Turnover

Posted on 25 Jul 2025 @ 10:05am by Lieutenant Commander Samantha Smithson SB51 & Ensign Homer Estonburry

1,564 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Orientation Posts
Location: Starbase 51 Security office/Various
Timeline: just before Briefing

[ON]

Samantha was reflecting on the Major who had just left the office. She was brought back to the present when her computer pinged; she had to go and attend to something, but the first of the new arrivals that was due, Karyn, could handle it, so she left the office, leaving her a note.

Hours later...

Sam was on her way back and in a turbolift when her Padd pinged. She pulled it out and saw that the second new officer had just arrived. "Arrivals," she said, pausing briefly, and the lift changed direction.

A moment later, she stepped out into the busy arrivals area and looked around for an officer in blue. After scanning the area, she saw an Ensign standing there, looking lost. She walked over to him.

"Ensign Estonburry, welcome to the Mira Sector. I am Lieutenant Commander Samantha Smithson, Security Chief of this Starbase. I will take you through your orientation before you have to attend the upcoming mission briefing," she said.

Ensign Estonburry stood, stuck, blinking at the officer. He was trying to get unstuck. The plans seemed wrong: the door was on the incorrect side; it should be on the right, according to the plans he had memorised. Ensign Estonburry knew that sometimes plans changed, but the specs and latest modifications showed a left here, not a right. He tried to force his way through this conundrum. If this was wrong, what other critical details might cost valuable time in an emergency when seconds were crucial, and thirty seconds felt like a lifetime? He would have to fix this as soon as possible. "The life you save may turn out to be valuable," Ensign Estonburry muttered. It took an additional ten heartbeats for him to focus on the senior officer trying to establish communication.

He was precise. "Precision saves lives," he murmured his mantra. "Yes, ma'am," Ensign Estonburry responded. Then, he paused, trying to recall exactly what was said. Follow you to the briefing after orientation. By the way, the blueprints seem to be misleading at this juncture. Is that a security precaution, an engineering labelling error, or did I look at the wrong blueprint?"

"This Starbase is out in the wilds of the Mira sector. All anyone sees in plans is a standard Stardock class, so if you pick up your kitbag, we will go to my office where I can get you all coded up," Smithson said as she led the way to the turbolift. When she entered, with the new Ensign behind her and the doors closed, she said, "Security," and the lift began to move.

"Normally, you would be given a full tour of the Tomcat, but time is short and we have to get you to the new mission briefing that is starting," Smithson added.

Homer smiled when he heard the security concerns and the level of precautions taken. "Yes, ma'am," Homer said. "I am glad they take security seriously here. When is the briefing?" Homer asked, picking up his Diddy bag from the Academy. Ready to follow, Homer was eager to complete the safety briefing and reach the ship.

"They are likely assembling as we speak, so let's get this done", she said as they entered the Turbolift and when the doors closed ", Security Office", she said, and the lift whisked them to the requested destination.

"So, the Tomcat has recently undergone a large retrofit and upgrade; she is more powerful than your standard Akira Class, but the upgrades she has had will be the last structure wise, any further upgrades will be in the ships systems, If you need a rundown speak to Lieutenant Commander Hawksley he is the ships CEO, any questions so far?" She said.

Homer looked at the commander and said, " No ma'am, I am eager to go aboard."

Sam smiled as they stepped out on the security level.

- Security -

As the pair entered Security, they walked down the corridor and into the main office, and then the chief's office.

"Have a seat, Ensign, please", Smithson said, indicating the chair in front of her desk while she sat behind. She typed something into the computer, and the wall to her right started to make a mechanical sound, finishing setting up the information. She looked at the new Science Officer.

"Okay, while we are waiting, your Department Head is Lieutenant Matthew Thompson. You will need to seek him out after the briefing thereafter take direction from him in your Department. Also, the Tomcat has since had a major retrofit and upgrade, so there are holo-emitters throughout the ship and any questions so far?" Smithson asked.

While she was waiting to see if there were any questions, the first of two items landed in the dispenser tray.

Ensign Estonburry looked at the security Officer for a moment, then said, "No questions, Ma'am. I will go see my Department head after the orientation."

Without looking up, "You will have to attend the Mission briefing first, Ensign", Sam said, then finally looked up as she picked up the first item, registered it with the system, then held it out "This Ensign is your ID Card, it is to be worn on duty at all times, it is keyed to your Bio and DNA signature. When off duty on the Tomcat, it is to be on your person, but does not have to be worn. The only time you do not need it is if you are assigned to an Away Team mission, then the ID is left on the ship. Any questions so far?" Smithson asked.

Homer looked down at the ID card, then said, "No ma'am." Homer began a list: 1) program a sensor alert if he was more than three feet from his ID card. That would keep him from being distracted by a science project and leaving this new card behind somewhere. 2) Program the system to observe his biosigns and remind him to eat. That would keep his performance at peak levels. 3)... He realised he had not been paying attention to his current supervisor. "No, Ma'am," Homer said again, "I can not think of anything else I need."

"Hmm, okay", Smithson said and picked up a strip of paper and held it out to the Ensign "okay this is a one-time use alpha numeric code, should the ship be boarded while out on a mission and all senior officers incapacitated leaving you the only officer, before things get worse use this code it will lock out the computers, thus stopping any invaders trying to steal sensative data, if they did manage to break in it would wipe the system. So read and memorise it, then destroy the slip of paper," Smithson said, registering the code to the Ensign.

Homer looked at the slip of paper. It was probably the most important number he had ever held. The Chaos that would have to happen to leave him in charge would literally be hell on earth. For Homer to be left in charge meant that over 130 officers above him would be dead or incapacitated. This was worse than the survival class back at the Academy. That class field trip, where the shuttle craft had a total system failure and crash-landed in the wilderness of Northern Canada. It was rugged terrain, but beautiful. Well, let's just say being a farm boy came in handy.

But being in charge, well, there were nine prima donnas, six idiots and 11 people with common sense. With the Pilot unconscious, Homer was the only one with medical experience. Homer had started telling people what to do. Leaving the prima donnas arguing who was in charge, Homer got them out of the way by suggesting they go outside and settle it quietly. The survival kit had exactly the right amount of supplies, which made him suspicious, so using his science tricorder, out of his weekend bag, Homer quickly found the live feed. Figuring that this was a test, he did not spill the beans, so to speak. Afterwards, he had been grilled as to why he did what he did.

Snapping back to the Present, Homer looked down at the critical piece of plastic paper. "Memorise and destroy, Roger, that Ma'am!" Homer said, holding that piece of paper tightly in his left hand.

*Smiling as she stood* "Well then, Ensign, let's get you to the briefing, shall we! If you will follow me," Smithson said as she made to leave.

[TAG:]Estonburry

As the pair left the Security office, she led them to the nearest lift and both entered "Tomcat docking bay", she said, and the lift whisked them to the requested destination.

A short ride later, the pair stepped out in the docking bay, facing the umbilical bridge connecting the docking bay to the Tomcats' port docking hatch. They walked through it, and eventually, on the Tomcat, the ship looked clean and new.

- Tomcat -

"Wow, Commander Hawksley and Sharpe did a good job with the retrofit and upgrade", she commented as they headed to the turbolift on the Tomcat and entered.

"Tomcat briefing room" she said, and the lift took them there.

[OFF]

 

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