Logically Speaking
Posted on 15 Nov 2026 @ 6:03pm by Lieutenant Commander Leland Hawksley & Ensign Tevik
1,742 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Out of Character Discussion
Location: Starbase 51 – Promenade Level, Just Outside the Orientation Suite
Timeline: Current - Shore Leave
[ON]
The corridor was busy with people coming and going in both directions. Officers and civilians moved past with PADDs in conversation, and a few were still fiddling with new duty collars after transfers. The air had that usual recycled smell mixed with something cooking from the commissary down the way.
Lieutenant Commander Leland Hawksley stood slightly off to one side of the Orientation suite doors. His duty uniform was neat, and the USS Tomcat credentials hung from the lanyard at his chest. His traveler's pack sat on one shoulder. Leland held a plain silver stainless steel traveler's mug in one hand, its warmth steady against his palm, and a PADD in the other, open to Ensign Tevik’s file and the security picture. For the former Chief of Engineering, coffee was Leland's lifeline. He took an absent-minded sip of his mug, swallowed as he looked around for Tevik. He was happy to meet the new Vulcan Operations Officer; quite impressive.
He checked the image once more. Vulcan, coal-black hair, alert brown eyes, steady shoulders... then he looked up as the doors opened.
The person who stepped out matched the file photo. Hawksley moved forward, posture open but still proper, and gave a small nod.
"Ensign Tevik," he said, voice clear enough over the noise around them. "Lieutenant Commander Leland Hawksley, Executive Officer of the USS Tomcat. Welcome aboard... or rather, welcome to the crew. I've been looking forward to meeting you..."
Tevik had disembarked from the federation transport starship, come through customs and was now standing, waiting to actually board the station. The line moved slowly but Tevik didn't mind. The slowness allowed him to take in his surroundings. The air for one thing even in the corridor it had a scent, not unpleasant just different an artificial smell. He would have to look into it further.
Then the doors opened and he was on the Promenade level and he now realized the scent was from food being cooked in one of the local restaurants.
As he looked over the crowd his eyes spotted a Starfleet officer with a mug of some sort in hand. The officer moved closer and spoke identifying himself as Lieutenant Commander Leland Hawksley of the Tomcat. Tevik's eyes swept over the officer. Alert eyes, confident air, friendly manner. He raised his hand in the traditional Vulcan salute. "Greetings Commander, peace and long life to you."
Hawksley smiled. A true Vulcan in every sense, Leland thought to himself. Hawksley lent the Vulcan traditional salute as well. "Thank you, Tevik. Peace and long life to you as well."
"If you do not mind, I have reserved an office suite for us to sit down and talk about your new position on the Tomcat." Leland then gestured for Tevik to please follow him to the office. It was located within the Orientation Offices.
Entering, it was sparse, with a conference table and double chairs set up. There was the Federation signature on the Conference Screen on one of the walls.
"Please, Tevik." Leland gestured kindly. "Please. Have a seat. May I get you anything to drink or to eat?" He asked while still up with his PADD. Leland then set his backpack down to the side of his own chair to the right in the room.
Tevik took the offered seat. " I do not mind Commander and that is a logical course of action." He shook his head, "Thank you no Commander nothing to eat though may I have a cup of Vulcan tea?" He asked as he looked about the sparsely furnished room.
"Of course. I will have a coffee myself." Leland ordered a cup of Vulcan tea and hot coffee from the replicator. He then set the tea before Tevik... then took his seat.
"Your record is solid. I reviewed it before we sat down." He rested a hand on his PADD. "The Tomcat runs special operations on the border. That means joint work with the 95th Rifles, three fighter squadrons, and rapid response missions that can shift priorities without much notice. As Operations Officer, you will be the one who sees those conflicts first."
He met Tevik’s eyes. "What I need from you is early warning. If power, sensors, or computer time are being pulled in different directions by Engineering, Flight, or the Marines... I want to hear it from you before it becomes a problem. Same for duty roster gaps or any system that is degrading under the load. Bring those to me directly. Do not wait for the next senior staff meeting."
Leland took a short sip from his mug. "Captain Somers sets the mission. I set the operational priorities that support it. Your recommendations on resource trade-offs will carry weight with me. Questions so far, Tevik?"
