Protocols

Posted on Tue Mar 28th, 2017 @ 5:35pm by

2,376 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: New Faces and Terror Beyond
Location: Security

BJ looked over the personnel files in her office and saw that one Lieutenant Charlotte Beckett had been her temporary predecessor to the office she currently held and wondered how the woman would take to a new Chief of Security. There was only one way to tell and she tapped her combadge.

=^=Lieutenant Beckett, please report to the Security office,=^= she said before she ended the com and got up to replicate a mug of espresso which she poured into her custom transparent aluminum stein. Once she had it, she put the mug back into the recycler and watched it dematerialize before she went back to her desk.

Beckett would be the first person in her department that she would meet other than Commander Bawden, but he was the Chief of Tactical and seemed to be having a very hard time. That meeting had been put off for another day and she wondered if the man would every be the same while she waited for the Lieutenant to arrive.

Charlie had heard that there was a new Chief in Security. She wasn't surprised when she got the summons. In fact, she was relieved to find that someone else would be taking responsibility for the Security department. Many of her comrades still didn't quite take a shining to her becoming their boss.

Charlie made her way to the office she had temporarily been assigned to. She took a breath before she rang the chime.

"Enter" a feminine voice called from the other side.

She walked in cautiously, then smiled, "Hello."

BJ looked up and smiled as the Lieutenant entered and gestured towards one of the two chairs on the other side of her desk. "Please, have a seat," she said and raised her stein of coffee. "Would you care for some refreshment, Lieutenant Beckett?"

Charlie sat down, "No thank you. I'm good." She observed the new CSO as she settled into her chair.

The brunette Chief took a moment to study the young young and nodded. "I've read your file, Lieutenant and I see that you held the position of Chief of Security before my arrival. That speaks highly of your skills, so with that being said, what makes Lieutenant Charlotte Beckett the person that makes you, you."

She thought for a moment, "I wasn't expecting to get into a philosophical discussion. Truthfully, I've never really thought about it. I guess my life experiences for one." She continued to ponder the question.

"Can you give me an example of something that happened in your life which motivated you to go into Security?" BJ asked as she took another drink of her coffee.

"Growing up, I think my dad really wanted a boy because it didn't seem to bother him that I took on that role. I did everything I could like learning self-defense and working out so I could take care of myself and not need a man to defend me. Later, I married my high school sweetheart but he died two years after we were married and I found myself without a career so I went into Starfleet. I figured that since I already had the physical training, it made sense to be in Security." She shifted in her chair.

"I'm sorry for your loss," BJ said earnestly. "I grew up a tomboy myself and when my little brother came around when I was eight, I spent a lot of time defending him and getting into fights. I figured Starfleet would set me on the right track and I haven't regretted it. Well, except for maybe my Search and Rescue training; that was a certified bitch, but I'm proud I made it through."

She reached for a PADD and passed it over to Beckett. "Take a look at these protocols I'm going to be proposing and tell me what you think could be done to improve on them."

On the screen of the PADD were the following protocols:

1) Any use of high risk systems immediately gets reported to Chief of Security unless the person is of Commander rank or higher. In the event that such usage by a Commander or higher rank will result in a ship wide Security alert to be determined by the danger the crew and ship would undergo.
2) Any unauthorized use of high risk systems will result in an immediate force field erected in that area.
3) Any attempt at bypassing systems to weapon lockers or armory will result in an immediate transport to the Brig.
4) Any attempt by an officer to circumvent restrictions will result in an alert being sent to the Chief of Security and the XO/CO.
5) Any use of phasers on the ship without a boarding by enemy combatants will result in them being transported immediately to the Brig.
6) All phasers on ship require biometrics matching to a genetic profile or will be disabled

Charlie looked it over briefly, "I'm impressed. You have done on outstanding job on these. As far as I can tell, I think you covered everything. I don't see anything that needs improving. I'll look it over more and let you know."

"There should be one that stands out above the others," BJ said with a raised right eyebrow. "Which one would be detrimental to Security and Tactical?"

Charlie had only scanned the protocols. She was going to take a closer look at them on her own time. She felt a little annoyed that this person, even if she was of higher rank, was testing her as if she was still at the academy. Charlie, being the little fiery redhead she is, couldn't help but question her, "Are you testing me? I mean, why would you put a protocol in there purposely that is detrimental to security and tactical...to see if I am worthy of a security officer? Every situation is different and although there are protocols in place to keep the enemy from getting the upper hand, there are still some scenarios that haven't been addressed. If an enemy is going to take my life, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot them before alerting the ship that there is an enemy boarding us." She realized that she was raising her voice and thought to herself, "oh crap".

The Chief of Security had an amused expression on her face and didn't seem to be the least bit annoyed. "Actually, I like people to double check my work when it comes to working closely with someone, Lieutenant," she said. "In this case, I wrote these protocols while being medicated and in sickbay. I didn't notice it myself at first, but protocol number five stood out to me as being detrimental. How would we train in Security without having live phasers and being locked in the brig?"

"Damn straight." She relaxed a little after realizing that she was holding her breath, waiting for a scolding, "If I may ask, why would you write the protocols when you are medicated? And what is wrong with the protocols that are in place now?"

