Trials and Tribulations: Part 2

Posted on Tue Jan 17th, 2012 @ 2:07pm by Captain Alexsa Kendrick & Captain Elsie Halliwell & Lieutenant Cedric Shepherd

1,756 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Fishing
Location: Briefing Room, Deck 1
Timeline: Immediately following Part 1

ON:

Halliwell inhaled slowly and shot a loaded glance to her chief of security before mimicking Kendrick's actions and sitting on the opposite side of the table to her. As she moved slowly to the chair, she quickly caught sight of the head of the table; her usual seat, and consciously decided not to assert her authority at this particular juncture. If they were to get along and progress this situation, both needed to disarm and retract their claws.

In one frame of mind, Halliwell was furious with Cedric. Subordination, she knew, was a subjective term, and although her frame of mind wasn't altogether serene, Elsie did feel an element of betrayal from the lieutenant. She saw her position as his superior officer as a two way street. She would, in no uncertain terms defend him, as any of her crew, until the death. And although she could appreciate his disarming actions, she felt that their developing friendship had now somehow been waylaid.

"Captain," Halliwell started with, gently nestling down into the support of the seat now beneath her and locking her crystal eyes onto Kendrick's, "what you need to appreciate is that your presence on board my ship outwardly denotes a lack of support and confidence in me and my command abilities from Starfleet Headquarters. Couple that with your awkwardly antagonistic manner and you can't help but see why I am going to defend myself from such underlying accusations." She softened her voice and looked to Cedric. "I have an exemplary crew who trust in my command. It's a pity that you take such a hostile tack with me."

Alex glanced down at the table top then back up at Elsie and made sighed inaudibly. Halliwell was being gracious and playing the game and above all attempting to build another bridge. For all of Kendrick's personality quirks, or issues as come would probably call them, she always tried never to burn any bridges, so she started to help build. "If anyone actually knew me Captain Halliwell, you would know that my actions are far from hostile. Despite the circumstances, I do believe your crew is one of the finest in the fleet, their past actions, and yours Captain, speak for themselves. I told you before, I'm not on a witch hunt--all I'm interested in is the truth, and believe it or not, I'm on your side in convincing Starfleet Command that you are the right person to sit in that Captain's chair."

Kendrick paused, her features softer than anyone would have expected, almost solemn. "Believe me when I say I know that running a starship or mission goes far beyond the rule book. There's an unspoken trust bond between every crew member working under your command. I'm the outsider here Captain, and I know that no-one on board trusts me, or my role here, a testament to your orders demoting my security clearance whilst on the Ranger. But to help them, to help you, I in turn need your support and cooperation. I need full computer access to adequately ascertain and prove that you are for all intents and purposes the right person, in the right place, and at the right time. You don't have to like me Captain Halliwell, you just have to trust me."

Shepherd frowned. "That's a far cry from your 'this won't have a happy ending' rhetoric put forward in my office recently," he said, skeptical as he took a seat to Halliwell's side, slightly further from the chair at the head of the table. "Are we to understand that someone above you is on a witch-hunt, and you're actually working to shield Captain Halliwell?"

"I can only organise my own agenda Mister Shepherd," Alex started as she curtly addressed the security chief for the moment, "Whether anyone else in the brass has any agenda of their own I can't say. I can say is this though--the Captain's actions in recent months have called her command ability into question from some of the highest levels of Starfleet Command, or I wouldn't be here. My comment to you was not meant as a threat, simply a warning that if things do not proceed smoothly, there would be consequences. And I think you can agree with me," Kendrick said turning her attention more toward Halliwell once again, "that things have gone all but smoothly."

Alex took a breath before moving on, more to prepare herself for what she was about to say than anything else--she loathed saying the words. "I... apologise, Captain, for my antagonistic ways, they go with the territory, and whatever barriers you put up, I have to find ways around them to get to the truth. In saying that, the issues your own actions have caused only serve to make you look guilty. I'm not here to convict you, or anyone else on your crew, but I'm not about to change the names and faces of the guilty to preserve their own sense of innocence."

"As you have rightly pointed out, I'm here to do a job, and that's it. There are no names to me, no faces, it's a case file, a number, and I must complete it wherever it may lead, I will make the recommendations accordingly, and take whatever actions are appropriate in the circumstances. So again, I have to say, it's your call." Kendrick said finally.

Something inside of Halliwell failed to sway. And letting go of the control over security access seemed more difficult to her than anticipated. As Shepherd had rightly pointed out, this was a U-turn in Kendrick's demeanour, but one that Elsie had to take advantage of. For her own command and the success of this mission.

"I'll agree to a reconsideration of your security clearance, Captain. But not to the secondment of my Chief of Security. If Lieutenant Shepherd wishes to assist you, then he may well do so but in addition to his duty shifts and responsibilities as my Security Head." She paused, nodded to Cedric and then refocused on Alex. Her eyes almost pleaded for a satisfactory resolve. "Is that agreeable?" she managed, in a low, soft tone.

"Reconsideration is not reinstatement." Alex said plainly, trying to force Elsie to make the call she didn't particularly want to.

"Thank you for that input," Halliwell then replied. "And I agree with you. But, as I have said, I will reconsider it." She smiled, sat back a bit and heaved a sigh. "Don't fear, Captain, I'll provide you with the tools for you to continue your investigations. I'm not here to hinder you."

Alex subconsciously mimicked Elsie's more relaxed demeanour, retracted her hands from atop the table and clasped them in front of her, her elbows resting on the arms of her chair. She glanced down momentarily and then back up. "There's an old Earth saying, captain--if you give me an inch I'm not going to take a mile, and your... unwillingness to make a decision now brings us full circle. If computer access is not restored, then as a duly appointed representative of Starfleet Command, I must reassi... pardon me, request the assistance of Lieutenant Shepherd under Article one-forty dash ten. In case you're not aware of the regulation, clause nine, section one, paragraph one 'A' states that special transfer of personnel can be granted on grounds that said personnel have special or required skills or knowledge that are of greater value to the gaining constituent than the currently assigned post."

Kendrick could see the virtually imperceptible flare of Halliwell's nostrils to hearing her cite regulations that were partly on shaky ground, and are otherwise seldom used. Alex didn't have to lay a finger on Elsie to telepathically know what she was thinking, and went on before anything else was said, "Captain Halliwell, despite your thoughts about me being here and taking pleasure out of ruffling feathers, I don't want to be here any more than you want me here, and it's well past time that I should start cataloguing my investigation. Right now, without computer access to the level in which I was already cleared, I need Mister Shepherd's assistance to expedite this matter."

"I'm happy to assist voluntarily," put in Shepherd. "Starting with reading your transfer order and establishing with you which computer functions you'll need in order to do the job as officially described."

Without waiting for any further objections to be heard, Kendrick replied as she stood, "Thank you Mister Shepherd. I believe that's all settled then." Alex then headed toward the door, this conversation was over and it was clear there was going to be a heavy amount of give and take in this affair to get the job done. She didn't get past the table before she turned and addressed them both. "Oh, I almost forgot, I'm afraid that I require access to another set of quarters or an actual office, the interviews can be held here or in one one of the departmental briefing rooms as available, that's not an issue, but my current quarters have fallen victim to some... turbulence." She said innocently.

Elsie rolled her eyes and glanced casually at Cedric. "Inform Mr. Andrews to make alternative accommodation arrangements for Ms. Kendrick, would you?" She narrowed her onto her contemporary and half smiled. "Unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to organise something so grand for your replacement, however." She squinted. "We only have the two VIP quarters. But I don't suppose you'd mind roughing it in a set of Officers' quarters for your remaining time with us. Would you?"

Kendrick returned Halliwell's smile with a light one of her own, she knew if not for the words that it was veiled with at least some mockery, but this was all about 'playing the game', politics. "Of course captain, as I said to Commander Michaels earlier, the Ranger is a lot more comfortable than some of the other places I've been stationed in the past. Mister Shepherd, if you could meet me in the quarters assigned in an hour, I think there's some further things we need to discuss going forward as to requirements." The order rolled so smoothly from Kendrick's lips it almost sounded like a request. "Good day, Captain, I'll leave you to your bath."

As Kendrick left, Elsie rolled her eyes for the third time and shot Cedric another. "Looks like you have your orders..." She raised her eyebrows as she stood up.

OFF:

 

RSS Feed