Strategic Office Upgrades

Posted on Fri Oct 9th, 2020 @ 3:49am by Lieutenant Laural Hawke & Lieutenant Commander Angus Murphy

Mission: End of Line
Location: Various
551 words - 1.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Walking into main Engineering, Laural looked around for the Chief Engineer. She had some things in her office that she needed to talk to him about, namely routing more power to her office. Spotting Commander Murphy off to one side, she started to walk towards him.

Lieutenant Commander Angus Murphy was talking with one of the propulsion specialists near the master systems display table, attempting to work out a ruffle in the maintenance schedule caused by the fuel system shortage during the last mission. They ended their conversation, both nodding in agreement, and the specialist left to implement the new tasks.

“Commander Murphy, May i speak with you for a moment?” Laural asked, stepping over to him as the engineer he had been speaking with left.

Murph nodded sharply. "Of course, Lieutenant Hawke." He was rarely so formal, but admittedly he didn't know a lot about the lieutenant other than the few meetings they had attended at the same time. "What can I do for you?" He crossed his arms.

“I would like your help with some modifications to the Strategic Operations Office, namely rerouting some more power to it for some extra equipment” Laural answered “I’d do it myself but the paperwork is annoying so I might as well go through official channels”

Murphy just stared at the woman for a moment with a somewhat neutral expression. Then he nodded slowly. "You'd just do it yourself? Like running an extension cord from down the hall, I suppose. Easy peasy." He didn't pause long enough for her to answer the rhetorical statement. "Shouldn't be a problem then, if it's something that doesn't require too much modification to the power grid. What kind of equipment are you having installed? Are we talking about a console or two, which isn't really power-related as much as a data interface. Or are you planning to replicate materials, open wormholes, or erect forcefields?

"a few consoles and a full suite of holo-projectors" Laural replied, "other than that you don't have the security clearance to know about it"

Murph quirked a brow, unwilling to get into a credential size competition with the new officer. "Very well, Lieutenant. I'll see what I can do. I'll give you an update on the request in a few weeks." He nodded and turned to leave.

"A few weeks? Can it be done any sooner?" Laural asked, eager to get these upgrades in so she could get her place of work sorted the way she wanted it.

"Can it? Possibly. However, I'm not inclined to re-prioritize other projects already on the schedule without evidentual reason or directive, so I will fit your project in according to standard operating guidelines." Murphy turned toward the exit, but paused before he reached the door. He turned around and held up and index finger to make a point. "And beyond that, if I can be so emboldened to offer the Lieutenant some career advice: work on your soft skills. You'll get better outcomes when you treat people with a little respect. Have a nice day." And then he left.

Standing there for a moment, Laural cracked a slight smile, "Good man" she said to herself before turing on her heal and walking out of engineering.

OFF:

Lt Commander Angus Murphy.
CEO

Lieutenant Laural Hawke
CSOO