Posted by Lieutenant Hugh Tiller (Strategic Operations Officer) in Station’s Commander Office-SOO Reporting for Duty

Posted by Captain Mathias McGarrett (CO) in Station’s Commander Office-SOO Reporting for Duty

Posted by Lieutenant Hugh Tiller (Strategic Operations Officer) in Station’s Commander Office-SOO Reporting for Duty
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Although Tiller had only done this once before, it felt all too familiar. Tiller moved almost silently down the corridor, only allowing a small “swish” of lightly swinging arms to escape his body. Tiller had previously served on a star-ship. The ship held nothing to the magnitude of the outpost he was now stationed upon. It was intriguing to say the least.

Tiller had only one destination. The station commander’s office. Of course, he had all ready made arrangements with the Captain’s yeoman to set a time to meet with the captain, and estimated at his current pase, he would be early by fifteen seconds. This extra time would allow him to make sure his uniform was still well pressed. Tiller was proud of his meticulous punctuality. He valued punctuality almost as much as he valued formality and- “WHAM”.

Tiller fell to the ground hard, scraping his hands on the descent down. “Oh! I’m so sorry Lieutenant! Let me help you!” Said the voice of a figure masked by Tiller’s unfortunate position. Turning Tiller reached for the hand stretched to him. Just as he assumed, a nameless ensign with their nose in a PADD, paying little attention to their surroundings. “Ensign, it’s completely inappropriate for you to be reading while walking down this corridor, someone…such as myself, could be hurt by your inability to consider the whereabouts of others. I cannot allow for this to happen again, you must understand I will be making a report to your department hea-.” Tiller stopped short, noticing the tears welling in the young woman’s eyes.

“I apologize ensign, we all become proccupied at some point or another. Please, forgive me.” The young ensign nodded and scurried off. Tiller estimated this short delay would cause him to be late to his meeting by at least six seconds, and wouldn’t allow for any time to wash his bloodied hands or press the wrinkles out of his uniform. Rushing down the corridor now, Tiller entered the turbo lift. =/\= Deck Two =/\= The familiar whir of the lift began as Tiller attempted to fix his uniform, only to wipe small yet noticeable amounts of blood on his pants.

Exiting the turbo lift and glancing at a control panel, the young lieutenant noticed he was actually one whole minute late. Approaching the doors to the Captain’s ready room, Tiller nervously sighed. He hoped the commander would forgive his impunctuality. Quickly, Tiller pressed the chime in, awaiting his Commander’s response.

Lieutenant Hugh Tiller, SOO

A moment later the door whooshed open and revealed a room with no one in it. There was a long table on the left side of the room. It very clearly was someone’s office, but the occupant was not present.

Tiller stepped into the small office and sighed. At least no one else would witness his embarrassing display.

After a slight delay, a second door then opened directly ahead. Seated at the desk facing the door was the captain, a surprisingly young man considering his rank. He shut off the terminal in front of him and rose to his feet. Once he stood stood it became obvious that he was well above average height and certainly much taller than Tiller.

Tiller stood at attention taking mental note of everything all at once. He had already familiarised himself with the captain’s record. He respected the captain’s age, not much older than himself. Of course Tiller planned on being a CO by that age as well.

He also knew more than what the captain’s record revealed. Subspace was a great friend, and an even better informant. He of course knew of the captain’s hobby of playing poker, if one could call a game a hobby....

“Please come in, Lieutenant. Would you care for something to drink?” offered Mathias.

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

Tiller eased up, dropping the stance at attention and stepped into the room. “Accepting a drink while on duty would be innapropriate, sir. I refrain myself from eating, drinking, or indulging in any activities that distract from my work while on duty.”

“I entirely agree,” said Mathias, with a smile. It didn’t take him long to conclude that the new Strategic Operations Officer was the uptight type. Perhaps that could do the station some good.

Glancing down at his uniform, Tiller continued. “I apologize for my unbecoming presentation, sir. I was…interrupted on my way here.”

Lieutenant Hugh Tiller, SOO

Mathias briefly looked him over, trying to figure out what he could possibly mean by that. Eventually he spotted the blemishes on his pants. “I have good new for you. You’re not here for a photo shoot. You’re just here to talk to me. I’m sure you’ve figured this much out already, but I’m Mathias McGarrett, commanding officer of this outpost. Why don’t you have a seat? Unless you think that would be inappropriate as well.”

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

“On the contrary, sitting is often the most appropriate position to assume in a meeting between two people. Which, I’m sure you know as well.” Tiller took a seat across from the captain.

“Is that a fact?” deadpanned Mathias. “Huh, you learn something new every day,” he quipped as he sat back down in his chair.

“No, not a fact, but a general assumption. In some cultures, such as the Lurians, they actually find sitting to be an inappropriate format for a meeting between two people, and ins-“. Tiller cut himself off, he doubted the captain needed to know about a history of sitting among alien cultures.

“I am of course familiar with you captain, however, if you wish to recount details of your life with more detail than I have been able to find, I will not protest.” Tiller didn’t mind listening to people drone on and on, he considered it part of his job. As strategic operarions officer, he relied on all sorts of information to better understand problems, and this meeting was no different.

Lt. Tiller, SOO

In a bit of surprise Mathias considered the request as he folded his hands together. “Alright. Do you have specific questions about my life or should I think of random stories to amuse you with?”

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

Tiller paused, he had never been able to make the request. Normally, he would wish for the meeting to end so he could return to his duties, but for some reason he felt drawn to the captain, and wished to stay. “I suppose, a non-specific anecdote with an over-arching morale will suffice, but of course, the decision is your’s captain.” Tiller nodded and leaned back in his chair listening. Sometimes listening was the most strategic thing to do in a situation. Tiller learned all that he knew from listening…and reading, lots and lots of reading.

Lt. Tiller, SOO

“Well, if you’re going to put me on the spot to think of something you’re going to get a poker story,” began Mathias with a shrug. He didn’t have much expectation that Tiller would enjoy it, but at least he would. “I must have been dealt pocket jacks a couple dozen times over the course of the years I’ve been playing Texas Hold’Em. I swear I’ve lost every hand. Now, statistically, it’s the fourth best hand you can start with. Problem is you get behind in a hurry when an ace, king, or queen flop,and at least one of those come up right away 53.3% of the time. In the minority of the time they don’t flop up, statistically it’s time to play with the advantage. But even when I’ve been in that situation for whatever reason an opponent always seems to hit a higher card later or two pair or a straight or a flush. So the moral of the story is just because something looks good and someone tells you it’s good doesn’t mean it is good. Actually, that’s not it.” He paused, amused with himself. “Because the something in this case is math, and math never lies. The moral really is you have to make the best move. Even if it is a move you tried before and failed at. Because that doesn’t mean it was the wrong action to take.”

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO