[Steve Hamrick]

0945
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Steve was looking at his new manifest. He didn't like it one little bit. Well, he didn't know his new lieutenant and her service record looked good, and she should be coming soon after her in-brief to the expedition. It was having Vanessa on his team he didn't like. He brushed a hand through his short hair. Who thought it was a good idea to put the base shrink on his team?

He didn't mind it in theory, but the details were not to his liking. They were equivalent in rank, at least in terms of protocol. Would she be trying to override his decisions? And he didn't like having to expect a woman who knew things nobody else but Blake did about him to have any respect for him. They'd gone to her after Pandra, since there was almost nowhere on the expedition they could have out a marital fight without being overheard, and Steve knew he didn't need the gossip that would spread if they were heard fighting.

Yep, this would be fun. How much respect could she really have for him as an officer after knowing how screwed up he really was? Dr. Collins and Blake were the only two who knew his history, and after their latest Ancient tech encounter, Harris had a bit of an idea. But the boyfriend he'd told her about in the sim was only the first of 38 different men, and Vanessa knew that, due to Blake bringing it up during the fight. He wasn't ashamed of his past, but he wasn't naive enough to just blithely assume that Collins could forget everything she'd heard in his sessions with her. But he didn't have a say in her presence, and so he'd make it work.

Even if the psychologist had as little respect for him after therapy as he feared she did.

His mind wasn't really focused on the new military addition to his team as their meeting time was coming up.

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[Azalea 'De' Andre]

0945
Vedas Base
Corridor to LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

To say the hands were shaking was an understatement. Azalea was heading for a meeting with the Commanding Officer of her team - the team that she was the Executive Officer. This had to be some cruel joke. Her, Azalea Andre, an XO of a team in a new galaxy, the first time being on an expedition. Seriously, when was someone going to push the button and go, HA HA, you fell for the biggest joke ever. That is exactly what the brunette was expecting because there honestly couldn't be someone else more experienced for this job, and yet, here she was heading for this meeting. It was happening. It was real and she was scared shitless. This meeting wasn't helping the nerves whatsoever. It wasn't helping the thoughts that were coursing though the mind. The endless thoughts that this was a mistake. She was going to mess up. There was no way that she would make it on this team. There was no way she would make it in this galaxy.

The closer Azalea walked to the door, the more there was a want to turn around, and run back towards the gate. It wasn't too late to say there was a mistake. It wasn't too late to turn around and say it was time to go home. There was still more that this Lieutenant needed to learn. She couldn't have possibly completed all the training there was. There had to be more. As those thoughts kept coursing through the mind, Destiny's voice seem to come over on a loud speaker, almost telling her to chill. The older sibling was right. She was underestimating herself. It wasn't the luck of the draw that she was picked. Only those who were the best got picked. Still to this day, the Lieutenant wasn't sure how that was her, but regardless. She was picked and it was time to stop seconding guessing. If the program believed, then it was time to believe in herself. Put the best foot forward and prove to others that she did belong here.

0950
Vedas Base
Outside LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Taking a deep breath, Azalea stood outside Lieutenant Colonel Hamrick's office. The brunette stood there for an extra few seconds trying to gather what strength she might possibly have. This meeting would probably define how the rest of the expedition could be. If it went well, then there was hope that just maybe this was where she was suppose to be. If it went to hell in a hand basket, well she might as well repack all the bags and head out. Again Destiny's voice came over the mind setting her right. Even if the meeting didn't go well, that didn't mean go and run for the hills. Only quitters did that and this young woman was anything but that. Maybe before the military, but after coming through the Stargate Academy, quitting wasn't an option. She had come this far. There was no turning back now.

Giving a knock on the door, Azalea stood back waiting for the command to enter. The heart started raced as the feeling of walking to her doom came over. This war inside of her wouldn't cease and was only going stronger as the second ticked by. Hold it together Andre. You got this and time to show your CO you got this too, thought taking a deep breath. Calm, chill, and cool. That's how she had to play, even if the insides were swarming.

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[Steve Hamrick]

0950
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Steve was checking the latest work requests when the knock came. Still recovering a bit from the incident with the therapy device, he deliberately didn't reach for the door controls mentally. Based on his laptop's system time, and the calendar notification beeping now from email, he knew who it had to be. "Enter!"

He shut the laptop, determined to give Lieutenant Andre his full attention.

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[Azalea 'De' Andre]

0951
Vedas Base
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Azalea's heart started racing even more, if that was possible, hearing the word enter. Oh god, this was it. This was the moment of truth. Glancing back over the shoulder, there was the thought to go run again. It wasn't too late was it? That would make her a coward though and that was something never to become. After fighting this hard to get where she did, running away would only make things worse. There was no backing down now. It was now or never. Taking a deep breath, the brunette placed a hand on the door handle and slowly opened it.

"First Lieutenant Azalea Andre reporting for duty Sir," announced herself giving the roper salute, looking straight ahead. It had been awhile since giving a salute like this. After being on SG-21 for a year or so, salutes were a bit more laxed. This would take getting use to. Hopefully there would come a time where salutes would be a bit laxed here, but till then, back to the rules the Lieutenant had to go. If only Destiny could see her now.

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[Steve Hamrick]

0951
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Steve had Lieutenant Andre's service record open in front of him as she stood at attention. He could have left her like that while he checked a few things in her record, but that wasn't him. Maybe if he had another Marine in front of him he would.

No sooner than she spoke, Steve gestured to one of his two chairs. "At ease, Lieutenant. Have a seat, just watch the boxes. Spare computer networking equipment."

He was looking at her education. "Air Force Academy, Stargate Academy. Impressive, I came at this three-ring circus later myself. Service on SG-21, Major Wallace still owes me thirty bucks from our last football bet. I like getting someone with SG team experience already on SV-3."

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[Azalea 'De' Andre]

0953
Vedas Base
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Azalea gave a small smile, standing normal again before taking a seat in the chair to left. She gave a small glance over to box as she gave a nod, then continued glancing around the room, taking note at all that was one the wall. As soon as Hamrick started talking, the attention quickly turned to the Colonel. As he read over her record, it did sound fairly impressive. It was still hard to believe all that this brunette accomplished over the years. To think that she use to be a throw away foster kid, not caring about anything in life, and now a First Lieutenant of the US Air Force - it made her want to pinch herself to make sure this wasn't one huge dream. If it was, it sure was a good one.

"It was a honor serving with Major Wallace. He knows his stuff and wasn't afraid to share that knowledge with you. I learn a hell a lot from him. Just like make sure you never get on his bad side," stated as the eyes went wide slightly remembering the few times some of the team members had to get chewed out by him. Memories came flooding back thinking about the time with SG-21. There was many good times - fun memories, while also some trying times as well. The Lieutenant had heard quite a lot being on the team, and was grateful for the time serving there. "I'll make sure the next time I see him to let him know. I always got the feeling that he never quite liked owing bets."

Small talk, sometime that was never Azalea's strong suit. Then again, conversation with anyone who wasn't close to her was hard. When it came to a new CO that she was now XO to, that made matters only worse. "How long have you been CO of SV-3? Or with the expedition for that matter." Hopefully it was okay to be asking questions as well. If they were going to be working together, then they both had to get to know each other right? It couldn't be just be a one way street. This would show a little about Hamrick personality. If he took offense, and told her now wasn't the time for questions, then she already knew some of what lines not to cross. Hopefully that wouldn't be the case, but the questions were already asked. There was no turning back.

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[Steve Hamrick]

0953
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

"I worked with that guy at MWTC, he'll never pay up. But he did recruit me into the program." Steve was looking at her hand to hand skills on the record, she could help him train Cooper. Andre would know more about downing a larger opponent than he did.

Who wasn't really in a condition to practice hand to hand combat right now, right. Damnit.

While he'd been thinking of Cooper, Andre had asked him something. "What? Oh how long, right. SGC since the beginning of 2012, ran SG-15 since about June that year. Expedition left last August and I started work on Shiva's computer network and OS as soon as the gate shut down. CIO on Shiva, then picked up SV-3 in January."

