Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Executive Officer) in Main Engineering- Making the Rounds

Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Executive Officer) in Main Engineering- Making the Rounds

Posted by Lieutenant Harry Archer (Chief Engineer) in Main Engineering- Making the Rounds
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

She smirked and then ducked back under the safety railing. “There is that. And few people know or realize that I was a computer specialist before I got my commission with Starfleet. But I was also a crewman. I spent many hours just doing whatever job needed doing and they were rarely the glamorous ones. But I like to think that it gives you an intimate look at the ship you’re relying on to, as you said, not turn you into a popsicle.”

~Shara Calloway, XO

Harry smiled. “Well, I also find it a useful incentive to remind repair teams when their standards slip. Funnily enough they improve after that reminder.” he said, gesturing toward his office. “And at least I know who to come to if I have a computer problem,” he commented. “I did do the usual modules at Starfleet Academy, so it shouldn’t be too often,” he said with a grin.

Shara grinned and followed him into his office. He didn’t yet know her full skills but she also hoped it wouldn’t be necessary.

“Can I get you a drink?” he asked, as he moved over to the replicator.

Lt. Archer
Chief Engineer

Taking a seat, Calloway crossed her legs at the knee. “It’s too early for whiskey, but I won’t say no to some coffee. Black, please.”

Harry tapped in a few commands into the replicator, and a tea and a coffee materialised, along with a couple of chocolate biscuits. He set the biscuits on a small table, and then brought the drinks over.

“How are you finding the ship so far? People can get a little weirded out about being on an Intelligence-leaning vessel.”

~Shara Calloway, XO

“Well, actually, it was the very fact that the Asimov is an intelligence vessel that piqued my curiosity when looking through the assignments list.” he said, with a smile. “I’m very much of the view that, as optimistic as we ought to be about the Federation being about exploration, I’m realistic in that there will also be those who wish to do us, and our way of life, harm. The challenge is how we take the fight to them, without compromising on our values.”

Lt. Archer
Chief Engineer

Shara bobbed her head in two slow nods before she sipped on her coffee. “The way I see it, a ship like this can be far more responsive to a threat, even in an investigatory way, than a regular starship. Yes, other ships can investigate and respond to things, but ideally, we’ll be several steps ahead and already deep in the know. And it allows other ships to fulfill the Federation’s goals of exploring and diplomacy, while having the ships with teeth do the dissuading.”

~Shara Calloway, XO

Harry sipped on his tea as Shara spoke, before setting it down. “Absolutely. It’s just a shame that Section 31 and its antics during the Dominion War has clouded the public perception of Starfleet Intelligence.” he said, as he picked up a biscuit.

“Oh, don’t give Intell a pass, Lieutenant. As a whole they do enough sh!t worth giving them the side eye for,” Calloway said.

“I guess it’s down to us to make sure that we act with the professionalism and integrity required of us.” he said, taking a bite.

Lt. Archer
Chief Engineer

Shara reached for a biscuit and twirled it in her fingers for a moment before she took a bite. Swallowing, she nodded slowly. “We can only do our best in the moment with the knowledge and situation given. But… I would caution you against being too inflexible with what all that looks like. Sometimes we will have to do things that might make us uncomfortable, because the greater mission and our ethics require it of us. Integrity can be a tricky thing, depending on the lens with which you vie it.”

~Shara Calloway, XO

Harry mused for a moment, sipping his tea. He understood the point the Executive Officer was making, but perhaps wouldn’t have put it the way it had come across.

“I see ethics and integrity as key bedfellows,” he said with a smile. “Sometimes we have to lose in order to preserve them,” he continued, “and that doesn’t often sit well with people.”

Lt. Archer
Chief Engineer

A tiny smile graced her lips before it was hidden by her mug. “No, it rarely does. I suppose my perspective will always look different given both my roots and my career in Starfleet. When you lived life outside the expected norms and then embraced the things other people can’t handle, well…” Calloway shrugged.

“Funny enough, my integrity is what made me finally demand a standard duty assignment. And so I was sent here.” Well, it was a piece of it, but she wasn’t going to get in ot the rest just now. “What brings you here to our unusual ship, Lieutenant?”

~Shara Calloway, XO

“I like the unusual,” he said with a smile. “And you don’t often get the chance to be Chief Engineer on a ship as a Lieutenant. If I had been assigned to one of the larger Starfleet vessels, I’d probably be commanding one of the engineering shifts.” he continued.

Lt. Archer
Chief Engineer

She nodded. “That’s probably true. I mean, you think this ship is small, you should ahve seen our last one,” Shara said, breaking into a chuckle. “We have 40 people on board. This newer ship feels more like I remember.”

~Shara Calloway, XO

“That would perhaps be a little bit too small for me,” he said with a grin. “Anyway, you described this ship as unusual…” he paused. “Anything more unusual than its covert role?” he asked.

Lt. Archer
Chief Engineer

A smirk played upon her lips. “Well, we have a rather eclectic crew on the whole, but the whole senior staff forms a rather unique little group. We’re all from very different backgrounds.” Shara leaned in before. “Just in case the rumour take on a life of their own, not only was I an intelligence officer for twenty-two years before I got this promotion, but I used to be considered an enemy of the Federation when I was a member of the Maquis.” She shrugged. “But that was a long time ago. Still, it’s funny how people like to spin the stories. I’m getting rather amused at some of them.”

~Shara Calloway, XO

Harry chuckled. “I wasn’t even born when the Marquis were a thing,” he said with a slight grin, trying slightly to wind up the XO. “Of course, the danger there is that I don’t know right from wrong, and will now believe anything anyone says about you.” He took a sip of his tea, watching Shara’s reaction.

Lt. Archer
Chief Engineer

She gave a half-shrug. “The hazards of having the career I’ve had is that almost all of my records are classified. The rumours just add to the air of mystery,” she said, breaking into a tiny chuckle.

“What about you? Since you’re a kid and all, and don’t have the Dominion War or related times as a reason. Why, Starfleet?” She could at least poke him back about age.

~Shara Calloway, XO

Bump

“Touché,” replied Harry, with a smile. “And I guess I’m following in the old man’s footsteps,” he said with a smile. “Although he was a science officer; I don’t think he’s forgiven me for following my mother’s interest in physics and engineering,” he continued. “I guess Starfleet has always been in our blood.”

Lt. Archer
Chief Engineer