So Much Space, So Little Time

Posted on Tue Nov 13th, 2018 @ 12:07am by Commander M'Mira & Lieutenant Commander Catrina (Cat) Tendai & Lieutenant JG Eleanor Phoy
Edited on on Mon Mar 11th, 2019 @ 2:30pm

2,926 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Mission 2: Into The Breach
Location: Intelligence Hub
Timeline: MD07 - 1500

Sam sat at the edge of a drafting table in a dark and dilapidated sub basement of the Intelligence Hub, a PADD in one hand and a cup of strong coffee in the other. At the center of the table, he had set up a central holoprojector that he had connected to several other pole mounted projectors that he had purloined from the Combat Engineers in the compound along with a portable coffee pot. Looking down below the railing, he could see the damage done by years of neglect- there were barely any working lights, the ones that did work tinged the room in a dingy orange and there were damaged and bent pylons with frayed and glowing wires from when the original consoles had been ripped out and the engineers hadn’t bothered to tie them off.

Scrolling through the PADD with his requirements, he stood and leaned on the railing to get an idea of his vision but the best he could do was a crude digital drawing. Opening his messenger application, he tapped off a quick flash message to the Chief Operations Officer, Chief Engineer, and the Chief Intelligence Officer and requested that they meet him down here to discuss what needed to be done.

Catrina had received the message and sighed. If it wasn't one thing it was another. The area was already on her list for a later date, but apparently someone wanted to work on things now. Leaving a few assignments for some other in case they came to find her, she gathered up all the information she had on the Intelligence Hub and downloaded it to on PADD before heading down. She knew the power was limited and brought a light just in case. She saw only one other person there, and it wasn't someone she was familiar with. "You the one that called us?"

Sam looked over at the source of the voice and could make out a young woman in the dimly lit room. “I am. Sam Braddock, at your service.” He said, he extending his hand.

Taking the hand, Cat gave a small smile. "Lieutenant Catrina Tendai, but everyone calls me Cat."

Sam smiled a little. “A pleasure, Cat.” He said, motioning to the table. “Take a seat. We’re bound to have more guests soon.”

M'Mira scoffed at Cat's introduction, as she walked into the room. Pointedly, M'Mira asked Tendai, "Do you not have numerous rrrepairrrs to be doing?"

Hearing the voice behind her, Cat cringed slightly before turning to look at the newcomer. "I was asked here just as you were, Commander. The engineering team has everything in hand."

Sam watched the exchange for a moment and then stepped in. He was used to settling squabbles but fights between officers couldn’t be allowed to stand. “Commander, we haven’t formally met but you’re already testing my patience, so let me make one thing absolutely clear-“ Sam gestured so that his palm was out. “- This is my team and I’ll choose who I see fit to be a part of it. I don’t know what you have against the Lieutenant here and frankly, I could give a rats ass. If I have to remind you not to antagonize any member of this team, you won’t be a part of it. So stow it.“ Sam rounded on the Caitian so that his heels clicked as he faced her and leaned in. “Do you get me, Lieutenant Commander?” He asked, the ice in his tone readily apparent.

M'Mira's hackles raised. She was not going to back down from this person. "Majorrr, firrrst of all, you will trrreat me with the prrroperrr rrrespect. I outrrrank you and I am second in command on this station." She leaned in closer, her voice hissing, "Do *I* make *MYSELF* clear, Major?!" Her hissing still evident, she said, "You called me herrre and would know the rrreason why."

She then looked over at Tendai, "I'm surrre my team has everrrything well in hand."

Catrina stood up a bit straighter as M'Mira spoke, clenching her fists. She allowed Braddock to speak and held her tongue as long as she could. She didn't need any more trouble than there already was. "The engineering team has everything in hand, under my command, Commander." She was calm, but obviously irritated. Her eyes then turned to Braddock. "Are we awaiting anyone else, Major?"

Sam made a visible note on the PADD to address this with Commander Prescott and turned to address Cat. “Just the Chief Intelligence Officer at this point but we can proceed with the meat and potatoes of the project.” Tapping the PADD, the first things we’re going to need are repairs to the power system, additional lighting, and an evaluation of the substructure because we’ll need some additional space to store additional computers and equipment. After that, we’ll work on running secure ODN tunnels down here. We’ll also need secure comms and a real-time satellite uplink” Turning to M’Mira, Sam spoke. “I’ll need you to work with the Intel team and the MEU to get access privileges set up for designated personnel- I’ll send over the list with access levels. Once that’s done, I’ll have some additional taskings for you.”

"Shouldn't be too difficult since the power relays are finally cooperating. We'll likely need to do some replicating of some of the parts though. Most of our supplies have been picked through on the other repairs." Cat pulled out her PADD and checked the supplies for a job like this.

"What access restrictions or lack thereof are you seeking regarding the intel team?" M'Mira asked skeptically of Sam.

Sam thought for a moment. “Filter them by role and rank. I don’t need some Crewman running around with a Level 10 clearance. When assignments are finalized, run it by the Section Leaders. They’ll have final say.”

A computer female voice came from the group behind [Good day? I was required here per request?] Eleanor stopped her signing and looked at them wondering what they required from her.

Glancing over, had heard the voice before, Cat gave Eleanor a smile. “We all were actually.”

Sam stepped over to the latecomer. “Sam Braddock. A pleasure to meet you-“ he stopped, racking his brain for a name to put to the face.

Looking at the Major as she slightly bow her head to him and signed to him [Eleanor Phoy, Station Chief Intelligence Officer. I believe you are the one that hailed for my presence?]

"We were just getting started when you got here, Eleanor. You didn't really miss much." Cat grinned and then looked back to what she had been looking at before.

“Well, I like to keep my meetings short seeing as I hate hearing myself talk.” Sam sat down at the makeshift table and opened a menu of responsibilities that he had delegated. One was still pulsing red- Personnel. Turning the screen to face her, he motioned. “My final major point of coverage is personnel. You’ll have a say on every person that has the appropriate training and clearance for access. One last thing- you’ll notice my name is on that list as a candidate for Senior Watch Officer, a position I’ll be taking on in addition to my Air Wing duties. Now, I’ll be drawing up a list of Marine candidates, I’ll let you handle the Fleet side. Sound good?” He asked Eleanor.

Nodding slowly to that idea as Eleanor took notes on her PADD to let her fellow colleagues ask things.

Chuckling at the fact that he hated to hear himself talk, Cat couldn't agree more on that point. Meetings weren't always that fun. But as she listened, she realized her had many valid points. "The captain is the best one to talk to about the Senior Watch Officer, unless," she looked to M'Mira, "You would have any say in that, Commander?"

M'Mira could have feinted, given that Cat actually looked to her for an answer. "I would," she said seriously. "And I will help the Captain select the apprrroprrriate individual to take that post."

Sam smirked at this but remained silent. Out of the group, he was sure that he was the only one aside from Lieutenant Phoy that had worked in Intelligence before, both in the field and as an analyst. “Of that, I have no doubt, Commander.” He tapped a file on his PADD and transferred it to the holoprojectors, Now, I’ve also determined a physical layout for the MTAC. My idea looks a little like this-“ with a quick swipe upward, the room was filled with electric blue wireframe projections of stations and screens arranged in small circular pods.

“Now, the station for the SWO would be on this platform. Deputy Watch Officer would have a space directly below along with the six watch sections, with each one covering a sector. We would also have a secure conference room in the empty adjoining room. Thoughts?” He asked.

Moving a bit to get a better look, Catrina tilted her head a little. "We'd have to make sure we have all of the supplies, and the man power." Her eyes turned to Sam. "This isn't a quick job."

Sam smiled a little. “I know, Lieutenant but if it were easy it wouldn’t be any fun.” He said. “With your current personnel allotment, how long until we can get the infrastructure in place?” He asked, his eyes locked on Cat’s.

Rubbing her temples, Cat thought for a moment. “Depends on if other repairs come up. I will have to see who can go where and also who is willing to help with it. We’re spread thin right now, but that should clear up soon. Once I do a supply check I can likely give you more information.”

M'Mira was now certain that she disliked Sam. However, Cat still remained her most hated individual. "Oh, Lieutenant. Don't you worrrrry yourrr prrretty little head. I am morrre than cerrrtain we can handle the rrrepairs."

“Commander, with all due respect, it isn’t the repairs I am worried about. That part would likely take 2 to 3 days.” Cat zoomed in on the images that Braddock had pulled up. “It is the add-ons. The captain told me Luna was the next area to work on after the ceremony. We can get the area up and running no issues.”

Sam nodded and tapped a note into his PADD. “I’ll talk with our Combat Engineer Company Commander and see if he can spare a few people. If I can get 10 down here, will that move up your timeline?” He asked her.

Catrina raised an eyebrow. "Ten more? It will, but the primary engineering crew will still be working on Luna. As long as they don't mind moving between different things and don't mind listening to me during the project? We'll welcome them for the project duration." She looked back to M'Mira. "Do you approve of them being here, Commander?"

Raising her finger [Luna is still a part that requires intelligence to scout, we know little to nothing of the operations that are going on there. While the Captain state it is ours to use, the Falteans see it in contract as a shared operation] Eleanor looked at the Marine [I don't presume you got a shuttle or another fighter to get up there for a scouting mission? Friendly approach would be great] Pointing out that guns are to be left home.