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[Azalea 'De' Andre]

0955
Vedas Base
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Knowing that there was some background connection with the old team in the SGC, and now here, it did help put Azalea's nerves to slight ease. Hopefully that meant Wallace had given a good recommendation, or at least said something decent about her time on SG-21. If he hadn't there would no way she would be here right now. So far, Hamrick didn't seem too scary. Each minute that passed, a little bit more of anxiety was released. It wasn't completely gone. In fact it probably wouldn't be completely gone ever, but did help that the new CO appeared fairly kind. There was still more to learn about him, and the brunette couldn't be completely relaxed, but so far, it appeared he would be easy to get along with.

A brow raised as Azalea watched the Colonel's attention seem to flatter away for a moment. Well good to know that even a Colonel can get distracted too. Sometimes this Lieutenant was known for the ADD moments to kick up. She didn't mean to, but at times the mind wandered, or there was something new that caught the eye and turned focus away. Wallace always called it De's bunny trails. It became a running joke. Maybe it would be the same joke here?

The young woman had to admit - this CO had a pretty impressive record himself. There was a lot she would get to learn from him, especially having tours before joining the program. "What is the rest of the team like? I've read their files, but files can only tell so much. How long has this particular team been together? Minus me of course," asked knowing that the time length of a team said a lot. There was barely any new members coming or goin on SG-21 while she was there. It gave the team the proper time to grow, and come together more than a simple SG team. SG-21 was like a second family, and hopefully SV-3 would become like that as well.

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[Steve Hamrick]

0956
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Steve leaned back in his chair as Andre asked about the rest of the team. That would be an interesting topic. "Well, you are coming aboard at a rather perfect time, Andre. We've just re-organized after the re-assignment of my two soldiers. With any luck, they no longer have to work together."

As for the other long-standing member of SV-3, "Ms. Isabelle Cooper is an Italian diplomat and our negotiator, she's still on the roster but currently in an inactive status. She'll only go into the field once I consider the situation secure. Speaks 4 languages fluently, you guys overlap on Spanish and French." He paused and was totally deadpan as he cracked, "Extended conversations in languages I don't speak combined with pointing at me are summarily outlawed. Short conversations are permitted, but remember I do recognize the word 'idiot' in Italian."

Not letting on to the joke, Steve talked about Izzy's tactical training. "I've managed to bring her marksmanship to a decent level and taught her some basic hand to hand, enough to keep herself alive until she can reach a gun or one of us gets there. She's feisty, punched me once even. I've actually taught her how to hit properly since then."

And there were the additions, attachments for the upcoming mission. "Aboard for the upcoming gate mission are Dr. Vanessa Collins, our base shrink and one of our alien allies, Makes-Eternal-Everlasting." Steve paused on that part. "You've been read in on our Fijitian and Meowtian allies, correct? I just hope you're not allergic to cat hair, Andre. Makes is a Hunter rank in the Fijitian forces. She uses advanced holographics to appear humanoid, but they're intelligent big cats. Really big cats. Don't pi$$ off the woman with six-inch-long fangs, excellent rule of thumb."

He turned it back on her next. "So what are your professional goals while you're stationed on Vedas, Andre?"

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[Azalea 'De' Andre]

0958
Vedas Base
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Hearing that the team was reforming was encouraging for Azalea. It meant that she wasn't coming in completely as the newbie.  She wouldn't have to struggle more to find where exactly her place was, which was already seeming to proving to be hard enough. On the other hand though, it meant there would be some growing pains. It would take time for the team to truly come together. The main thing this female would have to work at in advance is not comparing SG-21 to the new team. It wouldn't be fair to either of them. That was a lesson she learned the hard way after graduating the academy, but an important one - one to remember here.

"Having someone else fluent is other languages will be helpful if any of the languages we encounter are similar to them," replied with a nod, trying not to freeze hearing that Collins was going to be on their team. Great. Destiny's shrink was going to be one of her team members. This was going to be just lovely. Sure that didn't mean that Collins would go therapist on her arse all the time, but it did make the mind wander what the older sibling had said. Just want she need in the back of the mind on top of everything else. "I have read up on them and going to take time to wrap my head around human cat people. Cool hell, but probably going to be in all. Random question, does she hiss?" Hopefully that wasn't inappropriate to ask, but it was an honest question. Wonder if she likes fish a lot too. This was going to be interesting on missions.

