Posted by Lieutenant Conner Reid (Chief of Security) in Ens Shau COS Check-in

Posted by Ensign MJ Shau (Security Officer) in Ens Shau COS Check-in

Posted by Lieutenant Conner Reid (Chief of Security) in Ens Shau COS Check-in
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The immediate aftermath of the successful boarding mission and destruction of the Pickett was hectic. Shortly after the shuttles were retrieved and the Chimera was en route back to the Alpha Quadrant, Ensign Shau found his new quarters.

MJ was sore and mentally exhausted. He sat in his chair and tried to wrap his head around everything that had happened. He was asleep before he knew it.

Ensign Shau woke in the middle of the night and moved to his bed, seeing that he’d somehow slept through his new roommate coming in and going to bed himself.

The next morning, MJ woke, cleaned up, and had a quick breakfast. He then set out to correct a rather glaring mistake from the previous day.

It was time to check in with his new department head, Lt Connor Reid.

After using his combadge to locate the Chief of Security, Ensign Shau grabbed the closest turbolift and mentally prepared himself for the various ways he expected this meeting to play out.

OOC: I have no idea where Connor would be, so I left that part open.

Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera

OCC: No problem. We’ll start in the brig.

IC: After reading the mornings security reports, Lt. Reid stood outside holding cell one and looked at the crewman sitting on the bunk of the Chimera’s security center.

“Attention, crewman Mercer,” Reid ordered.

Merceer stood and winced at the pain in his head, not knowing if it was from the alcohol or the fight he took part in, in the deck 8 crew’s lounge.

“Crewman Mercer, do you understand why you’re here?”, asked the security chief.

Merce replied,r” Yes, sir. Disorderly conduct. Bar altercation on Deck 8.

“That’s the charge. But reports say you threw the first punch at a fellow crewman who hadn’t even spoken to you.”

“He didn’t have to. I’ve seen the looks. Everyone knows about the investigation.”

“The inquiry into the maintenance error? That’s still ongoing. No conclusions have been made.”

“Doesn’t feel that way, sir. Feels like I’m already guilty.”

“Then you made your situation worse by proving you can’t control your temper,” Conner added. He pushed off against the wall and took a few paces, turning to get a better look at Mercer.

” know. It just… built up. Weeks of whispers. I snapped.”

“The brig isn’t punishment, Mercer. It’s containment—until I’m confident you’re not a risk to the crew or yourself.”

“Am I a risk, sir?”

Reid stepped closer to the cell. “Right now? You’re a stressed crewman who made a bad decision. What matters is what you do next.”

“I’ll accept whatever discipline comes. I just want a chance to clear my name,” Mercer pleaded.

“Good. Because you’re going to speak with the ship’s counselor before release. And when you’re out, you keep your focus on your duties—nothing else.”

“Understood, Lieutenant.”

“One more thing, Mercer.”

“Sir?” the crewman asked.

Conner took a deep breath. “Rumors don’t ruin careers. Reactions to them do. Don’t give anyone another reason to question you.”

” …I won’t, sir.”

“See that you don’t. I’ll send the counselor down here soon. You talk to her, set up some sessions, and you’re free to go. I’ll write it up.”

” Yes, sir. thank you, Lieutenant.”

Conner left, made his way to his office and began preparing release papers for Mercer. He was about to contact the counselor when his office chime rang. “Come in,” was the simple response. . . . .

Lt. Conner Reid
Chief of Security-USS Chimera

Ensign Shau stepped into the Chief of Security’s office.

He was just average in height but had a broad, muscular frame. His dark, naturally curly hair was cut short and neatly trimmed. MJ had a stubblely beard with clean lines that was offset by his medium skin tone. The Ensign had a mark on his forehead that many people would know identified him as a native of Risa.

“Sir, Ensign MJ Shau checking in after transferring over from the Pickett. Officially this time.”

He didn’t bother down playing their meeting in CIC the previous night. While his goal was to learn about the ship and make a good first impression on the Chief of Security, the result was the exact opposite.

Now he could only accept whatever fallout came from his actions.

Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera

Reid didn’t immediately look up.

