S12 - M12: When the Bough Breaks

[Tekin Nevir]

Captain's Log, Stardate 73596.7

The Discovery has just about reached it end of it's survey mission, and repairs are just about complete.  My crew has worked exceptionally well in the last few weeks, and I've started to meet with my senior staff about changes in the crew's ranks.  Of course, considering some of those are part of the senior staff, it has been interesting trying to gauge how ready some members are.  I'm compiling a list for the Admiralty board for when we return, but pending any serious disciplinary actions, I see nothing but greatness coming from this crew.

I believe Commander Galloway is fitting into his role as First Officer nicely.  His handling of the surface team while without contact with the ship proved to me that his recommendation was quite accurate.  I feel that I made a good choice.  There has been some friction between the crew and himself, but that is more of my failure for upholding discipline than due to issues between himself and the crew.  I have no doubt that this will be a bit of a transition, but Prophets willing, we will adapt.  There is balance in all things... so it makes sense that there is a balance between comfort and discipline.  We just need to reach it. 

Our final stretch of the Delta Quadrant sectors we are surveying takes us through the Dravanos sector; a far enough sector from the Federation that this truly the unknown.  While the crew handles such a mundane task, I have to handle the negative side of my position; what to do with two officers who have always been good at their jobs... but made a costly mistake....


[Captain's Ready Room]

"Commander, you have the bridge.  Send Stark and Jaeger directly to my ready room." Nevir stated, leaving the center chair to Ian to command while they continued their survey.  He gave a small stretch before turning and heading to the private side door marked Ready Room, and entering through. 

It still amazed him how big this room was.  The Discovery had such a slick, streamline design, that it hid the rather spacious interior that was essential for a deep space mission.  This was for intents and purposes a warship, but it felt more like the comfort of a Galaxy class than the utilitarian design of a Defiant class.  He instead walked around to his replicator, ordering a Bajoran java bean warm juice, and sitting at his chair, sipping the warm, almost hot chocolate/coffee like drink while he held the records for both Ariste and Ardyn.

Better to get this over with now.

[Kali Reyes]

[Turbolift]

Kali was doing something called 'coasting' today. Because she was behind on personnel meetings, she started conducting them in the turbolift. It was only a two question survey - hardly worth the effort of scheduling individual meetings - so whenever the lift opened up and officers came in, she quizzed each passenger throughout the morning.

It was actually quite effective, all things considered. The lift continued to go up and down the ship and after the first half hour, she managed to get a good percentage of each department by that alone.

This was going to be her last interview on her way up to the bridge.

When the next passenger arrived, Kali spun the stylus between her fingers and opened up an new file on her PADD. "Welcome to your personnel interview. I will give you two questions and your privacy is very important to me." Except when there's two or more in the lift, but hey.

"Question one: On a scale to 1 to 10, where 10 means fantastic and 1 means being shot out the airlock, how well do you believe you are faring well in your department? And question two: Do you have any important questions or comments regarding the ship?"

[Ariste Stark]

"Commander, you have the bridge.  Send Stark and Jaeger directly to my ready room."

When the next passenger arrived, Kali spun the stylus between her fingers and opened up an new file on her PADD. "Welcome to your personnel interview. I will give you two questions and your privacy is very important to me." Except when there's two or more in the lift, but hey.

"Question one: On a scale to 1 to 10, where 10 means fantastic and 1 means being shot out the airlock, how well do you believe you are faring well in your department? And question two: Do you have any important questions or comments regarding the ship?"

[Personal Quarters]

Ariste was nervous as hell.
Today was the day she got fired. She just knew it. Of course, she'd been saying that for the past week, all the while running herself raw in Engineering. Endless work hours, countless repairs... all to make up for their last mission.

But she couldn't continue like this. She was already on the brink of being deemed unfit for duty. Bags under her eyes that rivaled the colour of a black hole. Just skirting past the dress code for work (not that it mattered, since she spent most of her shifts creating a functioning body for Happy). Last night was the first night she got proper sleep, as another crewmember took over her duties.

But she needed to end this torment. Stepping onto the turbolift, she fidgeted with her collar, mind made up. She would confront Tekin herself.

