Changes From The Top

Posted on Wed Nov 20th, 2024 @ 7:56pm by Admiral S'iraa & Commander Anastasia Aventnova
Edited on on Wed Nov 20th, 2024 @ 7:56pm

2,234 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Let That Be Your Last
Location: Ready Room.
Timeline: Current

The summons had been rather abrupt and out of the blue, but Anastasia quickly finished her shower and was out the door within seven minutes by her internal chronometer. It was a luxury on board most ships, but Dreadnought had the availability of water showers for all but the lowest rate of civilian or crew, and even they COULD if they really wanted to. She adjusted her uniform on the way, using the reflectiveness of the turbolift panel to make sure that her uniform was in proper shape to see an Admiral before pulling her still-drying hair back into as neat of a bun as she could given the circumstances. Brushing it out later would be a pain, literally, but some sacrifices needed to be made.

She made it to the ready room in good time given the circumstances, checking out the bridge repairs still in progress with a critical eye. Rather recently, it had been destroyed, the burn marks gone now, screens replaced, but she still remembered the air rushing out where the projectile had come in and trying to drag her with it. Taken too many of her bridge crew along for the terminal ride into space. In front of her, the door slid open without asking and she strode in with measured step, glancing around as she did and only seeing the Admiral ahead of her, "Admiral, you asked to see me?"

S'iraa looked up as the Commander walked into the room. He was mid reading what the Captain had been reading at the time but her presence would aid in the smooth transition of things. "Given recent events i thought it prudent that you should be made aware of some developments that have taken place."

There was an sigh that could be heard from the feline, a hint that not all was as smooth as he'd normally like. "The Captain has been relieved of command. Command has launched an enquiry over the events that took place during the last assignment. He may yet return but that is not for me to say. I have assumed command." Now his gaze feel to the Commander.

"You are new on board, the situation is a mess, the ship damaged and while Command had taken an interest in what happened l wanted to give you the chance to speak for yourself. You have the choice to stay and continue as First Officer or, l can find you an alternative posting." The Comander had a promising career so far and it would be a shame if that were to be tarnished by recent events and subsequent developments back home.

Anastasia's eyes remained level on the Admiral's, but her mind was flitting from one thing to another. An official enquiry would spread from the Captain and onto her without any sort of doubt. While she wasn't responsible for much of what had happened, the attack on the Dreadnought was while she was on the bridge, not him. Her heart had skipped a beat at the news that the Captain had been relieved, but at least SHE wasn't being asked to take command yet, that would... Have been far too 'interesting. But his words demanded a response and she didn't even have time to really ponder what to do.

"I'd like to stay on Dreadnought, sir." She said simply, then exhaled before continuing, "You're right, she's damaged and I can see how the situation can get even messier, but I'm at least familiar with the overall scenario. I can't guarantee that anyone picked to replace me would be able to take the disparate pieces of what all is going on and put them back in place." A wry smile crossed her face, "It would be a dereliction of duty for me to voluntarily leave at this point, Admiral, I'd just be running away from a mess I'd had a hand in making. That's not the sort of officer anyone would ever consider again and not my way nor the Roman way."

The feline listened to what was said, it was calculated, direct and he appreciated that. "Very well." He rose from his position to straight up his back. "The Captain, those we rescued and those taken captive are being taken to Earth. I'd like a copy of all reports, sensor scans both standard and tactical sent with the Captain for his use. Include those from returned fighters and the escorts too." He wanted to provide to hand any ammunition the Captain would need in his defence.

"You may need to smooth things over with some departments in light of the change of command. Serving under a Captain is one thing but an Admiral...." he knew that would add pressure and tension to the crew especially seeking to perform to the Admirals requirements.

"I have all of those scans in my database already and will append all reports I've made and received to them as well." She paused for a moment, "There's also a short documentary that was submitted by a reporter aboard that joined the Marines on their deployment. It was decent and gives a good accounting of the ground action. I'm going to include that as well for the Captain's discretion, one Penelope Haskell of the FSN."

"As for the rest of the ship, they'll get used to the change of command in time. I'll make sure they know that it's business as usual, that you're not expecting them to cater to your every need." It was a two-sided statement, because it assumed he wasn't one of those Admirals who wanted everyone to bow and scrape before him, but if she'd read him right so far.. One side of her mouth curled up in a smile, "Once they get past the fact that you could hunt and eat any one of them for dinner, Admiral? I think they'll settle in just fine."

"A tempting thought, l will have to keep that in mind." S'iraa spoke. "Could prove...motivational."

The reporter though was an interesting development, one that he might be able to use to smooth things over at least in the initial public eye. "What are your thoughts on this reporter?"

"She did a good job on her work and I gathered that she's here by herself, self-producer, self-camera, self-editor." Anastasia gave a wiggle-waggle of one hand, "Seems to be after fact without putting a spin on it instead of painting the Federation in a good light. Might not get her very far with the mainstream Service, but she goes where she wants to go with her assignments. Or more to say, where one Captain Wolfe goes whenever possible."

