Posted by Ensign Buddy Cullum (Security Officer) in Office of the XO - First Meeting

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket (Executive Officer) in Office of the XO - First Meeting

Posted by Ensign Buddy Cullum (Security Officer) in Office of the XO - First Meeting
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
OOC: I’m going to play this as though we are meeting for the first time, before I came to your office and asked to hold a concert aboard the Ark Angel. -Harley

Buddy’s fingers drummed lightly against the edge of the PADD in his hand as the turbolift slowed to a stop. The doors parted with a gentle hiss, and he stepped out into the Ark Angel’s administrative corridor—clean, quiet, and somehow more intimidating than the rest of the ship.

His boots felt too loud on the carpeted floor as he made his way down the hall, passing nameplates and status panels that gleamed with quiet authority. He tugged once at the hem of his uniform jacket, trying to smooth out a stubborn wrinkle that refused to behave.

He wasn’t nervous. Not exactly.
Just… aware. Aware that first impressions mattered.
Especially when the last few assignments had ended less than ideally.

The Galatea’s ghost still hovered at the back of his thoughts, but he pushed it down—beneath a practiced smile, beneath the good posture. Beneath the hopeful knot in his stomach that said this time might be different.

PADD tucked neatly under one arm, he rounded the last corner and came to a stop outside the executive officer’s office. The door was closed.

Buddy took a breath.
Then tapped the chime.

Ensign Cullum ●
Security Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket heard his chime and smiled. He looked at his records and matter of fact it sounded like the new security officer.

“Enter.” Commander Becket said sitting there after getting a new cup of tea and some crackers.

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket
Executive Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Bump

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket
Executive Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Bump

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket
Executive Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

The door parted with a quiet hiss, and Buddy stepped inside, posture straight but not rigid. He held the PADD in both hands now, like a peace offering or maybe a lifeline.

“Ensign Buddy Cullum, reporting as ordered, sir,” he said, voice steady, just this side of formal.

His eyes flicked around the room—clean lines, warm lighting, a faint scent of tea. The kind of space that said I run things without needing to say it out loud. His gaze settled on the man behind the desk.

“Appreciate you taking the time. I know things are probably a bit hectic with all the new arrivals.”

He offered the faintest smile—hopeful, not overeager—and stepped forward just far enough to be invited in.

“Permission to come aboard… officially?”

Ensign Cullum ●
Security Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Alex stood up with a smile. He stood there and holds his hand out. “Welcome aboard Ensign. And permission granted.” He said with a smile. “I’ve seen your record here that I’ve received from Starfleet. Please have a seat Ensign.” He said. “From what it says here, you are just newly graduated from the academy. I also see here yourself and friends are in some sort of band.” Alex added.

He sat down as well and continued. “So tell me what should I know, be concerned of, or anything from what your record isn’t telling me. Now I must mind you, I am a nice friendly man around here on the ship. However, upset me, nothing’s going to be good but for the most part I’m a nice fellow.” He said. As he continued he took a sip from his cup. However, he also sighed. “So a little about me Ensign. I am Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket, the executive officer on board this fine mythology class starship. I can be a little hard on the senior staff from time to time. But not all the time. However, since the captain isn’t around at this given point in time I am taking care of all the check ins.” He completely explained the Ensign with reassurance. “Now mind you we haven’t had much of new officers coming on board. From what I know you are the only junior officer under the captains and my command. As well as your department head. Now your department head he I’ve not worked with him fully as I was the former chief engineer. But all I know is that he is a stickler for his junior officers under him.” He continued. “Again please tell me more about yourself. Your record is a little bland.” He came to a complete stop and allowing the Ensign to have his turn to speak.

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket
Executive Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

Buddy crossed the room and accepted the handshake with a firm grip, then eased into the offered seat, posture relaxed but attentive. His hands rested on the PADD in his lap, thumbs lightly pressed along the edge as Becket spoke.

When the XO mentioned his record being “a little bland,” Buddy’s eyes flickered—just briefly—but he didn’t flinch. Didn’t frown. He simply offered a polite, noncommittal smile.

“I guess that means I’ve done a decent job keeping my head down,” he said with a soft shrug. “Or that the things that really shaped me never made it into the file.”

He shifted slightly, glancing out the nearby viewport for a beat before turning his attention back to the Commander.

“I started out on the Saracen—routine security rotation. Learned discipline, learned routine. Dresden came after that… humanitarian detail along the Romulan border. Good people. Hard work. Then came the Galatea.”

His voice tightened slightly, the pause long enough to register.

“Galatea didn’t end well. I don’t talk about it much… but I walked away. And not everyone did.”

He let that hang for a breath. Then, with practiced ease, he pulled himself back to the present.

“As for the band—Buddy and the Breen. Yeah, that’s us. Mostly noise and catharsis, but it keeps us grounded. We play hard, we work harder. Starfleet’s full of uniforms… music helps me remember who I am when the jacket’s off.”

He met the Commander’s gaze again, steady this time.

“I don’t have much to hide, sir. But I’ve got a lot I still want to prove.”

Ensign Cullum ●
Security Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

He sat there and listened and nodded. “Ensign might I ask what you want to prove more on?” He asked Cullum.

“Listen. I get it going from ship to ship to ship can be difficult. And I get it. Some of my friends and myself all have done the same.” He then sighs after that. “Back at the academy, we were doing some piloting training. And,” he sighs. “A close very close person from our youth.,” he sighed again. “It was my girlfriend. She had died during that piloting training. Had I have known if the academy instructor hadn’t told me. No. The academy instructor told me and I had fell and went into tears. It was hard for me.” He stated to the Cullum.

He had then not realized how good it was to say that to someone else but not the counselor. “Well other than that. Everything checks out. And your good to go on duty. If you need anyone else to talk to. My door is open.” He said.

Lieutenant Commander Alex Becket
Executive Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel