USS Athena
Operations Office - No Good Deed...
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Daggum Hammor (Chief Operations Officer) in Operations Office - No Good Deed…
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Daggum Hammor (Chief Operations Officer) in Operations Office - No Good Deed…
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Daggum Hammor (Chief Operations Officer) in Operations Office - No Good Deed…
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The office was in a state of major disarray. Without an actual Operations Officer on board in a while, it seemed (from the physical evidence) that some of the crew had taken the spot over as a place to catch an unsupervised nap or engage in other ‘extra curricular activities’. Hammor frowned and shook his head. Of course… he thought to himself, but he didn’t get angry. He knew from the reports the Athena’s crew had been through it and then some. “Can’t fault anyone for needing a break, but did they have to leave it on the desk? That’s just unsanitary.” he mumbled and began to gather the vestiges of down-time and clear the space.Two hours later, the office was cleaned (and sanitized) and Hammor sat as his desk (in a new chair). On the display was the standard stores list he had compiled and created on his way to the ship. Next to it was a list of current stores and levels; as well as the very long list of requisitions form all of the various departments on the ship. These he was in the process of prioritizing it when his comms activated. =/\= Athena Operations. This is Starbase 1-5-7 Quartermaster. I’m gonna need to discuss some of these orders. Athena. Looks like you won’t be getting about half of what is here. =/\=
Hammor took a breathe and slowly exhaled. The call was not only expected, it was predictable. Not one time had he been aboard a ship and the station or dock not given him a hard time about requisitions. Half the time it was simply lack of organization and the supplier didn’t know what all they had, so it was easier to just say no. Half of the remaining time was because they didn’t want to give up what they had. And the rest of the time it was because they didn’t want to deal with the sheer amount of work it took to resupply a ship back from extended deployment. Somehow, it was though that replicators could solve anything… Idiots. Hammor thought to himself. Well, to the matter at hand then… figuring out which one of the three this one was.
Hammor tapped the comms and said =/\= 1-5-7 this is Athena Operations, Lieutenant Commander Hammor. Didn’t think we were requesting anything out of the ordinary. And we aren’t pressed for time. So what seems to be the problem? =/\= With a delivery born of practice, the response came through. =/\= Well, Athena, this isn’t exactly Star Base 1, now is it? We have some of what you need, but the rest is already slated for other ships. I mean, I can place a request for the outstanding materials of course, but it will take a few weeks. =/\=
Number two it was, then. Hammor smiled a wholly unsettling smile that would have unnerved anyone had they been present to see it. =/\= Oh… I see. Already spoken for, is it. Well… that certainly happens. If you could, go ahead and send me the list of the ships that are slated for those outstanding materials. I’ll speak to their Operations officers and come up with a solution for everyone involved. =/\=
There was a long pause from the other end before the Quartermaster respoded. =/\= Commander, I’m sure you understand that those requests are confidential and I can’t just go around telling just anyone who is requisitioning what. Operational security and all. =/\= Hammor’s grin widened. =/\= Of course. In that case, why don’t you contact them and try and figure out a way to make this work? =/\= =/\= Um… well… I really am swamped right now, Commander; and I just don’t have the time to - =/\= and Hammor cut him off. =/\=- No problem. You go ahead and make the calls, Quartermaster. I’m on my way to lend you a hand. As a designated Operations officer, I have the authority to sign off on transfers between all Star Fleet and Federation vessels and stations. I’ll handle your docks while you make those calls for me. Least I could do to help you help me. Sound good? =/\=
Another long pause and, for a moment, Hammor thought that maybe the Quartermaster had fled. =/\= No, no… thats… thats fine, Commander. Um, just give me some time and I’ll try and get you your full requisition. I mean, you guys have been out a long time, and the other ships are not nearly as in need. Just give me two days to get everything settled and then we will begin your load-in. =/\= Hammor stared at the office wall and drummed his fingers on the desk. =/\= Much appreciated, Quartermaster. But I don’t want to keep your crews on the hook that long. That’s not fair to them, after all. So we will commence load-in in twelve hours. You stage the supplies and we will handle the movement. See you then. =/\= and he cut the comms. He then called the bridge and said =/\= Operations to bridge. When the station Quartermaster calls, tell them I’m on vacation for the next twelve hours. =/\=
Hammor, Ops
Twelve hours later a large, green skinned humanoid of truly impressive physique materialized on the cargo deck of Starbase 157 along with four others. All of them wore the gold Star Fleet uniforms of the Engineering Section. The big figure said simply “Let’s go.” and the other four figures began to scan and tag crates, boxes, bins, personal effects container and equipment.
