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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“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

Ford considered staying with her as she retrieved the report, but figured by this time a little room alone would be good. He nodded to her as they split and he turned toward the security areas. The first he came upon was the brig, where a couple of K-5 engineers were closing up panels following the last inspection. He watched them test the fields on the last one before he moved on. The phaser range was empty, the stalls and target display systems all turned off. The weapons lockers were locked, he was pleased to see, indicating weapons were present within. He’d need to get the access code.

The next room on his tour was the armory, where a lone lieutenant in security red was writing on a clipboard. He glanced up as Ford entered. “May I help you?” he asked, not recognizing Ford as one of his men currently assigned to guarding and preparing the Sentinel.

Ford shook his head. “Sorry to bother you,” he replied. “I’m Lieutenant Fordham, I’ll be security chief on the Sentinel.”

The other man flipped a few pages in the clipboard, looking back and forth from whatever he saw there to Ford. “Good timing,” he said, releasing the pages and dropping the clipboard onto a desk. “I can transfer the locker codes to you now.” He pressed a series of buttons on the physical keyboard on the closest locker, then pulled a rod about a quarter-inch in diameter from his pocket and inserted it vertically into the bottom of the lock pad and turned it. The pad beeped.

“Enter a new code,” he told Ford. He did so, and the other officer removed the rod. They repeated this at the other lockers in the room. The security officer made a note on his clipboard and handed it to Ford. “Please sign acknowledging you are now in control of the armory locker codes and,” he handed the rod to Ford, “the security key for resetting codes. It will only work when a panel has been unlocked with the correct code already.”

Ford pocketed the rod and signed the document. “All done then,” the fellow said. “The rest of the controls will be transferred via computer to you tomorrow during the handover ceremony. I stand relived.” Well, he didn’t stand long, rushing off out the door. Ford opened the nearest locker and examined the rifles within, the copper tubes gleaming in the light. He closed it and went to the next - phaser pistols. He made sure the rest were locked before exiting and heading for the cargo bay to find Rand.

He heard raised voices as he approached and quickened his pace, nearly bumping into Rand as he turned a corner toward the cargo bay entrance. There was no one else nearby. “Pardon me,” he said, taking a step back, eyes sweeping the corridor. “I thought I heard an argument.” He settled back on her, cocking his head. “Everything all right, Rand?”

COS Ford

She’d been repeating something, and she wasn’t running but she was obviously eager to be moving. Away or to somewhere was a guess. Rand, for her part, had been walking by memory and was startled by Ford’s sudden appearance. He heard? Oh that was embarrassing. She hadn’t yelled had she? No, she was certain she had not yelled, though she probably did raise her voice a bit to get the Hitnel’s attention in the end. Everything alright? “Yes of course Lt.” back to that formality. She flexed her hands more checking that there was no tingling than anything else. She glanced back at the cargo bay. “Sometimes ranking officers don’t like dealing with yeoman.”
Yeoman Rand

Ford’s face hardened and he looked toward the cargo bay doors. He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax, and then a smile broke across his face.

“Miss Farquharson, I would very much like to see my office, but I have not yet been given access to it. I’m betting that you, as captain’s yeoman, have. Would you be able to help me with that?” That same smile was still in place, and it could, perhaps, remind someone of a shark.

COS Ford