Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Jul 5, 2021 11:50:30 GMT
[PO1 Jovireh Velal - Front Ear - CO's Office]Had it really only been six months since the first time she'd received a request to meet the Captain? So much had happened in such a short period of time, she barely even felt like the same person. Now instead of dread, she approached the office filled with curiosity, greeted Mabel casually and waited just long enough to be told the Captain was ready before continuing into the office. "Good morning," she greeted the older woman with a smile, settling into the chair across from her. It had become much easier to respect the desired lack of formalities the more frequently their families had dinner together. It was still a little weird to think about her mother being friends with her Captain, so she generally tried not to think of it that way. After all, it was much better than a few alternatives that she could think of.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84 
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 5, 2021 15:55:00 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD - Captain Eastman's Office]Judy looked up from her paperwork with a gentle smile. "Good morning, kiddo."Judy motioned at the plate of chocolate-chip cookies that graced her conference table, invitingly. At this morning hour, they were still hot. "How's Taggert treating you? Rough as always?" she asked, going straight for the jugular.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Jul 5, 2021 23:37:33 GMT
[PO1 Jovireh Velal - Front Ear - CO's Office]At the invitation, Jov picked up a cookie without hesitation, laughing softly at the description of her new superior officer. "He's firm, but fair. Knows his stuff, too. I never thought a Human would be able to design an obstacle course that actually pushed my limits." It wasn't an insult to the species, merely a statement of fact that it was difficult for anyone to know how to sufficiently challenge someone with significantly greater strength and stamina than themselves. She took a bite of the cookie with an appreciative smile.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 6, 2021 3:56:09 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD - Captain Eastman's Office]Judy chuckled; that description sure rang true to the Pierce she knew so well. "Oh, he could push a Borg drone to the limit and then some," she joked. She helped herself to a cookie, relishing it as always. "But then, it's not just about the obstacles, the physical ones, at least, that you gotta think about, with what we have in mind for you."The implication - Jov's eventual promotion - was hard to miss.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Jul 6, 2021 5:33:33 GMT
[PO1 Jovireh Velal - Front Ear - CO's Office]Finishing the cookie in a few bites, Jov raised an eyebrow in an amused and somewhat skeptical expression. "What exactly do you have in mind for me?" she asked, a slight hesitation in her voice. "The Commander hasn't exactly been very forthcoming with that answer." The more complicated the training became, and the more often Taggert refused to answer her question, the more Jovireh wondered if she even wanted to know the answer. Especially when the man responded with vague comments such as he didn't want her level of understanding and personal expectations to affect how she performed in the training exercises, or it wasn't his place to say what the Captain had in mind, only to make sure she was ready for it when the time came. That she at least understood, but it didn't make it any less frustrating or concerning.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 6, 2021 23:29:41 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD - Captain Eastman's Office]Judy paused for a moment, surprised. "Oh, he hasn't?" she asked. "Well, now if I'll tell you, I'll get in trouble with Pierce..."The tone of the last statement was unmistakably joking. Pierce likely had a reason, but "trouble" was very much overstating it. "If all goes well, we're hoping to put you in charge of Sec/Tac."
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Jul 7, 2021 7:43:15 GMT
[PO1 Jovireh Velal - Front Ear - CO's Office]The other woman's surprise was obvious, and Jov felt a slight twinge of irritation at the Commander acting like they didn't want her to know yet. But she couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Judy getting into trouble with him for telling her. Though it was clearly a joke, the Petty Officer certainly wouldn't want to get on the man's bad side, either. When the explanation finally came, however, her expression faltered slightly, head tilting in confusion. "You mean Bridge shifts?" That would explain all the tactical simulations Taggert had been putting her through. While she still didn't feel quite as confident manning a tactical station as she did in-person combat, even she couldn't deny that she was improving in that area. But it didn't make sense why he wouldn't tell her if that was all they were planning...
