Your plan worked

Posted on Thu Jan 13th, 2022 @ 4:06pm by Captain Xavier Carey

Mission: The Mentarin Effect
Location: transporter room
Timeline: Come back anytime back post

Xavier walked back into the transporter room, and watched him work his magoc. "Should i leave you and the console alone Tully." As he noticed him kissing the console.

The Transporter Operator chuckled and patted the console as if it were a small domesticated animal like a kitten. "No, Sir," the young man replied and looked over at Xavier Carey. "I was just happy that the transport work, and I get a bit attached to a transporter room. These consoles are practically my best friends, it can get a bit lonely in transporter rooms if nobody is coming and going."

"Well, without you, I am not sure we would get it this quick. Which is why i see your potential in the fleet." Xavier replied. "But I do understand your hesitation. If you ever feel the want to join the officers. The offer stand."

Tully had juggled with the offer before, but his talk with Vanessa helped reassure him that he was making the right decision for him. "I am a technical expert in what I do, respected by officers and enlisted personnel. You guys value me, your words just now and that offer make that abundantly clear," replied Tully. "I appreciate that...all of it, but my place is right here for now."

"I am honestly glad you didn't give in to pressure, so many would jump at the chance even if they weren't comfortable. You know what you want. Sticking to your guns, especially in front of a Commanding officer let alone a superior is an admirable trait. Don't lose that." Xavier replied as he leaned against the wall.

The young doeeyed transporter operator nodded. "I will try not to Sir, but your pushing me did not fall on deaf ears. I may not be an Academy graduate. My pips may not be solid like yours or any of that, but I'm not going to let people think being 'nobody' means that I'm not a 'somebody" replied Tully.

"You not being an academy graduate can be an asset. My wife never went through the academy. Now she is... was assistant chief security. Lt Rinne will be taking over, we need a chief Operations officer, so shes making the swtich... Na'Vians... they can absorb anything in a matter of weeks. Shes also versed in helm, engineering. However she wouldn't touch Medical." Xavier replied as he remembered his time on the Wellington. They had lost so many people due to the out break he was versed in Operations an helm as well."

Tully smiled slightly. "It must be a wonderful experience to be Na'Vian, the ability to hop to another department and learn the ropes quickly," he said. "I wish I had that ability. It would have saved me a lot of time flight training and in holodeck simulations" a nod to his cross training.

He looked at the Captain, his dark eyes alit with a mixture of admiration and something underlying it. "I am sure she will do well in her new position, Sir."

"After the away team is back, I will send her your way, since shes going to be heading your department." Xavier replied, "So, whats this i hear about you and Lt Jackson?"

Tully shrugged "What did you hear about the lieutenant and I?" asked Tully. He was entirely unaware of what the Captain was referring to. He knew that he would have to get to know his new 'boss' but was not thrilled of having to do that yet again.

"The romours in the rumour mill you know how it is." Xavier stated. "Goes from saying its nothing, while others state its hot and heavy. Some people cant understand that sometimes people can be close. But just know... following the heart is never the wrong way to go."

Tully rolled his eyes. "Captain, those rumors have about as much merit to them as the ones about you gettingg completey intoxicated and skinnydipping in the arboretum last week." Tully looked at the Captain. "Those were just rumors right?"

"Who says they are rumours." Xavier replied with a smirk. "I usually play into them."

The Transporter Operator shook his head. Thats a mental image I want surgically removed he thought to himself. "Ain't a thing on going on between me and Lieutenant Jackson , Captain. I'm not gonna play into those rumors either. Nessa doesn't deserve that sort of trash going around about her, and My momma didn't raise me to be like that neither. If I were interested in someone, I'd be dating them."

"Of course they are rumours Tully, if you play into them, mostly if it doesnt affect anyone else, then the fun gets taken out of the whole thing and it doesn't continue. In the end people with think what they do. But based on the two of you, I doubt either of you have anything to be worried about even if anything was going on."

"Nothing is nor will," replied Tully. "She's an officer, a superior, and a friend. I do not think I could see her any differently than those things, Sir." The young Warrant Officer stuck by what he had said. "She's kind of like a sister to me. At least that's how it is feeling."

"Point taken." Xavier stated

"Wonderful," Tully replied. "I'm glad that we are on the same page, Sir." Tully was not interested in discussing the scuttlebutt any further. He and Vanessa were just dancing partners and friends.

"Always on the same page. Call me Xavier, I hate being so formal when its only two people."

Yeah that's not happening "Sorry, but I don't know if I can do that, Sir. Makes me uncomfortable calling my Captain anything other than Captain and Sir" Tully replied.

Nodding, "Understandable."

Tully went back to working at his transporter console. There was not really anything dire that had to be dine at the moment. It was more of a waiting game, but he did not want to leave the Captain in complete awkward silence. "Hypothetically, Sir," Tully began. "If an opportunity came up to serve on another starship maybe as Assistant Chief Operations or even Chief of Operations, would you take it if you were me?"

Intrigued, "Hypothetically... if you felt it was right for you, i would hate losing you. But yeah, with your skills, your knowledge. Any ship would run better with you behind the operations department. Even if it is assistant. You know... It is not really defined that it has to be an officer with the position. It is usually who the captain deems fit, with proper knowledge and experience, and those who have respect of their peers. You have shown both within this short time."

Tully nodded "I know, Sir. I have experience and a level of technical knowledge that often surpasses those who have just come out of the academy. I sit above enlisted personnel, and have earned a lot of respect over the years. I know I would be an asset in an upper level Operations position somewhere."

"Glad you know your value. Operations is yours if you want it. Tal was taking it due a need of a chief. Now if you want it, I know she would be more than happy to hand it off to you. Seeing as she has an attachment to the security dept. She likes the intimidation aspect given her size." Truth be told she often used that in the bedroom as well, but that was not something that should be brought up.

Probably should have checked with personnel in the department before having someone from another department move over for it thought Tully. Though he was not First Officer or anything like that thankfully. "Nessa was a lot if help in making me feel comfortable being who I am and doing what I love. Though I would have seriously thought about taking it aboard the Resolution, a few other starships had openings and I was approached."

Tully reached for a PADD a pulled up the relevant information. He handed the PADD over to Captain Carey. "After our current mission is completed, Sir. I've ready arranged for a transport as soon as we know where the Resolution will be."

He couldn't hide the disappointment from his face. "Any way I can convince you otherwise." He asked, he paused a moment, thinking about the last few days, he had already lost the CO, second officer, a brief stint of a chief operations. He leaned against the wall. This was not the way he had envisioned his first command.

"Tempting, Sir, tempting," Tully replied with a smile. "I already have my mind made up, and I have already begun the process. I think this is the right direction for me to take right now, but I have valued my time albeit short on the Resolution. Maybe one day I will return here and I'll be at Ops or who knows...your seat looks comfy," Tully teased.

"Well... who am I to disagree with what you think is right. Just know that we will always have a place for you here on the Resolution. Its been an honour."