Decisions

Posted on Tue Apr 26th, 2011 @ 12:35pm by Commodore Samantha York & Colonel Damon Raine & Major Leroy Mangalia

1,391 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Forests of Mythraeli
Location: CO's Ready Room
Timeline: Right after the away team returns

ON

Samantha called both Damon and Leo to her ready room to talk about the Marines. It was a discussion she wasn't looking forward to, but one that needed to be done.

"Computer, play Mozart, soft." The music began to play quietly. She went to her replicator and got herself a cup of herb tea and sat down on her couch to await the two men.

Leroy stepped inside the room and looked around. Captain? Long time no see," he said with a soft smile. He had no idea what was going on this time, and hoped that it wasn't going to be another Guntold Issue.

"Hi, Leo. Have a seat. As soon as Damon arrives I'll tell you what's going on. Would you like a drink?"

"Thank you, no." Leo said standing by the door, but leaving a gap so it would close, and no one would run in and run him over. He was at the position of Parade Rest, staring straight ahead into the bare wall before him. His demeanor had changed, after hearing that the Colonel was going to be joining them.

Damon walked into the room and quickly took note of it's occupants before moving towards the table.

He was wearing his fatigues, though missing a very important item from his uniform. He felt almost naked without his insignia despite the layers of clothing he wore.

Damon looked to the lieutenant and shook his head as he walked by him. He was tempted to say 'at ease', but it was no longer his position to comment on such things. Instead he patted him on the shoulder. "Not anymore, Leo." He said before continuing past the Marine and taking a seat at the table.

Leo unconsciously relaxed, looking confused at Damon. "What? What do you mean by not any more? Am I being transferred?"

"In a manner of speaking," Sam said. In an effort to save Damon from any uncomfortable explanations she continued. "Damon has stepped down as Marine CO. Effective immediately, I'm offering you the position -- along with a promotion."

"And where is he going?" Leo said, dumb founded. He didn't mind taking the job, and felt that he could do well running the Marines, but he was afraid of doing something wrong. "As for the promotion, I haven't earned that just yet."

"He's not going anywhere," Sam said quietly. "That's why he stepped down."

Leo looked over to the man and smiled slyly. "You're trading sides... you'll be a Commander now instead of Lieutenant Colonel."

"Well that's one possibility, one that Sam is certainly making a case for. Truth is, Command wanted to send me elsewhere and I wasn't prepared to go. I resigned shortly after." Damon knew it was an over-simplification of the details, but he didn't feel like going into it with Leo.

The look left Leroy's face, and he dead panned. "You resigned? Where were they sending you, the Ozarks of the Universe?"

"Tyranis Four." He said without a grin. He wasn't going to bait for the joke. "It's currently embroiled in a planet wide civil war. Being a battle zone, shore leave would have been difficult to take, if at all."

Leo shook his head and sighed. "That should be their own problem. It's their civil war, you didn't see world powers of the day overtly helping the North or South during the United States Civil War now did you? I'm rather proud that you stood up to that particular order Sir."

Damon shook his head. "I wouldn't make me out to be some sort of hero for the cause on this one. Truth is, my reasons for not going are significantly more selfish in nature." He allowed a quick glance to Samantha. "I don't think I'm someone to be emulated as far as Marine service is concerned."

Leo dropped the Marine in him, and looked bluntly at Damon. "I'm going to speak bluntly, to the both of you. I've noticed the looks, heard about the kiss in Ten Forward, yadda yadda yadda. None of that bothers me. In a time of peace these people need as strong a leader as they do in times of conflict. I'm most likely not the only one willing to follow the two of you into the depths of hell and back for a mission." His eyes tipped back and forth between the two people, and he was stern. "Selfish reasons or not, you did what you thought was right." In his mind, he barked a laugh and thought -^-Emulated? hell this man needs to be immortalized.-^-

Sam grinned. "Thank you for that. I think people sometimes forget there are more important things in life than rank and position. If we're being blunt, I'm glad Damon's still here. I honestly can't think of this ship without him." Her grin turned mischievous. "And I can't think of anyone I'd trust more at my side than Damon. I'm trying to convince him to step into the XO position. I know I can get him transferred to Starfleet proper."

"I just don't see that transition going over well. I'm a...was a Marine. I know nothing of spatial anomalies or nebulas or subatomic particles. I am combat driven. Think about it, I would turn the Calypso into a really big stick."

"Wise man once say, to be strong, you must walk softly and carry a big stick," Leo said sagely with a smile on his face. "Let me ask you this Damon, how many fights has this ship been in since you got here? Or since I've gotten here? Maybe it's time we make this little explorer a big honkin stick of an explorer."

"You don't need to know about nebulae or engineering or even archaeology," Sam assured him. "That's what I'm for. You know how to lead people. You know how to command. There are people under you to do all the rest." She looked at Leo, then back at Damon. "You even have people to carry sticks when needed."

"What do they tell us at the Academy Damon? No one can do everything, but everybody can do something. Granted I don't think they ever saw something like this happening, but it still applies. You don't have to know how to pick out a constellation, or find a millionth of a particle showing there was once a time anomaly some where in this sector, or look at a planet and know for a fact that it's a good colony planet before you even get the scans back." Leo smiled, thinking to himself for a second. "If I was you, I'd jump on it. But if you don't, you won't even be a fleeter anymore, and I won't let you play any more Marine games if your a civilian."

Damon whistled. "That's a hard line, Leo." He leaned heavily into his chair. "I'll have to think about this more before giving the go-ahead. It's a pretty big decision to make."

Sam didn't say anything at this point. Leo was making more progress than she had at getting Damon to consider "switching sides." And she really wanted Damon to agree to be her XO.

"But look at it this way Damon," Leo said leaning back in the chair. "You become a civilian, you get shuffled to deck eight during any encounter we come into, and never get armed. You'll be just another body in a sea of bodies. You become the XO, you'll be in the midst of the action, doing what you do best." Looking at the Captain he smiled. "And if Captain York goes MIA again, and you're just a civilian, you'll be stuck in your quarters, wondering whats being done. Is that an option you really think you could live with?"

He was good. Leo knew how to push Damon's buttons. Sam didn't dare. Her relationship with Damon was far more important than having him as her XO. So she waited to see how Damon would respond.

"Ma'am," Leo said standing. "I believe that my work here is done. I have a mission to get ready for."

"Good luck, Captain," Sam said. "And thank you."

OFF

Captain Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Damon Raine
Acting XO
USS Calypso

Marine Captain Leroy Mangalia
Marine CO
USS Calypso

 

RSS Feed