What do you think

Posted on 08 Mar 2024 @ 8:53pm by Captain Jasmine Somers FCapt & Lieutenant Commander Samantha Smithson SB51 & Lieutenant Karyn Somers & Captain Mazal Falk
Edited on on 11 Mar 2024 @ 1:05pm

1,846 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: SB 51/Various
Timeline: After Orientation of the New Officer

[ON]

After Velazquez had left the office Jasmine arrived on her cane and saw her Cousin and Security Chief, as she entered she looked at each in turn.

"So how was the new officer?" She asked.

"Green and eager" Samantha responded.

*Points thumb back at Samantha "What did she say" Karyn responded also but with a smile "I think she will work out after all we do not get many rifles who are also capable engineers" Karyn Added.

Jasmine nodded and Looked at the pair "I will need to borrow this office, so if you pair can scoot" she said with a smile, the pair nodded and quickly exited the room, once again she sat behind the nice desk and tapped her Commbadge.

=/\= Somers to Falk, report to the Starbase Security Chiefs office immediately, Somers out =/\= Jasmine said in a non-committal tone before closing the link.

She cut through the water graceful and sleek like a mermaid, Mazal indulging in one of her favourite pastimes of swimming. When she heard the call from Somers, Mazal quickly got out of the pool and went to get cleaned up dressing in a clean uniform, her hair now done up in a French braid. When she arrived at the security office, Mazal stepped inside.

"Reporting in as requested Captain Somers," Mazal stated, standing at attention. For all she knew, the summons to the office was on a work basis.

*Smiling* "Please sit Captain, for what I am about to say next you might want to sit down. You see I have this idea and I have put it to my First Officer and he is in full agreement, I mean you have been with us less than 5 years, you are already a Rifle Captain and a Chosen Man, you know that there is the only way for you now with your service record and conduct. Tell me Captain have you ever thought about a Command position? I ask because I was once a Marine, and would still be now, if not a fleet I was part of did not like Marines commanding ships so I switched to Fleet, but that was then, this is now, so have you ever thought about it?" Somers asked.

Mazal went to have a seat and at that question Jasmine asked, the Marine Captain flopped into the chair, stunned beyond all reason. And just stared at Jasmine for a few long moments.

She opened her mouth several times, words not coming out, Mazal feeling like a fish out of water, and looking like one as well. She had to be hearing things, shaking her head as if to clear her hearing. "Uh, Captain? Did I just hear you right? Do you want me to go into Command training? You think I er... am up for that?"

*Folds hands on the desk and smiles* "Just an idle question, your reaction tells me you had not thought about it, that is okay, what I want you to do is accept the position of Second Officer, there are training manuals available to read to give you the rough idea of Command. Fleet Command is nothing like Marine, Marines are given a set of objectives and the commanding officer is left to carry them out as he or she sees fit, as Second Officer you will need to think of the bigger picture, but at the core, Command is just the same regardless of the branch you serve in. Fleet you are in the spotlight more and if cards are played correctly there is room for advancement maybe if you ever wanted it and with at least five years as First Officer under your belt you would be eligible for Commanding officer after that, but you have a long way to get there rank-wise" she pauses.

"I have watched you since you boarded my ship just over two years ago, you have proven yourself in many areas, I know you were not expecting to get the White Cord, but you did you got promoted within that time and now MCO, so the question is Captain Falk are you ready to give Command a try and if so do you accept the position of Second Officer, it will not be an easy duty, so what do you say?" Somers asked as she leaned over pulled out two shot glasses and poured some single Malt scotch for them, she knew Sam was old-style and kept a bottle or two in the bottom drawer of her desk.

Mazal was dumbfounded even more. She just stared at Jasmine once more, sitting there slowly blinking at the CO. "Did I hear you right? You - you just asked me if I would accept being the second officer?" she reached up and scratched at her ear to see if she was just hearing things. "If I heard you correctly, you are asking me to be your second officer?!"

Mazal was in shock!

