New Faces, Same Problems
Posted on Fri May 22nd, 2026 @ 5:21pm by Lieutenant Lorek & Lieutenant JG Thava zh’Reth
Edited on on Fri May 22nd, 2026 @ 5:30pm
1,719 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Prologue: Taking On Crew
Location: Security Office, Deck 5, USS Resolute
Timeline: MD003, 1030 hours
The Security Office was quieter than Thava preferred.
Quiet usually meant one of two things. Either everything was running well, or everyone was saving their problems for the worst possible moment. Experience had taught her to trust the second option.
She stood beside one of the wall displays with a PADD tucked under one arm, reviewing the latest duty rotations while a half-finished weapons locker audit sat open on the desk behind her. The Resolute was still in that awkward pre-departure rhythm: new faces arriving, old hands pretending not to care that some of them were leaving, and half the ship trying to look ready before it actually was.
Thava tapped the display, frowned, then tapped it again.
“No,” she muttered. “That's not how patrol overlap works.”
The door opened before she could correct the schedule, and Thava glanced over her shoulder. Her antennae shifted first, angling toward the newcomer with neat, immediate interest.
Lieutenant Lorek.
She knew the name from the transfer notes, but names on a roster were thin things. They did not tell you how someone carried themselves, how they entered a room, or whether they understood that security departments survived on timing, clarity and people not improvising near weapons lockers.
Thava turned fully, lowering the PADD to her side.
“Lieutenant Lorek,” she said, calm and respectful. “Thava zh’Reth, Security and Tactical. Welcome aboard the Resolute.”
Her gaze flicked briefly to the duty display, then back to him.
“I was just reviewing the latest patrol rotation. We are still adjusting around the new transfers.”
Lorek stood in the Sec/Tac area standing tall, shoulders back; not with arrogance or cockiness but rather with determination, purpose, eager to meet his people, and getting to know each and everyone under his charge "Thank you Lieutenant zh'Reth and I look forward working with you as we move forward in the coming days and weeks." as he paused letting his salutation linger a moment "We may have to make a few more adjustments while we wait to get our people up to full strength. While we are still parked above the base I would be willing to cover a security rotation if need be" Lorek stated as he believed the Chief should always set the example.
Looking at the duty roster display he inquired "Lieutenant do you normally take care of the patrol rotations." as he paused a moment "Looking over your file I see you have been aboard ship working Sec/Tac for almost five years I will be relying on your abilities heavily while I settle in." he commented pleased there was an experienced person he could depend on.
Thava listened without interrupting, her antennae angled toward him with clear attention. Lorek had the bearing of someone who meant to lead the department, not simply occupy the office. That was worth noting.
At his offer to take a security rotation himself, one antenna lifted slightly.
“That is appreciated, sir,” she said. “Though I would save you from corridor patrol unless we are thin enough to hear the bulkheads creak. Right now, the department needs to know where you want its weight placed.”
She glanced to the roster display.
“I helped Lieutenant Commander Ralen with rotations when he needed it. Bridge duty, briefings, the usual small fires. I know the ship’s patterns, and I know which patrol routes look tidy on paper but make less sense with boots on deck.”
Her gaze returned to him, direct but respectful.
“I do not take charge of the rota unless I am asked, or unless the Chief is unavailable. I will gladly help you settle in, sir. I can flag weak points, offer options, and tell you which reports have been polished too smooth.”
A small, firm nod.
“You make the call.”
Thinking for a few brief moments "Yes, let me know where you see room for improvements and I am open to any recommendations you may have. That will give me a starting point as I delve into the department. Soon I will be having a department wide meeting not only to introduce myself but also to address any department concerns." as he paused "Lieutenant I am not here to radically change things all at once, that only creates confusion and frustration, but rather allow things to simmer for a bit before I start making gradual changes. I hope to have a foundation in place to build upon before we leave the Starbase."
Thava gave a small nod, antennae settling forward as she took that in. Lorek was not charging in with a blade in each hand and a new doctrine under his arm. Good. Departments rarely enjoyed being rebuilt before breakfast.
“That is wise, sir,” she said. “Sudden change makes people brace for impact. Gradual change lets them show you what actually needs cutting away.”
She glanced to the roster display, then back to him.
