A Troubling Matter

Posted on Sat Sep 16th, 2017 @ 6:36pm by

1,257 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Unknown Life, Unknown Dangers
Location: Ready Room

William had left Sickbay to the tender care of the staff within. He was glad James had managed to effect rescue of the good Doctor but it left the difficult situation that his own Chief of Security lost control and with a phaser threatened a fellow officer. Will was not sure what prompted such a response, it was anger fueled and intense. To get answers he wanted to speak to the Chief and get her side of the story.

=^= Commander Reign, report to my ready room please. =^=

Will was not looking forward to this chat, he'd yet to speak to the Chief Engineer, a lot rested on the choices that man would make for this woman.

=^=On my way, Commodore=^= came the response from a terminal. The Chief of Security checked on Xavier one more time and satisfied that he was stable, kissed his forehead and headed up to the bridge. There, she walked across it and tapped her code into the panel and entered.

"Reporting as ordered, Sir," BJ said as the door closed behind her and she came to a parade rest. Her combadge and phaser holster were both absent as she waited to see what her fate would be.

"Commander, you have put me in a very...difficult position." Will began as he looked at her. "Before anything though, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Anything that might....shed some light on what happened and why?"

"Permission to speak freely, Commodore?" she asked.

"Of course." Will spoke as he sat back in his chair to hear her out.

"First, let me say that I regret the action that I took when I threatened Lieutenant Bradshaw," BJ started. "Lieutenant Commander Patrovski recently got engaged and seeing him in that situation..." She shook her head. "I'm afraid that I let my personal feelings get in the way of my professional duty, Commodore and I felt that Lieutenant Bradshaw was deliberately stalling after seeing Commander Patrovski collapse inside the containment area with that thing outside the forcefield he was behind."

"I realize that threatening the life of a Starfleet officer could mean that my career is over and I am willing to accept the consequences of my actions, Sir."

"Deliberately stalling." Will seemed shocked by that insinuation. "As I saw it Commander, Lt. Bradshaw was assessing a developing critical situation, under strict pressures. He evaluated the situation, apprised us of the risks involved. If anything I found his level of skill to be nothing short of extraordinary."

"In the time it took him to get through the doors, Sir, I could have vaporized a hole in them and the plasma could have been pumped in before Commander Patrovski lost consciousness," BJ argued. "We're trained to react and do so in a timely manner when crew members are in danger, not let things go to the point where someone is in danger of dying."

Will rubbed his brow. "I have to say I'm disappointed. You stand there, telling me that you could have done a better job just because it wasn't fast enough to save your partner." Will spoke. "If you had been wrong, could you have lived with the fact you killed the Doctor?"

"With all due respect, Commodore, I'm trained in Search and Rescue," she said. "We are trained in a wide variety of skills and are sent out to very dangerous situations where a minute can be the difference between life and death. We make a choice and we do it. I apologized for my actions and I'll accept the consequences."

"That's not what I asked. Could you live with the consequences of killing him, you Fiance, your lover, if you were wrong?" Will asked.

"I deal with the realistic, not the hypothetical, Sir," BJ said. "And technically, Lieutenant Bradshaw took so long that he allowed Commander Patrovski to nearly die."

"All of this, is in your opinion Commander. Lieutenant Bradshaw is my Assistant Chief Engineer, we needed to get through a door which I would consider an Engineering situation. I'm inclined to leave it in his capable hands and skills and it troubles me deeply that you think you are better. It troubles me because you feel that a man suited to the task, with the proper equipment, took longer." Will replied.

"Commander, Lieutenant Bradshaw in an Engineer, it's his job. You are security. Had I know you and the Doctor were lovers I would have dismissed you from the scene. I can appreciate that it's difficult to stand there when someone you love is in danger but that does not give you the right to judge another man's efforts.....or excuse your own."

"Very well, Commodore," BJ said. "I shall relieve myself of duty and report to the brig until such time as we reach the nearest starbase, then turn myself over to the base commander."

"You forget Commander, this is an Admiral's Flagship. On independent assignment. He has the authority to deal with you before we get to a Starbase." Will spoke flatly, it was a painful yet truthful technicality. "Now I have yet to speak to Lieutenant Bradshaw, I doubt he has anything pleasant to say, especially about someone who doubted his ability to do what you claim...could have done faster."

"Now I am told, that Doctor Patrovski will make a full recovery, he will be off his feet for a while but he will recover so there is that. Now because of your service to date on board this ship and to Starfleet, I won't send you to the Brig. I will however confine you to quarters, you will surrender your weapon from your quarters. I will permit visits to Sickbay to see Doctor Patrovski but under guard. I will speak to Lieutenant Bradshaw and see what he wants to do and I am forced to brief the Admiral about this." Will paused. "I hope you are clearly aware of the very difficult position you have put me in Commander."

"Very good, Commodore," she said, unwilling to bow to the pressure that he was attempting to put on her. She had apologized and accepted the consequences of her actions and had stated so twice, but she wasn't about to grovel and had attempted to relieve herself of duty. "I and Doctor Patrovski share a quarters now, so will you be requiring me to surrender his phaser as well?"

"Yes." Will answered then sighed heavily. "BJ...." Will took another pause. "I do not envy you what you had to endure in Sickbay, I have never been in a situation where I had to just watch as they, a loved one has suffered. I am glad the Doctor is recovering. I do not envy the conversation that you will have to have with him but for what it's worth, I hope Lt Bradshaw and the Admiral are forgiving, it would be a shame to see an officer like you leave my ship."

"Thank you, Will," BJ said. "I'm certain that our conversation will be enlightening no matter what. Is there anything else, Sir?"

"No, get to Sickbay, I'm sure the Doctor will be glad to see you." Will spoke. "I'll wrap up here."

She turned to leave and on her way out the door, paused and looked over her shoulder. "Give my regards to Vashkele," she said and then she was gone.

When Will heard that and saw her go, his face expressed that in some way, he'd lost something, not sure what exactly...but something.

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