Intelligent Suggestions (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 17 Nov 2013 @ 11:21am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos & Lieutenant JG Tykhin Vess

2,205 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD08 - 0935 hrs

Previously, on Intelligent Suggestions (Part 1)...

Tykhin crossed his arms. "Look, in our first meeting you told me to piss off, then insulted my intelligence and competence and have been condescending ever since. I never claimed to be part of your crew, and I never spent time trumpeting that I'm not. I've followed your orders, reported to you and didn't say a word about your disrespectful behaviour because I knew we had a job to do and that this arrangement is only temporary. Soon we'll either be dead or I'll be merrily reassigned. And now that you've dismissed me from lending a hand after undermining me to your crewman, I don't see the issue. We will never work together again," Tykhin said and looked to the Captain. "So again, ma'am, may I ask what we are doing here? And should I invite Lieutenant Commander Wight to join us? He has seen the video logs of the lieutenant's interactions with me and has some choice words about her treatment of subordinates. Unless of course we're finished?"

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

"No, we are not finished yet ," Lirha replied, feeling herself become irritated at both of the officers in front of her. She had just listened to the two squabbling back and froth in front of her, and though some of the allegations were a bit serious, it also seemed inappropriate considering Galileo's current situation. "I do not know who Commander Wight is, nor do I particularly care. He has not reported in to myself or Commander Blake, and therefore has no jurisdiction aboard my vessel as far as I am concerned. For the record, and to make this absolutely clear for both of you, any personnel who perform their Starfleet duties aboard my ship are assigned to a department with a department head who oversees their work," she paused to look back and forth between Amynta and Tykhin.

"This means if anyone is performing Intelligence duties aboard the ship using our facilities, they are under the direct command and supervision of the Support department. Lieutenant Markos is the department head and senior officer for that department, which means she supervises any personnel who are serving under her. I am not concerned with what ship either of you are assigned to -- the USS Venture has been destroyed, therefore everyone on my vessel is assigned to Galileo and will assist us until further notice." Lirha sighed and took a deep breath, trying her best to keep herself level-headed.

"Lieutenant Vess, if you wish to serve aboard Galileo and do something useful, then you may resume your duties aboard our ship under the direct command of Lieutenant Markos. If not, or if you feel incapable of performing your duties with conduct becoming of an officer, then I am sure I can find something else for you to do. I believe our sous chef needs an extra hand preparing meals during gamma shift." Lirha's message was clear, but she still needed to address Amynta.

"The same goes for you, Lieutenant Markos. Our ship is critically damaged and overflowing with survivors who we can barely care for, we are on the edge of explored space far away from the rest of the fleet, and we--I do not have time for this nonsense. You two will get along and perform your duties, and bring me your collaborated intelligence findings by the end of the day. That's an order." Lirha now had a headache. "You are both professionals...act like them and put your differences aside. If you wish to file formal charges against each other at the end of the day, after you have delivered your findings to me, you may contact Commander Holliday who will begin an investigation."

"Four gods and five hells," Tykhin grumbled. "I'm not serving on this ship or under yet another intel officer like her; I'm too old for this nonsense," he said. He peeled off his combadge and tossed it on the captain's desk. "Please accept my notice of retirement. I'd rather make sandwiches."

Amynta looked down at that, with a small smile tugging at her lips. She was not surprised of his reaction. Inside, she was pleased. Even with being told off by her CO, Well, fair enough, I was letting the stress of it all get to me she felt like what had been said was fair. It had confirmed her own beliefs and it had righted a serious accusation against someone in her department. Hex did not deserve it and she was glad that had been made clear, that she had not disobeyed. She remained silent, as Vess' statement had made any statement from her in regards to that had made a reply from her on the subject redundant. However, there was one thing. "Crewmen Hex and I worked through the day and the night on the intelligence that had been gathered. I will send a report through to you and the XO as soon as I return to my office."

Not amused, Lirha looked down at Vess' commbadge sitting on her desk, then to Amynta, then back to Vess himself. "Lieutenant, we do not have the time nor resources for our officers to abandon their posts simply because of personal problems. I strongly urge you to reconsider and put the well being of the Federation and our ship in the forefront of your mind. It is, of course, your prerogative to resign your commission if you so desire, however we need every officer available right now. We are not sitting in spacedock and your refusal to work with our intelligence team adds more stress and work for them which could be alleviated with your help," she said to the Betazoid. As the ship's captain, she knew crew morale was dangerously low at the moment, but they could ill afford to lose another capable officer.

"Ma'am, I'm confused," Tykhin said, exasperated with the Captain's flip-flop and insinuations. He could see how Amynta came to be as she was. "A moment ago you told me I was as useful making sandwiches as working with the lieutenant, which considering the fact that she came running here instead of even trying to manage her department herself seems dubious. Her opinion of my use to her team is clear and she's already undermined me as an officer to others, so in fact, I can't function in that role. Nor can she hide how pleased she is that I refuse to work with her from an empath, or the vindictive glee she got from starting this," he said and gestured in Amynta's direction. "She is not capable of being professional in this situation, it's a setup for failure. You gave me the choice, I made it, ma'am. If you don't like my choice, it's your prerogative not to accept it. But don't play righteous and belittle my motives."

