Pressure - Pushing Down on Me (and also up and from the side)

What pressures do you face as a Head in the top 10% of a thousand crew starship in Intergalactic Bastionland?

It comes down to what each other crewmember might want from you, and how they might ask for it.

From Above - Political Pressure
Of the six officers on the ship, one is your direct boss, but each can technically stick their noses in your business when they want to. Mostly their concerns are political, making sure the balance of power between officers is either maintained or tilted in their favour. Whether they're interested in undermining the captain or securing their authority depends on their own level of favour from above.

The ship expects excellence from you, squire, now go out and bring me a report of this problem solved.

I have a special task for you, good crewmember, and make sure no word of this reaches the Marshal in Arms.

What would the captain think of your lack of appetite for exploration, squirt? Now go survey that moon and bring the boat back in one piece, aye?

From Aside - Personal Pressure
The other heads, your peers and rivals. It's easy to focus on the latter, thinking they're all out to get you. The truth is, most look to their peers as an outlet for a personal life that can be difficult to find in the cold steel of a starship hull. Of course, if they stumble onto some leverage over you, they'd be silly not to take advantage.

Comrade, you hear the latest scuttle about the Chaplain and the Purser? Fight's happening middle of bottomwatch tonight down on the drive deck? You taking a side?

I thought I could count on you, Bud. Just tell me what you saw up there and I'll keep a nod for you.

Mate, I've taken more than enough knocks for you. This time I need something big in return.

From Below - Practical Pressure
It's a cliché that Hands have the most grounded set of needs on the ship, just wanting some assurance they'll be fed, kept safe, and maybe stop doing this job some day. There's some truth in that, and Heads are in a position to make a Hand's life better or worse by a meaningful amount without too much effort.

Boss, I can't work without better gear, and the Quartermate, much as I respect her, she doesn't understand what we do down here. You know I wouldn't cause fuss just for the sake of it.

Just thought you'd want to know about those troublemakers, Chief, and if there were any private quarters opening up near you I could keep you posted in future too.

I'd be honoured to even be considered to help out on the boat with you, Guv. I love the ship and all, but it's been months since I've been out in the stars, you know?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

This post was originally sent as a reward to all Patreon supporters, and is released freely on this site the week after its original publication.

If you want to support my blog, podcasts, and video content then head over to my Patreon.