Meeting the Boss

Posted on Sun Feb 13th, 2022 @ 8:28am by Lieutenant Cyrus Jericho

1,510 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission 8 - A Blast from the Past
Location: Chief of Security Office

ON:

Cyrus walked down the corridor to the Security Department Office. He was out of his suit and now in an official Starfleet Uniform. After his, and Amaya's, conversation with the bird-like-aliens he felt he made some significant progress. All that was left was to make his mark on the Chief of Security onboard. His boss. As he approached the door to the room he tapped the panel on the side to activate the chime.

The chime rang, Adams called out "Enter.".

He took a moment to make sure his uniform was good before entering with his hands behind his back. Cyrus stopped at the front of the desk and looks straight ahead. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Cyrus Jericho reporting for assignment, Sir." He soon looked down at the Security Chief with a bit of a smile before adding. "Eager to work and just as eager to learn, Lieutenant."

Adams slowly looked up at him. "You'll work here, and you better learn as well, cause if you don't listen and learn, I'm the one that has to contact your family that you died." There was an empty chair, but he didn't indicate that he should sit. "Your last assignment.....why did you leave?"

Cyrus was quiet for a moment. It was a tough job being Chief and he must have had his fair share of experiences. It obviously took its toll and the Security Chief wasn't in the mood to go through it again. He could have replied with a sarcastic remark, but that might only make him look cocky, and thats not the impression he wanted to give because it would only cause problems between the two.

He just nodded his head and replied "I can only do my best to ensure you don't have to do it too soon, sir." before looking down to the Security Chief to meet his eyes. "I didn't leave my last assignment, sir. This is my first. I have been taking extra classes at the academy and earned my JG rank by passing them and helping those falling behind get better and improving."

Adams leaned back in his chair. "Gung ho type of guy, lieutenant? Burst into a situation with no thoughts of what may happen?" Adams stood up and walked around his desk. "You the type that would let hostages be killed if you got to kill the people who grabbed them? Are you that type, lieutenant?"

Cyrus raised a brow slightly, a bit taken back by the sudden shift in conversation. He wasn't exactly sure what brought this all on. Nothing he said should have indicated he was that type of person when all he said was he was eager to get to work and learn from the Chief. "I have never been a gung ho type of person, Sir. My tactic has always been to learn as much as I can and work out a plan of attack that will get me where I need to be without drawing too much attention to myself. Minimal interaction and little to no casualties." He said before adding firmly. "I was also under the impression the Starfleet Security are training in negotiation and only move in unless no other option is available. It has been my experience that hostage takers tend to take hostages when they want something or are stalling for time till they get what they want." He was beginning to think that this was more about the Chief than Cyrus himself.

Adams looked at him. "I don't know you. All I can do is read your file, but that doesn't tell me 'who' you are." He stood and went back to his chair and sat down. "I asked that question to see what your answer would be, and your respond was what I wanted to hear." He put the PADD down. "You have any questions for me?"

"For now, only one. Did I pass your test?" Cyrus replied bluntly, as he continued to stand in the same place, his hands behind his back.

"If you didn't, you wouldn't still be standing there, lieutenant." He let the words set in. "Training starts tomorrow at 0600. Dismissed."

Cyrus smirked slightly before turning around to leave, rolling his eyes in the process. The Chief seemed to be another hardhead who enjoyed reminding his subordinates he was in charge. It was hard to tell from this first meeting, but it was beginning to look like he would have to put up with a lot with little to no explanation. He made it all the way to the doors, watching them open, before stopping in his place. He stood there for a moment as if debating his next move. 'Don't do it, Cy. Don't do it. Keep walking.' He thought before adding. 'Son of a- in his mind as he turned to face the Chief again. "Sir... I was curious. The Captain allowed me to speak to these bird aliens you've been dealing with. Ask a few questions and, maybe, get them to tell us a few things in the process. They take a bit of getting used to their way of speaking, but I was wondering your take on them?"

Adams could see that this person was going to be a royal pain in the ass. "They were frightened, at first, but I was able to calm them down...I had engineering build them a series of perches and got them the food they liked. Yes, their language is hard to understand, at first, but after spending time with them, I had no trouble understanding them. I found no evidence of Romulan influence, even though they did say that someone told them about us. Given their location, they would be an intelligence coup if we can establish relations." He looked at him.

"Really?" Cyrus raised a brow, a bit taken back by the response, especially after what he and Amaya found out. He kept his hands behind his back and nodded his head slightly. "The Captain did tell me you had the some experience with them and to ask you, but the XO and my conversation revealed evidence that the Romulan Star Empire were involved in telling the species about us and that they were partially involved with pushing the species along in a certain direction." He shrugged his shoulders slightly, keeping his composure, as he added. "We showed them several species and they identified the Romulans themselves." He gestured to the console before adding. "I sent you the report if would like to look it over. I wanted to assure you were informed of the outcome regardless."

Adams turned on his computer and looked at the report. "I see nothing but theories here. I see no evidence to suggest they are aligned with the Romulans!" He turned the computer off and stared at him. "You ever hear of 'Chain Of Command'?! I am the only one who briefs the captain and the 1st officer on all, ALL security matters! Not you!" Adams cut him off before he could respond. "You have a response for him?"

"Perhaps you missed that part of the conversation where I told you I was with the first officer and it's not theories. It's fact." Cyrus stood there, resisting the urge to reply in a hostile way, having obvious proof the Chief wasn't interested in working with him but ordering him around and not listening to any view he had. "I can understand you're busy to maybe..." He looked over to him firmly as he said. "You looked at the wrong report because its all there. If the Chief would like me to point out the correct one I would be happy to assist."

"If we were near a starbase, you'd be on a shuttle and reassigned. Consider yourself relieved of duty and restricted to your quarters. Charges of violating the chain of command and insubordination will be filed. Dismissed!"

Cyrus shook his head. It was like the man didn't hear a word he said and was just determined to get on him for something. He turned around and rolled his eyes, walking out the door without another word. He sent one report and that was to the Chief himself, so the chain of command was never broken. The only other person there was the XO so Cyrus had no control of what she did with her report. Cyrus, from all his experience in dealing with men like the Chief, he knew better than to respond when their mind was made up on something. Whether it was right or not. As he stepped into the turbolift he gripped the switch against the wall, before ordering it to the deck his quarters were located. One this was for sure, this whole conversation, made him wonder if joining Starfleet was the best decision.

END:

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Lieutenant JG Cyrus Jericho
Assistant Chief of Security

&

Lieutenant JG John Adams
Chief of Security

 

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