Jasmine Meets Captain Smooshy

Posted on Mar 21, 2017 @ 1:52pm by Lieutenant Jasmine Yu
Edited on on Mar 21, 2017 @ 1:52pm

Mission: In Place of God

“Jasmine Meets Captain Smooshy”
(contd from Susan’s ‘Don’t Shoot the Messenger’)

Location: USS PHOENIX
SD: [2.17] 0318.2328
Scene: Arboretum

Iphie let out a sigh, followed by grumbling under her breath. “Oh alright, I’ll put the fruit down, not because it’s the rules and all but I don’t want to hear complaints from anyone whose insides turned to mush from eating my food.”

Yu blinked in confusion. Was she serious or sarcastic? One could never tell with some people. She shared a brief glance with Ensign Schad, who was expressionless at the moment.

“Thank you,” Arak said with a smile as Iphie walked back to the path.

The half-Bolian took a step towards Jasmine and her eyes narrowed, her taller frame towering over the Sec/Tac. “So,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. “So, gonna throw me in the brig for not following signs that are really meant for other people but not me?”

“Ms. Bonviva, the signs are for *everyone*, no exceptions,” Jasmine replied in a calm yet firm tone. “And no, I’m not arresting you and only send you off with a warning this time.”

“Wow, this is different.” Iphie’s eyes lit up and tapped her wrist. “A slap on the wrist? I think I’m going to get used to this.”

“Don’t,” Yu said in a tone akin to a mother scolding a child for doing something naughty, which soured the blue woman’s expression. “The next time I catch you, you will be sent to the brig. Is that clear?”

“Loud and clear.” A grin formed across her lips. “And unfair.” Sighing, the hybrid took a sideways glance at the other plants and groaned. “Now, where am I going to get fresh fruit? I don’t want us getting stuck with bad replicated food.”

“Perhaps, I can take you to the Terran fruit plots,” the Aaamazzirite suggested, his finger pointing the direction a few plots ahead. “We have apples, strawberries, peaches.”

“Oh alright,” Iphie said with a tone of resignation. “But I would have preferred something a bit more exotic.”

“Maybe I can help there,” Arak said, smiling. “If you will follow me, I think I can find what you are looking for.”

The chef’s eyes brightened. “Lead on.”

“Well, I’ll leave you two to it,” Jasmine said, turning around.

“Hey,” Iphie called from behind. “You’re new here, right? I will need information on your favorite foods and drinks, so I’d know what to make for you.”

“Okay,” Jasmine said, glancing behind. A moment later, the Sec/Tac added, a hint of a smile forming across her lips, “By the way, I’m a vegetarian and love pasta.” She then walked away, leaving Iphie and Arak on their fruit search.

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Scene: Security Centre, Deck 39

After Crichton had informed the department heads that the Phoenix was headed for the Neutral Zone for their next assignment, Jasmine convened a staff meeting to deliver the news. Her first staff meeting as Chief of Security and Tactical on the Galaxy-Z class vessel. She had met the staff already on her first day but that involved just introducing herself to personnel, she’d be working with in the foreseeable future.

The Neutral Zone and Romulans. This would be new and unfamiliar territory for the young woman as in all her five years, serving on the Camelot, the ship didn’t partake in missions in the Beta Quadrant. Just for the past two years alone, she was in the Delta Quadrant, involved in first contact missions in uncharted regions of space. Exploration had its dangers as well as rewards. So Jasmine hoped she could apply what she had learned under her two chiefs on the Camelot, to her role on the warship.

“To go over what we have discussed in the meeting,” Jasmine said, addressing her two deputies, Lieutenant Mackenzie Procter and Lieutenant JG Virgo Silsby. “Security drills, every other day, you and I will be running them, Lieutenant Silsby.”

“Yes.” The blond man nodded. “Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the Alpha and Beta shift duty officers and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for Gamma and Delta shifts. Got it.” He grinned, a bored expression, even stifled a yawn.

Yu continued, turning to Procter, “And tactical drills, you and I got that covered, Lieutenant.”

