Security Check-Up
Posted on Wed May 21st, 2025 @ 7:38am by Commander Marisa Sandoval & Major Hastios Eilfaren
Edited on on Wed May 28th, 2025 @ 12:08am
2,853 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
In The Nick Of Time
Location: Office of the Chief Security Officer - Deck 3 - USS Herodotus
Timeline: MD001 1130 hrs
Marisa had been gathering a list of supplies to order before the ship left Kok station, but she had yet to ask Hastios if security needed anything. In fact, she hadn't even stopped by security to see how it was doing in general. Probably because she spent much of her free time reading up on the ship and on temporal science. But she needed to remedy that. So, with PADD in hand, she headed down to deck three.
It was a small ship, for living in anyway. Most of it was taken up by the temporal technology and other bits of kit so Hastios had taken to training his security staff where ever he could. As such they were doing laps of the deck to improve their fitness levels as he wasn't overly impressed by what they'd given him. Starfleet security vs Starfleet marines? There was no question in his mind who were better, fitter and more equipped.
The last of the group huffed and puffed over the line, a line Hastios had crossed at least a minute ahead of them. "Well... that's an improvement at least." he commented as he wiped himself off with a towel and then threw the others the ones he had waiting. "Go, shower and hydrate.", murmurs from the officers could be heard quietly but all the same the walked off with a slight stiffness to their bodies.
There was an amused smile dancing at the corners of her mouth as Marisa came up to the major. "How many laps are they doing?" It was a good idea to keep them fit. She might even ask to join them some time.
Hastios found his furrowed brow rise at the sight and sound of the XO. Their previous interaction had been pleasant and he'd taken a shine to the younger woman. However, he sighed at the question as it was all too real how unprepared he found his new security staff to be. "Sadly, only 20 at this point. Working towards 50 but I know not to push them too far or I'll end up with reports of injury and a visit from very angry medical staff about overworking their bodies." he chuckled.
"I have no doubt they will get there in time." She watched the last of them walk off. "Do you have a few minutes, or would you prefer I return later?" It wasn't something she needed to take care of immediately, if he needed to get cleaned up as well.
"They have no choice but too." Hastios replied to the dark haired woman as he dabbed himself with a towel. He found it more worrisome that someone of his size and bulk could outrun someone much more nimble. The view of his didn't give much imagination to that of a cardio lover, and in truth he wasn't but it was something he had to do.
"I've always got time for you, commander. Please..." he gestured towards his office. As they walked the lights of the corridor hit the sweat on his body and he shimmered like one of those ridiculous vampires from the Twilight series. As they approached the doors of his office they swooshed open with their usual grace and they both entered. "I'm getting myself a water, would you like anything?" Hastios asked as he moved towards the replicator.
"A water is fine, thank you." She took the opportunity to look around the office to see what personal touches he chose for it. Marisa was always interested in how people showed bits and pieces of themselves and what mattered to them.
As Hastios ordered the water there were many things in his office that could be seen. Many professional accolades, images of his time with the marines, his command of the Moriarty and Ares, the latter being a spec ops marine vessel. Still it was listed as a normal Starfleet vessel for obvious reasons. On his desk he had trinkets, some old Borg tech from the Battle of Wolf 369, inert of course. On his wall hung a Dominion Jem'hadar weapon and some knives. He'd had a career built on war and destruction but he'd survived. Around the room there was also a smattering of Romulan, El Aurian and Human decorations.
"Here you go, ma'am." Hastios said as he handed her the glass of water.
"Thank you, kind sir." She smiled and took the glass with a half-bow. "You are a gentleman and a scholar."
"Please, take a seat." Hastios gestured to either the chair by his desk and the small sofa by the wall to the left of his desk. "I can promise you that if you looked around this room the gentleman and scholar title may not be such a good fit... but I appreciate the compliment."
She chose the sofa and sat down, then turned her attention back to Hastios. "It takes more than books to be a scholar and more than clothing to be a gentleman," she countered. "But I take your point, and it is meant as a compliment." Then she couldn't help smiling as she added, "If you saw my office, I would definitely look like a scholar, but probably not a gentleman."