Hamrick's question made Azalea stop for a moment. Personal goals? Well not screwing up for one was a big one right now, but probably not what the Colonel wanted to hear - especially with her being his XO. "One of them is to learn a new alien language here and become fluent in it," replied truthfully, but then stopped again. If they were going to be on the same team and working together, honestly was going to have to be a given. Hamrick needed to learn to trust her. What better way then to be honest with some of what was going on in mind right now. "Honestly Colonel, right now with just getting here, there is so much to learn, I don't even know where to begin with a goal other than that simple one. The only other goal I can say is, not to screw up - prove I belong here and that it wasn't pure luck I was chosen. I don't know if that's what you would like to hear, but it's the truth. I feel like a fish out of water, I don't even know which way is up. If you ask me again in a few months, I'll be able to give more of an answer, but right now, those two, are the best I got."

Hopefully that answer didn't make her any less of a qualified XO. Hopefully he wouldn't turn around and say, I want someone new, you're wrestling with too much. Maybe having a shrink on the team wasn't a bad idea after all. All the brunette could say was the truth - nothing more and nothing else. Now to see if it was going to be okay for all of that to come out.

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[Steve Hamrick]

0958
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Steve nodded when Andre seemed to like hearing Cooper's fluencies. "I've tried learning a second language, but the only foreign language I'm good at is computer code. We met any robot civilizations, I'm ready for that sh!t."

And of course the Fijitians would be a new experience for her. "Well, I had one of our Meowtian allies under my command for a bit when Shiva went missing, and another was something of an acquaintance."

He could have mentioned Aear Charter's offer almost a year ago to help him have a kid with Blake, but he wasn't going to bring up any of his personal life up until he knew her better. Not that somebody wouldn't have already told her, he was sure of that. "They have tech and magic that really rides the line between the two. Beyond our understanding."

"If you want to pick a language that's real useful in this galaxy, it's not exactly alien but a lot of the base operating system displays in Hindi and a lot of worlds speak it, though the gate translation hides that. I know there's at least two scientists in your division who are fluent, Dr. Malhotra is a native speaker and the reason we're all here and Dr. Warren is about as good at languages as you and Cooper. Just try to not speak it with a Dixie accent the way Warren does."

And Steve was totally not above a tele-tweak of his partner. Andre would notice or be told soon enough what their relationship was, and as what she'd think, well, she could think all the slurs she might want. He only cared about what got said to his face.

And his attention had wandered for a moment, but he heard her expressing the wish to not screw up. "Well, I think that one is everybody's goal. You'll find the water. It could be worse. First thing that happened to me in this galaxy? Shiva's drives malfunctioning around us and we stopped off on a planet full of mind reading aliens with the 'power to cloud men's minds.' Tall, skinny, slimy, but nice people if you don't mind talking to someone in your mind. At least you can't screw up too badly at your level yet, Andre."

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[Azalea 'De' Andre]

1000
Vedas Base
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

It may have been very straight forward to share the fears and concerns that there may have been, but there was one thing that Azalea learned about herself over time. Some fears needed to be voiced, and she needed to voice them. Now the lesson was to learn who to share those fears with and who to keep it from. Maybe Hamrick wasn't one of those who wanted to know the fears. Maybe that was time to keep the mouth shut, but regardless, it was out there. After seeing Billie, the brunette knew the head of hers would be on a lot more straighter. Even though this wasn't a cadet mission from the Academy, there was still a lot that she could learn - and will if she kept alert, eyes open, and didn't act like a know it all. 

"I'm glad that I have your vote of confidence sir. I'll try my hardest not to let you down. When I do, because let's face it, I'm not perfect and I'm sure there is going to be something I do you don't like, I'm sorry in advance," stated quickly, wanting to do a face palm, because this probably was the worse meeting of a new XO to CO of all time. Watching the Colonel, since the start of this meeting, it seemed like his mind was elsewhere. It didn't fully bother this brunette because how many times did her mind wander during conversations, but during a meeting like this, one would think one would be more focused. "Sir, hopefully I'm not out of line for this, but are you alright? Since the start of this meeting you've seen off in another world," asked cautiously, biting the lip nervously hoping that wasn't wrong to do. "No pun intended by the way," quickly said realizing what was said at the end of the statement. 

