Agree to Disagree

Posted on Thu Sep 17th, 2009 @ 1:00pm by Lieutenant Commander Kaylis Kirana & Captain Elsie Halliwell

1,007 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Shining Truth
Location: Chief Operations Officer's Office, Deck 2
Timeline: Current

ON:

Shalie sat with her back towards the door. She smiled to herself as she read over Ensign Andrews personnel file. As she waited for the arrival of the Assistant Chief of Ops she would occasionally glance out the small viewport she was lucky enough to have.

She had met the head strong Andrews earlier in the day. The two females had instantly bumped heads and Shalie knew that she already liked her. There was something about her that Shalie instantly respected. Whether it was her tenacity or the fact that she was willing to stand up to her superiors was yet to be determined. It might even reside in the fact that she reminded Shalie of herself not too long ago.

When the chime rang at the door Shalie turned her chair so that she was facing it. Andrews had needed to finish up a project before they began their little discussion and the pair had agreed to meet back at Shale's office. "Enter.." She called clearly.

The door slid fluidly open to reveal Shalie sat comfortably at her own desk. Andrews had endured many of these one-on-one chats during her little career, and as precedent flatly informed her, they never resulted in a positive outcome. She breathed in heavily before she stepped over the threshold and forced the slight effort of a smile to turn the corners of her mouth subtly upwards.

“Lieutenant?� she asked, stepping through. “You wanted to see me?�

Not one to fluster so easily, Andrews appeared, on the surface, calm and confident, but underneath her delicate ribcage, her beating heart fluttered with angst.

Shalie motioned for her to take a seat in the chair across from her. She could sense the apprehension in the young ensign. "It's Shalie...save the Lieutenants for those who care about rank... and no need to worry, this isn't going to be like your typical meeting with a department head," she said with a smile. Trying her best to help Andrews relax. "Andrews or Daisy? Which do you prefer?"

“Um, well,� she faltered, her eyes darting around the room betraying her uneasiness. “Whichever you prefer, to be honest. I’m easy either way. Daisy’s good for now, Shalie.�

"Ok, well, Daisy it is then." Shalie said as she picked up a PADD off of her desk. "I have a bit of a different style of running operations than most people who have fought to get to this position. I think the standard operation procedure for most things was created for those who don't know how to think on their own...so...I have asked you here to get your opinion on the department...what you think needs to be changed in the SOP...what you think is over looked and what you think needs to be over looked. Don't think of yourself as my assistant but my second in command...so to speak."

“Well, that’s different,� she replied with a subtle smile and an under-turned chin. “I actually agree with you on that, though,� she continued to offer. “I believe that, firstly, as your assistant, I should be given the ability to work on my own... to a degree. I understand that you’re ultimately responsible for this department, but I didn’t get to where I am now without earning it. I’m capable, not always liked, but I get the job done. And I get it done right.�

Shalie sat back in her chair as Dasiy spoke. She wanted to make sure the the young women knew that she was sincere about her desire to retrieve the Ensigns imput. she

“As for the SOPs of the Fleet. They’re there for a reason and I respect that. However, if I think it warrants it, I’ll bend those damned rules as hard as I can to achieve what’s beneficial for the ship and her crew. I haven’t yet officially met Captain Lane, but I deem that as a good thing. I haven’t been in trouble as yet on this ship, so I can’t been stepping too far out of the lines.�

Shalie couldn't help but let out a light laugh. "Well, I have met the Captain as all department heads do...but I wouldn't worry about him too much...your screw up would come to me first." She jested. "But in all seriousness I am glad to have someone on my team that thinks a lot like me....I look at the SOPs more like guidelines then regulations...although they do have merit, they don't fit all ships on all missions...with that...I would like to offer you a unique opportunity...if you accept you are going to be alternating between alpha and beta shift with me...think of it as an unofficial co-chief position...this means that you will be responsible for the duty rosters the mornings you are on alpha as well as helping to maintain morale in the department.'"

Shalie paused as she dug in her desk drawer to retrieve yet another PADD. She handed it to Daisy before continuing. "Here is the roster for the department with some suggestions from me....you need to devise a team of who you want where and although it has to be signed off by me what you think is right for your shift is fine by me." Her demeanor changed as she prepared for the next part of their discussion. "If you think you are good enough to call me out for a decision I made. you better be ready to stand up for the decisions you make.....now if you would like to go back to being a minion of the operations department that is your choice...if not be prepared to work."

Daisy subtly smiled. She liked this Chief. “I am always prepared to work, sir,� she replied. “Always.�


OFF:


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Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Shalie Montgomery
Chief Operations Officer

AND

Ensign Daisy Andrews (NPC)
Assistant Operations Officer

 

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