A lanky human man saw the flurry of activity and mumbled Harumph under his breath and marched towards the large figure. “Hey! Hey you! Star Fleet! You can’t just come in here and start doing things! You need clearance! The Quartermaster -” and the big man’s head whipped around to glare at the man, but with an accompanying smile that seemed half-pleased and half-threat. “The Quartermaster knew I was coming. Hammor. Lieutenant Commander. Chief Operations Officer of the Athena.” He waved a PaDD in the man’s general direction and said very loudly “I have a ship to resupply and repair. I have a thousand people to feed, clothe, bathe, medicate, and educate. I have outstanding requisitions from over three months station time, and I have three days to get it all done. Your Quartermaster was required by Star Fleet regulation nine-nine-nine-seven-point-six subsection a-a to comply with all authorized Fleet requests for vessels coming in from extended deployment.” Hammor took a small step towards the man, poking him in the chest (lightly, at least for Hammor) with the corner of the PaDD, backing him up as he spoke.
“Your department dropped the ball. Your department drug their feet. Your department failed to stage the requisitions, so your department is on the hook when my section can’t get the ship done on schedule. Our CO is Napean. You ever seen a pissed-off Napean before, mister? They’ll melt your face right off your skull. Now unless you are gonna help, either go get your Quartermaster or get your aft section out of our way.” The man stumbled once and then turned and bolted for the door off the dock at the far back of the bay.
One of Hammor’s Operations officers walked up and stood a step behind and to the left of Hammor watching the fleeing figure. In a low voice he said “Chief, you know you gave him the regulation code for disposing of biohazardous waste at warp?” Hammor’s eyebrows raised slightly as he too watched the running man and he said “Really? I thought I was just making it up.” The two watched as the figure tripped and fell over a crate, scrambled to his feet, and ran into the door before it could open. Both men simultaneously cringed slightly at the impact and then, as the figure made it out of the loading dock, the Ops officer just said “Huh.” and then turned and walked off to continue the load-in.
Hammor, Ops
It was an hour later that Hammor heard the main door open and multiple foot steps. Without turning around or looking up from his PaDD, Hammor simply said “Finaly. The Station Quartermaster and what I would assume is either Station Security or some of his aids to…” and he closed the PaDD down and turned to face the congregation of new arrivals, “… lend a hand.”
The new group was indeed the Quartermaster… and four Star Fleet Security Officers: one Lieutenant, one Ensign, and two Petty Officers who would probably be more at home on a Parrises Square court than in a uniform. Hammor held the PaDD to his side and nodded at the group. “Security… good choice. Saves a lot of trouble going forward. Good… now then.” and he looked at the Quartermaster, a more pudgy than burly Bajoran male in dark blue overalls. “I have the beginnings of the preliminary requisition tagged and staged, but now that you are here you can assist by finding the materials we haven’t located yet and start moving them forward.” and he held the PaDD towards the Bajoran.
A dark look swept across his face and he stepped to look directly up at Hammor. “Look, Commander… I don’t give one targ’s tail how you think things get done… because here they get done how I say they get done. And nothing… and I mean nothing… moves without my permission. You hear? So I suggest you take your people and yourself and disappear… before your whole order goes up in smoke. Got it?” and he poked a finger into Hammor’s chest. Hammor just smiled down at the man and said “Oh, I think you misunderstood me, good sir… We aren’t here for our requisitions, no no no… We came here to help you with theirs.” and he pointed out the forcefield that separated the atmosphere of the cargo bay from the vacuum of space.