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 7, 2021 19:35:15 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD - Captain Eastman's Office]Judy chuckled. Jov's innocence was endearing. "No, no, higher than that. We're going to make you the Chief of Sec/Tac," she said. "I know it seems like the promotions are coming to you fast - even too fast - but you do deserve them, and once Pierce is done with you, I believe you'll be an extraordinary department head."After six years of service, Jov was an experienced crewmember, albeit a novice manager. Judy had faith in the young woman.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Jul 7, 2021 20:33:59 GMT
[PO1 Jovireh Velal - Front Ear - CO's Office]For a moment Jov just stared, as though waiting for the punchline to a joke she didn't understand. But no punchline came... Only a reassurance. One that she didn't find extremely reassuring. "Out of everyone in the department... There has to be someone more qualified than me." Like Melihn. Or S'Riia. Or any of the commissioned officers. It did make some of the training she'd been doing make sense though. The evaluations across all aspects of the department, and the focused work on those she didn't do as well on. It also explained Taggert's hyper focus on her and only standard training with the rest of the security personnel. But it didn't explain why they'd chosen her.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 7, 2021 23:34:32 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD - Captain Eastman's Office]Judy could understand the shock. This was a very unconventional move for sure. "Out of everyone in the department, there is no one that we - the whole command team - would trust more in that office than yourself."The decision was a team decision. Judy wasn't the only one who saw Jov's potential. "At the end of the day, you have shown initiative, you've shown a capacity for out-of-the-box thinking, and for the most part, you've shown good judgement. In this place, that's more important than just years of service."You didn't make Front Ear work by playing by the book. Such was the reality of this region.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Jul 8, 2021 1:33:50 GMT
[PO1 Jovireh Velal - Front Ear - CO's Office]Jovireh was stunned to hear that everyone in the Command team agreed with the decision, considering she hadn't worked with either Captain Baker or Commander Ellis often. Though she knew Taggert wasn't the sort to waste his time on someone he didn't see potential in... And it did rule out her mother's interference. She was quiet for a few moments, considering everything the other woman had said. It was all true... And the errors in judgment she had made, she'd immediately learned from and taken responsibility for without needing to be corrected. "That does explain why the Commander has been cramming a year's worth of training into the last month... " The man was keeping her very busy with long and gruelling days, but she was grateful that he scheduled their training before or after her shifts so her days off remained undisturbed.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 8, 2021 4:24:29 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD - Captain Eastman's Office]Judy chuckled. "Well, in a perfect world, I'd keep Pierce around for a year, year and a half, to really train you over that long time horizon, but we don't live in that perfect world, so the crash course is what we have."Judy helped herself to another cookie. "That being said, I believe you've done quite well with the crash course."Judy didn't have formal progress reports, but she knew things.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Jul 10, 2021 5:36:59 GMT
[PO1 Jovireh Velal - Front Ear - CO's Office]That was definitely an understandable view. Taggert had made it clear from the start he'd only be around for a few months, though Judy wasn't the only one who wished he'd stay longer. "He's an excellent teacher. And I know quite a few who wish he could be the department head long-term." Herself included. However, since that wasn't an option... Jovireh understood the need for them to look internally for someone to promote. And if she set aside her insecurities to look at her performance objectively, she could understand why they chose her. "I guess it's a good thing I have him teaching the crash course."
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 11, 2021 3:01:42 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD - Captain Eastman's Office]"Nothing but the best for my crew," Judy responded to Jov's praise of Pierce. "I handpicked him myself."She supposed she could say some more about that, since - although they worked together quite well - she and Commander Taggert had different styles. "I served with him during the war. He was the Chief of Sec/Tac on my ship, and... truly, one of the best I've ever seen in that position, not to mention a fine educator. He has a lot to teach."
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Jul 11, 2021 9:42:31 GMT
[PO1 Jovireh Velal - Front Ear - CO's Office]"He did mention that he served with you." It was one of the main reasons why Jovireh had trusted him more easily than most new superiors. Taking another cookie, she chewed thoughtfully for a few moments before continuing. "If I'm going to be department head..." Which, by the sounds of it, that was going to happen so long as she didn't completely fail the upcoming training. "I would like to take you up on the offer of getting my restrictions removed." That was something she hadn't been planning on. Having made it so far in her career with such restrictions in place had become a source of pride for her. But while Captain Eastman seemed content to handle problems with informal reprimands, there was no telling her next CO would feel the same. As a department head, it would be more difficult to blend in and remain unnoticed.
Tag Judith Eastman
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