[Artemis] Meeting the Major
Arinarayne
By Kat and Zack
***
“Hey, Byrd!” The call across the hall came from the Valkyrie Pilot Captain Hanna Walker. “The boss wants to see you. - His office is actually based out of Security, he also heads up Security for the Fleeters,” she said, coming up to Jennifer.
Jennifer I just finished setting everything back in motion with her sister. She was on her way to check in when she heard her name called out. She let out an audible sigh. “ Whatever it is I did not do at this time“ she stated. She noticed the rank and immediately snapped to attention, saluting “yes sir right away sir“ she was back in full marine within seconds.
“At ease marine. Go see him now,” Walker said.
Major Harry Bamber’s Office was clearly marked as such. The door was open and the giant man was sat, reading a PADD and eating some Hasperat. A few toddler drawings were hung up behind his desk and the office had a surprising homey feel for a marine.
Jennifer stood at the doorway, standing at attention she saluted. “Major, Sergeant Jennifer Byrd reporting as ordered sir.” she stated as she waited at attention. She waited to be invited inside.
“Sergeant Byrd!” Harry said, rising and saluting back. “At ease. Please, come in, help yourself to the replicator, I hope you don’t mind I’m just having lunch, my fiancé just dropped it off and he gets REALLY upset if I don’t eat it right away,” he chuckled, holding his hand out for Jennifer to shake. “Welcome aboard.”
She took his hand and gave him a firm shake. “It’s interesting to be onboard and don’t mind if I do” she stated as she tapped on the replicator and a cup of black coffee formed. She took in and took a long sip before she spoke again “Wow coffee never improves no matter where the pot is does it” she joked “So sorry if this check in has been late Major...been dealing with some personal friction over the last few days….its hard having me and my sister in such close proximity.” she explained “We usually tend to bring out the worse in one another and well….we’ve been sorting our differences as of late.”
“It’s me who should apologise, as your CO I should have checked in sooner but the twins have been having a bit of a time of it - let’s just say we are both people with real lives outside of service and have an understanding right there,” Harry said with a smile and then gestures to the couch, going over to it and settling himself down. “I like to keep thing as informal as possible for some meetings - Starfleet has clearly rubbed off on me,” he added.
“Nothing wrong with that...I mean” she moved to the couch and sat down, crossing her left leg over her right knee as she sat “I’m a little more by the book because of how I went through the service…” she took a sip “I’m positive you read my file so you know I was given a enlist or else contract so to speak” she explained “These guys were so strick that just forgetting to place your hands outside your pockets lead to running ten miles in the snow and ice without ice cleats and a parka” she grinned “Gotta love Andorians and there training regiment.” she stated “Besides regardless I always feel that family should always come first...wish certain members of my family believed that.”
“Well, we are a Family aboard this ship - granted a very dysfunctional one. And we have very good support system if people do struggle. Regarding criminality - my own fiancé is technically here serving his parole time, so you won’t be judged for having a past,” Harry said.
She smiled hearing this, didn’t sound like such a bad assignment after all. “Well, I hope she didn’t go as far as defending herself against a drunken officer and even though I didn’t throw the first punch or the second my addI still got blamed for starting the fight.” She gave a small smile “I guess some officers can’t take the fact that a marine wolluped them.” She took another sip of coffee and gave him a nodd “Not that I would start fights a Random I just want to know what rules and regulations do we have to go by right now, are we separate from security or do we moonlight with them?“
“He. And Kyr tried to blow up the ship. It was a complicated time,” Harry sighed, waving a hand. “As Marines we are separate from security. You do however back them up should there be close combat fighting on the ship, or should we be heading into a situation on an away mission that I deem to need such backup. Security here are tough and I won’t have any of the usual ‘Security are Pansies’ talk that we are fond of in the corps. - I’d take it as a personal kindness if you DIDN’T punch any officers, Commander Bela is the one you’re most likely to want to punch, or Commander Benina possibly, but resist the urge marine, resist the urge. Benina is head of Ops and Bela is our Chief Tactical Officer - very good at her job, her people skills aren’t superb but hopefully they are both high enough up the food chain you won’t need to spend much time in their presence.”
She caught the gender pronunciation then went a little red. “Oh...I am sorry.” She realized she had glazed over the fact that his finance was male.
“Don’t worry about it,” Harry said, waving it off.
She nodded as she finished her coffee. She placed the empty cup on a small table then looked at him. “I’d never say security are pansies...often” she smiled “and I promise you that I won’t start any fights…” She could hear her sister in the back of her mind “I love having a telepathic link...my sister says that I am full of it apparently” she let out a little laugh
“Ah of course. Well, I expect your sister to mind her own business and stay out of yours. You will be privy to need to know information and she does not - she works in the sciences I believe. A fine field for those with the talent but they don’t need to know about all the threats to the ship, they need to concentrate after all,” Harry said sternly. “My best friend is a Betazoid, in fact you may have seen her family in the news recently, it involves the scandal in the Third House. I know the value of telepaths and empaths but I will not have our security compromised and I will remind you both about the laws regulating telepathy that apply. Are we clear?”
So she could feel herself about to go on the defensive but eased back. “Me probably not, up until I was transferred here I was sitting in a brig remember” She explained, wishing she hadn’t finished off her coffee. “ If you’re OK with me looking at the reports and the news I would like to, just so I am caught up”
Harry’s face softened.
“Probably a good plan to catch up on the national news on your planet. And as I said - I have no problems with telepaths and empaths - in fact my daughters are half Betazoid - I just want to make it clear to you and your sister that things need to be kept to oral communication during work hours between departments. And I can teach you some mind blocking exercises that Ree - Tamaris Rogan - taught me, if you like. Oh and of course, you get the new crew member welcome to the ship and Marines or Security welcome dinner at mine and Kyr’s. He’s a wizard in the kitchen and will cook up a storm - if I don’t give him regular reasons to cook lavishly, he gets bored,” Harry grinned. “And on that note - our door is always open to you should you have problems. Do you need to report to a parole officer aboard?”
She gave him a look that told him she understood the gravity of the situation. “If there are ways to suppress That won’t damage it I’m willing” she admitted “I’ve never had to deal with it so often, I can’t link up the others with empathetic or telepathic abilities just her“. She then shifted slightly and nodded “I have sessions with Thani, she’s acting as my probation officer, as well as my family therapist right now”
“Should that ever become a conflict of interests, Commander Bela is acting as Kyr’s,” Harry said. “There shouldn’t be any problem in transferring you to her. Have you got any questions or concerns you’d like to raise with me?” He asked congenially.
“I am actually happy with who I’m speaking with, and honestly I think it best for crew sanity that we continue together” she explained “it’s a long story and I’m sure you don’t need to hear it but my sister and I have a toxic relationship” she let out a sigh. “And for once neither of us can run away from one another so this is a good chance for us to mend some fences so for now I think it’s best to stay with Thani.”
“Okay, that’s good. But you come to me if you need to,” Harry said. “Anything.”
“I will sir thank you” she was starting to like this CO. “One second sir” she shared the information with her sister...just the suppression idea and got a response back “My sister is saying the suppression idea seems good we would be willing to give it a go...just to be safe” she admitted “Just tell us when and where and we will be there….” she gave a hesitant smile “You might need one more thing for that session though”
“Oh?” Harry asked.
“A phaser set to stun...for sake of crew sanity” she said with a grin.
Harry laughed.
“I think you’re going to fit in just fine here Sgt. Byrd. Now scram. I have more joys of paperwork.”
She stood up and saluted “Yes sir” she stated as she headed out of his office. She was going to like working under this man...he seemed so...normal.