[Turbolift]

Immediately after stepping on, Ariste was assaulted by a scripted spiel. Furrowing her brow, she cocked her head, until it clicked. She hadn't gotten her interview yet, figures she'd get it eventually. But now of all times?
Oh well. Faster she answered, faster she could complete her mission.

"Is zero an option? No questions or comments, except remember me when I'm gone. Bridge."

The last part was directed at the computer, as she slumped against the wall. Heaving a sigh, her eyes flickered up to Kali, shrugging. "I'm sure by now you've heard. Between the two of us and the Turbolift, any news about my transfer yet?"

[Ian Galloway]

Captain's Log, Stardate 73596.7

The Discovery has just about reached it end of it's survey mission, and repairs are just about complete.  My crew has worked exceptionally well in the last few weeks, and I've started to meet with my senior staff about changes in the crew's ranks.  Of course, considering some of those are part of the senior staff, it has been interesting trying to gauge how ready some members are.  I'm compiling a list for the Admiralty board for when we return, but pending any serious disciplinary actions, I see nothing but greatness coming from this crew.

I believe Commander Galloway is fitting into his role as First Officer nicely.  His handling of the surface team while without contact with the ship proved to me that his recommendation was quite accurate.  I feel that I made a good choice.  There has been some friction between the crew and himself, but that is more of my failure for upholding discipline than due to issues between himself and the crew.  I have no doubt that this will be a bit of a transition, but Prophets willing, we will adapt.  There is balance in all things... so it makes sense that there is a balance between comfort and discipline.  We just need to reach it. 

Our final stretch of the Delta Quadrant sectors we are surveying takes us through the Dravanos sector; a far enough sector from the Federation that this truly the unknown.  While the crew handles such a mundane task, I have to handle the negative side of my position; what to do with two officers who have always been good at their jobs... but made a costly mistake....


[Captain's Ready Room]

"Commander, you have the bridge.  Send Stark and Jaeger directly to my ready room." Nevir stated, leaving the center chair to Ian to command while they continued their survey.  He gave a small stretch before turning and heading to the private side door marked Ready Room, and entering through. 

[Bridge]

Ian stood as the captain rose and smiled as he replied with the proforma "Aye Sir!" and took center seat. As he sat, he experienced the same thrill of excitement he felt every time the mantle of command passed to him.

As the ship was at cruise speed on a surveying mission, there was very little for Ian to actually do. The science department was putting the primary and lateral sensors through their paces as they scoured this largely uncharted area of space, at least uncharted by the Federation, an oversight that the Discovery was sent to correct.

Despite the thousands of giga-quads of data the Voyager gathered during her unintended trip through the Delta Quadrant, there was still a vast area that was still unknown.

"Like those bloody Garfeni leeches."

Ian shuddered involuntarily from the memory of what had almost happened during the botched diplomatic mission that nearly ended with the entire envoy being drained of life to sustain the nearly vampiric Delta Quadrant species.

Shaking off the negative thoughts, Ian redirected his energy to the here and now. As he knew Ops had as little to do as he did with the sensors tied up by the science department, Ian decided to follow up on a rather whimsical thought.

"Ops, full spectrum scan of all subspace and RF band communication frequencies."

The Ops officer turned with a questioning look.

"RF band Sir?"

Ian smiled as he replied, because it was an unusual request.

"Aye Lass, RF band, one never knows who uses what when you are in the middle of no where.

Shaking her head, the Ops officer turned back to her console and added.

"Aye Sir."

Ian didn't expect her to find anything, but he didn't expect to encounter Juvento by ordering a full spectrum sensor scan either.

[Kali Reyes]

[Personal Quarters]

Ariste was nervous as hell.
Today was the day she got fired. She just knew it. Of course, she'd been saying that for the past week, all the while running herself raw in Engineering. Endless work hours, countless repairs... all to make up for their last mission.

But she couldn't continue like this. She was already on the brink of being deemed unfit for duty. Bags under her eyes that rivaled the colour of a black hole. Just skirting past the dress code for work (not that it mattered, since she spent most of her shifts creating a functioning body for Happy). Last night was the first night she got proper sleep, as another crewmember took over her duties.

