Posted by Lieutenant Commander Serena Stone (Executive Officer) in Business As Usual - CNS Office - Tag Kingston

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Business As Usual - CNS Office - Tag Kingston

(snip)

“How long do you want to be here? If you had a choice, of course,” Kingston asked, sipping on her cooling coffee. Her newfound perceptiveness only went so far and thus she was still relying on her skills and experience to guide her and Stone through the conversation.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

That question gave her pause, and for a moment she lapsed into silence to consider. But no answers came. “I don’t know,” she said. It was filled with earnesty rather than confusion. “I feel like things are off-trajectory for me. But that may not be a bad thing. That might turn out to be the best thing actually. But right now I just don’t have enough information. I know I’m quick to pull away from rapid changes, or from uncertain ground. But given time to check my footing, and feel my way forward, I adjust well. It’s out of my comfort zone. Which is good. It’s an opportunity for growth. I always expected if I ever did make it to XO, it would be on a warship. And yeah, I know the Mythology-class types can fight. But it’s a different culture. A lot more people to deal with. And well, people. Civilians. It changes the rules of engagement. It changes risk factors. It changes so much about how I would operate. There’s now a thousand liabilities I have to account for. A thousand corners I have to be ready to see around before I get there.” The prospect was daunting. There were a bunch of departments to deal with, each with their own problems, and individual concerns. And that didn’t even account for the people that fell under no chain of command. And of course if they got into a firefight… The idea of the losses there, or having to run and hide instead of taking the fight to the enemy because Tiny Tim might get vaporized … Granted, Orvos would shoulder much of that, but it wasn’t his to do alone.

Lt Cmdr Stone, XO

“It’s a lot to consider,” Janna agreed. “And the risk over being overwhelmed into paralysis is definitely there, but what is one thing you think you can do as you settle in that would allow you to get to know the ship and crew and find that footing you need here?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS