Changing of the Gowns

Posted on 15 Aug 2013 @ 10:45am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Andreus Kohl

3,267 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD 02 - 0945 hrs

[ON]

"Yes, sir, I understand." Lirha replied with a respectful nod to the admiral on the other end of the screen as the conversation wrapped up. "I will inform her and make the change immediately. Galileo out." she finished, then tapped the small red END TRANSMISSION button on the corner of her desk's console's screen.

Leaning back in her chair and rubbing her green forehead in thought, she sighed and gave her commbage a quick pat. It was rare to receive direct orders concerning personnel changes from Starfleet HQ, especially the admiralty in Starfleet Medical, but apparently they currently felt the need to supersede her authority and request such a change. "Saalm to Holliday, please report to my office."

Having only been one deck up on the Galileo's Bridge, the short turbolift ride lasted all of thirty seconds before John found himself at the Captain's office. Usually he would have waited for her permission to enter, but he had gotten used to Lirha's behaviour, and simply walked into the room, standing at attention ahead of her desk.

"You called for me?"

Watching John enter her office, Lirha nodded and tossed him a PADD which contained official orders from Starfleet Medical requesting a shuffling of their ship's medical staff. Specifically, Lieutenant Warraquim had been 'appointed' to replace Lieutenant Kohl as chief medical officer, mostly due to her prior command experience. "Those are the orders I just received from San Francisco. Needless to say, I am not pleased, and this is unfair to Andreus." she huffed, then reached up and pushed some of her dark hair from her eyes.

As shocked as his captain, John carefully read over the documents - unfair was no understatement - Kohl had earned that position and now he was being effectively demoted by the orders of an idiot admiral behind a desk.

"I assume our right to appeal has been safely ignored?"

"I could appeal...but the appeals process takes weeks, sometimes months, during which the original orders must be complied with. By the time we finish locating USS Venture and return to port, Lieutenant Warraquim would have already adjusted to her new duties and schedules. And...I get the feeling that such an appeal would be struck down." she answered.

"Well...it looks like we have only one option. As much as it pains me to say it, we're going to have to do as we have been told."

John made a fist with his hand hidden behind his back. He was less than impressed with the decisions of the Admiralty, but unfortunately, he had no choice but to follow them at this time.

"Saalm to Lieutenants Kohl and Warraquim, please report to my ready room." Lirha said after a quick tap on her commbadge. After briefly discussing the medical department's pending change in command with her XO, it was now time to inform the ship's two senior-most medical officers of Starfleet Medical's request. She cast a quick glance over at Holliday to try and gauge his thoughts, but the well-disciplined tactical man was as difficult to read as ever. Patiently, she waited for the others to arrive to begin to explain the situation.

Allyndra never worried about formal shifts, not when there were plenty of patients. She had long ignored the time on the wall and went from bed to bed that still held a patient still needing the space. She picked up each PADD carefully and reviewed prognosis and then made a look of the latest scan adding her observations. She was almost at the end of rounds when the Captains call came in. That seemed unusual that both of them were being called but perhaps there was something about the disaster that impacted their department. =^=Aye, Captain.=^= she set the PADD down and figured to catch up later, though just in case before she left she requested that in an hour that the EMH activate and finish.

It seemed almost like old times on the Firebrid, stepping off the lift onto the bridge. However, the faces were different and the layout slightly different.
Allyndra headed for the Ready Room stopping before a shiny surface. One errant blue streaked black strand got tucked back into place and she made sure her uniform was straight and tugged to get the ridges and wrinkles out as best as possible before moving to the door and ringing the chime.

Behind her, there was movement by the turbolift. The last time Andreus Kohl was summoned to the Captain's Ready Room, the buzz of activity on the Bridge had been a distraction. This was the nerve centre of Galileo. The decisions made here impacted the entire ship. This was where every department aboard-ship gathered to combined their expertise into the synergy that propelled the ship onwards. Of course it was enough to pull Kohl's focus. Today, though, today his mind was focused inwards. He stepped out of the turbolift doors onto the Bridge, and he couldn't stop thinking about his conversation with Keval. He couldn't stop thinking about his worries about the Captain knowing his name. The weight of that. Kohl couldn't pinpoint why it was on his mind in the here and now.

"Enter." the captain called out when the door chime sounded. She moved quietly around her desk and took a seat in her chair, then leaned back and delicately crossed her legs while she looked towards the door in anticipation of her arrivals.

Allyndra moved forward so that the sensor could catch her and the door slid open. Her eyes caught the Captain but also the Executive Officer sitting off to one side. This was serious if the two highest ranking officers on board had called the two of them. She hated formality especially in sickbay but here it was quite different and stepped into the room. Allyndra fought the urge to curtsey as if she was in front of the Guild council or Guild Mother and remembered to instead to come to attention.

"Sirs," she said to include the Executive Officer. "Lieutenant Allyndra reporting as requested."

Lieutenant Kohl entered the ready room just behind Allyndra. His delay was such that the doors had threatened to close behind her, and that's when Kohl set his feet to work. Striding into the room, he came to stand beside his Assistant Chief Medical Officer and he folded his hands behind his back. "Me too," Kohl said, a little glibly.

Allyndra glanced over at Kohl as he came in almost on her heels. She had not heard him but for the door sliding then opening again. She made a slight tilt of the head in acknowledgement.

For Allyndra, Kohl tilted his head in return and offered her a kind smile.

"Thank you for coming. Please have a seat, lieutenants." Lirha began after watching the two blue-collared officers enter her ready room.

Allyndra relaxed and then took one of the regular chairs. Though she could relax the fluid the pressure in the wings it still made it more comfortable to use a regular chair rather a couch. She got seated a little puzzled still as to why both senior medical staff with both senior commanders were here. Perhaps something about the Venture she anticipated.

Although Kohl would have preferred the couch --assuming a relaxed posture might relax his state of mind, he suppose-- he felt it appropriate to sit beside Allyndra if they were about to receive orders. Kohl nodded at Lirha's suggested and he stiffly lowered himself into a chair.

"I just got off the comm with Starfleet Medical and I have received a somewhat unorthodox request. More of an order, actually." Lirha prefaced as she prepared to deliver the news to both of them. She didn't like the idea of having to demote Kohl to a lower position; he had performed his duties admirably over the past six months and had earned his position on the ship, but she unfortunately had no choice but to follow her order or else face reprimand from Starfleet Command.

Looking at Kohl, Lirha started to explain the situation. "The admiralty back in San Francisco feels that while you have done an exceptional job with your duties, they now wish for Lieutenant Warraquim to take over the chief medical officer position. They did not give me many details when I asked why, but they generally feel that her prior command experience and training makes her ideally suited for the job. As such, I am unfortunately forced to reassign you to the position of assistant chief medical officer," she turned her gaze to Allyndra, "and to promote you to chief medical officer."

The words struck Allyndra like falling in snow. The first reaction she felt was surprise and the second was to protest even though if what the Captain had said it would do no good. "Captain, while I have not had much time to work with Lieutenant Kohl, let me say I am very impressed as well both medically and in organization."

Kohl couldn't say anything. At least, nothing of substance would come out. An order was an order. He wasn't the type of officer who could put his feelings, or his ego, ahead of a direct order from the Captain of his starship. Or rather, that was the ultra-professional image he desperately wanted to project. Perhaps it was because he was Argelian, and as Victarion had so recently reminded him, it was well known throughout the Federation his peoples couldn't even maintain the infrastructure of their own world. Perhaps it was because he was a medical officer, and there were still prejudices in the fleet that treated you like you weren't really an officer if you weren't wearing crimson or gold.

And that was why Kohl plastered a generic smile on his lips and softly muttered, "Yes, Captain," at the same time that Allyndra had spoken. The smile didn't reach his eyes, of course, but that didn't matter. He couldn't manage to look directly at anyone. Kohl stared at the desk between him and Lirha, and if Kohl's cheeks hadn't been covered in a beard, it may have been more noticeable how flushed his face was getting. Then staring at the desk felt, to Kohl, like antisocial behaviour and he tried to make eye-contact with Lirha, but he only managed to stare somewhere over her right shoulder.

Allyndra listened for a moment before interjecting in pause. "If I may sirs," she nodded each in turn to the two command officers. "Since this is nothing to do with MEDICAL competency," She said emphasizing that word. "Perhaps may I suggest that between my own small experience and your no doubt more considerable experience in command that Lieutenant Kohl can receive the necessary DOCUMENTED 'on-the-job' training that Fleet seems to find necessary." Again, she emphasized that one word. Allyndra knew that no matter how competent a person, the bureaucrats that tended to sit in the administrative offices only went by what could be demonstrated not just impressions.

"I've already made my thoughts on the matter clear - unfortunately the Admiralty disagree with my decision - something that seems to happen far too frequently for my liking."

John replied in a gruff voice. He had once again found himself at loggerheads with someone sat behind a desk in San Francisco that last set foot into space when the Galileo was just a pipe dream of some designer at Utopia Planetia.

"Suffice to say, this reassignment has nothing to do with Lieutenant Kohl's capabilities - it just seems our leaders take issue with the Chief Medical Officer not having an M.D. on the end of their name."

At that, Kohl finally spoke up. Initially, it was only a pointed, "Ah." He took a breath. He looked at John. "That would mean, sir, I will never be a Chief Medical Officer in Starfleet," Kohl said. The words came out slowly, and softly, in defeat.

"No, not at all." Lirha piped up. It hurt her to see her former chief medical officer being demoted for no apparent good reason, and she sympathized with his plight. As the ship's commanding officer, it was her duty to try and keep his morale up despite the consequences of the demotion. "Starfleet Medical may occasionally interfere with our duties, but there are plenty of opportunities for you in the fleet, as well as here on Galileo. I can think of at least five other captains who would love to have you as their CMO, and there is the possibility that our medical personnel situation may change over the coming months." she said, not wanting to go into too much detail about the ever-changing nature of Starfleet assignments.

"Take it from someone who has been on the receiving end of the Admiralty's so very gracious mood swings Mr Kohl, they never manage to stay on one subject for too long. They told me I would never get out of the Academy teaching staff and the idea of me having a command post was ludicrous. Suffice to say I sent my transfer orders to the Galileo to quite a few Admirals the day I came aboard."

John could see the young man was hurting, and it was true that the Admirals within Starfleet would change their mind at the drop of a hat, but it would be foolish to say something was a "never".

Something changed in Kohl's expression. He was surprised by John's admission. He couldn't imagine why the XO would have been kept off the command track, and he was surprised John would share something personal about himself. "I didn't know that, sir," Kohl said softly. Although, he supposed there wasn't much he knew about John Holliday.

Allyndra ground her teeth as her jaw clenched. She could think of a dozen retorts but it would not do good. Her brain worked through all the possibilities.
"I have seen plenty of incompetent people in medical with all the initials. That being said, I agree with the Captain and Executive officer."

She paused and put a hand out to touch Kohl. "I will consider this temporary until such time as Fleet comes to its senses."

When Allyndra's hand came to rest on his forearm, Kohl patted the it with his own hand. He stared at her wide-eyed. He couldn't have expected that kind of loyalty from this officer who he was just barely starting to know, who he had worked with for only a matter of days. "Thank you," he said genuinely.

"Very well." Lirha said quietly from behind her desk. "If there is nothing else, Lieutenant Kohl, you are dismissed." she said to the Argelian, then looked towards the new winged chief medical officer. "Please remain for a moment, Miss Warraquim."

Kohl stared at the Captain blankly, a little caught off guard. Shock had firmly set in, and he didn't expect the meeting to be over so quickly, just as quickly as his career as a department head. Kohl nodded vaguely, and he said, "Yes, Captain." He bolted to his feet and made his way back to the Bridge.

Allyndra stood with Kohl as he got up, though the Captain had asked her to stay she would show the dignity and respect that she felt Kohl was due. She could still feel her jaw muscles clenched and those sharp little inner teeth ground together in her anger. Allyndra waited and then took a seat again to see what the Captain wanted. She would not be surprised if the Captain wanted her off the ship as soon as possible.

Watching as Kohl departed the ready room, Lirha stood from her seat and briefly stretched her neck before moving to the secured safe in the rear of her office and procuring a tiny item from a small wooden box. "Because you have been promoted to chief medical officer and I cannot have a department head of a lower rank than their assistant department head, I am hereby promoting you to the rank of full lieutenant with all the right and privileges therein." she said to Allyndra as she walked forward and stood in front of her. "Please stand."

Allyndra's attention was focused elsewhere wondering how all this would go down with the sickbay personnel, after all she was as fresh as bloodflower blossom to most of them, in fact most of the crew. She could not help but wonder how the Captain must think of her, thus she was not really paying attention to the Captain or the Executive Officer sitting quietly until the Captain spoke.

"Yes, Captain," she said quietly. She complied with the request and stood. Though she did not feel like it, she brought herself straight and stract as possible. One of the sayings from her world echoed in her mind: 'The rains falls but afterward the ground hardens.' It meant that adversity strengthened one.

Reaching up to the tall Akkadian's collar, Lirha expertly removed the woman's hollow pip and replaced it with the solid gold one she held in her hand. She gave Allyndra a small smile then extended her hand for her to shake. "Congratulations, lieutenant."

It was a surprise and it had been some time since she had last worn that rank.
"Thank you Captain." she said formally.

Allyndra looked between the two officers, "I meant what I told Lieutenant Kohl, if and when I will step down and will accordingly accept back my original rank."

"Thank you for your support Lieutenant Warraquim. Suffice to say there is going to have to be some adjusting to the new structure, but I do not want anyone aboard this ship to think it was caused by any sort of dereliction of duty. With your permission Captain I will prepare a short statement for the crew?"

John knew that even on a ship as small as a Nova, there was a rumour mill that would be able to crank out comments faster than the command staff could churn out statements, but nevertheless, this was something the XO wanted to nip in the bud.

"I think that is a prudent idea." she agreed with the slightest of nods. It was an unorthodox procedure to remove a DH and appoint a new one mid-mission, and the last thing she wanted was misinformation floating around her ship about the reasons why.

Looking at Allyndra, Lirha couldn't think of any reason to keep her in the office any longer. No doubt she had duties to attend to especially if she was now the new chief medical officer. "Do you have any questions for me or Commander Holliday before I dismiss you?" she asked.

"As of this moment no. I will not say anything until an official announcement has been made. There is no need to start the rumors and trust me, I have served on enough ships to know things can spread like Rigillian Flu. That being said, sirs, is there anything more that you would like to ask me?"

"No, that is all. You are dismissed." Lirha answered simply enough.

Allyndra stood and came to attention briefly and then with an ease of long practice took a step backward and turned and left the events still whirling in her mind.

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

CMDR Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Andreus Kohl
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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