Posted by Captain Chris Taggart (Captain) in Main SIM: Captain’s Ready Room tag XO

Posted by Commander Taiya Keali (XO (Incoming)) in Main SIM: Captain’s Ready Room tag XO

Posted by Captain Chris Taggart (Captain) in Main SIM: Captain’s Ready Room tag XO
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Chris walked into his office and turned to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk and gestured for Keali to take his seat. He studied her face, body movements and her overall demeanor as she came in and sat with his hawk like raptor gaze.

“Can I get you something to drink Commander?”

Captain Chris Taggart CO

Keali nodded and perched on the edge of the seat, still a little anxious about what to expect from her new Captain. As he offered her a drink she smiled and nodded. “Thank you sir, a tea would be lovely,” she replied warmly as she relaxed a little and had a little peek around his office to see if it would give her any clues about him. She wasn’t really sure what she had been expecting him to be like but she resisted the urge to use her telepathic abilities on him. “I imagine you haven’t had a Betazoid on your crew before?” she mused as she sat back a bit further in her seat.

Commander Keali (Incoming XO)

He got up and kept his eye on her the whole time with the same look noticing how timid she looked. Once he got to his coffee/tea maker he put in a little white cup and brewed the tea first and handed it to her along with a plate with lemons and honey on it along with some biscuits. He then made himself some coffee and looked at her again as he strode back to the seat and sat down.

Around his office were about 10 Puzzle boxes all looking alike with gold covering therm. They were all each kept separate in their own glass case. Most had signatures on them. One in particular was still wrapped in a brown wrapping paper and a red candle wax seal on it keeping it closed.

In one corner if the room in one big sealed glass jar was part of what appeared to be a human leg. It appears to have been torn off and eaten at one point.

As if maybe bringing her back he said flatly in a cool tone. “Did you know that before I took command there was a dude here that his sole job was to make sure that the tea and coffee was always hot and full? That struck me as stupid. Why would we hire someone like that on a battle cruiser? He was not Starfleet, he was a civilian. Why do you suppose so Miss Keali?”

“I’ll tell you what I did. I sent him packing. I wasn’t heartless about it. I asked him where he would want to be transferred and pulled some strings and got him there. First of all I don’t want anything that the lowest member of my crew can’t get. Sure I have things but it was bought with my own money. Secondly.”..... He leaned foreword in his chair and stared straight into her eyes.....”I don’t want anyone on this ship that can’t really contribute to it when the crap hits the fan!” His voice was raised slightly.

“I don’t need people or beings in the way when things go south!” He stood up fast and leaned over his desk at her with his steely blue eye and in an even tone with a hint of anger in it; “So that brings me to my number one question Keali. Why did you go over my head to get permission for your family to come with you?”

OOC: It’s fine that they are here but I thought this would be good role playing.

Captain Chris Taggart CO

Chris didn’t look away from Keali eyes and pressed the Com. [O] Understood. I’m in the middle of something right now. Please handle the message. We’ll be done soon. [O]

He then said in the same tone. “Well. I’m waiting”.

Captain Chris Taggart

Keali shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she pondered her response. She could sense his frustration as she took a deep breath and began to explain. “I am truly sorry about that Captain, it was not my intention to bypass or undermine you in any way,” she started with a calm and collected voice. She gritted her teeth a little as she knew the next bit would be hard. “Four years ago, Lia became gravely ill when she contracted a rare pathogen from a young Antaran boy…” she started, pushing her emotion to the side as she talked about the scariest time in her life. “…we came very close to losing her…” she added quietly as she swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

Taiya shifted again as she continued. “As you know sir, I originally turned this assignment down as I knew it would be difficult to serve on a battleship with a family and given what Lia has gone through, I couldn’t bear to be parted from her, but Admiral Armer is a very old friend and he said he would see what he could do…I didn’t even know he’d spoken to you until a few days ago,” she concluded softly. She could feel her emotions welling up but quickly put a cork in them and folded her hands in her lap.

