Complaints

Posted on Fri Dec 8th, 2023 @ 7:15am by Lieutenant Kevan Dash & Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating VII

Mission: Character Development
Location: Security
Timeline: Pre-Mission
1224 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

"Hey, Dash!" Finn picked up her pace to catch up to the man before he walked into the next room. It had been some time since she'd really worked with Kevan, outside of the drama that Kevan and Fenn had once interjected into their lives. Not that she held that against him much, it was likely mostly Fenn's fault and the last time she had worked with Kevan was when he ran to her rescue, along with Reed's, when that intruder tried to take them both out in sickbay. Holding a grudge against someone that helped you out in that manner was practically impossible. "I hear you're in charge while Lieutenant Zade is, uh, preoccupied?"

Scuttlebutt had already reached the Trill's ears about Finn's reinstatement, and as much as he wanted to give her grief about leaving them in the hands of Sturges while she was gone, her question about Zade took precedence. "You say 'in charge' - I'm a glorified housekeeper while we're in dock. Half the security team are visiting family and friends on Earth. So..." he spread his arms. "Not exactly overwhelmed with excitement. What can I do for you?"

"Keep your team that is on the ship more occupied," she muttered. "I've been getting some formal complaints. The latest one was someone from engineering placing some science equipment in front of a weapons locker...You know we're hands full in repairs. Would it really have killed him to just move the item?" Finn threw her hands up in exasperation. "I know it's not your fault, but these formal complaints tie up my time doing paperwork when the solution seems pretty simple. Right?"

"Do what I do," he shrugged. "Delegate." It seemed like the simple enough answer. And one he was becoming a little more adept in during Zade's confinement. "Surely there's got to be a Lieutenant on board you hate enough to palm-off the unimportant stuff..." he trailed off, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "I'm...not that Lieutenant, am I?"

"Well, thank you so much for volunteering, especially considering they're complaints from your own department." It wasn't actually the idea she had when she first entered security, but why turn down the unintentionally generous offer? "I do appreciate the help. My engineers are totally swamped with repairs and since you're a...how did you put it? A glorified housekeeper? This sounds like the perfect solution." Her lips curled into a sly smile as she handed the PADD over to Kevan.

His shoulders slumped a little. So much for a cushy layover without a department head. "When I said housekeeper I was thinking more like...a game keeper than a chamber maid..." he grumbled. "Is this what we can expect from you now you're back? By-the-book Keating? No more painting the walls of Dionysus bar until the early hours?"

"I have always been up for a drink or two at the bar after shift, but I don't ever recall painting the walls until the early hours," she raised a brow at the comment. "Anyway, you know there's a much easier solution to this problem. Just get your team to become team players and stop putting in formal complaints for small issues that could easily be taken care of without having to climb up a chain of command. There had to have been engineers or science personnel within walking distance of this equipment. If your people could just take a tiny bit of initiative and ask them to move it, we could all avoid an extra headache. I can't imagine you'd have just let that sit there and not asked someone about it, Dash, am I right?"

His eyes narrowed just slightly. Zade had to put up with this? Another reason not to seek out that promotion. "Oh, I see. So you don't mind if Security teams just walk into Engineering and start moving things around?" He smirked faintly. "Since we have the permission of the Chief Engineer..."

"Good try, but," Finn raised a finger, "that's not what I said. Look, all I'm asking for here is a little teamwork. If you think that's impossible then by all means, tell your people to keep sending in the complaints and I'll be happy to forward them back to your little housekeeping operation." Finn shrugged. "Besides, if you help me out, I'll owe you."

That last part made him perk up, a sly grin crossing his face. "You'll owe me, eh?" He rubbed his hands together. "You should have led with that part. A favour from Finnley Keating. That definitely leaves a lot of scope to play with..."

"Don't let that idea get to your head too much, Dash," Finn smirked. "Do we have a deal then? You'll talk to your people and I won't have to spend valuable time on petty complaints?"

He rubbed his chin. "Ah, I guess I can bash a few heads together. So long as your people can be flexible and understanding to everyone else, right?" It seemed fair to make it a two-way street.

"If you hear of anyone not being flexible and understanding then I want to hear about it. That's the whole point of working together. If we can't do that, then what's the point?" Finn whole heartedly agreed with him.

Kevan grinned. "Great! Now we've figured out the magic secret to getting departments working together, why don't we organise a party for the gang this week? We can get everyone in. Teyo, Xav, Zia..."

"A party?" Finn lifted a skeptical brow. "You really must not be busy down here. Who has time for a party?" She sighed as her brain processed the words she just uttered. "Wow, I really am becoming a boring curmudgeonly old lady eh? Fine, a party. A small one. No Teyo. I'm not sure I'm ready to handle that just yet. How about just you, Xav, and maybe Wrea. She's new and I don't know much about her, but I'd be interested to learn more. Maybe Bailey too if you want...haven't talked to her in a while."

"Aw come on, the more of us lower-deckers the better," Kevan cajoled. "It'll be great. Get some of the non-comms in on the action...a proper party. Can even pretend we're welcoming back the Captain or something, so Zora doesn't give us a hard time. What do you say?"

"If you're welcoming back the Captain, you'd have to invite him and the senior officers too. Is that really what you want?" She asked. "Because that sounds like a nightmare to me."

"Aw come on, you know what I mean. It's just an excuse to have a bit of...team building," he grinned. "Don't make me call in the favour already..."

"If you want to organize a get together with all the 'lower-deckers' then you do you. I don't need to be there and I don't want be held responsible for what happens," Finn shrugged. The no-fun all business side of her personality quickly took back hold. If Kevan wanted a party then fine, but if he was intent on putting all of the troublemakers in one room, she wanted nothing to do with it. "Good luck, Dash." She gave a fleeting wave and headed for the door.

"Man..." he grumbled quietly to himself. "Remind me never to accept a promotion..."