Checking In with the Chief
Posted on Mon Oct 30th, 2023 @ 12:23am by Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen & Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna
Edited on on Wed Nov 1st, 2023 @ 8:06pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: SCIF - Deck 9 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 0800 hrs
Jayna sent her report to McGowan when she returned to the ship, but there had been so much to do she hadn't really sat down to talk with her chief. Now that they were on shore leave, she hoped the commander would have some time. She went to the office door and knocked.
Rowena was going through the reports she had been send by her department. She probably had to put them aside later. This was shore leave. But she was trying to get a grasp on what had happened to her on the planet. Everything seemed like a haze, and she was having a hard time, to fill in the gaps as well. But she figured it was probably a side effect from the possession or the trauma of being possessed by two entities at the same time. She couldn't really remember just yet, what exactly happened to her. She also woke up in sickbay, with a little amnesia. She still had to go to the counselor with that.
She heard a knock on her door. That was a first. It brought her back to reality. "Enter," she called as she wondered if her door chime needed to be checked out or if someone just trying to be polite.
Jayna walked in, quickly taking stock of the room, and gave Rowena a half-bow. "Do you have a few minutes?"
Rowena half shrugged and then pointed to the chair near her desk. "Of course, Lieutenant, have a seat. What can I do for you?" She said as she shoved the padds aside a little leaning forward.
With another nod, Jayna sat down and took a moment to meet the commander's gaze before saying, "There's been a lot going on since we returned from the planet and I wanted to see how you were doing and if you had any questions about my report." She could have sent a message, but it was better to ask in person. She knew the commander had been carried out of the underwater facility and talking face-to-face was always better if she wanted answers.
"The report is fine," Rowena said. "I don't have questions right now. I am still going through reports, maybe they give me some more answers before I formulate my questions." She gestured to the padds on her desk. "Anyways, how have you been? We haven't really talked since I came out of sickbay. I pretty much went to work right away." She would definitely put her own problems aside to check on her department.
"I'm good. I've had time to process what happened in the underwater facility. Sergeant Schultz and I were fortunate." She paused before asking, "Do you know how Corporal Shy is doing?"
Rowena shook her head. "I haven't had time to check in with everyone just yet. But I imagine everyone needs a little process time before we can truly talk about it." She then gave a nod to the replicator and asked, "Well where are my manners can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you, but please get what you want," Jayna replied politely. "I may go check on him myself. Sergeant Schultz and I were with him in the underwater facility." She still tried not to think of Kavicus, but she did want to know if the corporal had made a full recovery from his...ordeal.
Rowena got up and got herself a mint tea with honey. She put the glass on her desk and sat back down. "How are you and how is the department? I haven't checked in with the others since I got back to duty, have you?" She pushed one of the padds aside reveling a personnel file. "I sometimes feel like I lack as a department head. Jennifer had such a way of things here, I feel like I invaded that."
"She did have her way of doing things, but that can be said of any of us." Jayna shrugged. "The department will change a little, but change can be good. We tend to grow complacent if things stay the same for too long. I never expected to be more than a warrant, but I'm adapting. As for the department, I've spent some time with Kaylara, but I don't see Taggart outside of intel." She watched Rowena for a long moment. "How are you doing?"
"I am doing fine, thank you, well...all things considering," Rowena said.
"Can you tell me something about Petty Officer Beckett? I intended to have a meeting with him. It looks like he was the Chief Intelligence Officer here at the beginning."
"I don't know what he was like as chief as I came on later, but I know he's a hard-worker and he's good at his job," she replied. She didn't really talk to him, either, now that she thought about it. "I've worked with Makeba and Kaylara, but I really don't know Beckett very well."
"Well then maybe you can tell me about Makeba and Kaylara. I love to meet up with my department." Rowena smiled when she realized was only talking about work, as if she was dodging the conversation at hand. "I am sorry...Jayna is it right. I am really not that good with the whole casual thing. I am having such a hard time that I basically look to the thing I actually feel safe with work. It is what I know. So maybe we should also talk about how I can be more casual."
"Well, I'm not sure my form of casual is the best example." She grinned. "I wear a lot of black and leather. But I am getting out more now that I'm liaising with the Marines. So maybe this is something we can both work on. The lounge or the gym are good places to get comfortable with the crew off-duty."
She went back to the other question McGowan asked. "As to the other two... Kaylara is good at her job, but her dress makes me look conservative. She's Romulan, born in the Federation. I think she sometimes feels like she either has to prove herself or make sure no one forgets she's there. I think she'll mellow as she gets to know the crew here." At least she hoped so. Jayna herself had mellowed since joining the Pioneer--or, rather, since she started spending time with Neil. "Makeba...still feels that she belongs with the New Maquis. She's here because she has to be, not because she wants to be. When she and I were on assignment together, she was brusque, but did her job and helped keep us both alive." That was true, but Rowena needed to know where her true loyalties lay. "Even so, she would still go back to the New Maquis if she could."
Rowena nodded as she leaned back in thought. "I read about Makeba. I should get in touch with her. Is there anything else I should know?"
Jayna paused for a moment. "No. They make a good team and you'll fit in well with them. I think you should take the time to meet them and get your own impression of who they are and what they have to offer. My impressions are colored by my experience, so they may be different from yours."
"Noted," Rowena said. She straightened herself a bit. "And my apologies for making this about work. You came here to check on me after that ordeal I supposedly had that I don't remember. To be honest, I don't remember much from it. And I am trying to wrap my head around everything. I am also new here. I am still adjusting. I needed an insider’s view. I will of course meet with them. But thanks for sharing your view with me."
"You're welcome, but there is no need to apologize. You have a lot to deal with right now." Jayna still felt like the new chief was bothered by something, but she wasn't going to press. Hopefully a counselor would help her deal with whatever it was. "If there is anything I can do to help, let me know."
Rowena gave a nod to Jayna. "I will, Lieutenant. And thank you." She got up. "Please excuse me, I have some work to do still." She smiled friendly. In actuality she wasn't lying, but she also felt a little awkward.
The half-Vulcan stood and nodded. "Yes, ma'am." She rather liked the new head of intel, but there was something about her that didn't feel right. She gave herself a mental shake as she headed out the door. It was most likely due to her recent encounter and nothing more. She was definitely in need of some shore leave.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Intelligence Liaison, The Cure
Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen
Chief Intelligence Officer/Second Officer, USS Pioneer
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