Wrong Fishing Spot

Posted on Fri Mar 13th, 2020 @ 6:08am by Captain Javier Morales & Commander Kristen Stow-Jones & Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Nettles

Mission: Mission 94: Shattered Shields and Crack'd Swords
Location: Various Locations - USS Tigers Claw
Timeline: 1200Hrs - 11th July, 2392

Commander Jennifer Nettles was just arriving on the USS Tigers Claw which was more to the massive spacedocks near the Caitian homeworld. She had never been to Cait and she wasn't in favor of visiting that world now. Nettles was not a social person and this extended to everyone in uniform and out of uniform. Nettles knew she had her issues and flaws and while she was in no rush to fix them or even address them, she knew that she was getting into trouble a lot and maybe it was time for her to at least consider it.

The first stop for Jen Nettles on the USS Tigers Claw was to head for the quartermaster's offices so she could get her room assignment which she had in her hands a few minutes later, now she was off to drop her bags off at her new home.

Meanwhile, in the skipper's ready room. Captain Javier Morales and his new executive officer were getting acquainted with their new situations. Commander Kristen McKnight smiled as she sat down in one of the three chairs across from the skipper of the ship. "Well, our first order of business is meeting our new chief science officer, you read her file?"

"I did and I have concerns about her," McKnight answered evenly, she was aware that she herself shared the same last name as Nettles's predecessor in the posting but that was because he was her uncle by blood, he was the youngest of his siblings and she was the eldest of hers from Daniel McKnight's oldest brother so there wasn't much in the way of an age difference between him and her.

"Oh?." Morales inquired, a smile on his face. "Such as, what?"

"She's screwed up on two previous assignments but that could be because both were very short and she never really had time to settle in, I mean she gets top marks from the command staff from Starbase 45 and the two assignments before that." the statuesque female responded with a smile.

Morales nodded his head. "What of your dauighter?. I got this request from the quartermaster regarding Heather this morning," he commented. "She wants her own space but she's sixteen years old," Morales explained his concerns.

McKnight nodded her head. "My daughter thinks she's old enough and she has been helping me with my other three children since my husband is commanding his own ship which doesn't permit families aboard." she paused. "My eldest three are off at the academy."

"Wait, isn't your husband a destroyer skipper?" Morales inquired.

"Yes, his ships don't permit children or families, which is a shame really."

"Fair enough then," Morales responded.

"I already have the largest possible set of family quarters aboard ship and it's still not large enough for what I have," McKnight answered evenly. "So I can request a set of small civilian quarters for one person for Heather. She already has a job as a bouncer in the ship's forward lounge in addition to helping out in sickbay. Mostly as an orderly."

Morales raised an eyebrow as he had not been expecting so much from one so young. "Alright, I'll approve the room assignment. please impress upon her the gravity of my choice, if you'd be so kind number one."

"I have already done so," McKnight responded, an impish smile appearing on her face. "I explained it to her at dinner last night."

"Ahh. Then I'll leave it be. Thank you number one." Morales nodded. "Okay then, so about Jennifer Nettles. What to do about her?"

"I say let her have the slot as Chief of science but impress on her that this is her third assignment in as many years and she needs to get along better with others," McKnight explained. "We don't need a malcontent aboard ship, otherwise we should replace her. If it comes to that, then her career is toast in STarfleet... Nobody will take her."

Morales nodded his head. "Indeed." he agreed with her when suddenly the doorbell beeped at the two of them. "It's open," Morales called out, much like how his predecessor, Captain Torilla Yamaguchi would answer the door.

The door opened and in walked the person that both McKnight and Morales had been waiting for and expecting to arrive about this time. The shorter then average female came in before she stopped suddenly. "Lt Commander Jennifer Nettles, reporting for duty sir."

"Welcome aboard Commander," Morales responded. "Have a seat and we can start."

McKnight regarded the younger female in silence before she nodded. "Welcome aboard," she added a moment after Morales had finished his comment.

"Okay, I've read your file and while I am in great need of a chief of science since Master Chief Petty Officer Daniel McKnight was given a commission and promoted to Lt Commander but I have concerns, you seem to be unable to get along with others." he regarded the small female before him. "Now, why is that?" he asked in a soft tone of voice.

"Well, to be honest, I felt trapped and under the weight of too much work."

"Didn't you at least try to resolve the issues you had?"

"Commander McKnight and I did not get along from the moment we met."

"Yes. I read his report of you." Morales responded. "Says that you work well under deadlines but can't be pushed around." he raised an eyebrow. "He seems to think well of you, he even goes on to say that you'll be an asset to any ship or base seeking a highly qualified science officer," Morales explained. "I take it that this is a surprise?"

"Yessir. You could say that. Captain McKnight is too kind as we quarreled often." the small female sighed. "Mostly over timetables and deadlines. He wanted more work done faster and faster. I said no. If I felt it would take me an hour then I'd tell him."

"Yes, he said you were insubordinate and had a tendency to not get on with others. He had you reassigned when you had a falling out with Lieutenant Solusar, mind telling me about that one?"

"Well. I was unclear to the Lieutenant and he didn't know what I was expecting of him, I was told that Lieutenant Solusar would answer to me, even though he was a senior officer and a department head."

"What was the main issue?" McKnight inquired, in a soft and gentle tone of voice.

"I was intimidated," Nettles answered quietly. "He had the drive, the determination and the sheer force of will to get to where he wanted, all things I'd lost because of recent events," Nettles added. "I was assigned as Executive Officer on the USS Clydesdale but I wasn't ready for the assignment." she paused. "I wasn't trained properly and I had no desire for command."

"What do you mean by that," McKnight asked further, a warm smile on her lips.

"Well. I wanted to remain as a science officer as I felt I needed more time to mature and develop my career skill-set before considering command." Nettles added. "If I was going to consider command then I would in about ten years time after I finished doing the growth I wished to do. I'm not ready."

"Fair enough. Not everyone is cut out for the center chair and I don't need you for command, however, if you do decide you wish to change your mind then you have but to let me know." Morales explained in a gentle tone of voice. "But I will make one thing clear. If you are having a bad day then tell others, don't just lash out at those around you or I'll deal with you and since this is your third assignment in so short a time, its more then likely that this is your last assignment in Starfleet."

"I understand sir," Nettles answered.

"Alright then... I will do what I can to help you but other than that, you are going to have a clean slate while on this ship, McKnight said that you two had your issues but that he was impressed with your work ethic. Commander Telios Wintersnow also said that you had the constitution of a Talibuk, big, strong and unstoppable." Morales regarded the small female with a wry grin. "Alas, I don't know what a Talbuk is so.." he then shrugged.

McKnight smiled. "Sounds like they liked you, even though you had your issues."

"I'm sorry sir. I wasn't expecting such glowing words. From anyone really." Nettles sounded like she was a loss for words.

"Well, like I said, you have a fresh slate, you start tomorrow at oh eight hundred, the same as the rest of alpha watch and the rest of the day is yours to do with as you wish." he smiled. "On your way then Commander.. and welcome aboard." Morales smiled.

Nettles rose to her feet before she nodded and then departed. McKnight smiled. "She might settle or well, or she might not. I hope she does. I like her."

"I hope she does as well. Commander McKnight left some massively large shoes to fill." Morales smiled. "When you see your uncle again, tell him I send my greetings."

"I will indeed skipper." and with that, the taller female rose to her feet and departed in silence.