From: James Newman <jimandkman@wave-net.net>
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 08:09:23 -0400
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Paperwork and staff meetings
SD 90725.0732 (EDT)
MD 11:1300
Scene: Main Engineering
Tarell had spent most of his first morning aboard the CHESAPEAKE going
over
the staff duty rosters for Engineering, trying to get acquainted on
paper
with the personnel assigned to him. He had also found time to review
the
performance statistics of the ship and to look over the diagnostic
readout
for the secondary fusion reactor, which was giving the crew a few
complications.
Now, however, it was time for the Engineers to meet their new leader.
Tarell felt strangely nervous as he approached the gathered crew and
Chief Vrenois. He
knew that this first impression would be the defining moment for most of
his staff,
and their level of confidence in him might well be permanently
established at this
first meeting. Tarell was determined to make that confidence level as
high as he
could.
When Chief Vrenois saw Tarell approach the front of the briefing room,
she
quickly called the staff meeting to order. As Tarell turned to face his
crew, he could see the looks pass between them as they noticed his
rather
unusual size. Most of the engineers assigned to starships were much
smaller than he was, and he knew that most, if not all of them, were
wondering how he would fare in the
confinements of a Jefferies tube. Tarell didn't intend to disappoint
them.
"Good afternoon, and hello. Before we get started today, I would like
to
introduce myself to you and meet all of you. I would also like to cover
some items concerning the duty roster, and then perhaps we will go take
a
look at the reactor we are having some trouble with. I am sure that you
all prefer to be working instead of doing paperwork. I can guarantee
you that I understand that. Hopefully, we will be spending a lot of our
time trying to improve this ship, and very
little of that time trying to fill out paperwork explaining what is
wrong with it."
Tarell looked around at the smiles on the faces of the crew members. He
knew that like himself, the most important thing to them was making
things run better
and faster, not writing down how they would go about it.
Tarell took the next few minutes to give them a brief personal history,
leaving out some of the more involved details about his upbringing. He
did
his best to make sure that they knew that he was not a bureaucratic type
at
all, but a trained engineer whose mission was to take care of them and
the ship, not necessarily in that order. After he had finished his
short biography, he turned his attention to the duty roster.
"As you can all see in front of you, I have made some modifications to
the
current duty roster. After reviewing the personnel files of the staff,
I
have decided that one of out first tasks is to develop teams on each
shift
which can handle not only the routine emergency, but can work together
to solve the un-routine ones, with or without my presence. I certainly
will be available for any emergency at any time, and expect to be
notified concerning any course of action, but I
do not expect to be forced to solve every problem. Frankly, some of you
have skills and interests that you are much more competent in than I
am. Use those skills to improve not only the ship's performance in
normal operating conditions, but also in
times of crisis. I am posting the new duty roster on the computer and
outside Main Engineering. Please check it to see if your duties have
been changed. Some of you may find that you have even changed shifts.
Feel free to come and protest that if
you wish. I have an open door policy which works like this. If you
want to see me, walk on in. But if you come without a logical or
rational reason for your complaint, expect to be kicked right back out.
That is why I leave the door open, I hate having to
replace doors every time I make a change. Now if there are no
questions, let's go look at the fusion reactor, shall we?"
Tarell turned without really giving anyone time to ask any questions.
He
had learned that very effective technique from several of the Admirals
that
he had visited on his way here. Having checked with Chief Vrenois to
see
if she had any comments about the new roster beforehand, and having
clarified any potential realistic problems with it, he didn't think that
many of his crew would find a valid reason to come calling. But if they
did, he determined to be fair and
impartial, as long as they were really concerned about the issue and not
just being
whiny. Tarell had learned to despise whining while in the Klingon
Empire,
and he saw no place for it in a Star Fleet Engineering crew.
Tarell led his staff into the first of the Jefferies tubes which would
take
them to the fusion reactors of the CHESAPEAKE. As he passed his rather
large bulk through the opening and began making his way rather rapidly
through the narrow passage, he heard some of the junior members of his
staff behind him.
"Doesn't cut any slack does he?"
"Nope, and it looks like he plans to be everywhere and anywhere. I
can't
believe how fast he is moving up there. I thought sure he would be
stuck
by now."
One of the older crew responded to the two with a smile. "Just like a
true Chief Engineer. Don't let anyone think that you can't do
everything they
can. Just because he is twice as big as the rest of us, doesn't mean he
can't do all of the jobs on this ship twice as well. That's what he is
saying up there, and by George, I believe he might be right!"
Tarell smiled to himself as he continued to move along the hidden
pathways
of the ship's insides. That was exactly what he had been trying to
prove,
and the sound of respect in that last engineer's voice told him that he
had
done better than he hoped. Now, if they could solve this problem with
the fusion reactor, they would be well on their way to getting some real
work done.
NRPG: Hello all and welcome aboard Matt. I am sorry about the delay at
getting this out, but my research team leader decided to make me do some
real work for a change. :)
Included at the end of this message is a Engineering NPC list. (Hint,
hint Lynn) <G> I will try to get some shot bios done for them in the
next
little bit. I have also noted which ones I would like to protect from
danger, although to be honest, with the right arm-twising, anyone is
expendable. <BG>
Third, I apologize for the terrible formatting I have been having in
my posts. I just
got a new mail program and I am still trying to work the formatting
out. I hope to have
that corrected very soon. Keep your fingers crossed. :)
One final thought. I regret to say that my terrible typing skills
apparently have
resulted in some of you having one of my addresses wrong.
The second address for me should read:
jwnewman@eos.ncsu.edu
When I redid my sig file, I somehow missed the c in ncsu. Sorry about
that. :(
Until later, happy posting.
Jim Newman
Ensing Tarell Armstrong
CEO, USS CHESAPEAKE
Engineering Duty Roster _______________________________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Position | Name | Shift
CEO Armstrong, Tarell (Ensign) Alpha
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ACEO Vrenois, Natalie (CWO2) * Alpha
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Leader Lewis, Scott Michael (CWO1) * Alpha
T'Pinel (CWO1) *
Beta
Min-Hars, Jortl (CWO1) * Gamma
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Transporter Operations
Elkadich, Scott
Alpha
Waite, Tina
Beta
L'Orine
Gamma
Computer Technicians
Peterson, Pietro
Alpha
K'orzine, Karella
Beta
T'Park Gamma
Engine Technicians
Tucker, Thom
Alpha
O'Leary, Michelle
Handleman, Olaf
Beta
Rinkoe, Tlest
Gilliam, Matt
Gamma
Tarahoe, Windsong
General Maintenance and Repair
Nakohe, Prya
Alpha
Hir'lont,
Hloen Beta
Dal-Mirant Gamma
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* denotes perferrably protected NPC's
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
End Roster_________________________________________________
--
James W. Newman, Jr.
Nuclear Engineering, NCSU
jwnewman@eos.ncsu.edu (or)
jimandkman@wave-net.net
"... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua 24:15.
"I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt
bountifully with me."
Psalms 13:6.
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