A Job Well Done

Posted on 14 Jan 2013 @ 7:19pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant Commander Pola Ni Dhuinn M.D.

1,210 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD -02: 0240 hrs

[ON]

Tapping her commbadge, Lirha summoned her ship's doctor to her ready room to take care of a small piece of housekeeping which had slipped her mind several days ago. She had been so preoccupied with status and crew reports that even some of the simpler messages she had received had been forgotten, but one in particular was of rather large importance to both her and her ship.

"Doctor Ni Dhuinn, please report to my ready room." Lirha said.

Stirring slightly as she tried to blink the sleep from her eyes, Pola only got half of what was said as she fumbled in the dark for her comm badge. As her fingers finally wrapped around the commuicator, she depressed the middle of it.

=^=Ni Dhuinn here. On my way Ma'am. Ni Dhuinn out.=^=

Her voice showing her sleepy state, Pola was exhausted. After her emotional breakdown with Cyrus the night before and a long day in sickbay after. Pulling on the first clothes which came to hand, it was her rumpled uniform but it took everything she had to just get out the door and propell herself to the bridge.

Watching as her sleepy-looking and slightly disheveled CMO entered her office, Lirha was less than pleased with her appearance. Regardless of the hour of day, all of her officers and crew members were expected to present themselves professionally...at all times. "Did I wake you, lieutenant?" she simply asked with a raised eyebrow and a blank look on her usually-expressive face.

Coming to stand at attention opposite the woman, Pola's mind still wasn't right after everything which had happened. "It's been a trying few days Ma'am, I haven't been sleeping much." Leaving it at that so as the Captain could take the lead, Pola kept her eyes focused on the back wall as her body maintained the rigged stance.

"Yes, I can imagine." the captain replied, then picked up a PADD laying nearby on her desk and quickly scrolled through it. "The reason I woke you is because I was contacted by Starfleet Medical several days ago. I had a long talk with Commander Kyla Beren, and she is quite pleased with your recent performance as CMO aboard Galileo." she explained, then paused before continuing.

"In fact, she was so pleased, that she has recommended your promotion to the rank of lieutenant commander..." she added, letting her voice trail off as the words sunk in for the sleepy medical chief.

If anything had the ability to wake her up, it was obviously that. Commander Beren...she'd been Pola's mentor through the academy and again through her years in the medical academy. Back then she'd been Lieutenant but obviously the instructor had been keeping a closer eye on her than the reverse. Any communication between them had generally been on first time basis. And if Kyla had the power to make that recommendation...

Realising the silence between herself and the Captain was growing, Pola cleared her throat as she moved her eyes to look at Lirha. "I'm not sure what to say...so soon after my last promotion. I mean..." Once again, Pola's ability to discuss her personal feelings was tripping her up. "I mean Ma'am that I am honoured...absolutely honoured."

"Well, the commander's recommendation is just that...a recommendation," Lirha replied, "But given the circumstances, I am happy to fulfill it. You and your team have proven invaluable to Galileo, and that is a direct result of your leadership and medical skills. Personally, I couldn't have asked for a better CMO."

As Pola felt tears welling up in her eyes, she broke protocol in order to pinch the bridge of her nose as she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment more. This whole opening up to Cyrus scenario seemed to now mean that she literally wore her heart on her sleeve.

Properly recomposing herself, she smiled shyly at the woman infront of her. "I'm sorry Ma'am...it's taking some readjustment. Chief of Medical and Lieutenant Commander at 29 is more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you for your belief in me."

"It seems like just yesterday when I found myself as a newly-promoted lieutenant commander...so I understand the feeling, and am sure you will do just fine." the captain replied, then rose from her seat and moved to the back of the ready room where her personal safe was located. Inputting her command codes into the small keypad along with a fingerprint from her thumb, the secure contained opened and Lirha reached inside, briefly fumbling around with her fingers before retrieving a large wooden box. Delicately opening it, she retrieved a hollow pip from the myriad of other rank insignias contained inside, then put the box back in the safe and closed the latch.

She returned to her desk and stepped in front of Pola, then reached up and expertly pinned the new pip next to the two solid ones already on her uniform. After a careful inspection and a tug on the Pola's uniform to smooth it out, Lirha gave her a small smile. "Congratulations, Doctor. You are hereby promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander along with all the rights and privileges to accompany it." she said, then offered her green hand for the blue-collared woman to shake.

The weight on her collar felt heavy but this time Pola realised that it felt good. After her conversation with Cyrus last night, she realised she'd worked hard to earn this. Even though it was earlier than anyone would have expected, it was still an honour to know she had this rank, a nod to everything she'd done. Pulling he back up straighter, she almost beamed as she tried to keep her smile low key. "I won't let you down Ma'am. Ill speak to Commander Holliday in the morning to start my studies for Command."

"Very good." Lirha answered with a nod of approval. "I look forward to seeing your first test results, then." she added with a happy glint to her green eyes. "If there is nothing else, you're dismissed, commander. And...get some rest...you look like you need it"

About to turn, it suddenly dawned on Pola she hadn't shook Lirha's hand. Taking the extended limb, she blushed slightly red. "Apologies Ma'am. I'm on the second half of Alpha and full Beta shifts tomorrow so Ill ensure I'm completely rested up."

"I hope so," the captain replied, "I wouldn't want my newest lieutenant commander to be unable to perform her duties properly due to her own over-exertion." she said with cautious look in her eyes. "Go back to your quarters and get some sleep. That's an order."

Chewing on her lower lip, Pola briskly nodded her head before smiling warmly at the woman. "Yes Ma'am." Turning sharply on her heel, she needed to see someone first, it was important. She'd bring him back to hers, the walk would be long enough that she could share her news and then shed sleep. Heading out of the ready room, she surprised herself at the spring in her step.

[OFF]

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CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Commander Pola Ni Dhuinn
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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