Command Shakeup

Posted on Wed Jan 18th, 2023 @ 6:47pm by Executive Officer Lucas Torran & MegaCorp Owner Ashlyn of Koryndell

Mission: What Lies In The Darkness
Location: Ashlyn's Office, Tassryth Station
Timeline: 248001.01 16:35
Tags: I

A request had come across Ashlyn's desk from the current Executive Officer of the FarVoyager. She had read it, frowning, but in truth, she was not overly surprised by it. The man had the potential to do the job, but he really had not seemed like the type to thrive in it emotionally. He wanted to shift positions, which would mean that she would need to fill his current role again. And so she had begun a search for the right person.

That search had brought her to the man who was currently scheduled to meet with her. She had read the information available on him, but she never trusted electronic documents; they were too easy to tamper with. No, it was always better to meet with a person face to face, in her domain, and feel them out for herself. So she cleared the information on her Crystal Interface Terminal and sat back to wait for him to arrive.

It had been a long and uneventful trip to Tassryth Station for Lucas Torran. Tall and broody, and with an intimidating stare, he entered the docking port and immediately took in his surroundings and the people moving, coming and going, there. Although he was running later than he preferred, he'd still make it on time to an appointment he'd been looking forward to. Therefore, he shook off his annoyance at the docking delay and continued on his way. A short time later, he found himself standing before Ashlyn's office. Reaching forward, he pressed the chime.

Ashlyn keyed the terminal to display the view from the camera just outside the office. Seeing the man she had been waiting for, she noted the time and smiled. He was prompt. She liked that. Keying the door open, she flicked a finger over the terminal to clear the camera image away. Standing as her guest entered, she smiled. "Right on time, Mr. Torran. I like that. Please have a seat. Would you care for anything while we talk?"

Lucas gave her a polite nod at her greeting, his metallic blue-grey eyes quickly taking her in. He then took the proffered seat. "Yes, Earl Grey tea, please," he replied, "And with one teaspoon of sugar."

Ashlyn studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Been on Earth too long, hm?" she jested as she found the correct tea leaves in her cabinet and placed them into a small, metal thing that looked like a mesh cup with a small handle on it. This she set into a mug, the rim of the metal cup resting on top of the mug's edge. "I have only been there once, and that was enough for me," she admitted with a chuckle, pouring hot water into the mug and thus through the metal thing. She then placed a lid on top of the metal thing.

While the tea steeped -- she had the mug sitting on a small warmer so that it didn't get cold while it steeped -- Ashlyn turned to face him and leaned against the table she had been working at. "I've read your dossier, but I don't care for them really except as reference points for where you've worked that allow me to check your background. And yes, I know, that makes me sound very paranoid, but it's always better to be safe than sorry." Especially after that debacle with the first Security Chief that FarVoyager had gotten, she reflected bitterly. "So I'd like to know more about you."

Lucas nodded with an air of understanding, although there was a slight hint of steel in his eyes as he first replied. "Although I represent the Builder empire, I grew up on Earth, in England to be precise. My mother is Human. As a young man, I was trained in the Builder ways on my father's homeworld. My dedication as a Builder warrior stands unchallenged." He said the last informatively.

The words themselves she might have found in the background section of a dossier, but the way in which he delivered them told her about him in ways that simply reading them would never have. For one thing, she could sense that he was very proud of both of his heritages and even more so of his own record as a warrior. She also saw his confidence in his abilities. Strength came through in his manner; he held her gaze steadily, did not fidget, and seemed to be studying her even as she studied him. Good.

"I assume you've read the information I sent to you when I requested you meet with me?" she asked.

He gave the briefest of nods, "I did, yes. I am fully aware of what is expected." His dark eyes deepened, "as well as the recent security breach with the errant former Security Chief."

Ashlyn frowned, her own sapphire eyes darkening a little at that. She tried to vet everyone before hiring them, and she hated it when they made a fool of her like that one had -- yes, she knew the woman had a name, but Ash would now forever think of her as That One. Forcing the feeling of betrayal and foolishness for not finding all of it sooner back, she nodded.

She smirked. "Errant? That's your word for it, hm?" she half-joked. Such things were nowhere near a joking matter to the woman many called the Queen of Paranoia -- she thought that was another person, though -- but she also didn't want to give the impression that she was so tight that she was breeding sticks where they didn't belong.

