I have a boss? TBD

Posted on Tue Jun 30th, 2026 @ 6:10pm by Lieutenant JG Miles Mercer & Ensign Serena Bailey

2,014 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: 1 - Third Contact
Location: Intelligence office

Serena had been kinda camping out in the intelligence office. There hadn't been anyone assigned there yet. She had been watching the data stream, taking notes and making certain her cousin didn't find her. As far as Serena knew, Ava didn't know she was onboard. Serena wondered just how long it would take for Ava to find out.

Today seemed to be like any other day, she was going to be able to be in the chair meant for the Chief of Intelligence, imagining that she was running it. Well in some aspect she was, who knew when they would send a department head. She had over her arm a bag with some goodies to munch on while she watched data and combined it, to send it forward. She was humming a tune when she approached the door which led into the chiefs office.

Miles found the sign for the intelligence office, he hadn't been aboard a Parliament class ship before. He somehow managed too find his quarters with help from an overwhelmed lower decks crew, as he entered the small office Miles took a moment too take in the surroundings four desks, a small workbench and his office, which was occupied he just stood there looking at the junior officer he advanced towards what he was certain his office, "Can I help you ensign?"

Serena gave out a startled squeak hearing someone coming up behind her, She whirled around to face the person behind her. Well she had to look upwards as her focus stopped at his chest at first.

"Uh hello, sir." she noticed that he was wearing an intelligence uniform and the -gulp- pip of an LTJG.

Serena moved to hide the bag of snacks behind her back. She wasn't certain how he would react to her having snacks in the office. "I was just coming into work..."

Miles looked at the ensign, "I'm Lieutenant Mercer, the new intel chief and you are?"

"I am Ensign Serena Bailey. Intelligence officer." she replied.

She reached up with her free hand to brush back her bangs from her eyes. She was going to have to get them trimmed.

Miles looked at the younger woman, "Ahh..." he paused as he set down a duffle bag, "So If I'm not mistaken this is more or less your first assignment?" he decided to test her right away.

Serena almost answered when a though jumped to her mind. "Just a moment sir." she tapped on her combadge. "Computer can you verify that a Lieutenant Mercer is currently in the intelligence office?" Serena having quickly gotten over her surprise at his arrival. She felt that there needed to be some verification as to who he was. Even though he was able to have gotten this far.

=="Confirmed"==

"Satisfied ensign?" Miles wasn't hiding his annoyance, "next time you bring snacks into the office bring doughnuts..." he started "Coffee too" he added, This one is going to be entertaining... he mused to himself

"Death Wish?" Serema countered, bringing out her snack bag, and pulling out a thermos, which was sealed shut and placing it on his desk. "Doughnuts. Glazed or lemon filled." three of each she brought out as well. She didn't smile, her face was impassive.

Miles was slightly amused "Haven't had Death wish bland since my last all nighter at the academy," He took the chair behind his desk "So what's your take on the strange uptake in Pakled activity?" he said leaning back in the highbacked chair.

" I had been seeing in the data streams, the desire to prove their strength and that they are not as dumb as people had been thinking them as." Serena went to retrieve two mugs from the replicator, along with something to keep the desk clean from the doughnuts. "They had carved up the Cerritos a few years back from what I had read report wise." She poured a mug for each of them, silding his mug towards Mercer.

She didn't ask, Serena just did.

Lifting the mug to her lips, she commented. "I think they are conmen, putting on the dumb act while they plan."

"There are a few out there that would disagree with you..." Miles started "People are just fooled enough that yeah they're playing an act, there are a few out there that think they are easily manipulated into doing someone's dirty work, maybe a disgruntled Kllingon or some over zealous admiral for example, my big fear is someone provides them with Varuvium bomb or similar device."

"Well isn't that part of our job to prevent that? Gaining information so as to point others in the direction where that can be prevented. Or... we end up taking cere of that? I am not certain just how you want to run things in the department." Serena taking another sip of her coffee.

"This isn't a war time situation these days, but we still need too collect the information, break it down into the relevant information that the command staff need, which means if we're going to be along the neutral zone the captain might need to know the known number so Romulan patrols working their side of the boundary, maybe if there are any renegade Klingons at work," he paused to pour a coffee "There comes a time where writing a memo isn't enough, you have to speak up and hope you're not in a runabout riding an ion storm into a situation."


Serena shuddered."That really isn't fun at all. I've been in a situation like that. Was a really scary situation. Good thing dad was good at shuttle flying." she regarded her new boss. "Anything you are expecting for our department? Besides my making certain you are sufficiently caffeinated?"

