The reports

Posted on Tue Apr 20th, 2021 @ 4:25pm by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mason Malone

Mission: By Artemis' Bow
Location: Chief of Security's Office
1466 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Kayrah was looking over the security reports from after the repairs done at the Starbase. There had been some concerns raised by the engineering crew that affected the tactical systems, and the encounter with the Breen had shown them that there were some security leaks that got exploited. She had called the ship's main investigator over to her office and leaned casually against her table as she waited for him to come to her door.

Mason approached the door and leaned inside as it opened before him. "You wanted to see me ma'am?" He asked, sizing up the new face that now held the office.

"Ah yes, Chief Malone, thank you for coming to meet me on such short notice," Kayrah pushed herself off the table ledge and stepped forward to offer a hand in greeting, "Lieutenant Kayrah, new Chief Tac/Sec in town," she motioned for the chair across from her desk, "please, sit, would you like a drink? Something to eat?"

"Oh coffee please," Mason answered as he sat down as directed, "and no offense ma'am but they sure replaced Lieutenant Sar fast. Everyone's wondering why she left so unexpectedly." He held his breath, his forwardness had gotten him into trouble before. It was something he still needed to work on, thinking first and not acting on instinct.

"Can't have a ship like the Athena flying around without a Chief Tac/Sec," Kayrah expected some people not really appreciating her arrival, "I wasn't appraised as to why my predecessor left, but I'm just glad I can be on this amazing ship, working with the amazing crew we have here." She ordered a coffee for Mason and then an iced tea for herself from the replicator in her office.

"She's a beauty... the ship I mean. And a bit to get used to, everything in threefold. I'm still learning my way around and not get lost across the modules." He chuckled. "I suppose my recon training might be of some use after all huh? If only not to get lost." He accepted the coffee and took a careful sip. "I'm sure you'll fit in well... but I'm still not sure why you called me... there's higher ranked security folk on the ship besides a simple chief like me."

"Well, I hope you don't go around snapping twigs when you're patrolling the halls," Kayrah joked in regards to his recon training remark. She took a sip from her own drink as she slid on the side of the table, one leg dangling off the front of it while the other still stretched down to the ground, "Just trying to get to know the team, plus you're one of the more senior enlisted in the department and you're the Chief investigator," she took a longer drink of her iced tea before adding, "so, investigated anything good lately?"

Mason almost spat his coffee at the twig remark, looking up sharply. How did she know about that stupid mistake he'd once made?. "Uhm.... we're looking into those space cows ma'am... Kev- I mean Lieutenant Dash and I. And uhm..." He wracked his memory for something a little less recent. "We also helped uncover the cause of some weird incidents. People reliving past horrors or present fears.. those weren't funny at all...."

"I think I read the debrief on that, Nightmare space huh, must've thrown a lot of people for a loop," Kayrah knew she wouldn't have fared well in those circumstances and Starfleet was full of people like her, with skeletons in their closets they'd much rather forget than process in therapy, "so what are we prepping for the Pelgrim assignment?"

"As far as I know we're to support that other ship and make sure those creatures aren't disturbed or taken advantage of. I think you're better off speaking to Lieutenant Dash, he's likely to have more details than I do." It was very clear that Mason thought very highly of his Trill friend.

Kayrah casually took another drink from her iced tea, "So Dash huh, what's he do then?" she had noticed how he talked about him and wondered what the story was between the two of them.

"He's a security officer, and a pretty good one," Mason said fondly, "and a friend. Just a friend." The last was unnecessarily emphasized but that's how Kevan wanted it wasn't it? Just friends, even if he had some difficulty with that. "He's been on board longer than me too. I'm still learning the ropes in security so to speak, I've been a marine linguist for most of my career. And I was training for recon when I transferred after my divorce."

It was immediately clear that the 'friend, just a friend' was a one sided affair. It was always hard to watch people having different expectations of each other, Kayrah gave a comforting smile, "It's always good to get a fresh perspective." She didn't want to emphasise too much on his bad luck in romance, "I'm glad to have a marine among the people in the department. Some of the best men and women I've ever worked with sharpened their teeth in the green uniform."

Mason grinned. "I'll try not to let you down ma'am, but I'm realistic. I know I got a lot to learn in the security department. So... what are your expectations of me?"

"Keep your eyes and ears peeled, if there's anything that goes awry I need my Chief Investigator to be able to tell me exactly what happened," Kayrah didn't really have an alternate agenda with calling Mason over, "get to know the people in the other departments, get to know the routines, get to know the ship like the back of your hand," she finished her drink and placed the empty glass back on the desk, "it'll be easier to pick up on things that are out of the ordinary if you know what ordinary looks like."

"Nothing wrong with a bit of cross-crafting," Mason grinned, "or snooping around. I'll do my best ma'am." His grin broadened. "I'm not opposed to getting my hands dirty, I've done my share of crawling around in the mud. It's rather fun, to be honest. My ex didn't like it much though... always the worrier."

"Comes with the territory," Kayrah admitted, she knew that her wife was always worried about her when she went away. She had always cited the statistics and the fact that she didn't plan on going down with any ship and that if someone ever offered her a position as Captain where such a thing would be expected of her that she'd decline it, "seems like the break up wasn't a mutual decision." She wondered how fresh the break up had been, and if it was going to be an issue, she made a mental note to double-check the Chief's personal record.

"Yeah it was mutual, actually. We were just growing apart after several years and he went back to Mars and took our daughter with him. I still talk to her on occasion and I do miss her. I do think he couldn't take the constant worry, and I don't blame him. There's no hard feelings and there are times I miss him, but my life is here now. And uhm.... there's someone I really like." This time, he had the grace to blush a little.

There were a great many things Kayrah wanted to remark on that, but she decided not to, "It's never easy to part ways with someone, especially if you have a family together," she shook her head a bit and then pushed herself off the desk, she didn't want to get all up in his personal space regarding people he liked, "let me know if there's anything I can do, my people have been known to facilitate a relationship or two."

"Ahh... I don't think there's anything you can do. My daughter is better off with my ex, it's probably safer for her. Doesn't mean I don't miss her or don't get to see her because I will. As far as relationships go, he made it quite clear it's just friends. I have some hope of course but we'll see. Time will tell right?" He smiled up at his new boss. "So, I probably should start snooping around the ship?"

"No time like the present," Kayrah wasn't convinced that this was just the end of it for the Chief, but she let it rest for now. So long as it didn't interfere with his duties it wouldn't be an issue anyway, "let me know what you find." She smiled knowing that they didn't expect anyone to find anything of note.

"Yes'm," Mason smiled, getting back to his feet. Assuming this was a dismissal, he started towards the door.