"It's a matter of being a new Chief of Security," BJ said. "Every chief has their own way of doing things no matter how good the protocols that the previous chief set up. It's like getting assigned to someone else's quarters after they moved and didn't take anything with them. You want to make it yours, so you get rid of the old stuff and put your stuff in."

"Fair enough." She crossed her leg over the other, "So now that you are the new Chief around here, what are your plans concerning the department? I mean, when I took over for Bawden, the staff didn't quite take to me. I thought that maybe it was because I am a woman. Or...it could have been because I was chosen over some of the others who were here longer than I was and thought that they deserved the promotion." She exhaled, "Whatever the reason was, they don't seem to like change very much."

"Anyone who doesn't like change doesn't belong in Starfleet," BJ said and meant it. "We're on the border of new frontiers and that means change. As for you being a woman, it shouldn't matter because we're ll equals. If anyone says a thing about that to me, I will have them cleaning pipes in Waste Management for a year."

She leaned back and finished her coffee before she set her mug on her desk. "As for training, I want to implement a starship version of Search and Rescue. I went through the Pipeline when I graduated the Academy and if I can do it, anyone can do it. It will allow personnel more cross training and to be less dependent on other departments and allow for greater self sufficiency in action."

Charlie chuckled, "They are going to love that." She put her leg down and leaned forward in her chair, "So, who's going to lead this training?"

"I am," BJ said. I've checked everyone's personnel files in Security and I'm the one who has taken it. It's an intense training course and some classes only have five or six graduates out of thirty people. You'll learn Combat Water Survival, Aerospace Insertion, Zero Gravity and Spaceborne Operations, EMT Training, and a Specialist Course."

"Sounds like a plan. When are you going to begin this training and have you ran it by the Captain?" She was very intrigued and it sounded like something that she could excel in.

"I've not met Commodore Hood yet," BJ said. "I met Captain Ra-Havrelli, but he's been reassigned. When I talk to the Commodore, I'll give him my recommendation for it. Maybe I'll even be able to get Colonel Frost and his men aboard. Do you know anything about the Security and Marine relationship on board?"

Upon hearing the words 'Security and Marine relationship', Charlie felt the room became a little warm, causing her to shift uncomfortably in her chair. She cleared her throat, "Um...yeah, we have a good rapport. We respect each other and have even worked together a few times. We're good." She composed herself as she settled back into her chair.

BJ breathed a sigh of relief. "Good," she said. "Meeting Colonel Frost as just coming aboard is one thing. Interacting with them while on duty is another. I've seen some Marines that hated Security and vice versa."

"That's what I used to think. The ones I met on another ship were very self-centered. One even said that Security officers are military wannabes. I did manage to change his mind." Charlie smiled at the thought of the look on his face when she broke his arm, "I have a feeling that if it was you, he would have more than just a broken arm."

"There's two hundred and seven bones in the average humanoid body," BJ said. "Some species have more, some have less. I know how to break ninety-percent of them in various ways, and I've broken a few of my own. I know what hurts the most, and I've dealt with Marines before."

"You get it. I like that. You know, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing." Charlie observed BJ for a moment, thinking how well she liked her and she understood what it was like being a woman in Security.

BJ took a moment to remove the fifth protocol from her list and entered the others into the computer, gave her authorization and forwarded the protocols to the XO and CO of the ship. "Do you have any special requests or anything that I should know about before we finish our meeting?"

"Nothing off hand. I wasn't acting Chief of Security for long so I didn't really have time to find problems or things that needed to change. Just their attitudes but I doubt you'll have the same problem." She was just thankful that someone else was taking the reins.

The Chief thought for a moment, then looked at the personnel list in her department and back at Beckett. "I have a question for you," she said as she got up to replicate more coffee and refilled her mug. Once she returned to the desk, she looked directly at the other woman. "How would you like to be my Assistant Chief? You already have experience."

Charlie was taken aback, "Your assistant. Um yes, I would love to." Charlie joked a little, "Are you sure this department is ready for two women in charge?"

"I have a meeting with Commodore Hood soon," BJ said. "When I talk to him, I'll make you my official choice for the position. As for the department being ready to have two officers in charge, they'll live with it or they'll request a transfer. If they request a transfer, we'll know who didn't want to serve with the best."

"I like the way you think." She was now sitting on the edge of her chair "With all kidding aside, I want to thank you for your confidence in me. This means more than you know."

"You're a service to your record, Lieutenant," BJ said as she took another drink of her coffee. "And having already served as Acting Chief, you know what goes into the job. I'll try not to overload you with PADDwork when you officially get the position."

Charlie was very appreciative, "Work doesn't scare me but thank you anyway. I won't let you down."

"Good," BJ said as she made a notation in her file. "Because I'd really hate to see a good officer end up in Waste Management."

"That's true. I wouldn't like that." Charlie stood up, "So, is there anything else before I take leave of you?"

"That'll be all for now as far as official business goes," BJ said. "Perhaps we can get together later for a drink and exchange stories."

Charlie nodded, "Yes, I would love to. Just let me know when." She moved towards the door, the familiar swoosh of the door was heard, "Thanks again."

BJ smiled as the young woman headed out and secured her terminal. She had a meeting to attend and she hoped it would go well and that Xavier had taken her advice.

RSS Feed