Sam nodded as he knew the flight rotations by heart at this point but checked the PADD to be sure. “I’ve got an Orion coming back from a signal recon sortie that I can get you and a team aboard. Just say the word and I’ll have it ready for you in an hour along with an escort element.” He said, tapping quickly on the PADD to pass the word to the appropriate pilots in case they were needed.

M'Mira decided she didn't like this Sam. He was trying to take over all of the operations of Faltan. Worse, he was a marine. Worse than that, he tried to put her in her place and that was not something one did to a Caitian. Now, he wanted to bring more marines to the station. Of course, marine engineers would show up Cat and that was always desirable. However, Cat was deferring to her. This made a tricky situation. After some hesitation, she decided to throw the ball in Cat's court. "If you think that you rrrequirrre morrre assistance, Lieutenant, then I suppose you could brrring them. Otherrrwise, I would think that you should be able to handle everrrything with yourrr own crrrew, even with that nerrrvous Ensign of yourrrs."

Cat listened to Eleanor and Sam talking, but then glanced back over to M'Mira when she addressed her. "It would speed up the process, but I believe you are right. However, we will have to make Luna our priority, then work down here. Thank you, Commander." She looked over to Braddock. "We can get the area up and running, but the improvements you're suggesting are going to have to wait I'm afraid. I'm sorry, Major, but there are other things that need doing first. You can let your engineer Marines stay where they are for the time being."

Sam frowned at this and raised an eyebrow. "Pardon me for saying this, Lieutenant- but I can't allow this project to sit dormant, so if you can't spare the personnel, I'll need Captain Gregson to bring in his people to begin the initial stages of the project to get the place running. I'll ensure that he keeps you apprised of his progress." Turning to the rest of the crew, he checked his watch. "Now, I don't like wasting time and I'm sure you all have things to get back to. Now, to finish off I'd like daily status reports from you or your delegated staff officer sent directly to my office. We'll meet back here in one week to determine where we need to be. Dismissed.

Glancing over to Braddock, Cat pushed the PADD away, trying to keep her calm. "Major, there are other other priorities. As I stated, we can get your area up and running, but the additions are currently not necessary to make the the area functional. And all additional personnel must be cleared through command. I won't be able to allow any additional personnel to this beyond what I stated to get the area running until our previous orders are completed." Her eyes turned once more to M'Mira, hoping that she had some say in this.

M'Mira growled at Sam. "YOU, sirrr, once again are out of orrrderrr. You forrrget who is in charrrge of this station. It is not you. It is Captain Rrrefelian. Whetherrr you like ourrrr prrrocesses or not, is irrrrrrelevant. Norrr do you have the ability to dismiss us. As second in command of this station, I am now prohibiting yourrrr marrrines frrrom assisting. My Chief Engineerrrr has explained the prrriorrrities and you will have to abide by them. Furrrthermorrre, you and yourrrr marrrrines will take no actions until I have consulted with the Captain and Mint. Do *I* make myself clearrr, Majorrrr?" M'Mira emphasized nearly every word in her last sentence, leaving no doubt that she was pulling rank.

The Caitian then looked over at Cat, giving her a perplexed glance, finding it more than a little odd that the two of them, who were at each other's throats at the beginning of this meeting were now seeing eye to eye.

Sam held his ground. "With all due respect, Commander, you seem to be intent on agitating me with your penchant for excretory measuring but I’m not going to bother engaging with you from this point forward.” He said, his voice exhuding a dead calm.

Raised her hand as she signs [I do need to scout that moon Commander, it has not much to do with the schedule of the Lieutenant building] Eleanor pointed out to M'Mira and looked at the Major then at the rest [I do need to get going, need to travel to some remote Faltan city for a few days]

Sam nodded. “If you need air support, let me know.” With that, he followed the Lieutenant up the stairs and out of the center.

M'Mira scoffed at Sam. Between him, Damon, and Cat, though she wondered whether Cat still belonged in the category, M'Mira felt that Starfleet was sending all of its rejects. "Unforrrtunately forrr you, Majorrr. Whateverrrr you may think, you have no choice but to engage with me, as you put it. The only people above me are Mint and the Captain and I can assurrre you that yourrr conduct will be brrrought theirrr attention."

With Eleanor and Sam gone, Cat looked over to M'Mira. "I'll come with you to tell Mint and the Captain what happened here if you would like me to, Commander. I believe Phoy does actually need to do what she stated, I have not yet had a chance to check on that since it was mentioned. However, Major Braddock was out of line."

Giving Cat a very suspicious look, M'Mira agreed. "Yes, he was. We will take carrre of him." M'Mira headed off to find Mint, not caring whether or not Sam was coming with her.

 

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