The taller human woman nodded, providing a rather crisp and professional reply. “Yes, I will be meeting with Ensigns Marois and Solozano to coordinate the use of the Bridge Simulator and the Holodeck for the drills.”

“Good.” Jasmine said, taking on a more serious tone, “I’m sure you both know how important these drills are, considering we’re headed for the Neutral Zone.” She then moved on to the next item of discussion. “Now, I’m aware the division of duties between you two have been that one of you handled tactical and the other, security completely. I decided to change it up a little.” She noticed Procter sport a quizzical expression, while Silsby still seemed bored, almost like he was eager to get this meeting over with. Two polar opposites, Jasmine observed, just from reading their service history and spending a few minutes with them. This was going to be a bit of an interesting challenging for the newly assigned Sec/Tac. “Three shifts per week, performing tasks in the area different from what you have usually been doing, such as Lt. Silsby, you will be spending time on the bridge for those three shifts, while Lt. Procter will be dealing with security matters. I will be sending the schedule to your terminals after this meeting.”

Both assistants were quiet. So Jasmine further prodded, “Any questions so far?”

“No.” Mackenzie was the first to answer.

Her fellow deputy asked, “Actually, why the changes? It has been working out quite perfectly with her on the bridge and me being the friendly small town sheriff.” He grinned, glancing at his colleague. “Can’t imagine Procter being the friendly face.”

“And I can’t imagine you on the bridge,” Mackenzie retorted, glaring at him.

Jasmine, noticing the beginnings of an argument, interjected, “Alright. I can understand the confusion. I mean, here I am, this newbie from another ship, coming here and trying to change things around. My intention is to not upset the balance here but to make sure we are fully prepared before we reach the Neutral Zone.” She paused to take in a single breath. “This change is to really prepare us for a scenario, where one of you wind up becoming the chief, where you will need to give orders in both security and tactical situations.”

“Well,” Virgo commented in a dry tone, “I will only be chief if both of you are hurt or worse killed and hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Mackenzie said, her blue eyes on Jasmine, “Well, I have no issues with the changes. As a matter of fact, I have been adept with handling small ground tactics.”

“That’s good to hear and I think that concludes our meeting,” Jasmine said. “And as I have said to you both earlier, if you have questions or concerns, feel free to bring them up to me.” A moment later, she said, “Dismissed.” Virgo walked quickly out of the room, eager to return to something besides sitting in a meeting. When Mackenzie got up, Jasmine inquired, “Lieutenant, may I have a word with you?” She noted the colour drain from the blonde woman’s face and Yu sighed before speaking in a calm, yet reassuring tone. “I first remember you from the Advanced starship tactics class in our third year at the Academy.”

“Yes,” Procter said, releasing a huge sigh of relief but then immediately reverted to a more professional demeanor. “I remember seeing you there, Lieutenant as well as in couple of other classes back in the Academy.”

“Small world,” Yu remarked. “Anyway, Lieutenant, I’ll let you return to your duties.”

“Understood,” Mackenzie said as she turned around and left.

As Jasmine watched the other officer leave, she delved into some memories from her long gone days in the Academy. It so happened that she and Procter graduated in 2427 and having been in the security and tactical program, it wasn’t surprising that the two crossed paths from time to time like sharing the same classes. Jasmine hadn’t really known or interacted with Mackenzie much at that time but she recalled the latter had always come off as a highly serious, driven and focused cadet. She even remembered some of their classmates, mostly males, call Procter uptight or too stiff, which made Yu roll her eyes. According to some, being driven and focused, particularly if you were a woman, made her uptight and complained about how she needed to loosen up. Even she herself had been called that by some of her fellow cadets, despite having a more affable and outgoing personality off-duty. But she and Mackenzie just took their studies or jobs seriously and believed in putting their best effort as Jasmine often reminded others, who called her or any other female uptight.

