Day of Reckoning

Posted on Thu Nov 11th, 2010 @ 2:04am by Captain T'mpest Michaels & Captain Elsie Halliwell

1,614 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Structured Shoreleave - Marchwiel
Location: Halliwell's Ready Room

ON

---

T'mpest had all the data loaded into her computer and, with the help of Sammi, organized it into categories for more extensive evaluation.

She was looking through one of the books when she was asked to report to Captain Halliwell's ready room.

She grabbed a PaDD and headed out the door. When she arrived at the Captain's door, she rang the chime and waited.

“Come in,� a disembodied voice sounded gravely through the sealed doors. They swiftly then opened and revealed Elsie sitting at her desk, barely flicking a glance over the rim of the PaDD that she herself was reading. Her tempered look betrayed her mood completely. “Please, take a seat. I’m still waiting for Mr. Zhukov to arrive.�

T'mpest had expected something like this. She had gone against the Captain's orders of no contact. But Lieutenant Zhukov? "I take full responsibility, Captain. Lieutenant Zhukov was thrust into a situation of my creation. He had no choice but to go along."

“Then, unfortunately for him,� Elsie replied coolly, regarding her with a glare, “he’ll have to take responsibility for defying my orders and accepting yours, Commander.�

"It wasn't an order, Captain," T'mpest replied calmly. "Retock and Helda insisted I accompany them to town. I tried to get out of it by saying my husband was waiting for me at camp. They insisted he come as well. We couldn't refuse without causing more problems. I am the one that made the initial contact. Therefore it's my fault."

At that moment, the door chime sounded again. It was Vladimir.

“Come,� she called out, fixing her eyes still on the Vulcan.

"Captain, reporting in as ordered." Zhukov said as he walked in.

Elsie nodded to the empty seat, took in a deep breath and then leant forward to regard both senior officers before her with a steely, unbending look. “Do you mind telling me how, after I specifically ordered you not to engage with any local, sentient life, both of you managed to not only communicate with two individuals, but freely went with them to their homes, deep within their pre-warp civilisation, and stayed with them?�

It was difficult for Elsie to weigh up the value of the unique information gathered by the two officers when compared to not only the active ignorance of her specific orders, but also the fine and perilous line of the Prime Directive in its entirety. It was something of a quandary for the captain, even she admitted. A woman who lived her life, her career, by the book, by the regulations set down for her by her superiors, equally understood the need for opportunistic exploration. And, indeed, that is what she was out there attempting. ‘To seek out new life… and new civilisations’.

T’mpest began to speak, but Elsie cut her short, interjecting with her clipped and catching voice. “I don’t want to hear the specifics of what happened!� She raised her hand and clasped at a data PaDD which lay to her right, picked up it, waved it casually before both of their faces and then tossed it aside on the desk. “I’ve read your mission reports. Both of them. And unless you’re about to tell me something that, due to some wanton neglect, you failed to include in these, then I don’t want to hear of it.�

Elsie silently shook her head, glanced searchingly out of the window and then back to the two before her. “I’m not reprimanding you for your actions,� she said, her voice laced with an uncharacteristic softness she rarely used. “I… understand that events unfolded out of your control.�

"Thank you, Captain," T'mpest said. She appreciated the acknowledgment. They had tried to avoid going into town, but T'mpest did not regret stepping in to stop the outlaws. If she had it to do over again... she would have done the same thing. "I have nothing to add to my report."

“Mr. Zhukov?� she asked, raising an eyebrow to him.

"No, Captain. I have nothing to add to my report." he said as he looked straight ahead. He knew this was coming, ever since he had submitted his report about the happenings on the away mission. He also knew that trying to avoid contact, while being in an OP so close to the city, was somewhat unrealistic.

"Although, Captain, I do want to say that whatever actions you may take against Lieutenant Commander Michaels, you should take against me as well. I too am responsible for not following your instructions on the away mission." he said to her. Whatever the Captain had in mind for discipline, reprimand or otherwise, Vladimir wasn't going to let T'mpest take the fall alone.