Outside floated one of the largest ships in the whole of Star Fleet: The USS Harbinger Dawn. The massive dreadnaught hung like a silent bulwark against anyone and anything that dared threaten the Federation. Hammor took a long breath. “Yeah… big, ain’t she? And what… a whole two days early?” and he dropped a massive green hand on the shoulder of the comparatively small Quartermaster. “Crew complement of thirty six hundred. And that doesn’t include the Marine ground personnel or the aviation wing. Wait, did I say wing? I meant ‘wings’… with an ‘s’. Three of them. All total… you’re looking at around five or six thousand personnel… all under the command of one Admiral T’sul. Yeah… not one I’d want to get on the wrong side of, that’s for sure. You know, I heard that one time they had to wait an extra half-day for some personnel to be transferred aboard. T’Sul had the entire Fleet Personnel Department written up. And I mean THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT. Fleet-wide.” and he chuckled. “Yeah… there were people getting reprimands in other quadrants. Funny as hell, man… yeah…” and he dropped the arm from the man’s shoulder and then turned to face the group; all of whom stared out the bay with mouths agape.
“But… your docks, Quartermaster.” and Hammor put two fingers in his mouth and loud, shrill whistle echoed around the bay. “Wouldn’t want to be in your way with as busy you are gonna be.” The rest of the Operations team walked over near the Ops Chief, who took his place next to them. “Good luck!” he said loudly and tapped his comm badge. =/\=Commander Hammor to Athena. Four to beam up. =/\= and the swirl of lights surrounded them and they disappeared.
Materializing on the transporter pads, Hammor looked at his team. “You get it done?” he asked. All three smiled and chuckled. “Yes, sir.” one Ensign replied. “We moved all of our requisitions to the front and blocked off the Dawn’s. They’ll have to send us ours first or risk pissing off the Admiral. We’ll probably be hearing from them in the next few minutes.” Hammor grinned and said “Well done. Go get some food. We are gonna be busy loading in. Meet me in the cargo bay in thirty minutes.” and the three smiled and walked out of the Transporter room.
As Hammor left, the Transporter Chief, a Chief Petty Officer, said “Commander… did I hear that right? You blocked off someone else’s stuuf with outrs so they had to send us ours first?” Hammor feigned shock and said “Why Chief… would I do something like that? That’s just shady.” and the Chief smiled. “Yeah… good to have you on board, Commander. I think you’ll be ok.” and Hammor smiled as he walked out the door.
Hammor, Ops
It had been a full twenty-four hours since the Ops Chief and the station’s Quartermaster had… ‘discussed’… the movement of the requisitioned materials for the Athena. The load was progressing about two hours ahead of schedule and Hammor was in a good mood.
Then the call came through.
=/\= Harbinger Dawn to Lieutant Commander Daggum Hammor. Fleet Captain Falls, here. =/\= Hammor steeled himself and said =/\= Sir, this is Lieutenant Commander Hammor. How may I be of assistance, sir? =/\= There was a long pause and then the voice said =/\= You got my stuff, you big green monstrosity? =/\=
Hammor shook his head and smiled. =/\= With all due respect, Fleet Captain… your insults are as weak as your poker face. That’s why your stuff is now actually my stuff. But if you are interested in a trade… we might be able to work something out. =/\= A roar of laughter came from the other side and the voice said =/\= Last time you offered me a trade, you walked off with three bottles of my best rum and my sister. I don’t think so. =/\= Hammor chuckled and said =/\= Sorry, sir. I thought she was your wife. Had I know she was just your sister, I would have let you keep her. I thought I was doing you a favor. =/\= Another roar and the sound of something hitting something. =/\= DAMMIT but I miss you, Daggum. I don’t get to laugh like this with anyone around here. Bunch of sticks in the mud, they are. =/\= and more laughing.
