Inspection: Tactical

Posted on Wed Jan 24, 2018 @ 7:40pm by Commodore Michael Aravan & Lieutenant Martha Cusack

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Tactical Offices
Timeline: MD 32 || 1115 Hours

It was only a short trip to the Tactical Information Center from the Bridge, which is where the computer informed him he'd find Lieutenant Cusack and Michael wasted no time getting there. When he entered the center, he saw the buzz of activity in the Battle Staff Situation Room and Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations Center.

He looked around for the Chief of Tactical before he spotted her talking to a group of personnel and headed over to her. "Excuse me, Lieutenant Cusack. I'd like a moment of your time, please."

Martha excused herself from the conversation and moved over to one side with the Commodore. She hadn't had a one to one meeting with Michael since her arrival just over a month ago - although Martha assumed this time Michael wanted an update on her progress with the diagnostic.

"Of course. What is it Commodore?" Martha replied.

"I was just stopping by to see how the diagnostics are going and to check up on the status of the Tactical department as a whole," Michael replied.

Martha nodded. "The diagnostic is underway as we speak. It's around 40% complete last time I checked - as for the department everything is as it should be. I sent you a status update of the department to your console in your ready room about half an hour or so ago which hopefully tells you everything you want to know."

"As I'm not in my ready room now and have been on the move since the briefing, you can fill me in now," he said.

Martha nodded. "I've downloaded the latest upgrade for the targeting scanners which is already installed. I also have an upgrade for the torpedo launchers and phasers which will be uploaded once the diagnostic is completed. I was actually going to ask for your permission to test the new targeting scanners once we've got a chance. They should allow us to get quicker and more accurate target locks with any luck"

"Granted," Michael said. "Use the targeting phasers and dummy torpedoes with the target drones for testing. I'll notify the starbase."

Martha again nodded. Target practice was something she enjoyed although sometimes it was nice to have a target that shot back. Making a note to prepare the target drones she then responded.

"Of course Commodore. Just one other thing - I've decided to rotate some teams around so we can get some more experienced gunners because the ones we have are mostly only a year or two out of the Academy. I'll be employing the newbies for the weapons test with the old hands supervising - that way it's a less dangerous scenario for them to get some practice in. Sometimes the holodeck just don't cut it" Martha said.

"Smart move. Always be training. No, it doesn't," he agreed to her comment about the holodeck. "I cut my teeth in Security and Tactical when I came out of the Academy and nothing beats actual practice. I almost miss those days. Then I sit in the command chair of one of the largest ships in the fleet and realize that's where I was meant to be. What's your goal?"

Martha smiled - a rarity. "Thank you. I started in Operations and I was transferred to cover Tactical in 2388 - to be honest it makes me think I should have started there in the first place. Career wise I'd like to stick at this for the next few years and see what happens in the long term - I wouldn't mind working at a planetary installation again though. I was the team lead on Nova Mercia until I came here and I really enjoyed the experience. I wouldn't turn it down if a similar offer that was right for me came along in the future"

"That's an impressive lateral jump in departments," Michael said. "Although I was hoping to keep you on the ship as long as possible. Good Tactical Chiefs are hard to come by. I'll let you carry on being just that unless there's anything else you need."

Martha nodded. "Thank you. I couldn't have done it without some support from others but I'm glad to be putting my mind to something a bit more...me...I guess. As for sticking around then unless something too good to turn down comes along you will have me for as long as you want me here. It means a lot you value having me around Commodore"

He smiled. "Then it looks like you're going to be here for a long time," he said and with a nod, headed out.