Unpleasant Conversation

Posted on Fri Oct 27th, 2017 @ 10:01am by

1,449 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Unknown Life, Unknown Dangers
Location: Admiral's Quarters

Hood stood outside the Admiral's quarters with baited breath, a whole lot of answers to the questions he hoped the Admiral was going to ask. Will had stared down brass before because it came with the territory of being a starship commander. This however was much different, his actions right or wrong lead to what happened on board and now he had to stand infront of the Admiral and explain why his Flagship was in pieces, his crew fighting amongst themselves and prepare for an even worse situation when they got back to Earth. He looked down at his hand, made a fist as if to steel himself and then pressed the chime with his finger.

"Come." The towering feline spoke from behind his desk.

When the doors opened Will stepped in, he took all but two steps in and paused and he could smell the tension on the air, almost thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Take a seat Commodore." S'iraa spoke, his feline hawk like eyes watching the Human male.

Knowing he was on the back foot Will decided it was best to do as he was told, no point cracking egg shells to early, that would come later.

"Commodore, I'd like you to explain to me a few things." S'iraa spoke watching the man take the offered seat.

"I thought you might Admiral." Will replied with a hard swallow and hands in his lap.

"I have heard some troubling things Commodore, very troubling things and I find myself perplexed that I have had to hear these things from idle chatter from the crew." S'iraa began. "We will discuss the matter of you damaging my flagship shortly, but I am amazed that you had not brought to my attention the matter surrounding the Chief Security Officer?" That hinted that someone from Engineering or Sickbay talked.

"Admiral, as you may know I was present at the matter in question." Will chipped in.

"I do, I'd like you to explain to me what happened." S'iraa asked.

"Dr Patrovski was running tests on a sample of the organism to find out potential weaknesses, the Doctor has yet to make his report on the matter in detail but from what I understand it absorbed sufficient energy in which to grow, escape from the containment unit and effectively take the Doctor captive." Will began to explain as he saw it.

"Go on." S'iraa remarked listing to every word uttered.

"The Doctor was able to raise a force field encompassing himself just in time. The creature, for lack of better word appeared to warp its appendages around him, seemed to...stare at him. We then came to realise that the creature exerted a chill effect on the forcefield. While not directly in contact with the force field the Doctor was subjected to a progressive temperature drop."

"What did you do?" S'iraa asked.

"Due to the complexity of the isolation lab an engineering team was called in, Lt Bradshaw was tasked with executing entry to the lab. Unfortunatly bio containment procedures had sealed the lab, nothing in or out. It was decided the only way to rescue the Doctor was to breach the doors to the lab in turn." Will took a breath in pause. "It was discovered that the doors themselves were complex, multiple layers within layers, each different to the last. A sort of safe system so to speak. Try to the force the door and the seals would remain in place, forever. So explosives was out of the question."

"And then?" The large feline spoke not taking his eyes of the man.

"Lt. Bradshaw used his expertise to effect rescue by slowly cutting through the various layers at pin point. It was a slow process but the aim was to cut through the door, rig up a warp plasma container to the door and bleed it into the room. The plasma would kill the creature within but with the Doctor shielded, he would be safe."

"Now the incident." S'iraa asked.

"Commander Reign felt that Lt. Bradshaw was taking too long. The Doctors life signs were fading due to the cold, while I can't imagine what she had to endure she pulled a phaser on Lt. Bradshaw and...strongly encouraged the Lt. to go faster."

"Strange, the information I have indicates that Commander Reign was very clear on her threat to Lt. Bradshaw." S'iraa spoke.

"Admiral, she was helpless to watch a loved one suffer, this creature was killing crew and from the other side of the observation booth she could only look on, she had to depend on someone else for help." Will tried to defend BJ's actions.

"Do not tell me about being helpless due to the love for another Commodore. I'm well versed in its intricacies during my career." It was obvious that the defence was not well taken. "One of your senior officers, the Chief of Security no less threatened at the point of a weapon another officer. I'd like to know what you plan to do about it?"

"I have spoken to Lt. Bradshaw after giving him a little time to calm down from the ordeal, he has elected not to press charges." Will spoke.

"I am not interested in Lt. Bradshaw's choice Commodore, I want to know what you are going to do about it." S'iraa spoke mildly angry at the evasion. "The actions of the Chief in front of you."

"I have already relieved her of duty, she is currently taking care of Dr Patrovski at home." Will answered.

"And....." S'iraa replied.

"Admiral, you have to understand that it was a very tough situation, we were shy on time and we had so few options to work with." Will spoke trying to gain some kind of footing.

"You feel that justifies the Commanders actions?" S'iraa asked.

"No, but I understand from her records that she takes her job seriously. She's a career woman, shes got more certifications, more training, more commendations than most chiefs. Her reports are indicative of a focused, driven, loyal and dedicated woman since she joined Starfleet. What she did was uncharacteristic of her normal behaviour, she knows what she did was wrong but it was a life threatening situation and a helpless situation to be in." Will was trying hard to play his cards right, one career was depending on it.

S'iraa sat and observed, in silence as he considered the mans words.

"She regrets what she did, she surrendered herself without a fight, no hesitation, nothing. Everyone knows love makes us do crazy things, how even the strongest wall bends to it. It's unfortunate yes what happened but the Doctor is safe and recovering, Lt. Bradshaw has put the matter behind him. I still have to speak to the Commander but I'm certain this was an isolated, highly uncharacteristic moment that I don't believe should ruin a career over."

"And what happens Commodore when you send the good Doctor on an away mission and he gets hurt, captured or worse hmmm? Will she come after you with a phaser but not stop at pulling the trigger?" S'iraa asked. "Shes already threatened at weapon point an officer because he was not fast enough, what happens should something actually happen?"

"Thats....an entirely different situation Admiral. Surely you have to understand that for yourself." Will spoke. "As Chief of Security she would be in charge of protecting any away teams, if someone is injuried or dies, shes going to punish herself just as much as I could for it. She's fierce about her duties. If it turns out such events are the result of her actions or lack there of then she will own up to it and accept what comes to her, but Admiral the situation before and the one you just mentioned are very different."

"Yes they are, but my point still remains." S'iraa spoke. "What do you intend to do about her?"

"I plan to talk to her and decide accordingly based on that interview." Will spoke.

While S'iraa accepted his reply, he didn't agree with it. The Chief of Security, one of the most trusted, loyal and depended on officers acted in such a way as Commander Reign had, if he was still Master of the Dreadnought the punishment would be swift and unyielding. "I want a full report from you on that meeting and consider this, I am an Admiral on independent assigned duty, this is my flagship, my powers are broad in matters such as this."

Will knew at that moment the gauntlet had been thrown down and it was a big one. "I understand Admiral."

"Now explain to me the damage to my ship...."

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