Posted by Ensign Derek Snowden (Security Officer) in CNS: Check In

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Samuel Andrew McIntyre (CNS) in CNS: Check In

Posted by Ensign Derek Snowden (Security Officer) in CNS: Check In
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Ensign Snowden paused outside the counseling office before tapping the panel.
the door wooshed open
He stepped inside.
“Ensign Snowden, Security. Requesting a moment, Counselor.”

The office on Deck 33 remained calm and controlled, the quiet strains of classical music threading softly through the air.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Samuel McIntyre sat behind his desk, his posture straight but not rigid, his presence measured—professional, and grounded. His eyes lifted the moment the doors parted.
“Ensign Snowden, Security. Requesting a moment, Counselor.”
McIntyre regarded him briefly, taking in the uniform, the stance, the tone. Security officers rarely came in without a reason—rarer still without being ordered.
“Of course, Ensign,” McIntyre replied in an even, composed voice. “You’ll find this office operates with a bit less formality. Have a seat.”
He gestured to the chair opposite him. As Snowden moved, McIntyre reached for the panel at his desk, lowering tmusic’s volumes to a near-inaudible level.
Once Snowden was seated, McIntyre leaned back slightly, hands resting together in a relaxed but attentive posture.
“What brings you in today?”

Lieutenant Jr. Grade Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera

Ensign Snowden sat across from the Lt.JG shifting in his chair under the gaze of the Counselor.
“I’m here for the on-boarding check-ins” he said, his tone calm and collected
-Ensign Snowden
Security Officer USS Chimera

McIntyre gave a small, acknowledging nod, the tension—or lack of it—in Snowden’s voice not lost on him.
“Understood,” he said evenly. “Standard procedure, then.”
He reached to the side of his desk, tapping a control that brought up Snowden’s file on a concealed display—his eyes flicking across it briefly before returning to the young Ensign. He didn’t linger on the screen; the man in front of him mattered more than the data.
“You’re with Security. That puts you closer to the sharp end of things than most on this ship,” McIntyre continued, his tone steady, matter-of-fact. “These check-ins aren’t about passing or failing. They’re about making sure you’re squared away before things get complicated.”
A slight pause. Measured. Intentional.
“How are you settling in aboard the Chimera so far?”

Lieutenant Jr. Grade Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera

As Ensign Snowden thought about the question given to him, he shifted his uniform before replying
“So far, I seem to be doing well, but only time will tell” he replies letting out a soft chuckle
“It definitely is not like the Academy” he stated, before asking “What else is needed of me before I continue my assignments?”
Ensign Snowden, Derek
Security Officer USS Chimera

McIntyre allowed the faintest hint of a smirk at that—controlled, but there.
“No,” he said plainly, “it never is.”
He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the desk, his attention fixed fully on Snowden now.
“The Academy teaches you how things are supposed to go. Out here, you learn how they actually do.”
He let that settle for a moment before continuing, tone steady and professional.
“As for what’s required—nothing excessive. This isn’t an obstacle to your duties, Ensign. It’s a safeguard.”
A brief glance at the file, then back to Snowden.
“I need a baseline. That means understanding how you handle pressure, uncertainty, and the realities that come with a Security posting on a ship like this.”
His posture remained open, but there was a quiet weight behind his words now.
“So we’ll keep it simple.”
A beat.
“Tell me—when things stop going by the book… when orders get unclear, or the situation turns unpredictable—what’s your approach?”

Lieutenant Jr. Grade Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera

Ensign Snowden paused for a moment, thinking hard on the question.
“When things get tough the tough get moving, as my father would say growing up” he said with a slight smile.
“I tend to look to my superiors, when things are getting rough, however in the event there is no one to answer then I would follow my last given orders” Ensign Snowden finished with a slight nod as though giving himself approval for his answer

Ensign Snowden, Derek
Security Officer USS Chimera

McIntyre listened without interruption, his expression neutral but attentive, weighing not just the words, but the conviction behind them.
At Snowden’s final nod, McIntyre gave one of his own—slower, more deliberate.
“A disciplined answer,” he said. “And not a wrong one.”
He leaned back slightly, folding his hands together.
“Relying on your chain of command is expected. Following last known orders in the absence of guidance—that’s structure. Structure keeps people alive.”
A brief pause, then his tone sharpened—just enough to make a point.
“But structure alone won’t carry you through every situation.”
His eyes held Snowden’s now.
“There will be moments where your last orders no longer fit what’s in front of you. Situations change. Fast. In those moments, hesitation—or blind adherence—can cost lives just as easily as recklessness.”
He let that settle before continuing, more even again.
“What I’m looking for, Ensign, is whether you can adapt without losing discipline. Think, without freezing. Act, without waiting for perfect clarity—because you won’t get it.”
A slight tilt of his head.
“So let me refine the question.”
A beat.
“You’re cut off from command. Your orders no longer match the situation, and lives are on the line—your team is looking to you.”
“What do you do?”

Lieutenant Jr. Grade Samuel A. McIntyre
CNS USS Chimera