TWQ: What are You Reading?

TWQ (the Weekend Question)  asks you what book you are reading at the moment.

What book are you currently reading, and what do you plan to read next? List your answers if you are not sure which it might be.

My answers are:

Currently, I'm reading The White Queen by Philippa Gregory. When that is over, I might read Sister by Rosamund Lupton or Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson . They are both sitting tthere tempting me.

Now it's over to you....

Looking Through CVs

Guest Poster: Will Riker

 Captain Picard has given Deanna and myseklf the unenviable task of looking through any applicants who want to join Starfleet. Though this is essentiallt done by the Academy, they thought we might be able to get a good idea of potential good students by looking through their CVs.

"These are a right shower, Deanna." I say disgustedly, "I doubt any of these will make it through the Academy, let alone get on a starship. They have no idea about how to write clearly.



"I know what you mean." answers Deanna Troi, "Listen to this one....I want to join Starfleet cuz I want to meet to meet lotz of sexy alien women."

"That's nothing." I reply, "James T Kirk said those very words on his CV when he applied to join. Still, times were different then."

"Quite so." Deanna answers, "He also adds....I also wanna blow up lots of evil aliens with my photon torpedoes."

"Perhaps we could put him in the diplomatic corps?" I slyly suggest.

"...If you want a galaxy war within a week!"  Deanna laughs. She takes a sip of her drinking chocolate, and I drink my coffee and eat my donut.

"Here's another one." I say, "She has sent her picture."





"She says....My name is Kara Thrace, although some call me Starbuck and want to be a pilot in Starfleet. I come from Caprica and was the top fighter pilot there. Give me a chance to prove myself.     She seems promising material, Deanna."

"I'm not sure, Will"  Deanna replies, "She looks a little too individual and wild for my liking.....listen to this other one...I want to be part of Starfleet for the glamour, the glory and the girls. If I save the universe a few times, then it's a bonus."

"That one is a real egotist." I tell her, "We don't want his sort in Starfleet."

"Then you'd better pack your bags, Will." laughs Deanna, "It was what you put on your CV many years ago."

TWQ: Unpleasant People

TWQ (the Weekend Question) will be asking you how you deal with rude, unpleasant people.

How do you deal with unpleasant people that you come across? List as many answers as you wish.

My answer is:

I would calmly ask them to repeat the abuse that they just said. If they repeat it in a more normal manner I'd say. "Oh, I thought I heard you say something else." If it is just repeated, I would say "I'm not paid to listen to that." and ignore them.

Now it's over to you....

Starfleet Redundancies (Part Four)

Alyssa Ogawa, T'Pol, Lieutenant Britney, Jennifer Baxter, Jadzia Dax, Deanna Troi, Seven of Nine and myself are all in the Ready Room, holding a crisis meeting.

We have all been made redundant by Starfleet's chief Evaluator, Shredder Smith!

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"They can't do it!" Deanna shouts, "We are being persecuted."

"It's Brit and I who are being persecuted because we are gay!" comments an angry T'Pol.

"They think they are getting rid of all the dead wood." Alyssa chips in, "But we all do a vital job on the Enterprise, though some are not recognised."



"We can't let it happen." Jennifer tells us, "We have relationships with others on the ship, which would split us up. I have my Data, Jadzia has Worf, the Captain has Bev and Deanna has Will."

A lot of head nodding goes on at this.

"Look." I say, "We know the situation, but there is nothing we can do."

"How about if we take a starship and start as an independent outfit?" suggests Britney, "We could have a skull and crossbones as our emblem. You wouldn't need to have an eyepatch or have your leg off, Captain."

"Thanks!" I say drily, "However, I think you're delving into the realms of fantasy there. We can all find jobs to do when we leave Starfleet."




"As a mind reader, I suppose!" Deanna suggests.

"I should have guessed why you always win at poker, Deanna." Jadzia sarcastically adds.

Annika, currently in her Seven of Nine consiousness suddenly gets up, says "Enough!" and walks out of the room.

