Protocol? What Protocol?

Posted on Mon Feb 3rd, 2014 @ 8:29pm by Captain Tim Williams & Counselor Melony Taylor

Episode: Orphans
Location: USS Highlander - Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD02

Most of Tim's time since he had been back onboard the Highlander had been spent in either Main Engineering or crawling around the jefferies tubes, but there was only so long that he could spend indulging himself before he had to turn to the 'paperwork' required of a commanding officer. Most of the minutia he was able to pass off to his first officer, but there was a limit to what he could delegate.

And so, he had reluctantly retreated to the familiarity of his ready room to go over padds of Commander Stone's engineering report, personnel recommendations for the ship's remaining senior officer posts, and the ready-for-duty clearances for the crew that Starfleet had already sent him. Needless to say, he was glad when he was disturbed by the chime at his door.

The door opened allowing Melony to slightly reluctantly step in, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything too important Captain, I realise you have a lot to do" she paused looking over at the Captain noting how he hadn't even paused to look back at the work she had interrupted. She had been hoping that he would be too busy to disturb at least for the moment, he looked about ready to bolt out the door at the first opportunity.

"Shall I come back later captain, perhaps when you've finished?" Melony said smirking slightly, thinking he wasn't likely to send her away but curious enough to wonder what he might reply with.

A small smile creased the corners of Tim's lips at the thought of a simple distraction from the monotony of reports and approval requests. He tossed the PADD that he had been reading - he couldn't remember what exactly was on it anymore - over his shoulder, and heard it clatter to the floor behind him with satisfaction. "Finished," he announced simply. "I assume you're this Counselor Taylor I've heard so much about?"

She handed over her padd containing her transfer orders and sat down, wondering how many crew members might be aboard already. Hoping to have it fairly quiet to read though the crew members profiles again before anything too interesting happened on board.

"I realise you might not of read though all of the ready-for-duty reports yet and I don't intend to delve too much in to who it is exactly I'd like to keep more of an eye on but I'd be interested to know how you get on with some of the crew, or anything you become concerned about really, it's part of why I'm here after all." Melony said deciding it could be best to get straight to the point rather than wait for him to approach her with any issues realising that this may not entirely work in her favour.

Tim blew some air through his lips as he thought of a response to the counselor's question. He was more than slightly disappointed that the question seemed to arc straight back to the paperwork he was hoping to avoid, at least for a little bit, but he supposed that he couldn't begrudge the counselor for wanting to get straight to work. "Well... I suppose they seem fine to me. Hawke and Mac I met in a bar, and they seemed cheery enough, and Gaius seems to be all with it." He shrugged, realising he wasn't exactly giving her much. "To be honest, I haven't had the chance to spend much time with many of them yet. I only received the orders to take them on yesterday, afterall."

She relaxed after hearing that, having been worried what the situation would be after her transfer had been requested, not entirely agreeing that all of them were actually ready for duty, half expecting to hear something else from the Captain." I'm glad to hear that Captain, it's nice to have something other than reports to go off." Melony replied.

"Any concerns you have about any of my new crew yet?" Tim asked, turning the question back towards her. The personnel officer had, afterall, told him that she had been briefed on the crew's issues.

"I have a few concerns, mainly over Lieutenant Ethan Kessel, and Lieutenant Horatio Hawke, and how they react within the field, though I'm sure they won't be too thrilled to have a Counselor on board, if it were up to me I'm not sure I would of given them clearance for a few more weeks. There is nothing off in the reports but I know people react very different when back on ship, which is why I was so eager to have your opinion on them Captain." She summarised, being careful not to say too much.

"Anything else you'd like to know about your crew Captain?" She questioned, mentally running over anything else she might of missed out.

"Nah," Tim said, leaning back in his chair and interlacing his hands behind his head. "I like to get to know the crew myself, rather than hear it third-hand."

"Your not really one for formalities, or paperwork are you Captain?" She said pausing as she went to leave.

"What gave you your first clue?" Tim asked, grinning.