A Brief Briefing (part 3)

Posted on Wed Aug 29th, 2012 @ 12:42pm by Commodore Samantha York & Colonel Damon Raine & Commander Alexandra Vance & Lieutenant Eamon Lynx & Lieutenant T'Lada & Lieutenant Commander Damion Wolfe
Edited on on Wed Aug 29th, 2012 @ 12:48pm

1,514 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Enemy Within: Lying in Wait
Location: Conference Room

CONTINUED]

[OLD]

"More to the point," T'Lada said, with a calm voice, "I would like to clarify myself, since our slightly intellectually stunted intelligence officer appears to have missed the larger picture. In no way, did I implicate our intelligence forces. I was stipulating that anyone could have hidden anything within such an environment. Following a different chain of thought, I do not believe you are privy to every minute detail that Starfleet Intelligence is privy to, so it may, very well be, something Starfleet Intel related, but all of this is besides the point I am attempting to make, Lieutenant Intelligence man who seems far too brash for his duty-post. As Chief Science Officer, it is my job to digest the scientific data provided to me, very similar to your position. I do not, however have to make wild accusations, as the data in my field will speak for itself. I meant precisely what I said. This planet's environmental factors make it difficult to detect anything that may be hidden there in plain sight. I made no reference to either Starfleet Intelligence, nor any other opposing intelligence force, such as the Tal Shiar, or numerous other Intelligence task forces. I made no accusation, I simply stated the facts. Your outburst was unnecessary, and exceedingly unwelcome, in a professional environment. Admittedly, this is my first staff briefing, however, I have always been led to believe that the communication of information, between departments, in such a forum as this, is just such a professional environment. I do believe you owe myself, and the other members of this briefing an apology." She finished, without raising her tone of voice, or changing her facial expression. She appeared serene, and calm, and utterly Vulcan. Without changing her tone of voice, she nodded to Eamon. "Apologies for not accepting, and returning your social constructs, post haste, however I do not place them above duty-related information. Greetings, and salutations, Lieutenant. I believe the appropriate, if profession-unlikely phrase is 'peace, and long life'."

[NEW]

Eamon was impressed and slightly pittied Damion as he was just put in his place by T'Lada. Being an empath Eamon tried to gage the Vulcan but knew he wouldn't be able to since Vulcans are very disciplined in suppressing their emotions; but just incase he kept his senses watching for any emotional leak unlike the rest of the crew. Their emotions he had to filter to be less intense as they flooded in. Eamon smiled and held up a hand, formed a V in the middle of his fingers. "And you live long and prosper," he replied.

"Commodore, thank you for the welcome," he added after turning to the commanding officer.

Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Now that we've cleared up the misconceptions, I suggest you all go get ready to depart. Lieutenant Wolfe, see what you can find out about the missing Intel ships. Lieutenant T'Lada, there's a good deal of information in the ship's computer and in the science database on Tiberius IV as the Calypso visited the planet once before. Write up a brief for the crew so they'll know what to expect when we get there. Lieutenant Lynx, work with the Marines and get teams ready to search the planet. We leave in 20 minutes. You are dismissed."

T'Lada nodded. "As you wish." She said, with a nod, and the faintest hint of a smile.

"Aye," Eamon said and got to his feet; he headed out of the briefing room.

Damon watched as the officers started filing out of the room. "Damion, stick around for a minute. I want a word." He motioned for the man to remain in his seat.

Damion just stood there staring at the vulcan and then, picking up on Eamon's surface thoughts, look over to him as well. He nodded slightly and back down, leaning back in his chair and bringing his hands, folding them into each other. His eyes were still locked on the the science chief, speaking to the first officer. "Yes Sir, Commander Raine."

Damon kept his eyes trained on Damion despite the Lieutenant's attention being elsewhere. "Damion, tell me how your visit with the counselor went?"

T'Lada fell into step with Doctor Bowen. "Do you have an appropriate opening in your schedule for a physical?" T'Lada asked the Doctor, as the senior staff began leaving the briefing room.

---

Alexandra had just spent the better part of 2 weeks cramped in the confines of Type Six Shuttlecraft that some Admiral felt necessary to send on one last meaningful journey before it was to be decommissioned. She was told she should be honored to have been part of this 'momumental' event, however the only thing she felt was the filth of a thirty year old shuttlecraft clinging to her clothes. Her mood was foul and she made it a point to snarl at the freshmen that tried to warm her with their forced smiles and greetings. She was a Commander and she damn well knew it, she did not need to be reminded by anyone.

As the doors slid open Vance was met by somewhat vertically challenged gold humanoid that looked like a component of the warp core. "Get out of my way!" she growled shoving her way through the crowd.

"Commodore York, I am Commander Alexandra Vance, your new Executive Officer. Admiral Burke informed me you were in urgent need of a replacement. I came at my soonest convenience.

Sam stared at her for several moments. "You're who?" Burke told her she had months, IF she got a new XO. She said nothing about one being on the way. She looked over at Damon, not at all ready to lose him as her First Officer.

Alexandra could see the instant look of concern upon the Commodore's face as she looked over to the man across from her. Vance looked over to him and began sizing him up. His physical appearance did not exude anything that she would give a second look to....except.

[i]Oh, now isn't this special.[/i] Vance thought to herself as she noted the 3 pips on the man's red collar. Admiral Burke had prematurely sent her out before Commodore York had the opportunity to send off what looked like her former XO. The shuttle had not afforded her time for proper reconnaissance but she would not let Command's error be her embarrassment to wear.

"Commander Alexandra Vance, your new executive officer." she repeated looking directly at the former XO.

Damon met the new officer's gaze with the same determination. "Until I have new orders placed in my hands, I have no plans on giving you my job."

Alexandra reached into the satchel she had slung around her shoulder and removed a PADD. She gently placed it down on the table looking him in the eyes the whole time and slid it over to Commodore York. "I think you'll find everything is in order ma'am." she said returning to her fully vertical stance still looking at the former XO.

Sam looked at the PADD as if it would bite her. "No, I was told it was only a possibility, and not for months yet..." she whispered.

After several moments, she slowly picked up the PADD and read it. Twice. Then she set it on the table. Everything was in order.

She took out the small box from her pocket, looking intently at Damon. "Admiral Burke told me...just now..." She set the box in front of him. "You're the new Commander of the USS Ontario. I was promised that you wouldn't leave for a while. And only when you're needed. And there was only a possibility of a new XO...but later." The last was addressed to Vance. Sam was not ready for this. The news of the Ontario was still new. She needed time to get used to the idea before she considered having a new XO."

Damon looked at the two different rank pips in the box; One, the standard four pip rank of a captain. It was the second insignia that really caught his eye, the silver wings of a full Colonel. "Well...I really wasn't expecting this." He looked to the Commander standing in front of him. "Or this either, to be honest."

Sam looked in the box, then up at Damon. "I was only told abut the Captaincy. Congratulations, Colonel."

"Thank you, Commodore." He said, noting her new rank as well. He was curious what the rank would mean in terms of her responsibilities as well. "It seems everyone has new assignments to attend to."

"We'll probably hear more after we rescue the Columbia." She glanced at Commander Vance. "Speaking of which, I think we should continue this discussion in my ready room."

OFF

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

Captain Damon Raine
Mission Advisor

Commander Alexandra Vance
Executive Officer

Lieutenant T'Lada
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant Damion Wolfe
Chief Intelligence Officer

Lieutenant Eamon Lynx
Chief Security Officer

 

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