Field Promotion

Posted on Sat May 2nd, 2015 @ 6:26am by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant Illise Hale

1,395 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Deadly Diplomacy
Location: Captain's Ready Room

ON

Sam read over the message again, shaking her head. She really shouldn't be surprised. The message was from Ilse Frost. According to the good doctor, Roberta Andrews was suffering from too much stress due to the work environment, so she, Doctor Frost, was taking Roberta and Korok, her mate, to a planet where she could relax and have her baby.

That was the second time the doctor and Mr. Korok had left the ship. It would also be the last.

She tapped her combadge. "York to Hale. Please report to my Ready Room at your earliest convenience."

Illise was just stepping out of the sonic shower when the Captain's summons came through. She made a quick dash to the sink and picked up her com-badge. "Yes Commodore, I'll be there shortly." she replied. Briefly she wondered what the Commodore might want to see her for. Perhaps she wished to discuss the away mission.

Illise closed her hand around the com-badge and leaned on the sink to look at herself in the mirror. Her green eyes stared back at themselves. Killing the mercenary on the planet during the away mission had been necessary. If she had not acted quickly he would of raised the alarm and her crew-mates could of died. But had it been honorable? She was unsure. Stealth had been key; no challenge could of been issued without endangering the mission. Illise rolled it around in her head for a minute, then sighed and looked at the tattoo on her shoulder - the Klingon symbol permanently set into her flesh. "Honor." she said aloud, the shook her head and left the washroom. Vathraq might have something to say about the matter, but he was not here.

Illise pulled on her uniform, fixed her hair, put on her com-badge and left her quarters, with only the briefest glance at the pair of carefully cleaned mek'leths on her bed. She entered the turbolift took it to the bridge. Stepping off, she allowed herself a quick moment to take in the scene as she crossed the the Commodore's Ready Room. The damage from the attack was being repaired, and the smell of smoke still hung lightly in the air. Looking away from the charred console, Illise rang the chime to the Ready Room.

"Come in," Sam said. She smiled when she saw Illise. "Hello, Ensign. Please have a seat."

Illise smiled politely back, "Thank you Ma'am." she said and then sat in the offered chair.

Sam waited for the woman to sit down before sitting behind her desk. "I've heard good things about your performance on the away team."

"I'm glad to hear that. The away mission was not what I would call 'according to plan'." Illise confessed to Sam, then quickly added, "If it's alright that I say so." She paused and then continued, "Much of what happened was...regrettable."

"Unfortunately, a good number of away missions don't go according to plan,," Sam assured her. "However, most do end far better than the last one. None of us knew what Sergeant Beckinsale was doing."

Sam shook her head, still saddened by the reports she'd read of Sergeant Beckinsale. "What are your opinions on the science department?"

Illise considered for a moment. "Although I haven't had much opportunity to get to know them yet, the staff seems very capable. They are a good team and I look forward to working with them. I am also pleased to be able to work with equipment and labs which are top of the line."

"We've been very fortunate," Sam replied. "I was a Chief Science Officer before I was given command of the Calypso. I'm still partial to science." She paused for a moment. "That's why I'm particular about who runs my science department. And that's why I'm offering you a field promotion to Lieutenant JG and Chief Science Officer."

Illise had been unprepared for this particular tun in the conversation, and it was only her training that kept her jaw from doping open. Concern however, quickly overcame her moment of shock. "Is Lieutenant Andrews alright?" The last time Illise had seen the Lieutenant she had collapsed and had been beamed to sickbay.

"She is, but Doctor Frost believes Lieutenant Andrews needs a rest until the birth of her baby. So the two of them and Korok Lukk, the father of the child, have taken a shuttle to the Vega system. They will not be returning to the Calypso."

"Oh. I'm glad she is okay." Illise's thoughts fought between feeling that there must be someone more qualified for the position and wanting to smile because she was probably the first in her class to attain it. Neither was particularly appropriate however, so she kept those emotions off her face. It was after all the Commodore's decision, and she had decided that Illise could handle it. "Thank you Commodore for your confidence in me, and for this opportunity." She said in what she hoped was a collected manner.

Picking up on Illise's attempts to remain calm, Sam smiled. "It's okay to be happy about it. I think you will do a great job." She smiled. "Do you have any questions?"

Illise thought for a moment before responding. "What is the Calypso's current mandate regarding the science department?"

"Whatever the assignment demands. Apart from that, the department is free to make use of the labs for personal projects. They're set up with their own power supply and computer database so they aren't affected if the ship needs to reallocate power," Sam said.

Illise held her breath for a second; what Sam had said presented an unexpected opportunity. Up till now she had been resigned to the fact that this door was closed to her. "I saw what destroyed the USS Coulson, both through sensors and with my own eyes." She paused before continuing. "I turned the sensor logs that I managed to save when it became clear that the ship was doomed, over to Startfleet Command. I know that they are investigating, but I had always hoped to be able to do my own analysis of the data. Unfortunately as an Ensign, I have been denied access to the files. Would it be possible to obtain a copy for study aboard the Calypso?"

"Of course," Sam replied. She'd done her share of investigating -- not always with permission. "If you can't get it with your own access, I'll use mine. Use the science database to keep your research. That way, you don't have to answer directly to Starfleet unless you want to report your findings." She paused for a moment. "I'm not suggesting your research will be against Starfleet regulations. I'm just saying that as this is your personal research, use the database set aside for that and it will continue to remain your research." With the recent problems Sam had experienced with Starfleet Command, she didn't want some Admiral searching the ship's logs and removing anything they thought unnecessary. With a separate database, science had the autonomy it needed for personal projects.

"Thank you." Illise replied, a feeling of excitement rising in her chest. Maybe she would be able to find answers to the many questions she had after all. Nothing about what had happened to the Colson had felt right, and it had bothered her ever since. Then she thought about all the catching up on reports that she was going to have to do and her excitement deflated. "I guess I have a lot of work to do. " she said with a slight smirk.

"I'm afraid so," Sam replied with a sympathetic smile. Sam started out as the Chief Science Officer before ending up in command and she knew exactly what the young officer had in store. "But I think you'll quickly get the hang of it. If there's nothing else, I'll let you get started."

Illise stood up from her seat. "No, nothing else."

"Good luck, Lieutenant," Sam said, smiling.

Illise exited the Ready Room and crossed the Bridge to the turbo lift, without really seeing it this time. She waited a brief moment for the doors to open and then walked inside. "Deck 15, Main Science Lab," She told the computer. Best get started.

____
OFF

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant JG Illise Hale
Chief Science Officer

 

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