Posted by Ensign Wiles Osten (Security Officer) in Departmental Check-In (Tag Wiles Osten)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Issac Forgrave (Chief of Security) in Departmental Check-In (Tag Wiles Osten)

Posted by Ensign Wiles Osten (Security Officer) in Departmental Check-In (Tag Wiles Osten)
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Issac checked his wrist chrono; it was about 5 till. Osten ought to be showing up soon… He had scheduled the meeting for the day after Osten’s return from shore leave - he wanted to give the officer time to get settled in (again) after the time away. Issac glanced at the PADD on his desk, and debated about reviewing his notes once more. But he knew the contents already - he was just restless and impatient. And maybe nervous, though he was loathe to admit that, even to himself. He didn’t know Osten hardly at all; and he’d never worked directly with him. From Ashur’s notes and his own general impression Wiles was doing an excellent job; he certainly had no intention of ‘shaking things up’ just to make his mark.

Rising from behind his desk, he moved over to the shelf across the room. He had half-filled it the other day with various mementos and knick-knacks; but hadn’t really taken the time to arrange things. While I’m waiting, may as well be productive. This model’s been bugging me anyways… He thought to himself as he started to reposition a small scale model of the USS Dresden.

Issac Forgrave, CoS

Wiles was excited to be back on the Dresden and eager to depart Earth. He had enjoyed his solitary getaway in the mountains, but in all honesty one of the greatest perks of being in Starfleet was it took him far, far away from Earth. Just being on the planet made him restless. If Wiles could have made the ship depart any faster, he would have. In fact, the day he returned from shore leave, he had gone to engineering to see if the engineers needed any help getting the ship prepped for launch. They didn’t, of course, but Wiles justified the intrusion as being part of his duties as security division three officer, the division that oversaw engineering and many of the other lower decks.

But now, he was to report to the newly promoted Lieutenant Forgrave. There was a passing thought about why Forgrave had been chosen for a promotion instead of, say, Wiles. They had both served on the Dresden for a similar amount of time… but Wiles pushed that away rather easily. He was fresh out of the academy after all, still young and with very little experience. Being division officer was enough for now, despite his ambitions.

Ensign Osten showed up to the chief of security’s office right on time and pressed the chime. He ran a hand through his hair light and took a breath in anticipation of the doors opening, ready to greet his new department head.

(Ensign Osten, Security Division Three Officer)

Hearing the chime, Issac glanced at his wrist. Right on time; that bodes well. “Come on in; door’s open.” He took a final critical look at the shelf; that would do for now.

“Osten! Thank ya for meeting with me; I hope I ain’t interrupted your plans.” Forgrave knew Wiles had spent a while dirtside, though he hadn’t pried any further. “Please come in.” Issac started towards the replicator in the wall in order to offer something to drink, but immediately realized the awkward shuffle that would ensue. Instead, he gestured towards the wall. “If ya’d like, help yourself to something to drink. Or I’ve got a fresh pot of coffee, if you’d prefer.”

The office layout had changed with its new occupant; though not so much as to be disorienting. The desk was different; now L-shaped and against the right wall, with the aforementioned replicator above the short end. Most notably, there were two large displays; one on the far wall and one on the adjacent left wall; both were currently powered down. It looked like Issac was still in the progress of rearranging, though the bulk of the work was likely done. The chief himself stood in front of his desk; it looked like he had been arranging a large bookshelf that was against the left wall.

“Hopefully you enjoyed your time on leave?” Forgrave’s tone was earnest; his face open. It would seem that this meeting might be on the informal side of things, at least to start.

Issac Forgrave, CoS.

“Oh I’m alright, thank you,” Ensign Osten said in response to the offer for a refreshment as he subconsciously clasped his hands behind his back. He took a couple steps forward to stand in front of the desk, not quite at attention but not quite relaxed, either. “It was nice to be back,” Wiles fibbed, “but I’m excited to resume our mission. Do you have any word on the next assignment, sir?” Wiles’ voice was one of a man who was meeting his boss for the first time, an uncertain mix of formal and friendly. He glanced to the viewscreens out of habit to see if there were any hints of information on them, then back to Forgrave when he saw they were powered off.

Issac sighed, a note of frustration in his voice. “No, no word on our next assignment. Just more personnel changes every day.” Issac had initially tried to keep track of the ship-wide changes, and quickly gave up. Much of it had no real affect on the Security Department; and there were plenty of items left that did need his attention.

Lt. Ashur and Wiles had had a good relationship, what with the chief of security assigning him as a division officer right as Wiles had come aboard. Wiles realized that the tension he felt in his chest was the worry that Lt. Forgrave would walk back this assignment and relegate his duties to that of just another shift officer. Why else would he call Wiles to his office without anyone else, like Ensign Astin, his assistant division officer?

