Lt Alex Storm - Chain of Command
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Karen Morris
Jul 31, 2025, 11:59:14 PM7/31/25
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(( Captain’s Ready Room - Deck 1, Artemis-A ))
Knowing one's chain of command was imperative when working aboard a starship. People were more than names, orders were more than requests, and leadership positions carried weight, so when the Captain asked if Alex had met her boss, it didn’t at all surprise her.
MacKenzie: And have you had the chance to meet with our Tactical Chief Lieutenant Silveira yet?
Storm: If you’ll forgive me the familiarity, Sir. Sil and I are old friends. Though I was unaware of his posting here when I asked for the transfer.
Alex felt as much as watched the CO’s response to her confession. But to her credit the Captain seemed to give her the benefit of the doubt - likely until she proved that it would be a problem despite her belief to the contrary.
MacKenzie: I believe you. Do you anticipate any problems serving under Lieutenant Silveira, given your prior acquaintance?
Storm: I think it will be helpful to serve under him. That sense of really belonging to a ship and trusting its officers often takes a while. But I believe that coming into a situation knowing my superior and already trusting him implicitly will help expedite that sense of belonging and instant action.
MacKenzie: And you don’t have any concerns about needing to carry out his orders, even if you disagree with them?
Storm: For a good officer, following orders is immediate upon taking any position, but trust still has to be earned. It’s the difference between an unplanned split-second delay and an instantaneous action. Both are following orders. One does so successfully, Sir.
Again, Alex didn’t get the sense that she had fully convinced the Captain.
MacKenzie: Well, that’s good enough for me. Sorry you haven’t caught us at a particularly active time, but the crew had a particularly stressful mission and deserved some R&R, so here we are. Have you had a chance to check out much of Deep Space 224 yet?
Storm: Not yet. Lt. Silveira met me as I was disembarking from my transport to 224. But as the ship's on shoreleave, I’m sure I’ll spend some time on the base. Any suggestions of good places to eat?
MacKenzie: I’m not sure what you like to eat, but the wings at Molly Malone’s are quite good.
Storm: Molly Malone's. ::single nodd:: So noted. I’ll check it out.
A nod and a smile - at least that was something.
MacKenzie: So, Lieutenant – is there anything else I should know about you? Beyond what I’ve already learned via your service record?
Figuring that Captain likely perused her psych profile, she didn’t feel the need to bring up her weekly counseling sessions. Was there anything else that the Captain needed to know?
Storm: No, Sir. I don’t believe so. Everything relevant to my service aboard the Artemis should be in my personnel file.
Alex nodded toward the Captain’s terminal.
Mackenzie: Response
Storm: Is there anything that you’d particularly like me to know about serving here that would make my transition easier or expedite my integration into the crew?
It never hurt to gain an insider’s perspective, especially if that insider was the Captain.
MacKenzie: Response.
Storm: I will bear that in mind. Thank you for the advice.
MacKenzie: Response.
Storm: Yes, Sir.
Alex snapped to attention, did an about-face, and walked out of the Captain’s Ready Room as outwardly calm as she did when she walked in.
~*~
Tags / End Scene for Storm
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2
Knowing one's chain of command was imperative when working aboard a starship. People were more than names, orders were more than requests, and leadership positions carried weight, so when the Captain asked if Alex had met her boss, it didn’t at all surprise her.
MacKenzie: And have you had the chance to meet with our Tactical Chief Lieutenant Silveira yet?
Storm: If you’ll forgive me the familiarity, Sir. Sil and I are old friends. Though I was unaware of his posting here when I asked for the transfer.
Alex felt as much as watched the CO’s response to her confession. But to her credit the Captain seemed to give her the benefit of the doubt - likely until she proved that it would be a problem despite her belief to the contrary.
MacKenzie: I believe you. Do you anticipate any problems serving under Lieutenant Silveira, given your prior acquaintance?
Storm: I think it will be helpful to serve under him. That sense of really belonging to a ship and trusting its officers often takes a while. But I believe that coming into a situation knowing my superior and already trusting him implicitly will help expedite that sense of belonging and instant action.
MacKenzie: And you don’t have any concerns about needing to carry out his orders, even if you disagree with them?
Storm: For a good officer, following orders is immediate upon taking any position, but trust still has to be earned. It’s the difference between an unplanned split-second delay and an instantaneous action. Both are following orders. One does so successfully, Sir.
Again, Alex didn’t get the sense that she had fully convinced the Captain.
MacKenzie: Well, that’s good enough for me. Sorry you haven’t caught us at a particularly active time, but the crew had a particularly stressful mission and deserved some R&R, so here we are. Have you had a chance to check out much of Deep Space 224 yet?
Storm: Not yet. Lt. Silveira met me as I was disembarking from my transport to 224. But as the ship's on shoreleave, I’m sure I’ll spend some time on the base. Any suggestions of good places to eat?
MacKenzie: I’m not sure what you like to eat, but the wings at Molly Malone’s are quite good.
Storm: Molly Malone's. ::single nodd:: So noted. I’ll check it out.
A nod and a smile - at least that was something.
MacKenzie: So, Lieutenant – is there anything else I should know about you? Beyond what I’ve already learned via your service record?
Figuring that Captain likely perused her psych profile, she didn’t feel the need to bring up her weekly counseling sessions. Was there anything else that the Captain needed to know?
Storm: No, Sir. I don’t believe so. Everything relevant to my service aboard the Artemis should be in my personnel file.
Alex nodded toward the Captain’s terminal.
Mackenzie: Response
Storm: Is there anything that you’d particularly like me to know about serving here that would make my transition easier or expedite my integration into the crew?
It never hurt to gain an insider’s perspective, especially if that insider was the Captain.
MacKenzie: Response.
Storm: I will bear that in mind. Thank you for the advice.
MacKenzie: Response.
Storm: Yes, Sir.
Alex snapped to attention, did an about-face, and walked out of the Captain’s Ready Room as outwardly calm as she did when she walked in.
~*~
Tags / End Scene for Storm
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2
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