The Chief of Security sat behind his desk reviewing a PADD, one elbow resting against the arm of the chair while his eyes scanned the report. The silence lasted just long enough to make it clear that he knew Shau was standing there.

Then he set the PADD down.

His gaze lifted, calm and sharp, studying the ensign for a moment. The Risan forehead mark caught the light slightly as Shau stood at attention.

“Yes,” Reid said evenly. “Officially this time.”

There was no anger in his tone—just a quiet, deliberate calm that somehow carried more weight than shouting ever could.

“I remember our introduction in CIC last night.”

He leaned back slightly in his chair, folding his hands together.

“For the record, Ensign, surprising the Tactical console during a live watch rotation is not generally considered the best way to introduce yourself to the security department.”

A brief pause followed. Reid’s expression remained controlled, but there was the faintest trace of dry humor behind his eyes.

“Particularly not when the Chief of Security happens to be standing ten feet away.”

He gestured toward the chair in front of the desk.

“At ease. Sit.”

Once Shau settled, Reid continued.

“I’ve read your transfer file from the Pickett. Solid evaluations. Tactical response drills above average. Boarding action simulations—impressive scores.”

His fingers tapped lightly once against the desk.

“So help me reconcile something.”

Reid tilted his head slightly.

“Because the officer described in that record knows better than to test a security perimeter without clearance.”

The words weren’t accusatory. They were investigative.

“Now, there are a few possibilities.”

He ticked them off calmly.

“One: you were overconfident.”

“Two: you were curious.”

“Three: you were testing us.”

Reid leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the desk.

“Only one of those answers tells me you might actually be useful on this ship.”

His voice softened just a fraction.

“The Chimera doesn’t need reckless officers, Ensign. But it does need officers who think.”

A small beat passed.

“So,” Reid said calmly, “which one was it?”

OOC: Nothing personal here, but this IS how the security chief would react at that little faux pas. Again, no harm, no foul. Look at this as an opportunity for character development!!

Lt. Conner Reid
Chief of Security-USS Chimera

Waiting for the Chief of Security to acknowledge him was a tense situation, but it was one that MJ had expected. Ensign Shau had failed to take the time to check in properly, and now he was reaping the consequences.

He chose to view the delaying tactics as a test of his character rather than an overt power play, and settled himself in for the laung haul.

When the Chief of Security did finally speak, he was all business. That’s a good sign… there are a surprising number of department heads that lead with their emotions.

Ensign Shau took a seat when directed and absorbed what the other man said. He did not protest or try to mount a defense, everything Lt Reid was factual. MJ knew he’d been in the wrong the previous night.

When asked the question, Ensign Shau paused to think for a moment before answering. “I believe you’re offering me something a false trichotomy Sir. I don’t believe my actions fall squarely into any of those options.”

“I fully acknowledge that I was wrong to not check in with you first, Sir, and can see how being in CIC last night could appear arrogant. The truth is the opposite. As a new transfer I felt like I would be less useful to you than every other officer in your department and wanted to learn as much as I could about the ship and the tactical situation before my check in. My goal was to become an asset to you, rather than a burden. Though that clearly backfired.”

“Calling it simple curiosity doesn’t fit either, Sir. It makes my motivations seem frivolous. A truer, but no less unflattering, assessment of what happened last night would be to call my actions selfish. I am…” MJ paused slightly. “normally… a very good Security Officer. Being able to fulfill that role, even in a limited capacity, would allow me to support the ship and give me something to focus on while my subconscious processed the events on the Pickett.“

MJ felt the painful sting of memories at that comment, but had regained enough of his center that he didnt let it derail him.

“Finally, Sir, we were already fighting an enemy and our attention needed to be focused out there. I accept that my actions could have been an unintentional distraction at a critical moment, but I would never attempt to test ships company amidst a red alert.”

Ensign Shau gave his conclusion of the root cause… something he should have seen for himself yesterday. “Ultimately Sir, despite being cleared for limited duty by the doctor and the counselor, I failed to recognize that my judgment was compromised, which lead to my poor decision last night. Placing my need to be useful over the security of the ship and the success of the mission.”

“I accept whatever consequences you deem appropriate, Sir.”

Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera