LT Tamio K'Wara - Paradox Walking

[LT Tamio K'Wara]

(( CoO Office - Operations Center, Deck 5, USS Artemis-A ))

Bergmen: I have to admit, I didn't expect you to be a functionalist minimalist, Lieutenant.

The callout was warranted, though it did make Tamio face the drab surroundings they were currently conducting their business in. Their face made the slightest grimace - a sliver of acknowledgement that they found their current workspace insufficient - before they acquiesced.

K’Wara: Not quite yet. These things ::waves the PADD in their hand:: are keeping me busy. ::smiles:: I heard you did good work organizing the evacuation efforts on the Cityship. Evacuating an active conflict zone is never the easiest job.

Bergmen: Just did my job as they trained me to. But if you ask my professional opinion, if we had more bodies down there, we could do better. But I guess you already read that in my after-action report, so that isn’t why you called me, I’m right, Chief?

Tamio watched, bemused at the Lieutenant JG’s aversion to accept praise for a job well done, and his focus on the task at hand. From the personnel evaluations that had been passed down from the previous two Chiefs of Ops - both of whom had held the position for a very short time - Olliver Kimmi Bergmen was a bit of a walking paradox in many ways, and at least some of those notions were being confirmed now.

Bergmen: Yeah, and guessing where my OPS Centre refit proposal I gave lieutenant Vailani months ago ended on that pile, it’s not that proposal either. So, how can I help, Chief?

An OPS centre refit? Tamio made a note to themself to find that PADD soon-ish to figure out what that was all about.

K’Wara: We’re heading for Ferenginar for this shore leave, but as I’m sure someone with as long a service record as you realize, it’s not a destination without risk. While I don’t suspect any of our crew to get into any irreparable harm, we still need to prepare them for the cross-cultural exchanges they’ll be making during our stay, and I’m in need of an officer to handle the seminars.

Bergmen: I will be happy to help with that, Chief. Just send me the names, and papers, and I make the presentation and instruct those who fall under necessary.

oO Well, that was painless Oo

K’Wara: Very good, I’ll have the information sent to you immediately. There’ll be some cross-department collaboration for the seminars, but I’m sure you and the Xenology division will figure out a reasonable balance.

Tamio tapped at their console to open the documentation, when they heard a sharp intake of breath. They paused, looking at their subordinate with a thin raised eyebrow. They noted a tension in the older man, before refocusing on him, the documentation disregarded for a moment.

Bergmen: If I may, Chief, I’m not sure whether this falls under your or the captain’s purview for approval, but I would like to request permission to travel off the system for a few days, up to a week, maximum; of course after I finish those instructions. (beat) I was informed two days ago about the death of Chief Petty Officer Hannah Marks. We served together at Vancouver, and we were close back then. I would like to take the honor of escorting her home.

Tamio nodded slowly, their one hand clenching slightly at Olliver’s request. A flash of brown bouncy curls, lifeless dull eyes in a pale face, a twisted body on the floor of the transporter pad - Tamio took a hitched breath, tapping their fingers together to rid themself of the image.

K’Wara: ::thick voice:: Of course. ::normal voice:: My condolences, Olliver. It is never easy, losing a friend.

Bergman: Response

K’Wara: The Captain and Av- Lt. Commander Munro has the final say, but I don’t foresee the request being denied. There’s not been a lot of requests for personal leave yet, so we should have the manpower to cover it... Do you know when you’ll be leaving?

Bergman: Response

K’Wara: ... And how do you feel, if you don’t mind me asking?

Tamio knew that Olliver was a Gideon - a species that had voluntarily reintroduced the concept of mortality to their otherwise immortal species - but they also knew that Olliver had spent many years now serving with more short-lived species. Making guesswork at Olliver’s emotional response to an event such as this was practically impossible, and at the same time, Tamio felt out-of-depth asking.

After all, they barely knew each other.

At least they could rest easy in the knowledge that they could hardly be less approachable about this than Lieutenant Vailani.

Bergman: Response

TAG/TBC

LT Tamio K’Wara

Chief of Operations

USS Artemis-A
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