Division Of Labour

Posted on Tue Jul 7th, 2015 @ 12:44pm by Captain Aidan Rackham & Commander Ashley Kennedy & Lieutenant Duncan Harper

Mission: The Belle of Bellatrix
Location: Captain's Ready Room [B Deck]
Timeline: 2278.50 1100hrs

Captain Aidan Rackham had enjoyed precious few opportunities to sit in the quiet of his ready room since coming aboard the Farragut and had finally placed a few personal trinkets on the desk. He had called a meeting to include his Weapons Officer, Kennedy, and the Farragut's Security Officer, Duncan Harper.

He had an idea about how to make the ship's defensive and offensive systems work more closely together and thought they were the ideal people to consult.

Ash had been in her office scouring duty rosters and concocting extra duties for some of her enlisted personnel when she suddenly noticed the chronometer above the entry. Crap! she cursed and quickly shot to her feet and rounded her desk. A quick check of her uniform in the mirror inside one of the closets - impeccable, as always - and she darted out the door.

B Deck was very small, and she was at the door to the captain's ready room before her own office door had even closed. She thumbed the call button next to it and waited.

"C'mon in." Rackham said breezily as the doors began to part at his words.

The XO stepped inside, her hands clasped firmly behind her back, which was habitually straight as an arrow. "I hope I'm not late."

"No, no. Have a seat, Ash." The Captain was in a much improved mood now that the whisky haze had shifted. "I'm just waiting on Lieutenant Harper and then we can get down to business."

Duncan arrived shortly afterwards. "Sir, Ma'am sorry for my slight delay I was updating Patrol Rosters." The Security Officer said before being offered a vacant seat.

"You look remarkably fresh, Lieutenant." The Captain said, trying to remember if he had even seen the security officer touch a drop.

"Well somebody had to make sure all the Junior Staff got back safely." The Lieutenant chuckled. "Ahh the memories."

Rackham shuddered at the thought of the state of some of the junior staff members, many of whom had been led astray by their direct superiors. "Indeed. Anyway, I brought you here to discuss business, so let's get down to it." He shuffled some of the paperwork on his desk. God only knew why but his Records Officer seemed to submit everything by hand, at least in the first instance.

"You're both responsible for the safety of the ship in different ways." He looked them both in the eye to ascertain their agreement which came without much of a surprise. "I want you both to work together in the event of a ship-to-ship engagement. Commander, I think there is scope for the security department to take on the ship's defensive capabilities, shields etc. while you handle the tactical side of the engagement."

Ash nodded thoughtfully and glanced over to Harper. This wasn't unexpected and it had been true that in recent years the separate weapons and security departments had gradually crept closer and closer together. It made sense, she thought, that there be a single department responsible for the safety and security of the ship and crew from all threats internal and external, but there had been resistance on both sides of the corridor. There were plenty of weapons boffins and security grunts vehemently opposed to the idea. Ash was of the school of thought that felt that some merger was probably inevitable.

"I think the idea has a lot of merit, sir," she replied, looking back to the captain. "An extra set of hands can be useful in tough situations. I have no objection to Lieutenant Harper and his people taking on a defensive systems role."

Duncan sat for a moment. "It is an interesting idea Sir, the traditionalists may argue but I myself am open to the concept. The Lieutenant said agreeing with them both. "If we were to get boarded I can see the benefits of additional manpower."

Rackham took a moment of quiet contemplation. That had been much easier than he had thought. He pressed the fingers of both hands together in a pyramid and leaned forward until he loomed over the desk. "Funny you should mention that. I'd like you both to run tactical readiness drills over the next couple of days. Ideally I'd like to test reaction times for weapons systems and also security personnel deployments in tandem." He thought back to Harper's preparations in the security centre and couldn't envisage many problems. "Will you be able to work together on that?"

Duncan looked at Kennedy. "I believe so Captain." He nodded. "If we can prepare for every eventuality then efficiency shouldn't suffer."

"No problems at all, sir," Ash agreed with a satisfied smile, her mind already turning to the practicalities of the task and compiling action lists.

"That's what I like to hear." Rackham was always pleased to hear promises of efficiency from his officers- it saved him having to light a fire underneath them. "Dismissed then."

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Captain Aidan Rackham
Commanding Officer

Commander Ashley Kennedy
Weapons Officer/First Officer

Lieutenant Duncan Harper
Security Officer
USS Farragut