Miles paused, "As soon as a mission order comes out we need to be ready, ops will be screaming for information, tactical and security will be banging down the door next, we need to have the information they need, we also need to filter out the clutter, so it might be wise for you to brush up on history, learn to look at the past what went wrong, what can happen now based on those events and if all else fails be ready to improvise."

Serena nodded. "Have you met the Captain yet? She's hmmmnn.. an interesting Captain." Serene didn't want to say strange or even rather nervewracking. The captain did make Serena nervous since that episode at the orientation.

"I've only met two Gelrackians, that captain will eventually be the third, I'll get up too the bridge to make introductions soon as possible." Miles said "I assume that her expectations were already high when you arrived?"

Srena rubbed the back of her head. "The Captain was well, running a program for Orientation of the new crew and I questioned the holoteacher and the Captain. We were being given the odds of survival in being new crew members. Right from the start. we had already been told that befiore signing onto the ship. I questioned about the need for that to be done. Plus I had other questions that the holo teacher didn't seem to be able to answer. "

Miles groaned, "I despise holoteachers, their algorythums aren't designed to actually do anything outside of their teaching parameters."

"I was called into the Captain's office then sent to the Counselor. The Counselor wasn't bad but then she left after I had that counseling session." Serena giving a slight shrug.

"You're off the hook with me since I think that's borderline excessive." Miles said.

"Well I did cause quite a stir a bit, I wanted more information. The essence of information gathering. Oh well. what's done is done." Serena pulled out a doughnut from the bag and took a bite, it was lemon filled, the handed the bag to her boss.

Taking the bag Miles spoke again, "Observation is equally valuable." he said pulling out one of the doughnuts "What you see is just as valuable."

Serena nodded. "I agree." taking another bite of her pastry, then washing it down with her coffee. "The mission we are goint into, I found that we are going to the planet the Cerritos went to. And might need to be aware of the energies that were there. Um... there is probably more that you can find out, that I am not able to do so. Since well-you do outrank me."

Miles looked up from his coffee "I read that after action report, I didn't know if I should laugh or be concerned." he paused taking a pull on the mug of the dark fluid "Let's keep an eye on other technology they have or have forgotten about."

"I will keep an eye out in case I am sent on an away mission to the planet. Do you think I will be able to be a part of an away team?" Serena having a hopeful look in her eyes. as she took a bite of her doughnut.

"If we had some real coffee that would be the bonus prize for today." Miles commented.

Serena scoffed, "What do you think that is? Its not replicated, I do not like the replicated swill that comes out of the replicator. Not at all." the ensign, taking a fierce bite of her doughnut.

Miles paused taking a longer drink "Find more I have a feeling we're going to need it on this cruise." he said with a laugh then adding "Tell me about yourself."

"Well I have a mom, and a dad. two brothers and two sisters. I'm number four of the quintet. I don't know if you want to hear all of their names." Serena said blandly.

"My cousin is on this ship, she's the Chief of Science and I don't think she knows I'm serving on the same ship she is. Her name is Ava."

Serena took another drink of her coffee, then continued. "As for experience, I'm a freshly made ensign, this is my first assignment. I'm inquisitive, but dedicated to work. I like solving puzzles. I do like to observe people. I can read lips, speak three language beside my current one. I also play the electric cello, I do have a normal one but it is too cumbersome to move, hence the electric one."

"If they for any kind of a string quartet aboard ship I think you'll be busy." Miles said trying to break the ice.

A brief smile, from Serena. "Tell me a little bit about you. Family? Do you play an instrument? Any hobbies that you have if any?" As what Serena had said, she was inquisitive.

"Mom and Dad still live in Portugal cove Newfoundland, my brother was killed on Chintoka during the second counter assault." Miles paused drinking his coffee, "Far as non-duty related things, I do like to read things other than reports, I've started ice skating again after a few years of not being able too." Miles looked at Serena, "The one thing I'm going to miss is Sunday Jiggs' dinner with the family."

The mentioning of his brother having been killed, Serena lowered her coffee mug, her mouth going into oh. "I am sorry for your loss." she responded quietly. Then his last part as to Sunday dinner. "And what is Sunday Jiggs dinner?"

"Well...usually it's either roast beef or turkey, potatoes, carrots, turnips, some times cabbage and peas pudding," Miles started "Usually after there's pie or cookies for desert, and always on Sunday night."

"Oh that sounds so good and its making me hungry, even if we've been eating pastries." A thought came to Serena's mind. "What do you think about getting something to eat, or we can call it for the evening. Since we'll be working together. Well you're my boss, there will be more time for us to chat more?"

"Is there a mess hall, I could eat." Miles said uncertain of the intent of this invitation.

"Yes. there is." Serena responded.

---

Ensign Serena Bailey
Intelligence Officer
USS Quebec

Lieutenant Miles Mercer
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Quebec

 

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