Promotions

Posted on Sat Jun 13th, 2015 @ 2:21pm by Captain T'mpest Michaels & Commander Rylie Cattmor

1,376 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: What Dreams May Come
Location: Captain's Quarters

ON

Cattmor stepped across the threshold to T'mpest's quarters, not really having any idea, and not wanting to use her ability to push past any defenses, especially given how immoral that would be; well that, and cheating. What would be the point of having any conversation if you knew exactly what was coming. "You wanted to see me, captain?" she asked, more nervous than anything, as if she'd been brought to the Commandant's office.

T'mpest was standing at her viewport, watching the stars stream past. She turned and nodded. "Yes, I did. Please have a seat. Would you like some Vulcan spice tea?" she asked, indicating a small teapot on a sideboard beside her small conversation area.

"Please." Rylie replied with a small smile knowing with the offer that she wasn't about to be chastised for anything - this time - and took a seat.

T'mpest poured two cups of tea and set them on the small coffee table before taking a seat in one of the chairs. "I have been in several discussions with Command over the last couple of days. They are quite stubborn," she added as an aside. "But so am I. I believe a compromise has been reached that will be satisfactory to both sides."

"In reference to, ma'am?" Rylie asked, taking a seat and a tea.

T'mpest sipped at her cup and placed it on the table. "With my own recent promotion to captain, and given the Ranger's root charter, to go forth and explore, Starfleet Command believes that I should have a full Commander as my Executive Officer. On one hand, I agree with them. While we're not as big as a Galaxy-class or a starbase, we are still representing Starfleet and the Federation's ideals on the front line."

Cattmor's heart began to sink. She'd done nothing wrong, bar her experience letting her down. She'd come to like being the Ranger's Executive Officer, and felt at home in the role during their last mission especially. "I see," she said softly, "When will they arrive?"

"You misunderstand," T'mpest replied. "I refused to accept another First Officer."

"But I'm only a Lieutenant Commander, and have been for less than three months."

"Field promotions are not as common as they used to be, but they do happen," T'mpest said, a twinkle in her eye.

Rylie took in T'mpest's expression for a second or two before responding, not without taking a little peek to ensure she understood perfectly and didn't make a complete ass of herself, "Me? Already?" to which T'mpest just nodded. "Captain, while not alone, I've been responsible for the destruction of half a dozen sections on this ship, and you're giving me a promotion? What are they going to do if I destroy it... promote me to the Admiralty...?!" she stated in a flat, almost rhetoric tone.

"I'm still the Captain and I have technically failed on my last two assignments," she said. "There were extenuating circumstances to both, but I was not completely successful and I am still here. Why should you be any different?"

Cattmor looked back at her commanding officer blankly, almost as if it was to be plainly obvious why. "The reasons I just said?"

"And I would rather have you stay my first officer," T'mpest replied. "So you will have to deal with the vagaries of command."

With her heart beating in her throat, Rylie stood and took a few steps to the other side of the small lounge area. This was all most irregular to get promoted so fast. From her point of view it wasn't even a year ago that she came aboard the Ranger as her Assistant Chief Engineer and as a Lieutenant. Now she was the X-O with apparently a full extra pip on her collar. "Don't think that I'm not pleased, ma'am," she said turning back to T'mpest, "more shocked than anything. I mean, even Jim Kirk never rose the ranks so quickly."

"I know. There are too few competent First Officers right now. Starfleet Command is willing to bend the rules if necessary," T'mpest explained. "However, you are not likely to be promoted again for quite a while."

"I'm glad..." Cattmor started all too quickly. "That is," she started as she visibly calmed a bit more and retook her seat, "when I took on, or rather was forced into the position of your Executive Officer, I know you were not too happy with the situation--hell, I wasn't too happy with the situation--I still said that I would do my utmost to not let you or the crew down." Rylie took a distant breath, reminiscing about the past couple of missions, "Maybe I have, maybe I haven't; and maybe I'm not ready for that full pip, but I know I'm not ready for a fourth."

She turned her gaze back to T'mpest, "Thank you, captain. To continue my word, I may have made some mistakes as your X-O, both personally and professionally, and while I can't promise I won't screw up again, I do try to learn from my past mistakes... I won't let you down, ma'am."

"We all make mistakes," T'mpest assured her. "You have done a remarkable job stepping into the role of First Officer and I have every confidence that together we can make the Ranger something to be proud of."

"I guess I should say thank you again. I hope so too." Cattmor said with a short breath to compose her light-headed feelings of euphoria. "So who did Command try to push on you?" She continued with a light smile.

"Commander Richter from the Tripoli. He has a friend in Starfleet Command who puts him in for every First Officer position that becomes available; but so far, no one has accepted him."

"Yeah, he's no good." Rylie said with a good-natured chuckle, before expounding on it for T'mpest's benefit, "A friend, one of few, from the Academy was stationed on the Demeter when he'd just been promoted to shift supervisor. He was a bit arrogant, thought he knew everything, and continually built connections with high-flyers to advance his career. A real try hard. Something tells me you saw that as well." she stated more than asked.

"Indeed. That type of person is not one I wish on my ship -- in any capacity," T'mpest said.

Cattmor took another sip of tea before asking, "So, where do we go from here--what's our first job?"

"Two other promotions. One I'll take care of, one I'd like you to handle," she said. "Lieutenant ch'Valri is overdue for a promotion. He would have received one if he hadn't transferred here. The other," she paused. "Is Lieutenant Blake. I think you should give him the news."

Rylie's heart skipped a beat. "Are you sure that's such a wise idea, ma'am? Mister Blake and I are hardly on the best of terms right now because of what happened with Sehra--he still blames me for what happened, and why she's not on-board now--and while this may serve as a decent excuse for a proverbial olive branch, I'm not sure I would be as well received as his promotion."

"It is high time the two of you made amends," T'mpest replied. "And this is the perfect olive branch."

"I tried once," Cattmor started looking away, and placing her tea back on the table, "tried to explain. I ended up having a very, bad, day, and filling out a damage report for hydroponics." T'mpest didn't say a word, she didn't have to, her thoughts on the matter were uncharacteristically clear, forcing Rylie to bite her lower lip in nervous response, before she forced a deep breath to move those thoughts away. "But I'd be happy to try again. You're right, we both need to move on." she said finally turning her gaze back in T'mpest's direction.

"For your sake as well as the ship as a whole," she said quietly. She didn't need to say more. Rylie understood as well as she did how important it was for Rylie and Dylan to get back on good terms.



____
OFF

T'mpest Michaels
Commanding Officer
USS Ranger

Rylie Cattmor
Executive Officer
USS Ranger

 

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