"Captain Wolfe?" S'iraa was not aware of this officer but then again he'd not managed to read any form of manifest of the key figures on board yet, as he was aware Captain De Havilland was the only Captain on board. "Who's is this Captain?"

"He's a Marine, one of the Company commanders, but for the moment he's standing in as Battalion Commander during the absence of Colonel Frost and with the injury to Major Snyder." Ana made a note to put together a full list of the hundreds of officers and to make herself fully familiar with everyone from the Commanders down to the Ensigns if at all possible. That would be a good challenge, "We have seven Marine Captains aboard at this time."

"You mentioned goes where the Captain does, her Mate?" He asked wondering why a reporter would tie herself to a marine of all professions given the risks and dangers inherent to the marine role.

"From all accounts, yes, her Mate." Anastasia confirmed, "Well, her Companion, truthfully. They aren't bonded as yet, so their pairing is very unofficial. She's shown a tendency towards seeking out dangerous assignments, fancies herself as a war reporter, though she'll take on other assignments as well, the more mundane. I suppose it's to keep herself occupied."

Perhaps there was an opening there to make a perspective of their own given what was going on. "I'd like to meet this reporter." S'iraa spoke as he wondered what he'd say or more importantly, what he could get away with saying.

"Damage aside, having served aboard her briefly, I'd like your opinion of the Dreadnought. I understand she is far from the conventional design or built for purpose vessel, she has her own unique capabilities and problems that other ships of the line do not. With fresh eyes I'd like to hear your thoughts on her, your experience as First Officer, regardless of recency."

"I agree with you that Dreadnought is unique in her detriments and advantages." Ana knew she'd have to pick and choose some of her words carefully, this wasn't the Admiral's first time in command of the ship, but he'd value the honesty in her opinions, "She's not the one you'd pick for subtlety or stealth, but her mere presence in a heightened situation shuts down most combat options for any opposition before it even begins. Use of her fighters and attendant ships needs a deft touch, commanded and controlled by officers with flexible, tactical minds rather than strategic."

She pursed her lips for a few moments, "Realistically, Admiral, we need more of a flotilla with us, not just a cloud of fighters and a pair of Defiants. Whoever designed the ship to just have those as an integrated self-escort force clearly wasn't thinking properly. They give some tactical flexibility, but not enough to prevent a swarm from attempting to overwhelm our defenses. A motivated opponent can overwhelm our escorts, even if Dreadnought herself is too tough a nut to crack. But, there are only so many resources the Fleet is likely to put into her given her already considerable status as a resource sink."

S'iraa listened to the perspective he asked for, both sides of it. Clearly thought had been given to the answer and he appreciated that. "There was another reason to my asking if you wished to stay. As First Officer you will be at times find yourself in command of this ship and as you have mentioned it's not always glamous or...presigious given her many facets. Some would view such a posting as a career ending move, others would see it as a challenge. You are right that generally speaking the ship would be leading a flotilla to suit her role as command and control but with vessels spread thin currently that is not an option."

S'iraa paused but for a moment as he gazed at the Commander before him. "If you are to act as my First Officer, do you have any question for me?"

If they were to work together they had in turn needed to get on, unknowns in the field tended to lead to problems, in the heat of combat they could be disastrous.

"Admiral, my first assignment, the Sheffield, was sent to the ass end of nowhere and they kicked me off to a backwater station to handle a sector's worth of customs shuttles. Compared to that, this is a truly prestigious position." Ana gave a shrug, "Admiral Foraker was talking to me about my first command, but she sent me here instead when she heard about who had been originally assigned. Originally, I was going to be replacing Captain Olmant of USS Chapayev when he retired, part of her Task Force, but it's an Exec's responsibility to assume command if the CO is for any reason unable to perform the duties. Romans do our duties, no matter what."

She exhaled deeply, "As for questions? When do we start running joint exercises, sir? I can review any of your past engagements, but that's a different monster than being there as they're made and vice versa."

"I'll make available to you my prior engagements as well as the ships initial combat testing and trials. It should prove informative to you in what the ship can do." It was for him when he was handed the blueprints for the ship prior to taking command the first time.

"I do have one request, if possible avoid wearing strong smelling fragrances. The Caitian sense of smell is rather strong and what may seem pleasant for others can often be overwhelming for Caitians and cause problems. This is however a request not a demand and has no bearing on your duties on board or position you hold."

"I don't think that should be much of a problem, Admiral, I'm not much into strong perfumes because they dull one of the senses." Ana shrugged slightly at the request, "When I do wear one, it's a rather light scent, the Callula flower of Roma Nueva, think of it as a vanilla-orange scent. If either of those are objectionable, I can certainly take to wearing anything off-duty, sir."

"Thank you." S'iraa replied. Now that was out of the way it fell to getting things rolling for the transition of command and restarting of ships functions. "We have much to do and little time in which to accomplish it. Unless there is anything else, we should get to it."

"Yes, sir, Admiral, that we should do. I'll send out a message to department heads about the change of command." Ana agreed, "We'll make a good team, or I'll die trying, sir."

"I hope that wont become necessary." S'iraa remarked though amused by the comment none the less.

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