Posted by Commander Chris Taggart (XO) in Reporting For Duty

Posted by Sergeant Major Jeremy O’Dell (Chief of Boat/Tactical) in Reporting For Duty

Posted by Sergeant Major Jeremy O’Dell (Chief of Boat/Tactical) in Reporting For Duty
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Senior Chief Petty Officer Jeremy O’Dell appeared on the bridge looking for the executive officer; enlisted personal never reported directly to the CO. Walking onto the bridge, Senior Chief O’Dell was wearing a black uniform with a red stripe down the side of it (I did look up what Enlisted uniforms would look like in this time line and this is what I came up with, please work with me) and it had a standard black belt with a buckle that had the a Chief’s anchor on it. On the collar of the Senior Chief was a round bracket with a tree looking device inside; the clear rank of a Senior Chief Petty Officer.

O’Dell was a normal size man–about 5‘8 and weighed 188 lbs. He had black hair and green eyes; around 40’s years old, it was clear that O’Dell had been around the block a few times. Walking onto the bridge, Senior looked for the XO.

Senior Chief Petty Officer

OOC: The uniform is cool! And I don’t know why people ALWAYS report to the Captain since they all have to go through the XO first, especially department Heads, then go to the Captain. But whatever....

IC:
He would find the XO sitting at his console by the science station behind the center chair. The center chair was empty at this time. Chris had his right leg off and sitting on the console apparently trying to fix it or fine tune it. He had short raven black hair and an eye patch worn across his left eye with scars on that side of the face. His right side of the face looked very handsome for a man being 38.

Commander Chris Taggart XO

OOC: Based upon our prior conversations we will just say that my ranks as always been Sgt, Major but my uniform will be the same since I am in operations. Thus, I will not be a marine type (just not my thing).

IC:

O’Dell saw who appeared to the XO and walked over to him.

“Excuse me sir, Sgt. Major O’Dell, Jeremy reporting as ordered” said O’Dell.

At the same time, O’Dell handed the XO a padd with his orders on them.

O’Dell

Chris looked up from his work and put the hyperspanner down on his console and put his leg back on. Moving it back and forth he smiled. “Ah. Better!” He then looked over at the Sgt Major and stood up grabbing the PaDD with his left hand and extending his right out to shake. “Pleased to finally meet you Sgt Major. I am Commander Chris Taggart, the XO. Please follow me top my office. ” he looked around and saw Mwezi. “Mwezi. You have the Conn while I and the Major have a talk in my office. “

Chris pointed to a set of doors that said XO/CSO office. “Right this way. ” He said with a smile.

Commander Chris Taggart XO

After shaking the hand of the XO (and wondering what happened to his leg) the Sgt. Major followed the XO to the door and walked into the room as asked. He went over to what appeared to the be the XO’s desk and stood at perfect attention.

O’Dell

OOC: It’s not only his leg. His left eye has a patch over it along with that side of his face having scars and his left arm is cybernetic as well.

IC: Chris noticed the man at attention. “At ease Sergeant Major. Please have a seat.” He said while sitting down himself. “I have been looking forward to your arrival. The enlisted need guidance and someone to look up to. I poured through countless applicants of Possibke Chiefs of the boat, coupled with the fact that they also wanted to leave their current posts and found you. That is why you are here. You only report directly to me. Do you have any questions right now? Please be Frank about them and speak your mind. “

Commander Chris Taggart XO

OOC: Roger that.

IC:
O’dell took a seat and thought about his response…

“No, sir, but I will say that I am happy I was chosen. It is my plan to be the best leader I can to the enlisted members of this crew; I am not perfect myself…that incident which occurred on Risa eight years ago not withstanding, I have had a good run in Starfleet” responded O’dell.

O’dell.

Chris chuckled. “I’m glad you are here. We all make mistakes or poor choices in the heat of the moment. I too had a bad time once on Risa…” He got quite and stared off blankly into the distance for awhile and without thinking reached up and touched the patch over his eye.

Commander Chris Taggart XO

Not knowing what to say O’Dell knew he could not remain quiet forever. Responding he asked, “Are you okay sir?”

O’Dell

As if awaking from a sharp sound, his eyes snapped to the Segeant Major and brought his hand down when he realized it was over his lost eye. “Ah…yes Sergeant Major. Forgive me. I was brought into my remembrance of when my life was ended on Risa about a year and a half ago. The only thing that I have left after that are these reminders and 80% of my body. I lost my newly married wife, my eye, half my face, my right arm and right leg. But I know I injured the damn thing and I hope one day to be able to go out and find it and kill it.”

He stood up and went to a tray with a carafe of coffee. He poured himself a cup and one for the Sergeant Major and brought it over to him. “You yourself look like you’ve seen your fair share of misfortune. ” He sat on the edge of his desk and sipped his coffee.

Commander Chris Taggart XO

“I guess I have been lucky more than most, sir. I am sorry to hear about your family; I have seen my share of combat and I understand loss and the need to do something about it. What to do is never easy either. If I may suggest sir, letting go might be the best…that said, again, I have never been in your shoes either” responded O’Dell.

Taking a sip of the coffee O’Dell waited for the Commander’s response.

O’Dell

Chris chuckled and stood up from the desk and laughed a bit longer. “Letting go. Now there is a marvel idea. Why didn’t I look into that before?” He stopped and stared straight into the eyes of the Sergeant Major as if to see into his brain. With a commanding voice and not an edge of hate to it, just a seriousness to punctuate his words. “I have Sergeant Major. Tried many times. I once even broke down and sobbed right in front of the Captain on his very first day on this ship and the first time he ever saw me. It was humiliating top not only myself but to him seeing his XO in charge of a battle cruiser doing so. But he didn’t say anything. He just watched for awhile and then held me. “

“Men and women forged from battle know these things. And if I was you Sergeant Major, saying let it go, to someone you just met and of high rank and knowing nothing of what happened, is very ill advised. You have been in combat and I know you still see their dead faces from time to time, even in your dreams. Don’t tell me to let it again. Understood?”

Thinking to himself that he would never made warrant officer if he made the XO mad on his first day, O’Dell simply responded, “Yes, sir.”

He then brought the conversation back to normal again. “Where are you from Sergeant Major? I’m from Indiana. Brought up on a corn farm. “

“I hail from Salt Lake City, Utah sir…very cold some times, but also very nice” he answered. The XO could most likely tell that O’Dell was not very guarded in his responses.

O’Dell

Bump

“A city boy uh? They had the Mormons there right? I’ve been through there once when I was traveling before I joined Starfleet. I wanted to see the States and all the beautiful sites before I got stuck in space. don’t get me wrong, there are many beautiful sites out here as well, but I wanted something to reminenance on while I’m being tortured like I did when the Cardassians did that to me.” He touched his jaw remembering the teeth being pulled.

Captain Chris Taggart CO

“Yes, sir…there are religious people living there and the mountains are pretty. Is there anything else sir? I would like to settle in and review the troops” asked O’Dell.

O’Dell