Lt. Cmd. Silveira: Too close to the heart…

[btv.abreu]

((USS Artemis-A, deck 8, Chief Tactical Officer office))

After summoning Cola and Alex to join him Vitor shared with the two some of  his thoughts and intentions. And some work.

Silveira: Let me start by saying that both of you did very well on this mission. We faced terrible challenges, but with hard work we managed to get back. ::He smiled at ALex and Cole before leaning back in his chair:: I have to say that I don’t like concealed weapons, and I prefer that we lose that habit, unless superiorly cleared by a senior officer.
::Vitor raised his hand:: I know they were helpful, I know that could make a difference.
But from experience I know it can become a problem and it can end up, not only increasing the risk of injuries, doing more harm than help.

Storm:  That’s … an interesting take on things, especially for a Tactical Officer.

Cole: I agree. ::slow exhale:: But if that is an order … ::smiles:: Just means we’ll have to get creative in the field.

Vitor didn’t react, but he could have easily added that he could make it an order and he wasn’t a Tactical Officer, he was the Chief. But he kept his line of thought.
If needed be, he would address this later.

Silveira: Second, I want both of you ::Turning to Alex:: as Tactical ::turning to Cole:: and as Security officers to work on a risk assessment course. Something that officers of both departments can attend and hopefully learn something. ::he raised his finger:: and that goes for me as well. Down on Callis I ended up fighting a squid, so I will be the first to attend.
Get in touch with medical and Operations to set it up.

Vitor paused and leaned forward. He opened his arms over his desk.

Silveira: I know risk is our business, but we need to start minimizing it. ::he rested his hand on his chest:: And that starts with me. I want us to get better in calculating risks and I trust that both of you can assemble this.

Vitor smiled and picked up a pair of PADDS.

Silveira: And finally… I want you both to plan a ship wide drill that I can propose to the Captain. Again comprising every element of the ship, something that can test us both in space and inside the ship. Preferably an anti boarding scenario. ::He tipped his head to them:: There isn’t exactly a deadline, but the risk assessment course I would like it ready as soon as possible. Questions about this homework?

Alex dived into the PADD he had offered them.

Storm: So you want Tactical and Security to learn how to spot hazards, analyze the risks, and come up with ways to mitigate them before they bite us?

Cole: That tracks, ::glanced at Alex:: Kinda like how I kept an eye on Ensign Syn before things got … complicated.

Vitor adjusted his back to the seat as they both went through the PADDs. He saw that discreet glance between them and knew he had chosen well when calling them.

Storm:  That’s … a lot.  When you say that you want it ready as soon as possible, are we talking by the end of shoreleave - soon, or in the next couple of months - soon?

Cole: Yeah that would be helpful to know. What’s the timeline on when this is expected?

Vitor shrugged. If they had done something wrong and this was an unofficial punishment Alex and Nat would get by the end of the week to finish it.
But he wasn’t that kind of Chief. Unless he needed to be.

Silveira: Sorry, I though giving you both a broad deadline was easier, but let's say… Two months. Remember this is more a Safety then Security thing. And it's for both the posts, Security and Tactical. Consider it a complementary course like phaser or physical certification. And don’t forget to include Medical and Counseling sessions in it.
It’s a risk assessment training course… Or class… He waved his hands in front of him:: Call it what you want but just plan it so I can approve.
And be the first “victim”.

Storm:  I’m sure if Cole and I put our heads together, we can come up with something for you. oO Eventually Oo  Whatcha think Nat?

Cole: Oh absolutely. We’ve got this.

Vitor leaned back. He smiled at them

Silveira: I know you will, otherwise I wouldn’t have asked it.

He was envisioning their partnership moving forward.
Again he was stepping on Security grounds, but if they didn’t have a Chief…

Curious, Security Chiefs, Counselors and Helmsmans… Those don’t tend to stick very long on the Artemis…
Alex’s words brought him back to the meeting.

Storm:  Funny thing is, Nat and I were already batting around a boarding drill idea. ::Turning to look at Cole::  Do you want to give him the broad strokes on it?

Cole: ::leaning forward:: How familiar are you with old Appalachian folklore, Sir?

Vitort shook his head as he leaned forward curious.

Silveira: Not much.