“For a full department meeting, I would suggest the Security Briefing Auditorium on this deck. It will hold all eighty-four of us without making the enlisted stand in the back. For shift briefings, the tactical briefing rooms work better. Smaller, tiered seating, main display at the front. Good for patrol changes, weapons updates, boarding drills. People pay attention there because there is nowhere comfortable to hide.”
Her fingers shifted the roster slightly, bringing up the patrol overlap.
“My first recommendation is simple. We tighten the handover between security patrols and tactical watch. Right now, they overlap on paper, but not always in practice. A five-minute verbal handoff between shift leads would catch small problems before they become an issue.”
She looked back to Lorek, steady and respectful.
“It is not a glorious fix, sir. Those are usually the ones that work.”
"Lieutenant your suggestions are sound while being practical; I find that most refreshing. Having different sized venues for specific types of meetings will make those more practical for everyone concerned," as Lorek paused a moment. "Seems different ships often tend to have some of the same issues. My last assignment, the Endeavor, had the same breakdown with shift overlap and communications. I will place that at the top of my list for our meetings." as he paused once again "Since we have covered quite a bit of ground in a short amount of time I do have a query for you. While your file is impressive, please tell me something about Thava I would not glean from that document."
Thava gave a small nod at that. The question was fair, and better than pretending a personnel file told the whole story.
“My file says I am reliable,” she said. “Which is true, but dull.”
One antenna twitched, just slightly.
“I do not enjoy disorder, sir. I tolerate it because starships are full of people, and people are very committed to being inconvenient. But I care about this department. I care about the crew going home with the same number of limbs they started the shift with.”
Her gaze stayed level, respectful but not stiff.
“And I prefer honesty early rather than apologies late. From myself as much as anyone else.”
A brief pause followed, then her antennae shifted with mild curiosity.
“If I may ask, sir, what would your file not tell me about Lieutenant Lorek?”
Thinking for a moment Lorek did something he did not normally do when on duty.....he smiled "That being half Vulcan and half Human I do allow my human side to surface from time to time especially when I am not on duty.....otherwise it tends to be off putting to some people." he explained wondering how Thava would react to a Vulcan smiling.
Thava’s antennae lifted a fraction at the smile, not in alarm, but in the brief, unmistakable way Andorians noticed something unexpected and filed it away for later.
“A Vulcan smile,” she said, dryly. “I will try not to alert Medical.”
There was the faintest shift at the corner of her own mouth, close enough to amusement without quite surrendering to it.
"That would be most appreciated. Logically that would not be a reason to throw Medical into a tizzy over one unusual Vulcan" Lorek replied while poking a little fun at himself at the same time.
Thava’s mouth shifted again, just enough to show the joke had landed.
“I’d still advise caution, sir,” she said. “Doctor Rhade has a talent for turning a minor irregularity into the opening act of a medical symposium.”
Her antennae tilted with dry amusement.
“A Vulcan smile might earn you a scan, two follow-up questions, and a lecture on emotional expression disguised as concern.”
She let that sit for half a beat, then gave the roster display a small glance.
“I’ll mark it as non-critical unless symptoms worsen.”
"Thank you Lieutenant, I will use caution when it comes to the good Doctor" he replied rather enjoying her dry sense of humor "Although I believe the symptoms will not worsen any time soon" as Lorek changed gears back to business "I will send out a message to everyone in our department later today to report to the Auditorium at 0900 tomorrow for a meeting; attendance will be mandatory of course."
Thava gave a small nod, the humour easing back into professionalism.
“Understood, sir. I will make sure the department roster is current before the notice goes out, and I can have the auditorium configured for a full department briefing.”
She glanced once toward the duty display, already mentally moving pieces into place.
“I will also prepare a brief summary of the patrol overlap issue and any other points worth your attention before the meeting. Nothing ornamental. Just what you need to know.”
Her antennae settled, and she looked back to him.
“Welcome aboard, Lieutenant. I think the department will be watching closely tomorrow.”
"Thank you Lieutenant. I am sure I will be watched carefully by our people for awhile to see just what kind of Chief they are working with; nothing I have not navigated previously. I will see you tomorrow at 0900" Lorek replied before turning and leaving the area to attend to other matters.
A Post By:
Lieutenant JG Thava zh’Reth (NPC)
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Resolute
Lieutenant Lorek
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Resolute
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