Intel Meets Ops

Posted on Mon Aug 8, 2016 @ 1:00am by Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho & Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas Barnes

Mission: An Orion to Die For
Location: Deck 40, Operations
Timeline: MD 0 || 1000 hours

Alex had taken the Captain's advice and was on his way to the turbolift to head to the Operations Chief's office. Then it dawned on him, he didn't know yet where that was. The Intel Chief stepped into the turbolift and asked, "Computer, where is the Operations Chief's office?"

The computer announced, "The Operations Chief's Office is on Deck Forty."

"Very good, Deck Forty, then," said Alex. The lift started moving and he realized that the Chief might not be in his office. He wasn't in his after all. "Computer, what is the location of the Chief Operations Officer?"

"Senior Chief Barnes is in his office," replied the emotionless computer.

"Senior Chief," said Alex aloud. That was interesting. He most definitely going to have to meet the enlisted who was able to get Chief position on a ship such as this. The turbolift continued to Deck Forty where he got off and headed down the long corridor to the Chief's office. Once he finally got there the pressed his thumb to the door chime.

Tom was standing at a large black table where an overhead schematic of the Triumphant was displayed. The ship was an engineering marvel and he'd barely scratched the surface of it as he started studying it hours ago. So many complexities and more awaited him, but the door chime informed him that his studies would have to wait. "Come in!"

Alex stepped forward and inside just enough so that the doors would close. This office, like the Captain's, was large. It increased his desire to see the Intelligence Center and it's various complexes and offices. "Senior Chief Barnes, I presume?"

"That's me," Tom said with a smile. He left the table and approached the Lieutenant with an outstretched hand. "Though Tom works just fine. And you appear to have me at a disadvantage, Lieutenant..."

Alex smiled and shook the Ops Chief's extended hand. "The name's Rho, Alex Rho," he said. "And I only have you at a disadvantage because the computer tattled. When I asked the location of the Chief Operations Officer, it gave your name and rank."

Tom nodded, taking note of the man's collar. "And here's the Intel Chief revealing all of his secrets," he remarked.

Alex laughed. "Only that one, I'm afraid, Tom. The rest of them are securely locked in here," he said, pointing to his head. He looked around Tom's office. "It looks like this ship is going to keep you busy. What a technological leap."

"Starfleet's certainly been busy the last few years," Tom replied. "I just spent my last couple of years teaching at an enlisted training school. I got to play with some of these new toys, but there's just nothing like a classic spanner in your hands."

Alex grinned. "I think we may differ on that point. I like the new toys. As a matter of fact, I can't wait to get down to Deck 44 and see what awaits me. On a ship like this, I expect the entire place to be fitted with top-of-the-line equipment and toys." He paused and looked at Tom for a moment, expressionless. Tom had just mentioned teaching at a school, so it was at the forefront of his mind...on the surface as it were. Alex wondered if he could scan just enough to pick it up, but then thought better against it. "So, how does one go from a teacher at school to Operations Chief?"

Tom chuckled, moving back over to the table. "Someone who's continuously sailing for adventure," he replied to Alex. "I've lost track of how many assignments I've been on and what all I've done. It's trivial really. I enlisted the see the universe and I have yet to see more than a fraction of a single percent."

Alex laughed. "That does seem to happen, doesn't it?" The Ullian had moved over to one of the chairs and sat down. "So what kind of adventures do you think a ship like this could get into, Tom?"

Tom smiled, looking up from the table. "The kind that the crew of the Enterprise would be envious of."

"They did have some pretty interesting adventures, didn't they? But I like your goal-setting, Tom. Oh, my reason for the visit," he said, feigning momentary forgetfulness. "I need my quarters assignment. I'd like to get settled in before too much starts happening." Alex sat there, wondering if he could scratch the number from the surface of Tom's mind as he looked at it on the screen. It wouldn't take much, really, since Tom would be only seconds from saying it.

"Of course," Tom said, tapping a couple controls on the surface of the table to access the quarters assignments. Tom sorted the list to show only the senior officer's quarters, which were on Deck Twenty Two, Room Two Two Alpha Zero Nine.

Alex gave no visual indicators that he had found the information he was looking for. He wondered for a second what would happen if he said the number first. Would Tom be angry? Would he have just made an enemy? Only one way to find out... "Two Two Alpha Zero Nine."

"Two Two..." Tom's voice trailed off as he instantly realized what Alex had said. He gave the man an inquisitive and surprised look. Was he Betazoid? He certainly didn't seem to exhibit the typical dark eyes, but then again, most Betazoids looked practically human. "How...? How did you know that?"

Alex grinned. "Ullian," he said. "It was on the tip of your tongue, so it was easy to sense. Rest assured I will not go further." He waited to see Tom's response before continuing.

"You don't look at all like a Ullian," Tom countered, looking back down to transfer Alex's quarters information and such to a PADD. He picked it up and grabbed another PADD. "I'll need you to enter an authorization code for your computer clearances," he said, handing the second PADD to the Intel Chief for the entry of the code.

Alex took the PADD and quickly entered he authorization code and put on the desk. "To shorten a rather long story, I had permanent cosmetic surgery to cover the cranial bulges of my people. It was done before joining Starfleet, though. So it has actually came in handy when I went into Intelligence. And has been helpful ever since."

"Why a human?" Tom asked, taking the authorization PADD back to the table and confirming its entry. "Why not Orion or Vulcan?" Smirking he added, "Or Bynar even?

"Humans are more...," then he paused and looked at Tom. "If you'll pardon me, more common. Orion, Vulcan, and Bynar would stand out more in a crowd. When I had the surgery, my desire was not to stand out in a crowd, as my genetic heritage does. But to blend in, become one of the group. And no one typically thinks twice about a human in the room."

"We are quite the unassuming lot," Tom agreed, handing Alex the other PADD. "It has your room assignments, which you already know, as well as a welcome packet, personnel handbook, and requisition guidelines for the holodeck and other amenities. While we are unassuming, we humans certainly are unpredictable. At least we can be."

"Thank you," said Alex, taking the PADD. "I would agree whole-heartedly," purposely using a human phrase, "about your unpredictability. With that said, should I be on the alert for any of that coming out of you?" The Intel Chief grinned.

Tom smiled, stretching out both hands to his sides. "I'm an enlisted man in a Senior Position aboard a starship of several thousand," he said, trying not to be prideful. "I guess I'm just good at what I do."

"Unpredictable," said Alex, "unpredictable, indeed." He paused a moment and took a deep breath. "Well, I can't wait to see just how good you are at what you do. I'd offer the same, but, you know, Starfleet Intelligence and all. If you saw how well I do my job, then I didn't do my job well." Alex chuckled a bit that time.

Tom nodded, replying with, "Duly noted, sir." While Tom was enlisted and older than Rho, at least he thought he was older than Rho, Chief Barnes was enlisted. Even an Ensign would outrank him.

Alex sat forward in his chair. "I think I have everything I came for, Chief." He stuck his hand out in the traditional human gesture of departing. "Let's hope that whatever is down the road sees us all back and in one piece."

"Agreed," Tom said with a smile, accepting the offered hand and giving it a firm shake. "And let's hope it's filled with adventure."

"Lots of adventure," Alex replied. He stood and nodded, excusing himself. Alex left the room and headed to the place he always called his Sanctuary, no matter where he was stationed. After that, it was the Intelligence Center.