Posted by Captain Cypress Elliot (Commanding Officer) in Side sim Captain’s Ready room

Posted by Commander Daniel Hawthorne (Executive Officer) in Side sim Captain’s Ready room

Posted by Captain Cypress Elliot (Commanding Officer) in Side sim Captain’s Ready room
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
Elliot walked up to the man, thinking he was probably part of the crew sent to greet them. “Hello, Captain Cypress Elliot and Cmdr Daniel Hawthorne reporting for duty. Permission to come aboard?” The conversation between the commanding officers had paused for the brief interaction.

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

Daniel smiled and gave a slight nod to Brad , then he waited for some sort of introduction from the Chief Of Staff

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

“Permission granted, Captain, Commander. I’m Dr. Brad Walker, the Chief of Staff on the Ogawa and your Second Officer,” Brad said, extending a hand to first Cypress, then Daniel.

“Welcome aboard the Owie.”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

“Thankyou Commander”

Daniel said accepting the handshake

“Or would you prefer being addressed as Doctor?”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

Brad gave him a grin. “I can give you three answers, and you can pick whichever one makes you laugh the most,” he said

“My job’s mostly administrative, I didn’t spend six years in Evil medical school to be called Mister, and just don’t call me late for dinner.”

Ooc: bonus points if you can name the references
Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

OOC: I thought I reconised the references, they are Mostly administrative is a Bones line, The Evil medical school is from Kim Possible(I didn’t know this one) I’m too old for that one and Don’t call me late for dinner is a joke widely used in Pop culture , I think I’ve even said that one myself, you still didn’t give Daniel a choice of 3 things to call you though :-)

OOC: They must be more pervasive than I thought… Mostly administrative for me was from American Dad (“I can’t believe you’re an educator, Brian.” “My job’s mostly administrative.”), evil medical school is from Austin Powers, and yeah late for dinner is everywhere.

Each was an option to call Brad though: mostly administrative, I don’t do much doctoring, call me Commander; evil medical school, I may only operate on paperwork these days but damnit Jim I’m a doctor; and late for dinner, I’ll respond to either

IC: Daniel smiled when Brad said what he said, the fact the Commander made jokes he actually liked, he thought to himself that he and Brad were going to get on well with each other

“A sense of humour.....I like you”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

IC: “I aim to please, Commander,” Brad replied. He probably should have said sir in deference to the younger man’s more senior role on the ship, but their ranks were equal and Brad had considerably more time in grade.

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Daniel smiled and nodded , he didn’t mind at all that Brad didn’t call him Sir , after all they were the same rank he thought.

He stood and waited to see if the CO was going to say anything.

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

Cypress shook the hand extended in her direction. “I’m pleased to meet you, Cmdr, and I appreciate you taking the time to meet us. I thought Hawthorne and I would take a casual spin around the ship and then settle in the ready room. We need a ‘getting to know you’ conversation before we’re called to serve on a mission.” She clasped her hands behind her back and stepped off in the direction that would carry her further into the ship. “As soon as I’ve had a few minutes to settle in, I’ll call a meeting of all command officers so we can introduce ourselves.”

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

Brad’s handshake was purely professional, then stepped back to allow a clear path into the ship.

“I look forward to it, Captain,” he said. “Would you like an escort around the ship, or would you prefer to trust your reading of the specs?”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Daniel glanced towards Captain Elliot before turning back to Commander Walker.

“Thank you for the offer, Commander. I suspect the Captain and I should take advantage of the opportunity to get acquainted while we find our way around.”

He offered Brad a polite smile.

Brad gave an equally polite smile in return.

“Very well. If you do get lost, you can call the ship’s AI, GALEN, for advice getting back on track,” he said. “Just tap your commbadge like a normal call.”

“I’m sure we’ll have plenty of opportunities to pick your brain once we’ve settled in. I look forward to working with you.”

“You as well, Captain, Commander,” Brad said.

Daniel then fell into step beside Captain Elliot, ready to begin their tour of the Ogawa.

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Once they were alone again, the Captain kept the conversation going. “Do you know what your command style is, Cmdr? Are you lenient, permissive, strict, stern or do you decide things on a case by case basis?” She was eager to hear the answer to this one. Would their styles clash?

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

Daniel considered the question for a moment as they continued down the corridor, his gaze drifting briefly over the ship around them before returning to the captain.

“I’d say… case by case.”

He smiled slightly.

“Every officer is different. Every situation is different. I don’t believe you can lead effectively if your answer to every problem is the same one.”

He clasped his hands behind his back as they walked.

“I set high expectations because Starfleet expects the best of us, particularly on a ship like this where people’s lives may depend on our decisions. But I also believe mistakes are opportunities to teach—provided they’re honest mistakes and people learn from them.”

After a brief pause, he continued.

“I’ve never had much time for commanders who lead through fear. In my experience, a crew that respects you will outperform a crew that’s merely afraid of disappointing you. Respect has to be earned, and it starts with listening.”

He glanced at Captain Elliot with an easy smile.

