SD 241306.29 | Dr Rofer & Dr Cannon | Introductions

Posted on Sun Jun 30th, 2013 @ 12:00am by Lieutenant Carrie Rofer M.D., Ph.D. & Lieutenant JG Adrianna Baciami

1,210 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Secret Meetings

"Doctor Rofer?" a small voice came from the doorway of the CMO's office. It was Mackenzie's first day on the job and she was a little nervous, which was very out of character for her. With a smile, she brushed her long ginger hair behind her right ear and straightened her uniform.

Carrie was about to yawn just as the voice was heard. She stifled it quickly, slightly startled, and lifted herself up from her chair to look at the incoming figure.

"Ah!" she finally made the connection between the person standing at the door and her expected visitors. "Doctor Cannon?" it was only half a question; the woman's file had her picture. "Welcome. Please, come in, sit." She gestured at the sofa at the other side of the room and walked around her desk to walk over.

The young woman walked over and sat down, "Yes, I'm your new assistant chief medical officer, but I guess you know that already." She smiled chuckling slightly.

"Yes, I know," Carrie smirked and sat in the opposite sofa, "I reviewed your file. Quite a record it is! Your previous post was on the USS Cole. How did you like it?"

"It certainly was an experience," she smiled in response, "I was glad for the transfer though because of certain members of staff not being professional." With a sigh she paused, "I'm looking forward to working here."


Carrie nodded carefully, "Yes, there seems to be a lot of difference between civilian medical work and, well," she gestured around her with some exasperation, "star fleet. But," her expression became cheerful again, "we're running a much tighter ship on the Vindicator. Pun intended," she smirked.

"Well," she waved her hand dismissively, "except maybe for the Marines, but I'm sure that'll be solved soon too." She smiled again, not even noticing the quick shifts in her facial expressions.


"I'm looking forward to working here. It's going to be an odd transition though. From informal to formal. I'm sure I'll fit in over time, " With a smile and a confident nod Mackenzie looked around the room before clicking in, "wait... what's wrong with the marines?"

Carry huffed dismissively, "It's not really about formalities, it's more about hierarchies in Starfleet. And the Marines, well," she shook her head in some clear dismay, "they seem to think they are the owners of the ship and all its parts. And, well, they're somewhat rude." She looked at Mackenzie seriously, "if any one of them harasses you or acts inappropriately, you let me know about it immediately. That goes to everyone, not just Marines," she nodded in the general direction of the infirmary.

"It's nice to see a boss who takes care of her own," she suddenly smirked, "Sounds like a bit of fun though. I'm sure they're not that bad. Though... They could be famous last words." Cannon grinned.

Carrie nodded with a satisfied smile of her own, "If they are last words, they'll be their last words," she chuckled, almost childishly, then caught herself and cleared her throat, assuming a more adult posture to go along with her smile. "Starfleet seems to value hierarchy, which is important to get used to," Gods knew she had to remind herself that occasionally too, "but it's our job to remind them when medical concerns are higher priority than what they're used to. Then, well," she shrugged, "then it's their job to decide if they want to ignore our recommendation. In that aspect, Administrative decision process is quite similar to the civilian world."

She said that last part with the tone of someone who knows Medicine is Never Wrong.

"I'll learn quickly, don't worry," Mackenzie said dismissively like a teenager to a parent, "I'll slip up, don't we all, but it shouldn't take too long before I get into the routine of things after being on board a ship with no sense of hier-archy." She brushed her hair behind her ear and straightened her uniform, slouching in the chair slightly.

Carrie nodded, "Judging from your file, I'm sure you'll do perfectly fine. After all, I participated in approving you for the position," she smiled, "and I am rarely wrong." Her smile expanded, though not in a way that made it clear whether that was meant as a joke or as a serious statement. More likely, some mix of both.

Mackenzie took it as a joke but cautiously responded, "Regardless of whether you wanted me or not, you're stuck with me ma'am." She smirked after saying it so that it would at least give a subtle hint that she was only being friendly and not a snob. She knew her place, but always like pushing the boundaries, it reflected most in Mackenzie's work.

"Oh, please," Carrie waved her hand, "Call me Doctor," she smiled as if that made it a lot more personable. "And I guess I am stuck with you, though I could always assign you to the Marines if it ever becomes a problem. They do need a field doctor." she noted seriously, looked at the woman for a moment, then grinned.

"Zippity!" She exclaimed, snorting a smug chuckle, enjoying her own joke. "Almost I had you there, didn't I."

Mackenzie was starting to realise Carrie's lack of young social skills, street skills if you will and chuckled, "Until I see first hand why you don't have a high opinion of the marines, I won't judge. I thought most women liked a man in uniform anyway?" She hinted with an over dramatic 'if you know what I mean' expression before laughing again.

Carrie didn't know what she meant. She snorted, still fighting back gentle chuckles, "Everyone is wearing uniforms on the ship," she noted, wiping the corner of her eyes, "so if you're right, we may have to start a crew-wide Sex-Ed class."

Mackenzie's eye's narrowed as she sensed Carrie didn't have much of a clue, but continued, "You have a point, but I'll leave that one to you."

"Understandable," Carrie nodded, somewhat regaining what she considered her 'professional' posture again. "Not many Doctors like to deal with this delicate subject in front of such a big group. We'll work on it," she smiled reassuringly, completely oblivious to the undertones of Mackenzie's remarks.

"In any case, I'm very happy to have you. I already set up an office for you in the Administrative area, but let me know if there's anything that you need. And please talk to me if you ever encounter anything that is not to your satisfaction. I would have said that my door is always open," she gestured at the entrance, "but that isn't accurate, I close it when I'm with a patient. You can contact me through the comm-link if it's urgent." She finished with a warm smile that was only mildly condescending. She practiced it.

"No problem," she smiled in response, "I will start work when stated, so 0900, which by my watch is 5 minutes." She extended her hand, "Glad to be on board."

"Glad to have you," Carrie shook, nodded, pleased to see a punctual Doctor, and then got up to return to her desk.

* * *

Lieutenant Carrie Rofer, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Vindicator

Lieutenant JG Mackenzie Cannon, MD
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Vindicator

 

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