But she needed to end this torment. Stepping onto the turbolift, she fidgeted with her collar, mind made up. She would confront Tekin herself.

[Turbolift]

Immediately after stepping on, Ariste was assaulted by a scripted spiel. Furrowing her brow, she cocked her head, until it clicked. She hadn't gotten her interview yet, figures she'd get it eventually. But now of all times?
Oh well. Faster she answered, faster she could complete her mission.

"Is zero an option? No questions or comments, except remember me when I'm gone. Bridge."

The last part was directed at the computer, as she slumped against the wall. Heaving a sigh, her eyes flickered up to Kali, shrugging. "I'm sure by now you've heard. Between the two of us and the Turbolift, any news about my transfer yet?"

[Turbolift]

"Ah, Lieutenant Stark. I was hoping I got a good rib into the bridge officers today," Kali said mechanically. "Tut, tut, a zero? Even Lieutenant Dan had the decency to leg up on a one."

In actuality, she was hardly paying attention at all today seeing as she went without coffee this morning to tackle her duties quickly and was now lethargic and starving. She paused for the answers, blinked twice at her PADD, and then finally looked up.

A transfer?

But poor Ariste looked so defeated, Kali exhaled through her nose and went through her roster tags. "Well, you and I both know that I can't tell you anything about upcoming discipline and/or reprimands save for my own. Although - there have been no active flights scheduled for transfer that I know of."

Heaven forbid if they were. Kali was already behind on next months shift availabilities. They were just slowly building the security department back up too...

[Ardyn Jaeger]

[Ariste Stark]

[Turbolift]

"Ah, Lieutenant Stark. I was hoping I got a good rib into the bridge officers today," Kali said mechanically. "Tut, tut, a zero? Even Lieutenant Dan had the decency to leg up on a one."

In actuality, she was hardly paying attention at all today seeing as she went without coffee this morning to tackle her duties quickly and was now lethargic and starving. She paused for the answers, blinked twice at her PADD, and then finally looked up.

A transfer?

But poor Ariste looked so defeated, Kali exhaled through her nose and went through her roster tags. "Well, you and I both know that I can't tell you anything about upcoming discipline and/or reprimands save for my own. Although - there have been no active flights scheduled for transfer that I know of."

Heaven forbid if they were. Kali was already behind on next months shift availabilities. They were just slowly building the security department back up too...

[Turbolift]

Ariste exhaled quickly, conflicting emotions warring in her brain and her stomach. That was good right? They weren't planning on shipping her off to some icy Andorian Starbase. Or some confined desk job where her entire shift was letter stamping. But somehow, it worried her more - this uncertainty. Giving Reyes a tight smile, she nodded understandingly.

"Thank you. I guess I've just been a bit paranoid they're gonna kick me to the curb." What bad press for Stark Enterprises. The golden child gets ousted by Starfleeet.

"Is that it for this survey thing? How's the walking buzzfeed quiz been going?" They had yet to arrive at their destination, so she could spare some time for small chat.

[Jebediah Schrock]

[Mess Hall]
Jeb laughed. His was not a particularly extraordinary laugh, neither particularly deep nor strong, but it was a genuine one. The knife taped to a vaccum robot was so funny as a concept that it unleashed this laugh (the tequila, a first for Jebby, helped).
"Sounds like a silly ship, the Tempest," Jeb assessed. "But I'm happy for Cmdr. Wu. As long as he's thriving." For Jeb, calling a friend who was also a senior officer, like Ardy, by her first name was difficult enough. Calling Wu, whom he had interacted with only professionally, by a first name was just too awkward. So, he called Lt. Cmdr. Alexander Wu "Cmdr. Wu", while forcing himself to think of Ardy as just "Ardy".
Jeb was very disappointed when duty yanked Ardy away. It also reminded him that his break was almost over.
"I'll come along," he said. "I need to be on the bridge anyway."
He followed Ardy, courteously two steps behind, into the turbolift.

[Kali Reyes]

[Turbolift]

Ariste exhaled quickly, conflicting emotions warring in her brain and her stomach. That was good right? They weren't planning on shipping her off to some icy Andorian Starbase. Or some confined desk job where her entire shift was letter stamping. But somehow, it worried her more - this uncertainty. Giving Reyes a tight smile, she nodded understandingly.