Cole: There’s a recurring idea in some of those stories about things that look familiar enough to get close, but wrong enough to unsettle you once they do. Mimics, changelings, skinwalker-type entities… not a one-to-one mythological recreation, but the concept works.

Storm: Response

Vitor arched an eyebrow as Cole kept explaining.

Cole: The exercise would start with the Artemis responding to a distress call. We recover what appear to be survivors and bring them aboard. Once they’re on the ship, it becomes clear they aren’t who they claim to be.

Taking a breath she leaned back in her chair.

Cole: The boarding entities that imitate crew well enough to sow distrust and hesitation. Their goal would be to partition the ship, isolate critical departments, and seize control of key systems … bridge, engineering, sickbay, security, maybe tactical depending on how we structure it.

Vitor’s smile died on his lips. Unknowingly Nat had triggered the memories of their Douplegangers mission. Cole wasn’t on board when that happened. Nor Alex.
In fact from those that met their Shintverse counterparts there were very few still around.

And some of their doubles. Vitor knew his made it back with some of the survivors.
What happened after, he didn’t care.
For whom he did care he paid the due homage.

But Nat or Alex didn’t know, and although Alex might have felt his deep pain brought forth by the memory, he simply nodded with a cold expression.

Silveira: Sadly that’s kind of a familiar setting, but please carry on.

He nodded to Alex as if to reassure her. Still he couldn’t brought back his smile after that trek to that memory lane.

Storm: Response

Cole: What makes it useful is that it’s not just about firing on hostiles. It tests whether Security and Tactical can coordinate when the threat looks familiar, whether Operations can recover systems under pressure, whether Medical can manage casualties and verification, and whether the crew can function when they can’t fully trust what they’re seeing.

She crossed her legs as she set the PADD on lap.

Cole: Ideally, the scenario forces people to think before they react, but not so long they freeze. We’d want the crew split into sections, communications degraded or intermittent, and enough unknowns built in that they can’t solve it by memorizing the pattern.

He leaned back and spoke solemnly.

Silveira: Sounds interesting. ::he turned to Alex:: What do you think Lieutenant?

Storm: Response

Vitor nodded. It was a good progress, a good suggestion. Emotionally he would like to scrap that and never again remember. Frontier Day was terrifying, it was certainly one of the worst moments of his Starfleet life.  And he had his share.

But that one… His mind went back to when Vik introduced him to Jo and…
He cleared his throat and leaned forward, pushing aside those thoughts, and tilting his head to them.

Silveira: As I said that’s very familiar and hits too close to the heart…. Literally…
I have been doing this for some time now and I have faced more than my share of… Things.

Storm/Cole: Response

Vitor shrugged and waved his hands as if he could force those thoughts away.

Silveira: But the idea has merit and you can both work on it. I want one thing to be added, space battle. It’s only a proper drill if we get to do everything. So flesh it out, but again take your time with it. Once ready we can review it and I will propose it to the Captain.
If she refuses… Let’s say it isn’t any fault of the planning. I am sure both of you will do a good job.

Storm/Cole: Response

Vitor leaned back, this was a work meeting. Granted Alex was a close friend. Nat was getting there. Hell, they were, like all his comrades, family.
But he was their superior and that implied a little more responsibility, and the ability to control emotions and provide proper instructions.

And maybe not start an impromptu counseling session over what was one of the defining events in your life.

Silveira: Look it was complicated and I don’t want to go into that. Lieutenant Cole I am not shutting down your proposal because it brings back trauma to some of us. My command style and I will dare say it’s quality derives from that. ::he tensed slightly and straightened himself:: Commanding by example and through experience. ::his forehead frowned as he spoke:: Years and years of experience facing Q, doppelgangers from other universes, Klingon, Ferengi, Iconians, Suliban, Borg…
That’s why I know holding a cricket in your boots can go pretty bad and start a diplomatic incident that takes months to solve. That’s why I know we all risk too much and we need to be more careful and have some sort of safety course…

He shrugged and leaned back, trying to force a smile.

Silveira: Sorry, I didn’t meant to lecture any of you… Just some dark memories that passed my eyes…

Storm/Cole: Response


TAGs/TBC

Lt. Cmd. Vitor S. Silveira
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Artemis-A, NCC-81287
O238907VS0

[btv.abreu]

Forgot to include this link:

https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/Personal_phaser

for the type one cricket