"No questions Commander your orders, instructions are clear and concise. I have no problem with following. I do however see the potential for a problem in the future. You have clearly outlined my duties and my responsibilities. The potential problem is I am an Ensign I can inform and advise you of problems as they arise and become apparent. However I can not initiate change. That must be done by a rank higher than I currently hold." Tevik replied.
Leland set his mug on the table. "You are correct. You are an Ensign. Lieutenant McMahon is Chief of Operations. Formal recommendations and any change to department procedures go through her. That chain remains intact. I am not asking you to go over her head." Leland rested a hand on the PADD.
"The information is separate from the authority to act on it. You will observe the competing demands on power, sensors, computer time, and personnel before they reach a senior staff meeting. Those observations are what I require so that operational priorities can be set with accurate data. Your reports supply that data to me. Lieutenant McMahon retains ownership of department decisions and their implementation." Hawksley asserted. Tevik was correct. However, Leland wanted him to feel free to seek more authority, if exercised without breaking the chain of command.
"Your record on the Custer demonstrates the distinction. You directed the power restoration after the earthquake, maintained hospital and clinic function without rest, and received the captain's commendation. That level of judgment is why I intend to receive your assessments directly. Greater responsibility follows from consistent, accurate reporting of conditions as they exist."
Leland met Tevik's eyes. "Report the conflicts and the numbers as they arise. Action will proceed through the proper chain. Is the distinction clear?" Hawksley had seen officers with Tevik's record waste years waiting for permission to think. That was a loss the ship could not afford.
Tevik met Leland's look and inclined his head in a short nod. "Yes sir, the distinction is clear. Lt. McMahon is department chief and you wish me to report to you any irregularities in power distribution, data utilization, sensors, personnel along with other system components before the problems reaches a crisis point. if I have understood the request you have asked of me to undertake."
"Yes. I appreciate your willingness Tevik." Leland felt that this was too office like, the talk at least. He had to sit down and go over things, but since things were clear and concise he relaxed.
"Please. Tevik. We do not nearly have enough Vulcans aboard the Tomcat. Would you tell me a bit of yourself? Your history. Your aspirations as they matter to you." Hawkley remembered when he had first boarded. He was offered the same kind of questions as his CO; Jasmine had offered to get to know him personally.
Tevik seemed a good fit and crewmember for the Tomcat.
Tevik paused before answering. "Vulcans do not like to talk about themselves however I understand the reason behind the question and will answer it, I was born in Regar on Vulcan. My parents wanted me to go to the Vulcan Science Academy but I chose Starfleet Academy. Has for aspirations I aspire to one day become an admiral and be in charge of the fleet operations department. As far as hobbies, I love to read particularly westerns. I am also a magician. I have a mate. Her name is Kah'lyn. We were bonded when we were children and have met several times for Pon'Farr. "
Leland nodded, a small smile showing. "Regar. Good choice going to the Academy. Takes something to pick Starfleet over the Science Academy. Most Vulcans stick closer to home."He took a sip from the mug then set it down.
"Admiral in charge of fleet ops. Thats a solid goal. The Tomcat will push you, but if you keep bringing clear reports like we talked about, that ambition will have something real to stand on. I think you will do well here."Hawksley leaned back a bit, more at ease now. "Westerns and magic... I like that. Not the usual hobbies I hear from Vulcans."
"Starfleet Academy offered more opportunities than the Vulcan Science Academy." Tevik answered. "As for Admiral in charge of Ops, I believe it to be both a realistic and important goal."
Kah'lyn. Bonded young, then. She serving somewhere, or is she planetside right now?" Hawksley listened. "I apologize. I am once again prying in to your personal history, and I want to respect your boundaries."
"Kah'lyn Chiara. and no apology is necessary sir you are wishing to learn more about one of your officers. As to where Kah'lyn is I cannot truthfully say. I am hopeful she is headed here for a posting aboard the Tomcat."
"It would be beneficial to the Tomcat and Starfleet." Hawksley held his hands together on the table. "Well." Leland thought things through. "It will not be long before we are called for departmental briefings. Do you have any questions or concerns, Tevik, before we get underway?"
Tevik shook his head. "No questions Commander. I understand what is expected of me and will do my utmost to provide it."
"Good. Good." Leland looked at his briefing PADDs. He clasped his hands together on the meeting table. "Once you onboard, you will report to your Chief of Operations, Lieutenant Maria McMahon. Live long and prosper, Ensign Tevik."
[OFF]
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