Posted by Lieutenant Charles Fordham (Security Chief) in After Viewing the new ship (Tag Ford)

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman) in After Viewing the new ship (Tag Ford)

Posted by Lieutenant Charles Fordham (Security Chief) in After Viewing the new ship (Tag Ford)
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Ford’s face stayed neutral, but inwardly he wondered where that left any time for… much of anything outside of work. Then again, that’s what they’d all signed up for on this five year mission. Still… “I hope you can manage to find some time to relax,” he said, glancing at her. “Burnouts can sneak up on you.” Though he’d never experienced one himself, he’d dealt with his fair share of burnouts - most in school, under familial and social pressures.

“It’s alright, I don’t mind the work. I like to stay busy. I get plenty of time throughout the day. It’s just at different times from everyone else.” Usually holed up in her quarters or an office, but she was away from people so she liked it that way.

She took the long way about the outer corridor of deck 11 coming to the aft turbolift, she entered and waited for Ford. She pressed the controls for Deck 12. “The internal computer relays are having glitches and the computer science team is working on it. Which means I am manually collecting reports tonight since they are getting stuck in the transfer somewhere. Hopefully they will have it fixed soon.” She stepped out and to the left and then entered a large set of double doors. “Welcome to the shuttle bay.” She glanced around and headed towards one of the shuttles, “Lt Themopolis.” An older burly looking man glanced up and nodded. “Right on time yeoman. I don’t like to be kept waiting. I have work to do.” He thrust the data disk at her and turned back to her work. “Do you know if the computer techs have the system working yet? Puts you behind if you have to run the whole ship to collect these.” The man was gruff but not offensive, but obviously peeved that the ship’s systems weren’t working and an inconvenience. “I haven’t heard yet, but last estimate was they’ll be fixed sometime tonight.” Rand thanked him for the report and turned back to find Ford. She assumed he’d like to at least glance at the shuttles, never knew when he’d need one. Well she supposed he probably needed to know the layout for any craft that might want to dock with them.
Yeoman Rand

Ford watched her general demeanor as they walked; she seemed much calmer than when they were in the observation area on K-5. He hoped he’d been successful at helping take her mind off of whatever had set her on edge. He set that aside and kept track of the hallways and doors they passed, mentally calculating shift numbers to cover each area. He liked the open layout of the shuttle bay - generally staffed by one crewman manning the bay controls and an engineer, this was a critical entry to the ship, but fairly easy to secure. “One by the door,” he muttered, turning about to look at whole area. He mentally added more for new arrivals before nodding and returning his gaze to Rand. He tried to gauge again how she was doing before he spoke.

“Where to next?”

COS Ford

“My next stop is deck 9 for science and medical, but I promised the tour so deck 10.” Deck 10 was a quick tour: transporter room, turbolift maintenance, and more science labs. Deck 9 was a bit longer. “This deck is divided into thirds. The aft starboard and port sides are medical and science respectively. The fore section is dedicated to crew recreation: the galley and the lounge.” She started port stopping once at the CSO office to speak to the starbase engineer there to collect an update on the readiness of the labs adding to the growing stack of data disks in her pocket. Next was the galley and crew lounge which she didn’t enter but waited if he wanted to go in. “We’re lucky enough to have a talented chef who wanted to come on board, and across the hall is the crew lounge.”

“Two at the recreation areas,” he said to himself, then glanced at Rand from the corner of his eye. “Most crew altercations occur off-duty.” He grimaced. “Especially when alcohol is involved; even synthehol.”

She was making note of all the comments he was making. She’d be able to recite it if he asked her. Rand nodded slightly. She knew that, one reason she stayed away from social gatherings. She noticed the grimace and then paired with the fact that Randy had switched his drink she was able to surmise that Ford didn’t drink either. That revelation paired with his quiet demeanor coaxed her into being a little less formal. “That’s why I like my duty schedule. Fewer opportunities to be around those who enjoy that past time.” It was the most personal comment she’d made all evening.

She along the starboard side they came to the medical facilities. She entered looking for the head of engineering team for yet another report. She looked around and sighed. She supposed once the CMO was settled and ready for physicals she’d have a lot of questions to answer about earlier. Randy was right, star ships needed counselors. It wasn’t like Star Fleet wasn’t aware of the problem, it never affected her while on duty. On her personal time was her business. She tucked her hands behind her back again to stop from wringing them. “I’m sure Deck 8 and 7 will be of more interest.” Emergency transporters, phaser array control rooms, gymnasium, escape pods, auxiliary control, and crew quarters.
Yeoman Rand

The two near the recreation areas would be sufficient for occasional assistance near sickbay; a permanent presence only when needed. Ge glanced about the facilities, but mostly watched Rand here. Still nervous, but less so. He nodded.