(Ensign Osten, Security Division Three Officer)

Forgrave took a moment to consider Osten’s posture and tone. Seems a bit.... over-eager? Nerves maybe… But why? Prior to joining Star Fleet, Issac was self-admittedly terrible at ‘reading’ people; it was not something he had ever cared about. But in the years after, he’d made a point of learning. And come to think of it, there may be a few reasons for Osten’s trepidation. Issac briefly debated ways to gently steer the conversation in that direction, but quickly dismissed the thought. Subtlety was not his way.

“You seem… uncomfortable, Wiles.” Issac moved towards the far end of his desk and leaned on the corner, giving the Ensign a bit more room. “I can’t know what’s in yer head; and it ain’t really my business anyway. But I don’t know of any reason for you ta be concerned over your position. By all accounts you’ve been doing an exemplary job, and I got no reason to change that up.” Issac cocked his head to one side as a new thought occurred to him. “Unless you’re wanting somethin’ to change, that is.”

“And if that ain’t it, well I could imagine you bein’ a bit irritable over our relative positions. Iffin’ that’s the case well… I’d be lying if I said I got an answer for ya. My hope is you ain’t got no hard feelings in that regard; but I’d understand iffin’ ya do.” Issac shrugged; as if to say ‘I don’t know’.

“Again, please feel free to sit. Ain’t an order, but ya might be more comfortable.” As he spoke, Issac moved around his desk and sat down.

Issac Forgrave, CoS

Wiles’ mouth parted slightly, and might have fallen open entirely if his jaw hadn’t been partially clenched. After a second of recoil, Ensign Osten moved to sit in one of the chairs facing the desk, legs placed firmly in front of him and hands folded in his lap. He took a moment to collect himself. “I suppose the personnel changes you mentioned are making me a little… uncomfortable. This is my first assignment out of the academy, sir, and I guess I was hoping for my first couple of years aboard a starship to be a little more consistent. I felt like I was forming a good relationship with Lt. Ashur, so having to start again from ground zero with a new department head is… daunting.” He glanced away, indicating his nervousness. “Of course the same can be said for the new chief engineer, given that I interact with that department a lot. The death of our previous chief engineer was… sudden.”

Issac nodded along with Wiles. “I can appreciate that; void knows I didn’t anticipate any of this neither. I can’t say what I thought it’d be like after the academy… but I’d have lost money on a bet.” He sighed, taking a long sip of coffee. “As for starting fresh… well, we ain’t the only ones. Though Engineering’s loss was truly tragic.”

“But,” Wiles said with a partial sigh, “it sounds like we’re on the same page at the moment. Of course I wanted the chief of security spot, but that doesn’t mean I deserved it or was ready for it. The powers that be are probably a bit more objective than I am, and undoubtedly made the right decision. Congratulations, Leuitenant.” Wiles’ tone was without malice, perhaps even having a hint of embarrassment as he admitted to his coveting. “And for the record, I do enjoy my posting as division three officer. And I’m glad you think I’m doing a good job.” He shifted slightly. “But I imagine there’s some reason you called me into your office,” he said with anticipation.

(Ensign Osten, Security Division Three Officer)

Seems my guesses were right… “Thank you, I appreciate it. And right now, I’d settle for reading from the same book - as of right now, I’m down two division heads; I was concerned you might make three. If you hadn’t heard, NE Dayal, over division one in medical, got reassigned. I think she put in when news of Lt. Ashur got out, but I can’t say, and I reckon it ain’t my place to guess. We have new blood coming in; by numbers we’re actually coming out a bit ahead, but we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

“And that’s one of the reasons I called ya in here; the main just being to touch base. As you put it, I want to make sure we’re all on the same page - the Dresden’s going through a lot of changes right now; and security ain’t exempt, as I’ve already mentioned. I have a list of ideas and plans fer the Security department, but I’m prioritizing stability first. We need to be operating at full capacity ‘fore I start mucking things up.”

“Now, that being said.... I’d like to think we have an opportunity to start fresh. So, from day one, I want you, and everyone else in my department, to know that I value any input. I want everyone to think, to question, to learn. This ain’t a response to anything; just part of my thought process. There’s no stupid questions, but there’s plenty of bad assumptions. I’d like fer Security to be a.... benchmark, if you will, for open communication. Rank structures us top-down, but it’s impossible for me to know everythin’. And that’s where y’all come in, along with everyone else. In exchange for freedom, if ya will, I’ll back ya to the hilt.”

Issac paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. “I ain’t sure that made sense.... suppose that’s what I get fer speaking off the cuff. Point is, if you got a question, or a suggestion, or an idea or whatever, I want to hear it. Even if ya think it ain’t worth the air, I want ta hear it. And I’d like ya to extend that to the rest of yer department. Not to say there ain’t gonna be a lot of genuinely foolish ideas.... but even them can spark something good.”

“Given that.... right now I reckon it’s your time to talk. I know you’ve been away for a bit on leave, but is there anything worth mentioning in yer department? Complaints, ideas, concerns.... anything ya got. I plan on leaving that pretty well in yer hands, so if there’s anything ya need, now’s the time.”

Issac Forgrave, CoS