"A gentlewoman perhaps?" Hastios pondered but ultimately shrugged and looked at Marisa. "So commander, what can I do for you today? I doubt you are here to see my teams to laps of the corridors." he smirked.
"Well, I did not intend to catch you exercising," she admitted. "I wanted to see how you were settling in and if you need anything. And please, if we aren't on the bridge, call me Marisa."
"Yes ma'am." Hastios caught himself. "Marisa.". Sitting down on the same sofa, a person space apart, he cupped the glass in his large hands. "Thankfully I think I have everything I need, and the quartermaster and I have had a long chat about keeping ourselves well stocked and supplied. You never know when you are going to get stuck in time and I'd rather not be caught unprepared."
"I agree. I, too, am trying to get everything we may need stocked before departure. But preparing for the unknown is problematic. But, we do what we can. I was going to ask you if there is anything you need, but it seems you already have that covered." She wasn't surprised he and the quartermaster had already discussed supplies. Still, it was good to be certain.
"I like to be prepared, ma'am." Hastios already broke the calling her by the first name habit. Years in the military had drummed into him a sense of respect for his superiors that he, at times, found hard to shake. "Do you have any insights into where we may be going, or when should I say, for our first mission?"
"None. We go where and when the need arises. Thus is the nature of our assignment. I believe much of our down time will be spent here, but that, too, will depend on the need. I believe hurry up and wait is an apt description."
"Ah so we get to spend most of our time on a barren ship with no real facilities." Hastios shook his head at the lack of space and ability to 'branch out'. However, he did accept the assignment and was now here to fulfil his role. "I am very much in the 'hurry up' cam at the moment. "Need to stretch my legs."
"There is the station." She shrugged. "And we might be able to add a little to what we have here, but as you have seen, there is not much room to spread." There was a distinct twinkle in her eye as she added. "Although it did look like you were doing a decent amount of stretching just now."
"I'm used to working on limited resources." Hastios admitted. "In the marines you can be put into situations where you just have the kit on your back. My undercover roles were especially challenging as I was given an identity, and a start before being left on my own to complete my mission."
"As a scientist, I, too, have dealt with limited resources, but they generally included basic supplies and a means of communication." She shook her head. "Having just an identity and a start is something else entirely. That you succeeded is impressive."
Hastios shrugged. "You can't not succeed. If you don't, you die." he said simply. Maybe he sounded cold and detached, or that it wasn't a big deal, but he knew the severity and seriousness of such work and as he was often the unseen element in many operations he quietly got on with that work. However, hearing the background of Marisa he thought he'd find out a bit more. "What science background do you have?" he asked.
"History, archaeology, and anthropology." She shrugged. "As interconnected as they are, I could not decide on just one. I spent a fair amount of time working at archaeological sites where amenities are scarce."
"Sounds fun." Hastios admitted. "I've seen a few relics in my time." he joked. "But I can see the appeal of digging in the dirt and seeing what you find. Before I was in this part of the galaxy I did my own travelling, searching worlds for stories, for 60 or so years. Wrote a book about it as well." he added as a throwaway comment. "Did you find anything that you fell in love with?"
"Yes. There was a small tropical planet with an ancient city at the back of a box canyon. Some of the caves along the rock walls had been used for storage or small dwellings. There were also hanging gardens and a waterfall." She smiled, remembering her time there. She turned her smile to Hastios. "I would love to read the book you wrote. I love stories from other worlds."
Smiling at how well Marisa spoke so fondly about her past exploits it made Hastios miss his own care-free life of just travelling the stars. He'd just point his ship in any direction he wanted and off he'd go, well most of the time. There were times of course that he'd follow interesting leads from other worlds and visit the 'must see' worlds of certain areas. "You can't beat a hanging garden, and especially a waterfall. On El Auria we had a 'waterfall' for lack of a better term that instead of cascading down it rose from the apex of the cliff. Something about the gravity of that area, an anomaly that caused this to happen but it was very beautiful. As the suns hit the water it would refract causing a rainbow like effect. It was quite the sight." he found himself recalling the memory of one of two visits.