Lucas didn't answer at first but was certainly studying her. What he saw was an intelligent woman, unused to making such mistakes. Before replying, he slyly smiled. "It is one word among many." He knew if he had been in her shoes, he would have many choice words for the former security chief that would earn his Human mother's disapproval.

Ashlyn studied him for a moment then chuckled. "Yes, many, most of which don't actually translate but are very... fitting," she admitted. Already, she found that she liked him. But there was one last thing that needed doing before she fully gave him her trust and the job. She touched a control on her terminal and locked eyes with him. "There is one more thing I must ask of you before this is finalized. Because she was a contractor and not an employee, I did not subject her to the Mind Scan that all employees go through before becoming employees. I refuse to repeat my mistakes, so I must ask you if you are willing to allow my Scanner to look into your mind." His response to this would not only tell her something about him but would also determine whether or not she could truly trust him.

With a slight smile, Lucas simply replied, "I am." He was not a stranger to the technique, so there was no need for inquiring what it was or explaining what the scan might find. He knew the scan wouldn't read any specific thoughts but would search for any malicious intent within the deepest corners of his mind. While he had intentions, none were malicious. He simply did not mind, finding it necessary to ask, "Considering the situation, I assume all the remaining contractors on the FarVoyager have been given this scan?"

Ashlyn smiled again. Good, he was showing that he had the good leadership skills she had suspected from his file. "Since the FarVoyager has already departed, they haven't been yet. However, they will be. When we send you through the Doorway, our Scanner and his team will accompany you for just that purpose," she answered easily. That had already been her plan, after all.

Reaching over to her terminal, she touched another control that signaled her Scanner Nirel to enter. The door opened, and a tall man -- 6 feet and 1 inch to be precise -- with raven hair and eyes that seemed to be a mix of shades of browns and greens entered. He was dressed in the standard black uniform of ShadowDragon with the emblem on his left shoulder. Beneath that emblem was another that represented the specific section of ShadowDragon that he worked for, the Scanner Corps. As he entered, and the doors closed behind him, his eyes fixed on Ashlyn. "You summoned me, Ma'am?" he confirmed with a tone of respect.

Ashlyn nodded. "Yes, Nirel. Please come in." When he did, she continued. "Nirel, this is Lucas Torran. He is, if he passes your scan, to be the new Executive Officer of the FarVoyager." She then looked at Lucas. "Lucas, this is Nirel. He is the head of my Scanner Corps and the best among them. He is the one who will perform the scan." She then waited, giving the two men a chance to interact if needed.

Nirel took his eyes from Ashlyn and ran them over Lucas before bringing them up to hold solidly on Lucas' metallic blue-gray ones. "Do you have any questions before I begin the scan?" His tone was neither friendly nor unfriendly. If anything, it could best be described as neutral. The look in his eyes was the same.

Lucas had sat back with a casual demeanor while watching the man the entire time. "I have none," he said, though there was a hint of warning in his eyes.

Neither Nirel nor Ashlyn missed the subtle tone in Lucas' voice. Neither did either of them make any response to it directly. "Then shall we begin?" Nirel asked,m though it was more of a warning that he was about to than it was a question or request. Permission had already been granted.

Nirel first simply linked minds with the half Builder before him, giving the other man a moment to become accustomed to the sense of him. Then his mind flowed through every nook and cranny of Lucas' mind, searching. He was not reading specific thoughts or memories. His focus was personality, ideology, patterns and intentions. He was looking for things that might endanger the people on FarVoyager, but specific thoughts were not necessary for that knowledge.

Lucas sat there relaxed; this wasn't his first or likely his last scan. He wasn't concerned, but his realistic nature, who he was, was ready for anything unsavory to happen or pop up, not that he suspected something would.

Nirel slid through every corner of Lucas' mind, examining intentions, attitudes, and potential problems. Finding nothing of concern, he withdrew and looked at Ashlyn. "He's cleared," he informed her simply.

Ashlyn nodded. "Thank you, Nirel. Please wait in the outer office. You will be accompanying him to the FarVoyager to scan its crew and passengers."

Nirel nodded, turned, and left the office. Ashlyn returned her gaze to Lucas. "There is one more thing. These scans are run on all employees once a year. Things can change -- a lot can happen in a year --- and I prefer to be over-cautious. If that is acceptable to you, then we can negotiate your contract. Is it acceptable?"

