The Lamb to the Lions' Den

[Akirapryde]

The Lamb to the Lions' Den
Stardate: 53835.4
Chief Engineer's Briefing Room
USS Thunderchild
Engineering Section Chiefs and Lt. Jr. Noonia

Lieutenant Jacobson nodded as Lieutenant Noonia spoke, it was clear that she was getting what he was saying. Finally once he concluded his statement she finally spoke up, "indeed lieutenant. I am sure you never experienced this during your last assignment but allow me to tell you it was there more likely than not. But it might not have been as noticeable as it is here because like unlike us, there the junior officers were able to bridge the gap" she explained.

She slowly spun in her chair and rose up to her feet there was this look in her eyes as she scanned everyone at the table. She walked over to Noonia, "do you mind?" She asked as she motioned for his PADD. She was polite and waited for him to hand it over to her. "We Lieutenant, as Junior Officers we are expected to take the lead on issues like this." She explained as she took the PADD and walked over to a terminal on the wall. "During the war we had nearly a eighty percent turn over rate. Because of battle losses we were ranked as one of the most dangerous assignments in the entire Ninth Fleet" she said as she recounted the facts of this ships battle record. None of it was news to Noonia, he had already knew the battles that this ship had been part of.

She turned from Noonia as she typed something on the screen while she continued speaking. The whole time her face was hidden from his view, "back then, I was a young bright eyed ensign" she said and paused. She half looked over her shoulder as she nodded to him, "not much like you lieutenant," she said with a smile to him. She turned her attention back to the terminal as she continued, "I remember my first battle. I was assigned to Port Side Impulse Engineering. My engine room took a direct hit by a Jem'Hadar fighter." She paused and looked up to the ceiling. "I remember thinking that this was the end of us. That feeling that there was no hope of survival can be overwhelming. I watched helplessly as nearly half entire section got sucked in to space. I was saved by an armored plating that was lodged in a corridor. It blocked my free fall in to deep space and certain death."

She returned her attention to the terminal on the wall and his PADD. "We were always a brave crew. I guess it just goes with the ship. When a evacuation ship fell under attack, the Captain ordered us to respond even though we had lost almost a third of the crew. That day was far from over despite my near death encounter. I was forced to command the entire port side engine room alone. A pair of security officers" she paused and turned back to the table. She gave a nod to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Pace. "Your previous boss was also there. Five in all" she said turning back to Noonia. "I was the only engineer in charge of the Port Side Impulse Stacks."

She ended what she was doing on the terminal and walked back over to Noonia and handed his PADD back to him. "Moral was always an issue for us" she said softly. "We hated the idea that tomorrow could be our last. So this is how we coped with it. A group of us Junior Officers got together and formed a band. Those who couldn't play helped write songs. Even your hero, Commander Bonham was part of it. He was the lead singer" she said with a smile. "I couldn't play, but I knew how to write songs. There is a video on there. Before the Velos invasion, we transported nearly a thousand marines. Plus more aboard other ships. Captain Campbell, then just a lieutenant, knew that moral was an issue. So what did he do? He pushed the issue till he almost got tossed in the brig. But he got permission for us to hold a concert. The entire Flight Deck was filled with crew members and marines. God what a night. The unity aboard this ship was shaped that day. A unity that wasn't broken till CMO-26."

She started to walk back to her chair, "so lieutenant, the moral of my little story is this. When moral is low don't look to others for answers. Find an answer within your own means. Because as a Junior Officer, we have much more ability to cross departments than anyone else does. We have bridge gaps faster than any action the Captain or XO might take." she said as she reached her chair. "Tell me lieutenant, do you understand what I am saying?"