Fill In

Posted on Sun Apr 30th, 2023 @ 3:44pm by Executive Officer Jake Ford & Chief Operations Trades

Mission: Mission 16: Hysperia
Location: Operations Office Deck 10
Timeline: MD-05
1061 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

"That looks right."

Trades muttered to himself as he put the finishing touches on the space he'd claimed as his office on Deck 10. He hadn't run it passed the Captain or XO or really any of the other staff. Trades needed a space so he found one, and as much as he was putting the 'office' in order, he was till fully prepared to move everything if there was a problem with him annexing the location. It was larger than a standard office, mostly because he'd included a workbench and diagnostic area where he could work and build as was needed. It was as much workshop as office and meant he could access needed ship information while he was assessing it's needs and communicate while he worked.

While the rest of the crew had been off enjoying the the planet's offerings; Trades had been finishing his initial scans of all the operating systems on the ship. It has proven a little challenging while the ship was in retrofit but at the same time he'd been able to point out any extra items that needed attending. It also greatly increased his familiarity with the ship as a whole. Today he had only gotten lost twice. Trades hadn't yet met many of the crew. In fact at this stage he still wasn't sure who was crew and who had been on the ship to work on the refit. At this point he didn't mind; it was good for him to adjust to the new environment.

Trades also hadn't met anyone else from the Operations department and assumed that his position as department head was still unknown to them. He was going to have to find someone to talk to about that. Not to mention, perhaps, talking to security about how easy it had been for him to wander the ship at will during the refit. He debated doing this while sitting at his new desk. His cloak, mask and goggles hung by the office door. It felt odd to be this exposed in a still unfamiliar environment but he was going to have to adjust.

"Knock knock." It was a verbal entry rather than an actual knock. Jake swung his frame through the doorway and peered about the place. Spotting the man already present, it didn't take much effort to put two-and-two together. "Just checking in before we give the word on clearing moorings for departure. Everything set up as you need it?"

Trades fumbled with his the tool he had be using, surprised at the sudden voice. There was a faint 'pop' and tiny cloud of smoke made it's way to the ceiling. He looked up at the person in the doorway, an expression of annoyance and surprise on his face. "If not, it's close enough that it doesn't matter," replied.

"Still time for some last minute supply runs," Jake offered. "We used up a lot during our little mishap last time out. Not to mention the Grotto still needs someone to catalogue half of what's in there..."

"I think we have enough... The refit covers most of it. I've brought in some lifting and ladder items for sickbay." Trades paused for a moment, "I have no idea what the Grotto is or it's needs."

"Ah. That's...a complicated one. The ship used to belong to a hoarder. One of those Collectors; there's all sorts of strange and mysterious uncatalogued stuff down there. Nobody's ever quite wanted to get their heads around just what is stashed away, waiting to jump out and vaporise them. So, uh, be my guest...?" Jake shrugged.

Trades pursed his lips in consideration, "Perhaps I will table that for another time... Speaking of tasks needing to be done, are there any other operations staff I need to know about?"

"Staff? Oh boy, that's a can of worms..." Jake snorted. "Honestly, I'd say the person you want to be friends most with is Nollel; she's the one who's kept the logistical side of things running around here. Up to now she was the one I'd go to with requisitions...and somehow she can produce when needed." He scratched his beard. "As for Delaney and Curtis? They're...entertaining? I'll let you figure that one out for yourself. Oh - and Cassie. She's been with the ship the longest. A few hundred years, give or take. She'll know the bits and pieces nobody else does." He paused. "That's really the main people you'll be working with."

"That is good to know," Trades replied, trying to keep all the names in his head. Nollel, Delaney, Curtis, Cassie. There weren't as many as he thought a ship this size would need. But then there was as lot of automations in place. He would need to keep track of that. Probably would have to talk to medical about the staff having worms though. "I'll see that I get in contact with them before the ship leaves dock, if possible."

"Great. Oh - and you're probably going to want to avoid Liha...and probably Kali..." Jake added, thinking hard about it. "Romulans. Might not, uh, take kindly to having a Cardassian on board. No offense..."

"Liha, Kali" Trades repeated. there would be complications with that depending on what their roles were. However that was a problem for the XO not for Chief of Operations. Or possibly the Captain. But then the Captain would should have been aware of such things when he was hired. The Captain had mentioned having Cardassians on board before. "Very well I think I have enough to go on for now. Will there be a senior staff meeting before departure?"

Jake's face screwed up momentarily. "...Suuuure." Not that one was officially planned. Things were a little more loose in that regard. But if it made them sound like they were structured and organised then maybe not such a bad idea. "I'll ask Nollel to invite you along. Maybe catchup with the Ops crew." He gave a friendly point and thumbs-up, not really sure what he was doing.

Trades puzzled at the gesture but decided it wasn't worth asking about. "Very well, if that is all?"

"Yeah." Jake paused. "You should check out the bar, too. It's where most people hang out. Maybe get to know some of them a little easier..."

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you for stopping by."