocation as well as crew deployment was not a simple tasks, one that could easily become as demanding if not more than that of the Sec/Tac position as the duties did not diminish during times of normal activity.
Looking at the back of the bridge and at the ExO who had reported to the bridge to take care of a few things, the Romulan/Terran hybrid thought of the requirements needed for the positions of command. According to their files, or at least the parts of them to which the COO had access to, both the CO and ExO could have elected to pursue more 'physical' careers in the fields of Engineering and Science respectively.
Coming to understand that there was far more to command than the simple issuing of orders, the Romulan/Terran hybrid nodded to herself, filing in her mind the thoughts about having once been a Sec/Tac officer in the category of things that had passed and better left there.
Returning to her console, the COO's eyes stopped as they encountered the massive form of the Oltharian stepping onto the bridge of the ANUBIS. Having been greeted by the ExO even before both of his feet had crossed over the separation between the turbolift and bridge, the Romulan/Terran hybrid remained silent as the giant explained the reason for his visit. "Please forgive this intrusion, but I was wondering if either one of you had time to give me to visit Lt. Dawson at the Infirmary."
Looking torn between her responsibilities to the ship and her personal issues dealing with the CEO, the ExO hesitated for a moment to offer a reply which gave the Romulan/Terran hybrid ample time to jump in and save Rikar from making a difficult decision. "Cmdr. Rikar, with your permission I will go. Things are as quiet here as they will get and I wouldn't mind checking up on David first hand."
Having approved the departure of the COO from the bridge, the ExO nodded and sent the Romulan/Terran hybrid and Oltharian on their way.
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Stardate: 60304.1100
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section C-2, Level 1
Approaching the base's Infirmary, the Romulan/Terran hybrid could not believe the increasing posture of nervousness coming from the giant Oltharian who had begun this journey by her side only to fall several steps behind as they came nearer to their destination. Thinking that Lt. Fiarborn had wanted a fellow friend of the patient to come along to visit David, the COO had quickly accepted the offer made by the towering man, but it soon became evident that Elan had ulterior motives for having made the request that he had. Having only a few yards remaining before they reached the Infirmary, the Ops officer stopped and turned, "Elan, you haven't said a word since we left the ANUBIS, but it is clear that there is something wrong. Mind sharing?"
Looking intimidating under the best of conditions, the Oltharian giant actually seemed timid while facing the Romulan/Terran hybrid although he towered over her by more than a foot in height. Thinking back to the ancient EARTH story of David and Goliath, the COO wondered for a brief moment if what she had asked would act as the shot from the sling and topple the giant onto his back. Ending the silence that had invaded the section of the corridor they had been in, Elan replied. "I am simply nervous about what Lt. Dawson's reaction will be to my visit. It was my intervention during the scuffle that saw him where he is now."
This not having been the first time she had dealt with the Oltharian meant that the COO had not all that surprised by the docile and overly pacifist attitude of the giant, a trait that the Romulan/Terran hybrid thought could be beneficial to many other races even if in a reduced amount. "You are overreacting, what you did saved not only David from causing more of a mess than he had, but likely saved several other people from getting in his way and receiving wounds that would still not have been healed. You should not be ashamed of what you did, and David will most probably be thankful for your action. If he is not, I will give him something far more painful to remember."
Fearing that the threat made by the Romulan/Terran hybrid had not been meat as a joke, based on what he knew and heard about the COO and her apparent absence of a sense of humor, the Oltharian's eyes bulged open to their widest.
Seeing the fear in the giant's face, the COO quickly amended her previous statement, not wanting the see the Oltharian stay in the state of chock and panic that she had triggered. "What I meant was that I would give him a stern talking to while reminding him that instead of a small lump on his forehead he might have ended up suffering from repeated phaser impacts as well as possibly a few broken bones. David owes you a dept of gratitude."
Looking a little reassured by the last words of the Romulan/Terran hybrid, the Oltharian smiled and bowed accepting the COO's account of the situation and how the ANUBIS' CEO would react to their visit
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Lieutenant Serenna 2005 post #086
Chief of Operations / Second Officer
USS ANUBIS