The Commander gave a solemn sigh as she looked back at Taggart. “My deepest apologies for stepping over the mark sir, I can assure you it won’t happen again, and I will make sure that my family do not interfere with ship operations in any way. My husband is a skilled engineer and will gladly offer his services should you require them at any point during our mission,” she finally added, hoping in some way it may placate some of the Captain’s anger.

Commander Keali (Incoming XO)

Chris smiled a genuine smile and his facial features relaxed. “I’m sorry to hear that Commander. I truly am. I have lost a loved one before and I know the pain. But I must confess to you. I don’t care that your family is here. Or some Admiral told me to do it. I would like for them to be here. I wanted to do two things in that instance. First I wanted you to know the know the severity of them being here. The second was to test your resolve from the beginning. I started gauging you in shuttle bay and then decided to test you on the bridge. You are easily pushed and are emotional. You WILL, not maybe, you WILL be put in very tough situations on this ship and I want you to have the mental facilities to be able to make not only the hard decisions but the right ones as well, even if it means the life of your family. “

Taiya breathed a little sigh of relief as Chris spoke, seeing the compassion in his eyes. As he continued, she thought carefully about his words before responding as she slowly nodded. “I understand your concerns Captain, and you’re right, I am an emotional person by nature, but I am also a trained star-fleet officer. Both my husband and I were star-fleet officers long before we were parents and we understand the commitment and dedication that comes with this uniform.” she replied as she glanced down at her attire. “I love my family dearly and I would defend them with my life, but my first duty will always be to this ship and to star-fleet. Alex and Lia both understand that.” she added firmly.

“I am not a robot, partially anyway, but I am human and make mistakes and I don’t always make the right choice. That’s why I really need you to be strong. Or at least stronger. You’ve been through allot and that is why you were chosen to be the XO of this fine ship. I have no ill feelings towards you. I was testing you. I hope you forgive me. And to answer your previous question, no. I have never worked with a beatoziod.”

Captain Chris Taggart CO

Keali nodded and gave him a smile. “Of course sir, and I do greatly appreciate you making accommodations for me, I know it was a risk. I will support you and the crew to the best of my ability, and rest assured I am stronger than I look,” she added with a grin. “My last Captain found my Betazoid abilities to be very useful at times, I hope you will do also. I have the ability to telepathically read the thoughts and emotions of other beings, however, I will not do so unless you request it Captain, and I will not use my abilities on any member of this crew without permission.” she spoke with a reassuring and professional tone. One of the hardest learning curves for her when she left Betazed had been not using her telepathic abilities but it was one that she had now grown accustomed to. She took a sip of her tea as she relaxed a little more into her chair. “Are there any other concerns you have sir?” she asked gently.

Commander Keali (Incoming XO)

Before the question was answered they were interupted once more by the young Commander[O]Bridge to Captain, We’ve started docking procedures, the senior staff has been informed of Mission Briefing with Commodore Flynn[O]

CSO

“Fireblast! I can’t even have a simple conversation without being interrupted. ” He flicked tube com. [O] Roger that. We will be out shortly. [O]

He looked back at her. “No Commander. We will talk again hopefully soon. Right now we need to get on the bridge and play tea party to a Commadore. But I am very glad that you are here. Besides, I promised your lovely daughter a tour and ice cream. ” He smiled and turned to leave his office. He stopped and turned back to her. “I actually have one quick question. What did you do before command? I was a surgeon. “

Captain Chris Taggart CO

Taiya nodded gratefully. “I’m sure Lia is looking forward to that sir, I think you made quite an impression on her,” she replied fondly then smiled warmly hearing that she was in the presence of a fellow doctor. “Well that’s one thing we have in common sir, I was a neurologist,” she said with a chuckle as she stood and quickly straightened her uniform before following him back onto the bridge.

Commander Keali (Incoming XO)

“Oh! That’s nice! At least the crew can’t fake sick getting out of work with us around!” He winked and walked out.

Captain Chris Taggart CO

She smiled and nodded. “Very true sir, they would have to be very convincing to get past both of us,” she added. In truth she was a fairly astute observer of behaviour, even without her empathic powers, there wasn’t much that got past her.

Commander Keali (XO)