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[Steve Hamrick]

1000
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

"Well, I accept your pre-emptive apology, Andre. And I will do likewise." The clock had turned to their scheduled meeting time as he glanced briefly at the ugly plastic desk clock from the Supply section.

And Andre brought up, with the several things on his mind that she could see his distraction. Which didn't help his feelings about the new paradigm on his team. "A little out of line, yeah, and above your pay grade. Other personnel and personal issues on SV-3 that don't concern you, Lieutenant."

Like Cooper being out of action and newly hitched, and having Collins, a civilian who was his equal in pay grade put on the team, who was also his couples counselor. And he was dealing with what the therapy device had dredged up from memories that Steve was happy to ignore most days.

He was still getting the sense memory of the smell of kerosene and smoke out of his nose, or the rain that had been falling that day and poorly hid an eighteen-year-old boy's tears. "And a recent run-in with some technology I shouldn't have activated." That brought up something that, checking her SGC records, wasn't noted or he was missing it. "Which reminds me, do you have the gene or not? I don't think it's on your records here; I do, for what it's worth."

It was at that moment that the office door opened with no knock or chime or preamble as a very upset anthropologist stormed in. "Steve! Are you aware that you have a battalion full of unevolved Neanderthals, no strike that, calling some of these Marines Neanderthals is an insult to Homo Neanderthalensis!"

Steve looked at Andre and while if she had worked for Major Chet Wallace, she would probably already know both that Steve was gay as Christmas and who Blake was, but he still played it professional. "Someone giving you a hard time, Doctor?"

But his tone had an edge he couldn't hide, that said anyone who was giving his lover trouble would be in trouble.

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[Azalea 'De' Andre]

1002
Vedas Base
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

Once the words were let out, Azalea knew instantly that it was a mistake. No matter how much time went by, thinking always  before speaking would probably be the one constant thorn in the side. It took time and trust to work up to those kind of questions; that was even if Hamrick wanted a friendship. Not everyone in the SG program wanted to be friends with everyone on their team, and she had to be okay with that. Giving a small nod, Azalea bit the bottom lip not saying anything more praying that this meeting would soon start going better.

"No sir I do not. I haven't..." started to say, but immediately stopped as someone else ran into the room. Blinking for a moment, the Lieutenant looked from the stranger to Hamrick, then back again, trying her hardest not to chuckle or anything. Of course this would happen with how the meeting was going. Remembering the various conversations with Wallace about Hamrick, the brunette quickly gathered that this had to be Dr Blake Warren, his significant other. Wonder how Des and James deal with issues like this. Wonder if they have ever ran into each others office like this. Definitely a question I'll have to ask her sometime, thought sitting back quietly, definitely not going to speak out of turn with this one. She had already done that enough with this meeting. She wasn't going to make that same mistake again

Tag: Steve Hamrick

[Steve Hamrick]

1003
LTC Hamrick's Office/Base Comms Office

It was only when she spoke that Blake noticed that Steve wasn't alone and maybe he should have checked the public version of the SV-3 calender on the base email server. The one Steve had helped set up and all. But he was upset enough to not do what he might normally, leave and come back after their meeting.

"Oh, hmm, Colonel, I'd like to have Gunnery Sergeant Perkins and his First Squad leader Staff Sergeant Amblin put on report." Blake was tapping his foot, his arms crossed tight across his chest

Steve looked at Andre. He was starting to wish he'd scheduled their one on one meeting for any other day than this one, and didn't like that she'd been totally right that he was distracted. He'd have to apologize for snapping at her before they closed this meeting. "I apologize, this shouldn't take long, Andre."

Perkins and Amblin. Steve pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know what your problem is, but we both know EO and EEO regulations don't apply to sexual orientation, Blake. I'll tap bases with Lieutenant Spaulding and have her 'subtly remind' them who oversees the Marine duty rosters on base. But I can't get them directly for whatever stupid sh!t comes out of their mouths."

Blake nodded and belatedly looked at the dark-haired woman sitting in the additional chairs. SV-3 had been re-organized, again, and Blake knew Steve had feelings about that. "Oh, um, sorry. Blake Warren, SV-1 anthropologist."

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