“That said, if someone is negligent, repeatedly ignores orders, or knowingly puts the ship or crew at risk, I’ll deal with it swiftly. Compassion shouldn’t be mistaken for weakness.”

Daniel’s expression became thoughtful.

“My father always used to say an engineer earns the crew’s confidence by keeping the ship running. My mother believed a commanding officer earned it by making the right decisions when they mattered most. I suppose I’ve spent my career trying to do both.”

He gave a small, self-deprecating chuckle.

“So I suppose my command style is approachable, but not permissive. Fair, but not soft. I expect professionalism, and I try to give it in return.”

He looked towards the captain.

“If my officers can come to me with a problem before it becomes a crisis, then I know I’ve done something right.”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

Cypress nodded. That was a very good answer and it was similar to her own approach to discipline. “I’m glad to hear your explanation, Cmdr. It sounds like your choices are much like my own. Fear is useless in most circumstances. All it does is impede ones ability to act to the fullest of ones capability.” OOC: you will need to ask her questions too in order for us to have a conversation :)

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

OOC: Of course, it’s coming :-)

Daniel nodded thoughtfully.

“I couldn’t agree more, Captain. A frightened officer tends to become a hesitant officer, and hesitation can be just as dangerous as recklessness.”

They continued their leisurely pace through the corridor, passing crew members who offered polite greetings as they went.

“If you don’t mind me asking…” he began, “what drew you to command in the first place?”

He glanced towards her with genuine curiosity.

“Most of us can point to a moment—a mentor, an experience, or perhaps a particular captain—that made us realise the centre seat was where we belonged.”

A faint smile appeared.

An easy look crossed Elliot’s face. “I once had a Captain who was not well received by his crew. He was insistent that everything be done ‘by the book’, no matter the situation. But, you can’t run your ship that way and expect to have everyone agree with you. There are almost always extenuating circumstances which need to be considered. But he never would. Because of that, I saw some outcomes I thought were unfair. I couldn’t wait to get off that ship. I was already on the command track so I spent a lot of time thinking about how I would run a ship if I had one, since that was the ultimate goal. My command style would be firm but inclusive. I would make sure to consider all sides and reasons for a situation that came up, not just blame who looked obvious.”

“You’ve already asked about my approach to leadership, but I’m just as interested in learning yours. Beyond discipline, what do you expect from your senior staff? If I asked your department heads what makes Captain Cypress Elliot stand out, what would you hope they’d say?”

Daniel’s tone wasn’t interrogative; it was the kind of question one professional asked another. As Executive Officer, understanding the captain’s expectations was as important as knowing the ship’s specifications.

That was a good question. “I expect loyalty, not to me, but to the ship and crew. Face it, we are out here in the unknown of space and the people inside this vessel are now our ‘family’. The Athena is basically a travelling city. If there are problems, we will deal with them, fairly. If there are celebrations, we will make sure some kind of festivities ensue. One of the most important jobs we have is to look after our own.” They continued walking down the corridor wandering in a round about way to the bridge.

“I’ve always believed the relationship between a captain and their XO is built on trust. The better I understand how you think, the better I can support your decisions and the crew.”

He offered an easy smile.

“And if we’re going to be working together for the foreseeable future, I thought I should start by getting to know the person behind the rank.”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

Cy looked over at him and smiled. “Getting to know your Captain is a good idea, but its also paramount for me to get to know you. The more familiar we are with each other, the more smoothly we will work as a team. And ours is the most trusted relationship on board the ship. We each need to be able to step into the other’s shoes in times of trial.”

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

OOC: The Ogawa, not the Athena :-)

IC: Daniel returned the smile with a small nod of understanding.

“I couldn’t agree more, Captain.”

He folded his hands behind his back as they continued towards the bridge, keeping an unhurried pace.

“I’ve always believed the Executive Officer’s first responsibility is to make the Captain’s job easier, not harder. If I’ve done my job well, the ship runs smoothly enough that you can focus on the decisions only a captain can make.”

He paused for a moment, choosing his next words carefully.

“That doesn’t mean agreeing with every decision behind closed doors. If I believe there’s another perspective worth considering, I hope you’ll expect me to voice it.”

His expression remained open and sincere.

“But once a decision is made, it’s our decision. From that moment forward, you’ll never have to wonder whether I’m fully behind it. The crew should only ever see a united command team.”

Daniel looked ahead as a pair of crewmen stepped aside to let them pass, acknowledging them with a courteous nod.

“My mother used to tell me that an XO is the captain’s sounding board. Sometimes that means offering support. Sometimes it means asking the difficult questions that no one else is comfortable asking.”

He glanced back towards Cypress.

“I hope, over time, I become someone you can rely on to do both.”

A faint smile returned.

“And if I’m ever in danger of making your life more complicated than it needs to be…”

He gave a light chuckle.

”…I expect you’ll let me know.”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

She kept her line of sight forward as she responded. “I expect I will, Cmdr.” After a few more moments of finding their way, the two of them wound up on the bridge for the first time.

