A New Position

Posted on Thu Jul 16th, 2020 @ 6:17pm by Commander Dominic Aldrich & Lieutenant Commander T'Par

Mission: Cruel Meridian
Location: Science Department
Timeline: MD 7
746 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Since the intelligence department aboard ship was dissolved and T'Par was transferred to science, she hadn't really had a chance to sit down with her department head. Now, there finally seemed to be a spare moment, despite the exigencies of the current mission. She approached his office and chimed.

Raising his eyes towards the door from the book he'd been reading he said, "Enter" as he sat back in his chair.

T'Par entered the office. "Hello, sir. I hope I'm not interrupting." She clasped her hands neatly behind her back.

"Not at all, Lieutenant, what I can do for you? Please, have a seat," Dominic said with a hand gesture.

"Nothing urgent, sir," T'Par said as she settled into the indicated seat. "You and I have not had an opportunity to speak at any length since I was recently reassigned as your Assistant Chief. I thought it would be appropriate to rectify that."

Dominic nodded, "Seems reasonable. Can I get you anything to drink? Did you have something in particular you wanted to put on the table to discuss? I for one am curious if you volunteered as my Chief or were assigned as such. The order makes no mention."

"Tea, please," T'Par said, knowing something to drink often made humans more comfortable. "I volunteered. I began my career in the sciences. If Majestic was no longer to have a dedicated intelligence department, it seemed an ideal fit."

"Well, that would be the logical thing to do I suppose. Tell me, what do you think you'll bring to the table to make thi department as good as it can be?" Dominic returned to the desk with two cups of tea. This was a question he asked all new transfers as a gauge of their perceptions of themselves.

"I am an expert in anthropology, philosophy, mathematics, and sociology. I have a firm grounding in physics, biology, geology, chemistry, and temporal mechanics. I have experience in personnel management," T'Par said rather matter-of-factly.

Dominic let her answer linger for a moment before saying, "All of that will help this department be more efficient for sure, but that isn't what I'm asking. I have a dozen or more officers under me that have similar backgrounds. What is it about you, specifically, that you bring to the table. What are most confident in? What are the weaknesses we need to work around?" He knew that with a Vulcan this line of question would prove to be a challenge to draw out the sort of response it normally elicits, but he asked it of everyone nonetheless.

She did indeed begin with a by the book answer. "Similar backgrounds, perhaps, sir, but generally with less experience." Ensign Sempton was an exception who came to mind. Had the young officer not refused an unethical, but apparently legal, order, he would be further ahead in his career than he was now. But she didn't voice that out loud. Instead, she simply answered the next part of his question. "As for weaknesses, my understanding of quantum mechanics could use improvement, sir." She paused and then she arched a single brow, steepling her fingers in front of her thoughtfully. "Of course, I do know Human culture well enough to know you're looking for a more personal response. It is less easy to provide a satisfactory response. Vulcan philosophy and Vulcan mental discipline require a certain...reserve. There are things many Humans would share casually that I would share only with my husband. I am a dedicated officer and a dedicated scholar. I have a particular interest in seeing how others view the world and testing myself against them, although I remain quite secure in my own beliefs. Perhaps that is the answer you're looking for, sir. I bring a different perspective to the table."

Dominic nodded, "And that, Lieutenant, is pretty much exactly what I was looking for." Smiling, Commander Aldrich picked up a PADD and handed it over. "This is the list of your current assignments and projects I need updates on. Of special importance, I want you to go over the odd readings we got when the ship suddenly haulted. There are some....interesting things at the quantum level." He then grinned and said, "Our weaknesses only get stronger by being challenged."

She looked at the PADD and nodded. "Thank you, sir. I'll get right on it," she said directly.

"I have no doubt, Lieutenant. You are dismissed," Dominic replied with a small grin.

End