"What is that all about, Brit?" asks T'Pol.

"Search me." Britney answers, "We have more important things to sort out."

For the next fifteen minutes, we go through all solutions, such as looking through the JobGalaxy website, or opening a restaurant together, or signing on the dole.

Suddenly the door opens and Shredder Smith appears.

"Errr..." he stutteringly starts, "There has been a change of policy at Starfleet. It has been decided that no redundancies will be made at all. You will all remain in your current positions. Sorry for any difficulties that arose."

He turns around and quickly leaves. We all look puzzled. Seven of Nine/Annika returns to the room.

"Did YOU have something to do with this?" I ask.



"Seven did." she answers in her Annika voice, "She contacted the Borg Queen, who then told the President of the United Federation of Planets that the truce they had with the Borg would be torn up if the redundancies took place."

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

"We all owe Queenie a big favour." Deanna says to me as we leave the room.

"It worries me what she will want in return when we meet next!" I say.

TWQ: Handling Stress

This week, TWQ (the Weekend Question) looks into ways people handle stress.

When you are in a stressful situation, how do you handle it? List as many as you wish.

My answers are:

* Count the alphabet to clear the mind and keep it active.

* At home eat a good meal and watch a favourite TV programme or film.

* Don't let the problem swallow your thoughts. Think clearly and rationally.

Now it's over to you....

Starfleet Redundancies (Part Three)

With all the talk of redundancies in Starfleet, the crew have been thrown into a right panic. Rumours abound be for the chop after the Evaluator talks to them in the one-to-one meeting that will come up for all of them. Things are now even more frantic, as he has now arrived on board.

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We go to ingratiate ourselves with the Starfleet Evaluator.



"Hello" I say, "I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard" I say, giving him my hand to shake. He doesn't respond.

"I'm George Smith, the Chief Starfleet Evaluator." he says coldly, "Please take me to a room where I may conduct the one-to-one meetings. I shall want to talk with all your senior staff, beginning with you, Captain Picard."

As we walk there, Riker beckons me aside.

"That's difficult, sir." the Commander comments, "He is known as Shredder Smith for the ruthless way in which he has downsized key departments in Starfleet."




"Perhaps I ought to wear this short skirt?" Deanna suggests, "It might help."

"Deanna." replies Riker, "Even if you went in there naked, I don't think it would make any difference to Shredder Smith."

-------

Eventually, Smith says he is ready. I go in to sit down, and find that my chair has been lowered, and the Evaluator's is significantly raised, so that he looks down on me.

"Now then, Captain" he starts, "You have been with Starfleet for some time. "You could take voluntary redundancy. It would save trouble for someone else."

"I don't intend to do that." I say sharply, "I like the position I have and don't want to be pushed out."

"That's not a good attitude to take, Captain." Smith replies, "Starfleet needs to make necessary restructuring in order to make itself leaner and better."

"Restructuring is another word for getting rid of people." I aggressively tell him, "There will be less people to do the same work. Starfleet will suffer in how it functions. Why don't YOU take voluntarily redundancy."

"I am always needed." Smith comments smugly.

"And Starfleet Captains are not?" I reply.

Smith writes a lot on his form and sends me out.



"How did you do?" Bev asks.

"I may need to go into SickBay." I answer, "I think I've shot myself in the foot."

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Over the next few hours, all the senior staff go in, and come out with a tired and harassed look. Eventually, Shedder Smith gathers us up in the Ready Room to discuss the results.

"I have found that a lot of the work here is duplicated, or could be centralised." he starts, "There are certain staff that  have been here too long, we are using for carriage, and duties where a planet could do on their own for a lot less money."

Everyone listens in close.

"I have therefore selected the following senior staff for redundancy. Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Alyssa Orgawa, T'Pol, Lieutenant Britney, Lieutenant Jennifer Baxter, Seven of Nine, Commander Jadzia Dax and Counselor Deanna Troi."

We are all stunned.  What shall we do now?

To be continued.....