A New Sheriff in Town

Posted on Sun Mar 11th, 2018 @ 12:11am by Master Chief Petty Officer Liang Shao & Lieutenant Commander Jason Smoak

1,180 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Ghost of a Chance
Location: Security

ON

Liang took time to stop by her quarters and change before going to security to see what was going on. She noticed a change immediately. She went to a computer console and checked on recent changes. Engineering and Security both had new Chiefs. She wondered if Jayde knew yet. She would have to ask later. Right now, she wanted to meet this new officer.

She turned to one of the security officers nearby. "Is he in?" she asked.

The security officer looked to Liang and nodded his head.

Liang raised an eyebrow. "May I speak with him?"

"His door is always opened, Ma'am." The officer replied gesturing to the office door.

Liang bowed. "Thank you." She then turned and went to the new Chief's door. "Do you have a moment, commander?"

Jason sat at his desk, monitor lit up, and a few PADDs a waiting his view. The room itself was different from when Jayde was using it. It was still full of several boxes that haven't been unloaded and wasn't at all decorated. It was as if Jason wasn't expecting to stay long, or he hadn't brought much with him as far as personal stuff. "Master Chief Liang, Yes?" He stood up, holding out his hand to her with a smile. "Nice to meet you. Please sit down. When I was looking over the staff I had I glanced over your personal file. I hope you don't mind."

"Master Liang, please," she said, taking his proffered hand. "You are the new department head. Of course you want to know about the people with whom you will be working." She sat daintily on the edge of the chair. "As your Master-at-Arms, I am sure you have questions for me?"

"No, actually, I don't." Jason replied softly, looking down at his PADD for a moment before looking back to Liang. "I am well aware the jobs a Master at Arm's entail and am pretty sure you are fully capable to do the job. I would however like to know what our current status is as far as our hand held weapon stock and the armory, please."

"We have enough type two phasers for half the crew," Liang said. "They are divided among the various weapons lockers. We have two dozen TR-116s and half a dozen revolvers. I am currently running classes on non-standard weapons and martial arts, as well as the standard phaser re-certifications."

Jason nodded his head slightly before replying. "I want the projectile weapons locked in the armory with limited access. Keep up the classes and I would like you to forward me all the re-certification reports so I know who is where when it comes to training."

Liang nodded. "I will have that to you shortly." She watched him for a moment and smiled as if she was amused by a thought. "Commander Mira is due for her recertification. Would you like me to take care of that or do you wish to, as she and I are friends?"

"Really?" Jason raised a brow, a slight smirk on his face. "Well, it would seem only fair if I do it. Seeing as how you two are friends and I wouldn't want anyone to think you showed favoritism. Not that I feel you would, Officer Liang."

Liang giggled. "Of course I would not, but it is always better to avoid the appearance of...prejudice." She giggled again. "I think the change would be good for her."

"I don't need proof that she's good. The higher ups do." Jason smiled slightly.

Liang bowed her head again. "And perhaps you both have something to prove to each other."

"There was a time where that wasn't necessary, but for what its worth, she doesn't need to prove anything to me." Jason replied softly.

Liang looked at him intently for a long moment. "I do not know the circumstances of your last meeting, but I do know that there is much between you. You both need to bridge the gap between who you were and who you are now."

"So, I imagine, you two being close you heard what happened between us." Jason looked away for a moment before looking back to Liang firmly. "Her feelings towards me may have changed, due to what happened, but mine haven't."

Liang shook her head. "She never spoke of you." Then she smiled. "She tells me many things, but of you, nothing. I do not think her feelings have changed as much as she would like them to."

"Then, I would ask politely, you not speak about things you don't know all the details of." Jason replied sternly, but politely, so as not to offend to but for her to know he was serious about the subject. "Let me be honest, Officer. This ship would be much safer with us on the same page then at each others throats."

Liang stood. "I have lived a long time, commander. I am Shaolin. I understand much more than you think I do. Perhaps, in time, you will learn to trust the wisdom behind my words. I do not need to know the details to see what is going on. Or understand how difficult your task will be."

She bowed to him. "If there is nothing else, may I leave to prepare the reports you requested?"

"You already have my trust. The way I see it, I have to earn your trust." Jason replied calmly and with a smile. "I may not have lived a long time, but I have seen a lot, and I learned a long time that you can't do everything by yourself. We are all here because we're good at what we do and so, that is not what we should be judged on. Starfleet believes we will make a difference here, we just need to believe in ourselves." He paused slightly and nodded his head. "You're all set with me. If you feel you are done, you may leave."

"Wise words. " Liang bowed again. "You do not need to earn my trust, commander. You would have to lose it, and I do not think you will do so. I am, as you put it, all set. Good luck."

"From the sound of it. I'm gonna need it." Jason replied with a laugh before nodding his head and smiling.

"Indeed," Liang said as she made her way out of the office. "Indeed."

As the doors behind her closed, Jason sat there quietly before tapping on a button on his desk which unlocked the top right drawer. Slowly he opened it a reached in, pulling out a box. For a brief moment he stared at it, before opening it slowly to reveal a Bajoran Earring which bore the symbol of Jayde's family. He paused stared at it, remembering of days past, before closing the box again and putting it back in the drawer. The pain was too much.

____
OFF

Master Chief Petty Officer Liang Shao
Master-at-Arms

&

Lieutenant Commander Jason Smoak
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

 

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