The frustration with the situation which Lirha had been attempting to suppress finally boiled to the surface and she slowly rose from her seat and walked to stand in front of the Betazoid. "Mister Vess, You have twisted my words and attempted to find ulterior meaning within them where there is none present," she said in a dangerously quiet voice. "If you ever speak to me like that again on my ship, you will find yourself regretting ever being pulled from that escape pod you arrived in. You are lucky to be alive, yet you seem to feel that your own personal pride is more important than the mission and the well-being of our crew." The Orion's tone had turned menacing, and she was most definitely not in the mood for semantics. She refused to be spoken to in such a manner by someone who apparently had little to no regard for their acting captain, the ship they were currently serving on, or the circumstances which surrounded them.

"I accept your resignation, lieutenant. You are dismissed. Now get out of my office and report to Mister Iella in the mess hall for meal duty. If you say anything other than 'yes, sir', I will find you in contempt and confine you to your quarters until we return to port. Do you understand me?"

Tykhin looked bemused at the show in front of him. He was not certain what was worse, the total lack of control in the captain or how easy it had been to provoke and manipulate. He held the captain's gaze, unphased by her outburst or empty threats. "Computer, enter resignation of Vess, Tykhin, authorization code 4-4-delta-six."

"Resignation entered, all access codes rescinded."

Tykhin rose and brushed off his jacket. "I don't have quarters, captain, and you don't give civilians orders." With that he stepped past her and left the ready room. He had not felt such peace in years.

Amynta waited until he had left before looking up at her Captain. She thought for a brief moment before taking a breath. "I know this counts for nothing right now. But I've worked with bigger bastards before and managed to keep it professional. This mission made it different, the position I hold is different from before. But I'd have made it work somehow if he had stayed. As he hasn't, we're exactly where we were before with Intel." It was the closest, in a weird way, she could get to apologise for how she had reacted with him.

Lirha sighed and sat down next to Amynta in the chair next to her which had just been vacated by Vess. "The last thing we need right now is to lose another capable officer. I know crew morale is not great...but we have just lost a potentially valuable resource." She paused to ponder her decision and her reactions. "Perhaps I should have sent him to counseling...he appears in need of some help. He has no doubt been through a great deal of stress recently."

Amynta turned to face her, watching her closely. "Problem is, we don't have time to counsel or wrap him up in cotton wool. We don't have time for it..." she hesitated, frowning. "He had years under his belt and works differently from me. I might have been able to work with him, but I don't think he would be able to work with me. I am human, I can keep calm on the outside but I can't hide my emotions. And he would always sense that. Besides, the way he dismissed Hex as if she didn't matter grated on me. Red's the best crewman I have in my department."

"I am fond of her too," Lirha replied, giving Amynta a private smile which was eventually accompanied by a sincere stare. "Has she...told you about us?" she wondered.

"Not in so many words," Amynta said and met her eyes, before smiling weakly. Thing was, she got on with Hex and she cared about her. "But I am not stupid. I've known she has come from your quarters. Which is why I trusted her to talk to you about what you experienced as a drone, rather than me sitting down and...well. Interrogate you."

The Orion had figured as much, realizing she probably wouldn't be able to keep her relationship with Siren private for too long, especially amongst her friends. "Thank you for keeping that knowledge quiet," she replied, "I do care a great deal for her and she had been my best friend through our recent good and bad times. And thank you for not interrogating me after my assimilation," she winked.

Lirha took a deep breath then slowly rose from her seat and put back on her professional captain's hat. "I will speak with Vess in the coming days and see if his outburst was simply a matter of emotional stress. In the meantime...," she looked Amynta seriously in her eyes, "do not drink in your office. You have senior officer quarters for a reason which provides you with all the access and comforts you need. And...please tone it down. I like you a lot, lieutenant, and I think you do a great job, but we both know you can be abrasive at times. Understood?"

Amynta nodded, keeping her mouth shut. She could have said that she hadn't really been to her quarters unless to change or shower. She hadn't slept anywhere but her office since everything kicked off. But it didn't matter. "I'll try. I won't promise, because I don't like breaking promises. But I will try, Captain," she said, simply.

"Very well." Lirha held her gaze for a long moment. She sincerely hoped Amynta received no more complaints regarding conduct, or else it would be John dealing with her next time. And he was far less lenient than the Orion was. "If there is nothing else then, you are dismissed."

Amynta nodded, standing as she nodded. "Thank you, Captain," she said before leaving.

OFF:

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Tykhin Vess (ret.)
Intelligence Officer
USS Venture

Lt. Amynta Markos
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

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