Meeting the security chief

Posted on Wed May 10th, 2023 @ 8:35pm by Captain Lukas Fredricks & Lieutenant Amara Naidoo

1,142 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Prelude: Getting Ready to Depart
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD2 - 1100 Hours

Captain Fredricks sat at his desk going through the large pile PADDs on his desk. Some were from Starfleet about security updates, following the changling infiltration of the Britannic a couple of months earlier. Others were normal updates or crew personnel files.

He just picked up his second steaming mug of coffee when his ready room chime went off. "Come in, please."

Amara's hair was tightly covered with a black scarf, keeping it well out of sight given she had been travelling and desperately needed a sonic shower, her uniform one size to small, a girl likes to show of her figure but also prevent anything that an assailant could get hold of in a fight. She was needlessly smoothing her unfirm over with her hands when the doors parted.

She took a breath before stepping through and coming to attention just inside the door but far enough into the room so the door would close.
"Lieutenant Amara Naidoo, reporting for duty sir!" her slight south African accent making her words sound almost lilting and sing song.

"Ah, the new security chief." Lukas said with a warm smile as stood up and offered his hand for the Lieutenant to shake. "Captain Lukas Fredricks, its a pleasure to meet you."

"And you sir. Commander Mercy speaks very highly of you!"
She said, returning the handshake and the smile heartily.

"She's too kind, I'm sure." Lukas replied wondering what his first officer had said about him. "Please take a seat, Lieutenant. I hope your journey here wasn't a long one?"

"After a few months of convalescence in Cape Town I was about ready to find my space legs again... Well, leg I suppose would be more accurate!"
She laughed slightly, still finding it a little odd that she was now essentially one of the Pirate Ship captains of old just without her own ship to command.

"Oh yes, i remember reading about the loss of your leg in your personnel file. I hope the convalescence is better now than in '60 when i went through the same thing." Fredricks replied with a smile as he sat back down. "How did you find the transition to your new leg?"

"Difficult" she said, her tone dropping a little at the memory of the depression she had slipped into at the time. The countless and back to back counselling sessions... The dark place she had found herself in had been even more difficult to crest the summit of than the battle of Wolf 359 had been.

She shook her head, forcing a smile to cover the drop in her mood. "But, I am on the mend!"

"I had a similar experience with my own. It was difficult to come to terms with but it does happen, eventually." Lukas replied with a reassuring smile. "So, tell me about yourself?"

"Not much to tell sir. I served with Commander Sisko of Deep Space Nine in his days as First Officer of the USS Saratoga, after that I bounced around postings during the rebuilding of the fleet after the Borg incursion. Finally found myself on the USS Hood during the Dominion War but she was lost, along with my leg during the retaking of Deep Space Nine!"
She wrattled it all off as if discussing a shopping list, matter of fact despite the few high profile events that she had served through.
"I'm more a live in the moment person sir. Now is all that matters, anything before now... Well as the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"

Lukas smiled at the young Lieutenant. "I had the privilege of meeting Captain Sisko after Deep Space Nine was retaken. Sadly, Britannic missed that battle as our services were needed elsewhere.

"Well, i like to think i run a relaxed yet tight ship. Do your duty to the best of your ability and you wont have myself or Commander Mercy on your back."

"Noted Sir" it felt like the meeting was pulling to a conclusion so she tensed a little more, as if going back into an attention stance. It had gone well, or so she thought. Anything had to be better than her family friend, Sonya, when she threw hot chocolate over one of Starfleet greatest Captains.

"Excellent. Is there anything you need from me regarding your department? One of these reports," Lukas said waving his hand towards his desk full of PADDs. "Tells me that all security and tactical equipment have been loaded on board but no doubt there will be something missing."

"I have already completed a cursory review of the security department supplies and yes, we are missing a number of crates of rifles and type two's but I have already placed a requisition order. The full compliment of torpedo's should be in place before end of day today. I am hopeful that the last few security personnel should be here before we launch as well!"
She caught herself, stopping from rattling off any further specific information about her department. He likely already knew and didn't need her rabbiting away just to fill dead air.

"Excellent, hopefully we won't need the torpedo's or rifles but its always best to be prepared." Lukas smiled. "So, how have you settled in on board Britannic?"

"It feels good to be back on a Starship... I've missed the constant hum of the warp core. It helps me sleep!" she admitted, a light smile tugging at her lips as she remembered the crew of the USS Hood. This had likely been the first assignment that she had felt completely comfortable in despite the backdrop of war that had scared so many. "My apologies. I was lost in my memories for a moment there!"

"Not at all, Lieutenant. I know what you mean about the warp core helping you sleep, it helps me too. With it being offline for some long i hadn't been sleeping that well. Im glad the hum is back again." Lukas smiled. "Im glad to hear that your pleased to be back on board a starship again. She's a good ship with a proud history." He added proudly.

"So I see from the records... Lets just hope we can do her proud!" the smile returning as she spoke.

"We will, I have every faith on this crew." The Captain said with a smile. "Well, if there's nothing else I'll let you settle in and get yourself accustomed to the ship."

"Of course sir" she nodded before excusing herself leaving the Captain to the mountain of paperwork he likely had to complete before departure, an equal sized mountain awaited her in her office also.

The Captain watched as his new security chief left his office. He was satisfied that the Lieutenant was up to the job and looked forward to seeing what she offered to the ship and crew.

 

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