“Fire control,” he said, referencing the next decks. He wouldn’t need additional men there, though he did wonder if he should have the crew there armed at all times, or weapons available in a locker. He’d discuss with the captain later.

He looked to Rand again, waving forward with one hand. “After you.”

COS Ford

“You’re already familiar with the layout.” It wasn’t a question. She’d been trying to give him a general over view, but perhaps he’d prefer something more specific. He would be in charge of the ship’s weapon systems so she made her first stop the phaser and torpedo control room on the next deck, the fire control systems, and then the gymnasium. She remembered from reviewing his file that he taught hand-to-hand for his department. “If there is any equipment missing I can let the quartermaster know.”
Yeoman Rand

“I reviewed the blueprints,” he shrugged. “But it’s different in person.” He did a brief walkthrough of the phaser and torpedo control rooms; he’d do a more detailed review later, before they undocked, checking on firing system interlocks and relays. He eyed the area of the gymnasium, mentally counting sparring partners. He figured about a dozen people could fit for his needs.

“I did the same. If we had more time I’d show you a few shortcuts. I mean…You’ll probably have a better idea on how to do that.”

Ford shook his head. “No, I’d appreciate that. When we have the time. Saves me the trouble.” She was quick, and good, this one. Cap had lucked out.

“Just let me know when you’re doing a walk of the ship. If I’m able, I’ll be happy to show you.” She learned the ins and outs because if systems went down, yeoman were expected to get messages across the ship. If turbolifts were down, or sections of decks closed off, she needed to know ways around. She’d learned, though intellectually she’d already known, on her way to K5 that security needed the same information, but for different reasons.

“I’ll be offering combat refresher classes for any of the officers who are interested,” he said as they left. “Did you take any at the Academy?” He knew it wasn’t common for female cadets to enroll in the combat classes; he’d prefer it be mandatory for everyone.

COS Ford

Rand shook her head. “The classes filled quickly and yeoman aren’t considered a priority position. I did score a handful of one-on-one sessions with the academy instructor. After I made him acknowledge that yeoman go where ever the captain goes and that’s not always safe, and it’s detrimental to expect the captain to focus on the mission and protecting the weakest link on an away team. It was just enough to understand the principles but not really learn them.”
Yeoman Rand

He nodded, again; as he’d feared. “Let me know your semi-free time, and I’ll make sure there’s a class available for you, with some other officers. Do you need anything on deck 6? I don’t need to see it, but I would like to review deck 5.” Deck 5 was basically HIS deck - the armory, brig, phaser range, and his office.

COS Ford

When she was free? Oh, that was nice most security personnel she’d met were more concerned with maintaining training not giving new training. “Usually at the end of alpha shift and before 1800. we can go straight to deck 5. That’s my next stop.” She stepped off the turbo lift. “All of the fore section is dedicated to security. I need to grab a report from the quartermaster in the cargo bay.” She didn’t know if she should offer to catch up with him or not. Of course if he made any comments or notes she wouldn’t catch them, but then again he may not appreciate her making note of all of that, or maybe he expected her to. She moved aft to the cargo bay and walked in. She found the station quarter master overseeing the unloading of the ship’s supplies. She waited for him to finish. “Lt Cmdr I’m here to pick up the daily report.” The man snorted and ignored her. Rand waited to see if he’d address her not. And the answer was not. This was why she preferred to be in uniform to collect these. Lt Cmdr Hitnel had a chip on his shoulder and took it out on lower ranking officers and enlisted. She took a step to the side and clasped her hands behind her back. “Lt Cmdr I’m here for the daily report.” Again he ignored her. “Lt the report, please.” He finally turned to look at her, a thorough once over and grunted. “Get out of my way, missy.” She could feel those cold heat waves again and the tunnel vision. But she was right and he was wrong. He was breaking protocol and SOP. And that put her in the right and she was the captain’s yeoman and that gave her a different kind of rank that was like armor. She sighed, “Cpt’s Yeoman Farquharson not missy. SOP Lt Cmdr. Daily reports are due for the CO by 1800 hours. If you’ve neglected to write it, I’m happy to take a verbal report.”

“I don’t answer to Carmichael,” he was working himself into a nice little show of rank. She could feel Rand interrupted him. “No you don’t, but you do answer to Cpt Jenkins of K5. I am more than happy to let him and Cpt Carmichael know you didn’t file your report because you didn’t like ‘missy’ asking for it. Now you can give me the report, or I can write a report of my own: harassment of a junior officer by a ranking officer. I report directly to Carmichael and before yesterday directly to Jenkins.” Hitnel didn’t like it but he threw the data disk at her. She snatched it out of the air. “Thank you Lt. I appreciate your assistance.” She turned and walked out of the cargo bay, once out of ear shot she whispered to herself, “Bidh a h-uile càil ceart gu leòr.” She focused on her steps and walking, even with feigned confidence, out of the cargo bay with her last report collected.
Yeoman rand