Lucas then nodded an affirmation, "It's a very wise course." It was unfortunate that it hadn't already been used on the FarVoyager crew, a regrettable mistake that he'd be sure would never happen again. He imagined both the Queen of Paranoia and the FarVoyager's commanding officer would be with him in that regard.

Ashlyn smiled, pleased. "Good. Then we move on to the contract." She took a sheaf of papers from her desk and slid it across the desk to him. "This is the standard contract for an employee in the position you are being asked to fill. Please read it carefully and remember as you do that everything" she stressed very slightly that last word "is negotiable." She removed the tea leaves from the mug and passed the mug to him as well now that it was sufficiently steeped -- this whole thing had not taken more than ten minutes. "When you are satisfied, we can begin negotiating. Or if you have questions, you may ask them."

Lucas gave her another nod as he picked up the papers, finding it unusual, yet not unheard of, to receive the contract this way instead of on an electronic pad. He took a sip of his tea, appreciating its taste and allowing his expression to show it. Then turning his attention back to the contract, he started reading it over. As a speed reader, it didn't take him long, and he placed it back on the desk. The contract was, he reflected, pretty much what he had expected it to be. His eyes laid intently on hers, "It's a good contract. I have no questions at this time."

Ashlyn nodded, studying him carefully for a moment. "And no points you wish to negotiate?" she asked to be certain that all of the provisions in the contract were to his satisfaction before they signed it.

"None," he stated simply.

Ashlyn raised an eyebrow but nodded, accepting the answer. The raised eyebrow was only because he was the first in a long time who didn't try to negotiate something. Well, except for the ship's captain who had asked many questions, but did that really count as negotiating? "Very well then," she said, reaching into her desk and retrieving a pen that was still in its packaging. This, she handed to him. "This pen is what you will sign all documents for ShadowDragon with. It is special. When you open it and first begin to use it, it will take a tiny sample of your DNA and infuse that into the ink. This minimizes the risk of forged document signatures." She then took one of the exact same pens from her pocket and held it up. "And as you can see, I use the same type of pen. I will allow you to sign, then I will sign, and then I will duplicate the signed contract so that each of us has a copy."

Looking down at the pen, Lucas flipped it through his fingers before holding it once again in a writing position. He understood the importance of verified documents and could respect this tactic. And since there was no reason to prolong his decision, he signed the contract, barely able to feel the flutter against his skin when his DNA was taken. When he finished, he handed the pen and the paperwork back over.

Ashlyn took the papers but shook her head at the pen. "Keep the pen. Any reports or documents signed for ShadowDragon must be signed with that pen. And you will be periodically sent replacement ink cartridges for it." She put her signature on the stack of papers where needed and then put them into a scanner. The machine scanned them, saving a copy in the master database and producing a second copy on paper. This she took, bound it together, and handed across to Lucas. "Would you also like a digital copy for your records?" she asked before moving on.

"Yes, I would," he replied with an upward glance, tucking his newfound pen away. Then his eyes landed on her again, and he kept them there, though not rudely. Despite any initial impressions he may have had when first reading the information on what had happened on the FarVoyager, he found her intelligent, thorough, and her preferred form all very appealing. With interest, he kept his eyes on hers, where they needed to be.

Ashlyn nodded, sliding her hand over the screen of her terminal. After a moment, a slot opened in the desktop near the screen, and a data pad slid up. She removed it and handed it to him. "The contract is on that tablet. The tablet is secured, so you can store any sensitive documents on it. Even I won't have your code to unlock it. When you first turn it on, it will ask you to create a code. That code will not exist anywhere else in ShadowDragon's computers." That was her paranoia showing again, but he seemed not to be ruffled by it. Good.

As they had talked and negotiated, she had observed him. What she saw, she liked. They seemed to be on similar pages if not the same one, and that was rare. "With that done, do you have any other questions for me? If not, I will let you go with Nirel for transfer to the FarVoyager."

"No other questions," he answered and got out of his seat from there. They had gone over everything he needed to know that hadn't been in the information previously sent to him. He was more than ready to move on to the FarVoyager, although he hoped to get to know Ashlyn more someday.

Ashlyn stood with him, smiling. "Excellent. Well, if you do think of any, just ask. Meanwhile, Nirel will meet you in the outer office and accompany you to the IPD. Welcome to ShadowDragon Enterprises."

"Thank you," Lucas replied with a satisfied and genuine smile, one not many received. With a final nod, he turned and walked away, leaving the office with an air of confidence and determination to get to his new assignment.