meeting the chief

Posted on Thu Jan 19th, 2023 @ 3:34am by Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Evacuation
Timeline: takes place before relieved

OOC takes place before relieved

Tony was taking a stroll on one of the observation decks. She still wasn't feeling very well and was not able to put her finger on it. Probably just the grief and the uncertainty of what was happening to her family taking it's toll. As a therapist she knew all too well that grief could impact your physical health as well.

She smiled as she saw someone else there as well. Tony had not met the new chief of the boat yet but she recognized him from his rank. "Morning chief." she greeted him. Tony had the greatest respect for the senior NCO's. That was something her father and uncle Wain had drummed into her before she left for the academy. ~Remember child, starfleet runs on it's senior NCO's not on snotnosed ensigns who think they have invented the wheel. The first years of your career you listen to your petty officers and you do as they tell you to do, you hear.~ Another smile hearing both men's voices in her head. At least they were safe on the ship now.

"Good morning Sir, and a fine morning it is as well" Finchley replied. It was taking time to get to meet and greet the crew of the ship, but he had managed to cram in time to go through the crew manifest and make a note of who was who, and this was his first meeting with the Resolutions Executive Officer.

"I hope you don't mind me taking a moment to discuss ships business with you, only the Captain was saying that I should ask for a meeting with you as I'm hoping to resit the Officers exam and you're input would be most appreciated" he said.

"Resit?" That peeked her interest. "Of course I would be more than happy to." She studied him for a few seconds. "Why would you want it though? You are at the top of the totempole where it comes to NCO's. Good chiefs are very hard to get."

"Thank you for the compliment Sir, that's very generous of you" Finchley replied "As to why I'd want to go through it again...well, the extenuating circumstances that saw me fail the last time have gone, and I feel as though I owe it to myself to try again. Yes, I'm a Senior NCO, and I enjoy working alongside all the crew, but I've always felt that if I had the chance, if I felt the time was right, I'd try again. Ok, so if I passed all of the qualifications and earned my spurs I'd be starting at the 'bottom' again so say, but at least I'd prove to myself that I'm good enough to earn a Commission."

Tony gave him another look. "I will support you every step of the way if you stop saying good enough. I have always found this exam pretty stupid. a senior chief has shown leadership skills many times over and has proven he has top skills in his field. It's the mindset going from non-commisioned to commisioned. That's what needs the work. But never doubt you are good enough for it, chief. Maybe you should have a chat with my dad."

Finchley gulped "You...you...you want me to talk to your father...General Stoffels...I couldn't do that...he's a General, I'm a CWO, I'm like six ranks below him!"

"So? He puts his pants on the same way I do. Why don't I give him a call and set you two up. He is bored out of his skull right now and with what is going on in our family he needs the distraction." She reached for her com badge.

Finchley didn't say anything, and just nodded. It wasn't that he didn't like the idea of meeting the General, it was more...he was a General, so to Finchley, he'd have more important things to do. On the other hand, it would give him a chance to be able to speak frankly with a Senior Marine Officer and that didn't happen every day. He stood and waited to hear what the outcome would be.

~Dad, Tony here.~ She spoke into the badge. ~I have got our chief warrant officer with me and he wants to take the officers exam and I think command track. But I am not sure about his motivation, with uncle Wain still so ill I wondered if you could have a chat with him.~

~Happy to.~ A deep slightly accented voice came over the com. ~Why don't you send him to the bar in half an hour if he has the time?~

Tony looked at Finchley.

Finchley nodded "Half an hours fine with me, thank him very much from me" he said.

~Thanks dad, he will be there.~ she turned back to Kerr. "Anything more I can do for you at the moment?"

"Well, to be honest Sir" Finchley began "The Captain did suggest I met with you in regards to my Officers exam, rather than your Father, so I was kind of hoping we'd get time t sit down and discuss it. The CO, once 'we' were done, was then going to have a chat with you and get your take on me re-sitting the OE."

"I am going on duty now. But tell you what, why don't you come by my quarters tonight and I will help you. It can't hurt to have all the help you can get." Tony already felt tired but she would not let down the chief.

"Then it's a date!" Finchley replied, then realised what he'd just said, panicked and tried to back track "When I said it's a date, I don't mean 'it's a date', I meant it's a date as in yes, I'll happily come to your quarters this evening so you can help me out. You know what, I'm just going to shut up and go...except to say, and I hope you don't mind me pointing this out Commander, you look a little tired, perhaps you should take a visit to Sickbay, see if they can give you something to pep you up a little."

"I know what you mean." She laughed. "And thanks for the tip. It's been a rough time for me personally lately. But I am doing my best." Tony didn't like it though that her tiredness was this obviously to someone who hardly knew her.

"I shan't keep you then Sir, and thank you for the opportunity to speak with your Father. Till later then" Finchley replied, bowing slightly at the hip then turning and leaving.