Secondary First Impressions
Posted on Fri Aug 31st, 2012 @ 9:25pm by Lieutenant T'Lada & Ensign Daniel Daniels
1,714 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
The Enemy Within: Lying in Wait
Location: Science Complex
Timeline: Immediately after the briefing post.
When T'Lada entered the main office complex, she found the Ensign from the Transporter room, having a nap, at an open desk. There were three other science officers present. The previous chief, she had not yet encountered.
"Doctor T'Lada, ma'am. I'm Doctor Marley, Forensic-" A man in a white lab coat said, before she held up a hand.
"I am Lieutenant T'Lada. You are Chief Petty Officer Marley. We will not have discussions, on duty, in such an informal method, Chief Petty Officer." T'Lada said, sharply.
"Ah, yes Lieutenant." The man said. "This is Ensign Daniels. He's been apparently reassigned to Forensics, but I wanted to file a complaint, in that regard, he has absolutely no technician training, and only has field officer clearance, according to the computer."
T'Lada looked to the sleeping man in Security Gold. "Ensign Daniels, at Attention, please." She said.
And like that, the man was standing, awake, and aware, as if he had just had three espressos.
"Chief Petty Officer Marley has complaints about your being assigned to Forensic Technician detail, without sufficient training. Do you have any comments on this?" T'Lada asked.
"A few. Firstly, Chief Petty Officer Marley is just jealous of my skillset, because he doesn't have the stones to be a field agent. Secondly, I have complaints about being assigned to Forensic Technician detail, regardless of training, because, at precisely this moment, I was supposed to be on leave, and getting married." Daniels said, with a frown. "Thirdly, the Chief Petty Officer has been excessively insolent, and disrespectful to someone who outranks him."
"Look, Daniels, just because you technically outrank me does not mean that in my lab, I have to do what you say-" Doctor Marley began.
T'Lada cut him off, at once. "To the contrary, Chief Petty Officer, it does, as that would make him the leading agent of that area of science. Ensign Daniels, your complaints will be directed immediately to the Captain. However, while you are-"
"here, could I make myself useful?" Daniels finished. "Rule 54, Always anticipate." He said. He withdrew seven PADDs from a shoulder-bag, and handed them to T'Lada.
"What the hell are those, Security Grunt number four?" Doctor Marley asked.
"Well, Lab Grunt Number fourty four," Daniels replied, "they are, in order, the entire crew roster of the Science Department of the USS Calypso, as well as the roster files of any individuals that Lieutenant T'Lada may require, in the next four hours worth of business before, if I have my profiling right, her next rest period is to begin, paying special attention to the Executive Officer, and Commanding Officer, followed by an investigative detail of all new persons within her department, who have transferred, recently, should she need to know more about them, myself included, followed by one PADD containing seven scientific papers regarding Tiberius V, followed by one PADD containing a well written summary of said papers, as done, by yours truly, so that other, less scientifically minded members of the ship can understand it, with said papers attached, followed by two PADDs covering various scientific anomalies along the way, which the Lieutenant may find interesting, or useful, and finally, the completed paperwork, concerning her office, and crew quarters assignments, as well as a written complaint regarding Chief Petty Officer Marley's disrespect towards several superior officers," Daniels nearly finished. He put up his finger, in a dramatic fashion. "and, this." He added.
He reached down, and handed T'Lada a cup of something.
"I already got her a cup of green tea." Doctor Marley said, sharply, as he handed her a cup. "And that's pathetic. But kissing the new boss-"
"Says the man who got her a cup of green tea, assuming her taste palate is biased on Vulcan mannerisms." Daniels countered.
"Firstly, gentlemen, I do not see Ensign Daniels' lips anywhere in close proximity to my gluteus maximus, secondly Ensign Daniels, none of this information was asked for. Thirdly," She said, with a glance at Daniels, "since you apparently have taken the time to profile me, would you kindly tell the good doctor what he has done wrong?"
Daniels nodded. "Quite simply, ma'am, he did not read your roster file beyond 'Female, Vulcan, C cups.'" Daniels said, sharply.
"Hey!" Marley said sharply.
"Well, Chief Petty Officer, if you had you would have read that her background stipulates an earth-based raising, meaning she would prefer something closer to coffee, or earl grey tea. Likewise, you would have known that she is not one to appreciate wasted time, thus why I ensured that as much information as possible was readily compiled, and ready to be handed to her, and lastly,-" Daniels started, before T'Lada interrupted him.
"I do not drink coffee, or earl grey tea." She noted, dryly.
"Take a sip." Daniels said.
T'Lada looked down at the cup, and then sipped it. Her eyes lit up.