*Looks at her* "No I am asking you to be the ship Jester! *she said with humour* Of course, I am asking if you want to be the Second Officer, here you go get this down your throat" Somers said passing the Marine the shot glass filled with Whiskey.

Mazal took the glass and made herself sip at it, instead of just downing it in one fell swoop. She took a moment to savour the burn of the whiskey and the flavour, giving herself a moment to recover from her shock and surprise. Taking a deep breath after lowering her glass, Mazal then grinned at the humour Jasmine had offered up, and then she spoke. "I was not expecting this offer. Just I have a question for you. Would I be giving up my being a Marine to take on this offer of being a second officer? That is something I do not wish to do, Captain." Mazal recalled early on that was what Somers had to do to become a captain of a ship.

"Nope, that is a decision you do not have to make for a long time, you can be 2XO and remain a Rifle Officer even First Officer, but about roughly 25 years down the line should you choose the Command path you will have to choose, but for the foreseeable future and your current intentions you can go as high as First Officer without switching to the Command track, but even as Second Officer you will need to read up on protocols and stuff you will need to know. But on my ship, you will need to learn the basics of ship command and how to deal with Fleet Officers, they are a different breed to a Marine" she paused.

"All Fleet Officers chose their path because they wish to explore and take part in diplomacy you joined the Marines for combat action and adventure, slightly different from Fleet as what would work with Marines may not work with Fleet Officers so you will have to adapt and exercise restraint. But you will get your first taste of Command on our next mission, as Commander Dodd will be Acting Captain you will be Acting First Officer, I have a feeling you will fare better than Commander Cahill" Somers paused to let what she said sink in.

"I hope I do, however, Captain, I need to do a correction. While there is a bit of excitement when being a Marine, that isn't the reason why I joined. I felt it was the path to take and my mother as well as my aunt, were part of the Marines. My decision wasn't made lightly. It took hard work and discipline to make it to where I am this day. I will accept your offer of being a second officer, and I am truly aware of the learning curve I will be facing. Thank you though for this opportunity to expand my education." Mazal gave a bit of a smile before drinking the rest of her whisky." it could be seen though that she was still knocked for a loop at this whole dialogue they were having.

*Smiling* "I was a Marine once Captain, long ago I got command of the Tomcat at the rank of Major, eventually I had to change branches, things with the Marines are a lot more complicated now sixteen years later, I joined for different reasons, but the face I made the transition means that if you so wished you could to when you are ready, but it must be a path you want it will also not be a quick path or an easy one, but that choice is for a later date," Somers said as she updated Falk's file and the wall to her right spat out a new ID and Clearance codes for her new rank.

*Picking them up* "Okay this is your new ID, same as your old one, but it has updated clearance levels in it, but the same rules apply and on this data, Crystal is updated Command Codes for a Second Officer Position" Somers added holding out the items to Falk.

Mazal gulped slightly, "You are serious about this, and I'll do my best Captain. This is a lot to take in but I'm not going to back down." accepting the items from Jasmine. She looked down at what was given to her, and muttered softly, "How do you like them apples." She raised her eyes back up to Jasmine's, "This is something most unexpected, and thank you for this opportunity. Well on that note, um.. what is the next part of the process? This is going to be quite the adventure."

"Well, unless you do not have any more questions, you are free to enjoy the rest of your downtime, but I do suggest you brush up on bridge protocol, it is one thing to know what to do when you are not doing it, but different when you are on the bridge and in the heat of the moment, so have you any questions?" Somers asked.

"Not at this time, well not on an official status. It would be more on a personal level." Falk got an impish twinkle in her eyes and a slow smile. "I don't know if you want me to ask it here, maybe more over lunch sometime?" oO I really want to know if Bronc finally asked Jasmine out. Oo

Jasmine looked at Falk for a long time as her right eyebrow raised "I will get back in touch with you on that lunch Captain Falk, so if there is nothing further, you are free to go"

Mazal gave a nod, "Thank you." still trying to let what just happened filtered through her mind.

With that, the newly elevated Second Officer stood up and left the officer.

[OFF]

 

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