"As for my book." he turned and picked one off the shelf behind him. "I don't have many physical copies here, and its not in the ships computer, but you can have this one if you like. It is a first edition and just over 180 years old." he handed her the book with care. It was heavy, almost like a tome but inside were stories of worlds never seen by Starfleet, of species never met. Some may even have been said to be in his imagination but he found others lacked belief in what they couldn't see first hand.
She took it reverently and carefully opened the cover. "This is priceless. Are you sure you want to give it to me? A copy would be enough." The waterfall on El Auria was something she would have liked to see as well, but this book was special. She gently looked through a couple of pages before closing it. "I do not quite know how to thank you." A first edition of stories Hastios had collected himself was an incredible gift.
"I know you will take care of it." Hastios nodded his head forwards slowly and with respect. "And if you really feel uncomfortable you can copy it and return it. I'll leave that decision up to you." he smiled at the younger woman. "You don't have to say thank you, just enjoy the stories."
"I will do both." She smiled again. "Take care of it and make a copy so I can enjoy reading it without worrying about damaging the spine." She gave him a self-deprecating smile. "I have a large collection of first editions on Earth. I had to move them from my home to a temperature-controlled facility under a company I created so I do not have to worry about them being sold if I choose to stay here and am pronounced dead. Unlike many on this ship, I am not dead to my family. My record says that I am officially on a deep space assignment for two to three years. If I stay with DTI, I will likely donate them somewhere." That was probably more information than he cared to hear. She gently touched the book again. "Would you mind if I came back after I finished so we could talk about the places you visited and their stories?" They would likely be busy soon, but she did enjoy talking with him.
"I'm undercover again if anyone asks around for me." Hastios chuckled. "A lot better than being presumed dead. I am very fond of my things that I've accumulated over the past couple of hundred years and I'd hate for someone to have them when I get back." he added as he then listened to her some more. "Of course you can come back. I'd love nothing more than talking about places I've visited. Seems like another life ago now but I'll see what I can remember." he smiled.
"I would love to do that." She enjoyed talking with him and would love to hear stories of his travels. "Let me know when as I am more likely to pester you about it and I don't want to do that." She shook her head and addressed his other comment. "I wish I had the opportunity to be undercover somewhere. I was told I could be dead or go on a deep space assignment for two years. I have a feeling I will be pronounced dead before that time, which is why I felt it necessary to protect everything I collected over the years."
"You'll know my schedule before I do." Hastios chuckled as the XO usually did the duty roster for bridge crew and senior staff. "And I more than welcome your pestering." he smirked as he rolled his shoulders to stretch them out. "Undercover can be fun but sometimes quite lonely... and even when you make connections in the places you are then you know deep down they could be cut in a second if you are called back or complete your mission. Though if you are ever pronounced dead you'll be the best looking deceased person I know."
She laughed at that last comment. "Look how lovely she is as she lies there, decomposing her personal etude to the eternities." She shook her head, going back to what he said. Starfleet made it difficult to maintain relationships, but this was an entirely different level of isolation. "I hope you do not regret that invitation. As I do set up the duty roster, I plan to ensure there is time for me to pester you on a fairly regular basis."
"Not at all ma'am." Hastios smirked. "After all, on this ship all we have is each other and if we are to be lost to the cosmos or travelling through time then I'm more than happy to have my attention on something more pleasant. Time travel isn't good for us." he gestured to himself.
That was something Marisa didn't know about El Aurians, but she would definitely keep it in mind. "Well then, I will do my best." A slow smile spread across her face. "Whether it is to be pleasant or keep you distracted remains to be seen."
"I am happy to keep that as a mystery until it happens." Hastios referred to either it being pleasant or not.
She was enjoying the conversation and was loath to leave, but she'd taken enough of his time, and he probably wanted a shower before getting back to work. "I shall take my leave so you can get back to your duties. Let me know if there is anything you need from me--or when you are free to share some of those stories."
"I may need someone to spot me later in the holo-gym." Hastios smirked. "But goodbye Commander." There was a shared glance, longer than normal maybe but with the farewells done Marissa left Hastios to go about his business.
A Joint Post By
Commander Marisa Sandoval
Executive Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
Major Hastios Eilfaren
Chief Security & Tactical Officer
Second Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
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