"-lastly," Daniels continued, "you would have noticed that while the slight bags under her eyes indicated caffeine withdrawal, you would have also noticed that her teeth, while well kept, are not obviously bleached, meaning that while she enjoys her high doses of caffeine, she does so, in an extremely concentrated method, which, if I have the very last of my two hours worth of work figured out right, would be one part proper Italian Espresso, one part milk, one part whipped cream." Daniels finished.
Doctor Marley stood there, rather dumb-founded.
"Do you not have any evidence to process, Chief Petty Officer Marley?" Lieutenant T'Lada asked.
"Yes, ma'am, but I was going to delegate it to Ensign Daniels, as he was the new guy, in need of most training-" Marley began.
"That is intriguing, to consider, Petty Officer, because, while you are being insolent, and borderline insubordinate, Ensign Daniels has countered each of your complaints, perfectly, as one would expect from a well trained investigator. While, indeed, he does not have Forensic Laboratory training, he does, apparently, know how to do his job, in his own manner. Just because he does not know the exacting natures of forensic sciences, does not mean he does not have uses, within this department." T'Lada said. "I will certainly find another placing for him, within the Science Department, as his talents are clearly wasted on such mundane, and basic tenants of the Scientific Domain, as Forensic details." She added, looking sharply at Marley.
Marley, appropriately chastised, looked down. "Sorry,-"
"I was not done." T'Lada said. "But I am now. You are dismissed, Chief Petty Officer." She concluded.
"Uh... Yes, Ma'am." He said, and left, quickly.
"One final question, Ensign Daniels." T'Lada asked.
"Yes, ma'am?" Daniels said, carefully restraining an 'I so beat you' look at Doctor Marley.
"I notice you have bridge officer training, and can work sensors well. I assume you would feel more comfortable, on the Bridge, than in a lab smelling of testing chemicals." T'Lada said. "And I'll be more than happy to sign off on that, provided you can answer me one question. Why is an SCIS agent being transferred to Science?"
Daniels nodded. "Well, firstly, ma'am, I'm not an SCIS agent, I've been standard Fleet Security for some time now. Secondly, upon reading the regulations ma'am, the only way to sufficiently ensure that I am incapable of taking any leave time, is to issue me a major transfer, be it intership, or interdepartmental. I believe the reasons behind my transfer were political, and not based on any given report."
"Political?" T'Lada asked. She raised an eyebrow. "Interesting that you jumped to such a conclusion."
"Well, given the fact that my fiance is wanted for smuggling, in an empire we have shaky relations with, and the child that was under my care, has an allied empire screaming for her return, I thought it was obvious, ma'am." Daniels said.
"Rule Eight. Never take anything for granted." T'Lada said. She kept her face straight, and took another sip.
Daniels smiled. "Oh, really?" Daniels asked. "And where did you learn that?"
"An earth television program I grew up with." T'Lada said. "Regardless, you were transferred, Ensign Daniels, because I asked you to be transferred."
Daniels stopped smiling. "Why?"
"Well, for one thing, you may be a good field agent, but you are also a good bureaucrat, no offense intended, as demonstrated in your planning for my arrival. For another, you've seen several changes in Chief of Security, yet you did not ask for the position. Not once." T'Lada said. "And thirdly, you were listed as active duty, yet not assigned, and your investigative skillset, while security-biased, can be easily reapplied to Science, with the right motivation. Last, but not least, I need someone who I can bounce ideas off of, who isn't a complete space case, focused on the scientific aspect of things."
Daniels scowled. "Do you realize what you've done?" He demanded. "They might get deported because of YOU. I'll never get to see them again!"
"Who are you speaking of, Ensign?" T'Lada asked.
"Jil Ala Ledrig, and Korr'ha, daughter of Koch. I was supposed to assist them with their refugee claims-" Daniels began.
T'Lada held up a hand. "It will be dealt with. One way or another, I will return to you, what was wrongly taken."
"Uh, alright ma'am." Daniels said, pondering what she meant by that.
"Now then, as I'm sure you have a great deal of studying to do, you should probably get some rest, before bridge station training." T'Lada said.
"I like the way you think, Lieutenant." Daniels said. "If there is nothing else-"
"Just take the time to change out of Security Gold." T'Lada said. "You are dismissed."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"And Ensign Daniels?" T'Lada asked.
"Ma'am?"
"Any man who can read me well enough to get my Espresso right, without instruction, can call me Latte. It's a joke nickname, from the academy, and not so difficult to pronounce." T'Lada added.
"Right, Lieutenant. Whatever you say." Daniels said.
"Daniels?"
"Sorry, Latte. It just sounds funny." Daniels appended.
"You'll get used to it."
"Eventually."
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Lieutenant T'Lada
Chief Science Officer
Ensign Daniels
Science Officer(!?)
Chief Petty Officer Marley
Forensic Lab Technician.
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