Hammor’s brow furrowed and he said =/\= Uh, sir… are you on the bridge? =/\= and Falls said =/\= Hell yes, I’m on the bridge. And no, I don’t care if these stuffed shirts hear me. If we can’t have fun in this gig, why the hell are we here anyways? =/\= Daggum smiled broadly and said =/\= So to what do I owe the pleasure of hearing your sparkling intellect, Fleet Captain, sir? =/\= There was a brief pause and then Falls said =/\= I’m sending you something. Should be arriving in your cargo transporter in the next few minutes. Don’t say I don’t pay up on my bets! =/\= and Falls laughed slightly softer this time. =/\= I would never say that, sir. At least not where it could come back to you. =/\= Another roar of laughter and Falls said =/\= Too good… too good. You take care Daggum. I expect to hear from you regularly. Thats an order, Commander. =/\= Hammor smiled and said =/\= Of course, Fleet Captain. You know me… I always follow orders. =/\= and he paused for effect. =/\= Especially when they come from your sister. =/\= The other end of the comms almost overloaded with the amount of laughter from Falls before it went silent.
Hammor smiled as he walked across the bay, checking off on some of the incoming shipments as he made his way to the large transporter used for cargo. His wait was brief when a good sized security crate appeared. Hammor slid it off the pad and entered a code. The sound of air escaping the case accompanied the lid raising up to reveal a few dozen bottles of various sizes and shapes. Hammor looked at it and smiled. Now he had barter material in spades. He tagged it to be sent to his quarters and then locked it back, ear marking one bottle for the Captain as was tradition for him.
Hammor, Ops
Load in was complete, and it was almost a full day early. Hammor was leaned back in his chair in his office when the door slid open and NE Hicks came in. Hicks was a human male with short cut brownish blonde hair. He looked at the big Orion and said “Hey Chief.. we uh.... we may have an issue.” Hicks didn’t want to be the first one to bring the new boss bad news, but he had literally drawn the short straw, so here he was.
Hammor looked at him and said “Ok, Mr. Hicks. What is is?” Hicks looked back over his shoulder and said “You know that dozen wearable med scanners you added to the requisition? They, um… well… see the thing is… I guess…” and Hammor waved him silent. “Hicks, I’m not going to get mad. Just tell me what it is so we can address it, ok?” and Hicks nodded and took a deep breath. “So they have arrived, but the Quartermaster won’t release them until ‘final approval’ has been sent… from Star Fleet Medical.” Hammor looked at Hicks and was silent for a moment before cocking his head to the side slightly and saying “You weren’t always Operations, were you Hicks?” The question caught the man off guard but he warily shook his head and said “No, sir. Originally I was Security.” Hammor grinned slightly and asked “And why are you not Security anymore?” Hicks’s face clouded slightly before he said “Well, sir… I got in a bit of trouble and they rescinded my Security clearances for about six months while I was in the brig. But I have had a clean record since, sir! I haven’t done anything wrong, and my last three evaluations have shown -” and Hammor shook his head and said “Easy, easy, easy. Mr. Hicks. I know your record. I read your file before I arrived. And your past isn’t an issue with me, ok? What I want to know is…”
“How’d you like to break the rules again?” and he grinned at the man.
Three hours later, Hammor walked out of his office. “Mr. Hicks!” he called across the loading bay. “Sir!” came an almost instantaneous reply, accompanied by the appearance of NE Hicks. Hammor looked at him and said “Mr. Hicks, have you completed that transport audit I requested at the beginning of your shift?” Hicks’s eyes lit up and he said “Yes, sir. Took me all shift back in the stores and supplies, but I got it done.” and he handed Hammor a PaDD. Hammor smiled and said “Good job. I appreciate your diligence in making sure we got that recount done. I know its not the most glamorous work, but it really was needed. Hicks simply said “No problem, Commander. Now if you don’t mind, I’ve had enough of this cargo hold for one shift.” Hammor dropped a hand on the man’s shoulder and said “Absolutely. Go have a good meal and a drink or three.” Hicks smiled and said “Yes, sir. I always follow orders.” and he trotted off and out of view.
A minute or so later, Hammor stood in front of the cargo transporter. He keyed in a few commands, searched for a particular signal and, finding it, smiled. Adjusting a few parameters he engaged the system. A high pitched whine and a swirl of lights later, and a crate with a cargo tag and a small, black device with a blinking red light on top materialized on the platform. Hammor pulled the transporter beacon off the lid and pocketed it and then opened up the crate, saw the wearable scanners, smiled, and closed the lid. He then hefted the crate and began a walk towards the turbolift and Sickbay.
Hammor, Ops