“Attention! Captain on the bridge!” The security officer standing guard just inside the doors announced. Several pairs of eyes turned in their direction, curious to see who the new commanding officer was. Cypress met their gazes with a small smile. “Stand down. Captain Cypress Elliot and Cmdr Daniel Hawthorne, XO, reporting for duty. We are going to the ready room for now. As you were.” The bridge officers immediately returned their attention to their stations while the command team moved to continue speaking in private.

Once inside the private office, Cy spoke with the computer to have all codes and accesses granted to her and the first officer. “Alright, now that business is taken care of, where were we?”

“Oh yes, we were discussing what a first officer is.” She looked around the office that was devoid of anything that would personalize it. “I share your mother’s feelings about it. You will be a sounding board not just for me, but for the crew also if they should come to you with a grievance. And I will trust you to keep me on track, even if I don’t especially want to hear it. Can you do that?”

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

Daniel met her gaze without hesitation.

“Yes, Captain.”

There wasn’t the slightest hint of uncertainty in his voice.

“You’ll always get my honest opinion.”

He rested his hands lightly behind his back, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.

“If I believe there’s a better course of action, or if I think we’ve overlooked something, I’ll tell you. Not because I enjoy disagreeing, but because it’s part of the responsibility you’ve entrusted to me.”

A faint smile softened his otherwise serious expression.

“I’d rather have an uncomfortable conversation in private than watch you walk onto the bridge without every perspective available.”

His eyes drifted briefly around the Ready Room before returning to her.

“That said, I’ll choose the time and place carefully. The bridge isn’t the place to debate command decisions, and neither is the corridor outside your office. The crew deserve to see confidence in their command team, not uncertainty.”

Daniel’s expression became thoughtful.

“My goal isn’t to win an argument, Captain. It’s to help you make the best decision possible. Sometimes I’ll agree with you immediately. Sometimes I’ll challenge an assumption. Sometimes you’ll convince me that I was looking at the problem the wrong way.”

He smiled.

“And sometimes you’ll ignore my advice entirely.”

The smile lingered just long enough to show he was only half joking.

“If that happens, you’ll still have my full support. Once you’ve made a decision, it becomes our decision. I’ll carry it out to the best of my ability and expect the same commitment from every officer aboard this ship.”

He paused for a moment.

“I think trust works both ways. I’ll trust you to listen when I have something important to say… and I hope you’ll trust me enough to know I only speak up when I believe it truly matters.”

Daniel inclined his head slightly.

“If I ever stop being candid with you, Captain, then I’ve stopped being the Executive Officer you deserve.”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

That had been quite a little speech. But he was absolutely right in all that he said. “Then make sure you do what you say you will and we won’t have to worry about me finding another second in command. How does that sound?” Her voice was easy, showing she was just making conversation like he was. “I actually have a pretty good feeling about the two of us leading the crew—but only time will tell.” It wasn’t often that there was a problem serving with other command crew, but it did happen occasionally.

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

Daniel couldn’t help but smile.

“I think that sounds like an excellent arrangement, Captain.”

There was an easy confidence in his voice—not arrogance, but the assurance of someone who understood the responsibility he had accepted.

“I’ve never believed an Executive Officer should spend his time wondering whether he’s keeping his position. My focus is on earning it every day.”

He looked around the Ready Room for a moment before his attention returned to Cypress.

“You’ll find I’m fairly straightforward. If something goes well, I’ll make sure the people responsible receive the credit. If something goes wrong, I’ll work to solve the problem before worrying about who to blame.”

A faint grin appeared.

“And if I happen to save you from making the occasional questionable decision…”

He paused just long enough for the joke to land.

”…I’ll try not to remind you of it too often.”

His expression softened again.

“In all seriousness, Captain, I share your optimism. A command team doesn’t have to think alike to be effective—it has to trust one another enough to speak honestly and support each other completely once a course is set.”

He offered a respectful nod.

“I intend to make sure you never have reason to question where my loyalty lies. It’s with you, the crew, and this ship—in that order only because the ship and crew depend on your leadership.”

Daniel smiled once more.

“I think we’re off to a good start.”

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa

Cy gave him an appraising look and then relaxed into a little smile. “I believe we are too.” They spent another 45 minutes in the ready room talking things over and assuring they would represent a united front, and then they left the office and made their first appearance on the bridge. It was time to meet the crew.

CO Cypress Elliot
USS Ogawa

Daniel returned her smile and gave a small, respectful nod.

“I look forward to proving your confidence well placed, Captain.”

There was no need to say anything more. Over the last hour they had discussed leadership, responsibility, and the expectations they held for one another. Words had their place, but from this point forward their partnership would be measured by actions.

As Captain Elliot rose, Daniel did the same, straightening his uniform before collecting his PADD.

“Shall we meet our crew?”

He stepped aside long enough for the Captain to leave the Ready Room first before falling into place at her right as they made their way onto the bridge for the first time as the Ogawa’s command team.

Commander Daniel Hawthorne
Executive Officer
USS Ogawa