"Lieutenant Zhukov is being gallant. I was the one who initiated contact. I was the senior officer," T'mpest insisted. "He was forced into the situation. He is not to blame."

Halliwell remained silent for a further moment, flicking her glance from one officer to the other. Her brow knitted ever so slightly as a disconcerting thought waved gently into the corner of her mind. But she dismissed it immediately, not wishing to bring such an unfounded hunch into the light.

“Solidarity amongst the ranks, eh?� she questioned, almost proud and heartily as she crossed her arms and sat back into the comfort of her chair. “Well, that friendly attitude won’t save your skins should you be hauled up before a court martial. But,� she then said, shaking her head yet again, “they’ll be no need of that this time. The information that you have managed to obtain, by somewhat questionable methods, has proved invaluable to anthropologists back at Command Headquarters. So, thank yourself lucky that, this time, it was worth the risk.

“There is, however, a negative downside to your actions that has come from above even me.� She waited for a moment for the words to hang heavy in the air. “And that is why I have summoned you both to this office.�

While the entire away team was off-ship, Halliwell had received orders to promote Lieutenant Zhukov to the rank of Lieutenant Commander as reward for his valiant actions concerning the re-taking of Starbase 97. However, to reward so quickly was against not only Halliwell’s better judgement, but against her pride. “You, Mr. Zhukov, are to be hammered with the responsibility of assisting, for a time, Lieutenant Commander McAdams with the training of all senior officers including myself, with piloting the three types of spacecraft found on the Ranger. You have your own holo-training idea to thank for that. But, due to your now increased role on the ship, you must be laden with the demands of increased rank.� She looked at him and narrowed her glassy eyes. “Do not consider this a promotion, Commander, but an extra burden.�

Halliwell could see that neither officer was buying into her sullen delivery of the news, but she continued in the same vein regardless. “And you, Commander,� she said, looking now at T’mpest, “are to suffer the burden, with Commander Larkin now permanently transferred from my command, of Second Officer. Believe me, the promotion to Full Commander is no recompense to the amount of paperwork you shall have to endure as a result.�

Zhukov had a confused look on his face. Did he actually hear what he thought he heard? He, and T'mpest were both...being promoted?

Vladimir cleared his throat and asked, "Captain, do I understand you correctly? I...I mean...we," looking a T'mpest, "are receiving promotions?"

"No," Halliwell replied with an annoyed tone, "you obviously haven't been listening to a word I have been saying. These elevations in rank are deemed punishments for your reckless attitudes in the field. DO NOT look at these as praise for such abandonment of the principles that you both now have enforce, as well as live by."

"Yes, Captain, I understand." Zhukov said, attempting to hold back the overwhelming sense of elation that he began to feel in his gut. The Captain turned to face the window, and Zhukov shot a quick smile to T'mpest. She had her rank back. Vladimir, however, had never had command rank. His parents were going to be thrilled.

T'mpest returned Vladimir's smile, then looked soberly at the Captain. "I will try not to let the paperwork overburden me, ma'am." Second Officer? She hadn't expected that. But she would do her best.

“If it doesn’t,� Elsie replied, “then come back to me and I’ll give you more.� She raised an eyebrow and glanced a sharp smile. “Now, be gone,� she added, waving her hand in a dismissive manner, “before I change my mind about authorising this!�

Zhukov stood up at attention and replied, "Yes, mam."

"Yes, ma'am," T'mpest echoed before she left the room.

The two officers turned and quickly exited her Ready Room.

As they walked onto the bridge, the door closed behind them. Zhukov looked at T'mpest and said, "Well, um, Commander, are we still on for tonight?" he asked her with a smile.

"Of course," she said, returning his smile. She was looking forward to their date that night. "I'll see you at 1900."


===============================================================
Post by:


Captain Elise Halliwell,
Commanding Officer
&

Commander T'mpest Michaels,
Chief Intelligence Officer and Second Officer
&

Lieutenant Commander Vladimir Zhukov,
Chief Flight Control Officer

 

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