Jasmine’s mind now moved to her time as aSec/Tac on the CAMELOT. She had served under two chiefs, both with contrasting leadership styles, which was an interesting experience for her. Commander Haley, the chief she served, right after joining the Academy, was an easy going, friendly, not laid back, man, who acted more like one’s best friend than a boss, though he could be firm, when he needed to be. He didn’t seem to mind, when Jasmine voiced her concerns or opinions to him and listened to her, without shooting her down or being condescending. Apparently, he didn’t seem to treat female personnel differently from the males, which Yu appreciated but then again, his wife was the Captain.

Lt. Commander Cato, who succeeded Haley, on the other hand, was serious and drew a line between him and the rest of his staff, making it clear he was their boss, not their best friend. At the beginning, their relationship was a little strained with Jasmine not happy that Cato always put her in the bridge and rarely ever let her go on away teams. In fact she remembered he was very upset that it was she who saved the Captain from the assassin and not him – for a few days after the assassination attempt, Cato was rather cold to her until one day Yu had enough of his attitude and openly voiced her concerns, a risky and bold move that could cause him to get her demoted or worse transferred off the ship. But to her surprise, he decided to give her more challenging work as his number two in the department and from then on, their relationship improved and four years later, he even recommended to the CO that she was ready to be a department head.

And now she was the boss in her department and how her leadership style developed remained to be seen.

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Scene: Corridor -> Sickbay, Deck 12, saucer section

Jasmine walked down the corridor and stopped in front of the double doors, leading to sickbay. Upon hearing the sounds of pitter patter behind her, the Asian American turned on her heel and found there was nothing behind. As the young woman turned to the front, ready to resume walking, she felt something brushing against her leg and heard a whimpering sound. Moving her gaze downwards, a smile crept across her lips.

“Hello, what have we here,” she greeted, bending down to pet the head of a black pug, adorned in a form fitting Starfleet uniform jacket and four pips pinned to its collar. The pug began licking her hand and the dark haired woman laughed, when the doors slid open.

“There you are, Captain Smooshy,” came the voice of Eve Dalziel, the ship’s chief Counselor, standing at the threshold.

Jasmine blinked. “Captain Smooshy?”

“It’s the pug’s name.”

“Oh,” the Asian woman said, grinning, letting go of the dog. “I found him wandering outside here.”

Eve sighed, getting hold of the pug so it wouldn’t run away. “That happens quite often.” She further added as Smooshy was sniffing around her and Jasmine, eyeing both, hoping one of them would play with him. “See, Lieutenant Yu, Captain Smooshy is a therapy dog to make our patients feel more at ease.”

“He is friendly,” Jasmine said, her gaze moving from the pug to the Cardassian born human woman.
“So, Lieutenant Yu, what brings you to sickbay?”

Yu said, while the pug was going around both women’s legs. “I’m here for my medical and psychological assessment as is required for a newly assigned officer.”

“Yes of course,” Dalziel said with a smile. “I have an another appointment right now but I can see you after I’m done.”

“Okay.” Jasmine nodded. “In the meantime, I will see if I can complete my physical.” The two women parted ways and the Sec/Tac entered sickbay for the first time, since her arrival on the Phoenix. She waited by the nearest biobed for a few minutes until a blonde woman approached her.

“Lieutenant, I am Dr. Andersson,” Sofia greeted. “How can I help you?”

Jasmine informed, “I’m here to report for my physical.”

“Yes, please come this way,” Sofia led her to a biobed, where Jasmine lifted herself up to sit on it.

“Jasmine Yu, Chief of Security and Tactical, newly assigned,” said the Sec/Tac.

“Yes, I remember Dr. Jos mentioned you were due to report to sickbay for a medical assessment.” She grabbed a medical tricorder from a tray nearby. “You were in the holodeck simulation, weren’t you?”

“Yes.” Jasmine nodded, when an Andorian doctor approached them.

Aerdon Jos spoke, halting next to the two women, “Lieutenant Yu, I am glad to see you have come in for your physical.”

“I would have come sooner,” Yu said, looking apologetically at both him and Andersson. “But I was detained in the holodeck for several hours.”

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~*~
Ranjani S.
Writing for

Lieutenant Jasmine Yu
Chief of Security and Tactical
USS PHOENIX