Meeting Intel

Posted on 23 Jun 2016 @ 2:01pm by Lieutenant Commander Geraldine "Geri" Severide & Lieutenant Commander Magdalena "Maggie" Doyl

1,377 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Errand of Mercy
Location: Intelligence Operations Center
Timeline: ED3 1100 hours

ON

Maggie went in search of the new Chief of Intelligence to have a talk about security and what they could do together to keep the Redemption safe.

She walked into Intel and looked around for someone to help her find the Chief.

"Senior Chief Whitmore please explain to me why the Chief of Security was allowed to enter this area." Came a cold feminine tone from across the room to which the source would soon reveal a tall, curvaceous young female adorned in a tight black jumpsuit. While the suit itself fitted the form of the individual, the woman had opted to zip the suit high so as to cover her ample chest. She crossed her arms glaring maliciously with a snarl at an elder enlisted man locking onto him with eyes of blue steel as she awaited his response.

"According to the computer she's authorized to be here." The chief replied as he verified the data at his station.

"By whose authority?" Geri asked sharply placing her hands on her hip.

"The position grants her access Commander." The chief retorted only showing the slightest hints of angst.

"Wrong answer, I grant access. Compile the list of those with access to this area and have it on my desk within the next three hours." Geri ordered as she turned her attention to the security chief.

"Commander, follow me please." Geri stated leading the chief to Severide's office.

Maggie listened quietly to the conversation, taking mental notes about the Chief and quickly deciding she would limit the amount of help she asked of this woman. She tightened her mental shields and followed.

As they entered her office, Geri strutted over behind her desk outstretching her hand to offer the seat in front to the security chief. "Someone has apparantly done their homework." She said with a smirk as she took her seat crossing her legs.

Maggie sat down and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?" she asked noncommittally.

"Your thoughts, everyone conveys open thought, those not closely guarded by the mind but rather general notions passing through the mind. Your mind however is silent, this means you must be aware of my genealogy." Geri eplied.

"I've read your personnel file," Maggie said. "And it's easy for one telepath to recognize another."

"The mind is the ultimate tool of betrayal, it takes years of training to harness one's ability to counter the natural subterfuge of the sentient being." A small pause as she took a breath. "But a philosophy lesson is not what brought you here. You have my curiosity."

"However, in a society of true telepaths it is difficult to lie," Maggie said. "That is something you find more in non-telepathic races." She watched the other woman for a moment. "As the new Chief of Security, I'm meeting the department heads that I'll be working with to see what is needed and how we can work together."

"Truth is in the eye of the beholder. The real question is what is truth?" Geri stated as her face exhibited the slightest hint of distress, caught only by a trained eye. Erased as quickly as it came, she returned to her usual emotionless state. "You are the safeguard for this ship and its personnel and I for information. There are times when these tasks become one in the same. It would be prudent to establish protocols for a working relationship to ensure maximum efficiencies in the execution of these duties.

Don't mistake this for full disclosure..."

"In other words, you won't disclose any more than you think I need to know at the time and you'll work by your own rules?" Maggie asked, watching the woman keenly as she tried to combine what she'd read about the woman with the woman herself.

"That is the purpose of my job Commander. It is imperative information is managed properly. Knowledge is the one true power." Geri responded. "But my loyalty is to this ship foremost." She responded.

"Managed or manipulated?" Maggie asked. She didn't need to, she already had a good idea what the answer would be.

Geri forced a smile as she absorbed the comment. "You must be referring to my previous employment. Perhaps you should have been the one to interview me instead of those entrusted by Starfleet?"

"No, but I'm the one who has to work with you," Maggie countered.

Geri leaned forward placing her forearms on the desk clasping her hands together. "Look, I cant make you trust me you will have to decide for yourself. Have I done questionable things? Yes, I worked for a clandestine organization. Does that mean I will apply the same principles here? No. So the real question is are you willing to work with me or shall we remain divided by paranoia?"

Maggie's gaze grew cool. "My opinion of you is based on your behavior since I arrived in your department. I would hardly call that paranoia. You don't know me and you don't know how I operate. So, based on our brief meeting, I would say you are the one jumping to conclusions, not me."

"I have yet to draw any conclusions." Geri said brushing the comment off leaning back in her chair. What I do know is mutual cooperation is in our best interests, for the crew."

Maggie nodded. "Mutual cooperation, yes. And trust."

"Trust..." The only word to escape Geri's mouth as her mind was momentarily taken to another time not long before the present moment.
As she returned to the moment, her glazed stare filled with awareness as her attention returned to the Security Chief. "A curious word it is, what is your take on trust Commander?"

"In order for us to work together as a cohesive unit, we need to be able to trust each other," Maggie said. "We have to have each others' back and know that we'll be there for each other. That involves honesty and trust -- at least as far as our working relationship goes. This pertains to the senior staff and bridge crew."

"So then faith and trust are synonymous to you?" Geri asked.

"Not quite. What do they mean to you?" Maggie asked.

"It's earned not given Commander. I'm afraid my profession leaves little room for faith." Geri replied quite coldly almost as if the concept had angered her.

"Yes, it does have to be earned, but you have to start with a basic trust. At least until it is proven or disproven. If you always expect the person you work with of being your enemy, you'll never get very far." Then again, Maggie suspected that was how the Intelligence officer worked on a daily basis. "I refuse to give up faith because of a few people. But, since you seem unwilling to trust me until I prove myself, I will not bother you with my request." Maggie stood. "I wish you good day."

"Once again Commander, I'm not so sure I'm the one making the assumptions. You asked my opinion on trust, not my opinion of you which is something I'm not able to give at this time, not accurately anyways. An enemy of mine, you are not. However if you wish to seek help elsewhere I will not hold you back, or you can make your request and perhaps I can assist you. The choice is entirely yours." Geri replied prepared to go back to her day wondering why the Chief had bothered to venture down to her office if she was simply going to leave.

"The help I need requires a level of trust and confidentiality, so I will have to wait," Maggie said. "There has to be a certain level of trust in matters of security. I must admit, your response to my arrival does not lead me to want to disclose my business to you at this time."

"Very well Commander, then I wish you luck on your endeavour." Geri stated simply giving the woman a smile before returning to her console.

Maggie gave the woman a polite smile. "Thank you, Commander." This was going to be a harder task than Maggie has first thought.

____
OFF

Lieutenant Commander Geri Severide
Chief Intelligence Officer

Lieutenant Commander Magdalena Doyl
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

 

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