"Thank you. I guess I've just been a bit paranoid they're gonna kick me to the curb." What bad press for Stark Enterprises. The golden child gets ousted by Starfleeet.

"Is that it for this survey thing? How's the walking buzzfeed quiz been going?" They had yet to arrive at their destination, so she could spare some time for small chat.

[Turbolift]

"The survey outside? Not my arena of expertise. I'll get involved when the bridge somehow starts putting holes in my ship," Kali said with an irritable smile. No coffee, no charm. "Sounds like a normal operation like any other, really. Let's try not to jinx it."

"Now for the other survey, you're lucky I dropped it down to two. The email ordered for 65 questions plus an essay," she continued before cringing. "They don't pay me enough to grade term papers, thanks."

The turbolift came to a smooth halt and the doors swished open, revealing the bridge. "Dead lass walking," Kali announced, patting Ariste on the back on her way out. And if Ariste managed to hear her, she probably would recognize the whistling tune of a funeral march.

[Don Damien Addams]

[Nathan Ryder]

[Turbolift]

The turbolift came to a smooth halt and the doors swished open, revealing the bridge. "Dead lass walking," Kali announced, patting Ariste on the back on her way out. And if Ariste managed to hear her, she probably would recognize the whistling tune of a funeral march.

[Bridge]

From his place at the Tactical station, Nathan heard a familiar voice and mentally smiled to himself. Outwardly, he simply shook his head at the announcement and continued his observations. There was not much for him to do at the moment, but that did not mean he would slack off on his job. With Science and Ops working on longer range scans, he watched the short range sensors as well as keeping an eye on the shield status. Everything seemed fine at the moment.

[Don Damien Addams]

[Kali Reyes]

[Turbolift]

Kali stepped back into the turbolift, feeling almost like one of those old fashioned attendants that sat in elevators and pushed all the nifty buttons. She was meeting her quota today, so she decided to take one more joyride up and down the turbolift and accost the next poor soul in her path.

Ensign Addams was one of those souls. Activating her PADD in preparation, she took a step aside to let him through and got kicking.

"G'morning, Mr. Addams," Kali yawned out, noticing the patch up of his jaw. "Hell of a morning, was it? You look like you went one-on-one with a Gorn."

[Don Damien Addams]

[Turbolift]

Kali stepped back into the turbolift, feeling almost like one of those old fashioned attendants that sat in elevators and pushed all the nifty buttons. She was meeting her quota today, so she decided to take one more joyride up and down the turbolift and accost the next poor soul in her path.

Ensign Addams was one of those souls. Activating her PADD in preparation, she took a step aside to let him through and got kicking.

"G'morning, Mr. Addams," Kali yawned out, noticing the patch up of his jaw. "Hell of a morning, was it? You look like you went one-on-one with a Gorn."

[Ariste Stark]

[Turbolift]

"The survey outside? Not my arena of expertise. I'll get involved when the bridge somehow starts putting holes in my ship," Kali said with an irritable smile. No coffee, no charm. "Sounds like a normal operation like any other, really. Let's try not to jinx it."

"Now for the other survey, you're lucky I dropped it down to two. The email ordered for 65 questions plus an essay," she continued before cringing. "They don't pay me enough to grade term papers, thanks."

The turbolift came to a smooth halt and the doors swished open, revealing the bridge. "Dead lass walking," Kali announced, patting Ariste on the back on her way out. And if Ariste managed to hear her, she probably would recognize the whistling tune of a funeral march.

[Turbolift]

Ariste almost fainted at Kali's words. An essay? What kind of monsters were the brass? Did they thing Starfleet officers had all day? Then again, in that event she would generally have Serif auto-write it for her. He'd been at her side so long you couldn't tell the difference in their writing. The higher ups would be none the wiser.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll put in a good word." Bravely stepping off the turbolift, she hesitated for a moment, before slinking up to Tekin's ready room. Bravery wavering, she looked more like a caught Ferengi than a bloodlusting Klingon.
When those two damning doors slid open to reveal her doom, she stepped into the threshhold, but no further.
"You wanted to talk to me, Captain?"