New Responsibilities "
By: Dr. Alyssa Caitlin Northrop, Intel Officer, [PST]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.25 1200

Hunter returned to the Observation deck and sat down at the console. Although distracted by the flashing amber light which some how represented Birkoff's desire for destruction, he began looking through the duty roster.

The choice to replace Atwood with Northrop was logical.

Hunter tapped the com panel, "Dr. Northrop, report to the Observation Lounge."

Alyssa looked up from her terminal when she heard Hunter's voice over the comm system. She tapped her comm badge, "Aye Sir.....I'll be there in a moment."

Standing up, she closed her terminal and left her office, making her way up to the Observation Lounge.

When Alyssa entered, Hunter was pacing back and forth in deep thought. "Please have a seat."

She took the nearest seat and look her Captain, "Sir? Would you mind telling me what this is about?"

"I know this is sudden but you are hereby assigned as acting Chief Intelligence Officer."

The Archaeologist blinked a little, looking at Hunter.

"Sir? Why the sudden promotion? What happened to Lt. Atwood?"

"Lt. Atwood has been reassigned. There will be a senior staff meeting in 1 hour, please attend. Congratulations."

"Yes Sir....I'll be there." This was all a little bit sudden...and she wasn't entirely sure what to think. She hadn't even taken her Chief Warrant Officer's Exam yet. Speaking of which....it would probably be a good idea to mention that to the Captain. "Sir.....would it be possible for me to take the CWO Exam? I've been studying and well....I'm ready." If there was one thing Alyssa Northrop was good at...it was acing tests. She'd been doing it all through school...up to and including her Thesis Defence.

Hunter smiled at her. She was as tenacious as ever. He pulled back a chair and sat down next to her. "Alyssa, we're being diverted into a hostile situation. There won't be time to take the test."

Hunter paused, "As Captain of the USS Zion, I here by promote you to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. With it, all the duty and responsibility that goes with it. It is duly noted in the ships log that this field promotion is effective immediately and will be permanent upon completing your officer's exam."

"Aye Sir.....Thank you, Sir." It felt odd. It was her first official Fleet promotion. To tell the truth, she sort of felt like she did when she sucessfully defended her Doctoral Thesis: No Different. She half expected to feel wiser and just all around better...but she hadn't. She still been Alyssa Northrop. Still she smiled and felt honored that Hunter would go out on a limb like this and promote her before she took the exam.

Hunter tapped his combadge, "Computer, grant access beta-two to Dr. Alyssa Northrop, voice authorization."

The computer responded with a chirp, "Voice authorization accepted Captain Ian Hunter. Security clearance beta-two confirmed for Chief Warrant Officer Alyssa Northrop."

Hunter stood up, "Congratulations Chief," he said.

"Thank you, Captain. I know I'm not the easiest officer to work with....but...um...", Northrop stopped there. So much to digest in such a short time. Really...she'd had two promotions. One to Senior Staff Level..and then in rank to boot. "I won't let you down, Sir."

"See you in about an hour," he said, "dismissed."

The archeologist stood and came to attention. "Aye Captain...1 hour."

That said, she left the Observation Lounge and returned to her office. She didn't have time to move into Atwood's just yet. Though she wanted to. Hunter had said something about being sent into a Hostile Situation. It would probably be a good idea to take a look at what they had on enemy ship movements....just in case.