Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Ready Room - A Summons and An Answer

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in Ready Room - A Summons and An Answer

Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Ready Room - A Summons and An Answer
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
After the staff meeting, Mardusk made his way to the Captain’s Ready Room. Instead of ringing the chime, he rapped his large green knuckles on the door. He took a breath, and waited for the Captain to answer.

Mardusk, CoS

“Come,” Kelly’s common reply echoed through the door. Looking up from her desk, Kelly sat straighter in her chair instead of her slightly reclined position. The day had been long and it was going to be an even longer night.

“Take a seat,” she gestured to one of the chairs in front of her.

Bordeaux CO

Mardusk rested his butt on the back of one of the chairs and said “Skipper, I got a ton of shit to handle right now. If you’re gonna chew my ass out for calling out your man, can ya go ahead and get to it? I’m still processing the scene in the Promenade and people are freakin’ the f%<k out.”

Mardusk, CoS

“Calling out my man,” she raised an eye brow. “That is rather simplistic don’t you think and you have time.” Kelly did not order Mardusk to sit. He could stand for all she carried about. “What you did in there was share a piece of information that was not meant for public consumption yet. I am wondering why you felt it was your place to even mention it in the meeting,” she steadied her gaze on him.

Kelly Bordeaux CO

Mardusk leaned forward and glared at Kelly. Through gritted teeth he said “Everyone in there is a leader on this ship and just got their proverbial asses handed to them because of that kid and her realtionship to your husband. We’ve got I don’t even know how many people in sickbay, and some may not make it. We’ve got dozens of traumatized kids and parents and a proverbial sh!t-ton of cleanup, repair, counseling, and who knows what the hell else in front of us… and you are worried about that? For f€<k’s sake, Captain… you are really gonna sit there and be upset I told the department heads and team leaders that?! When they should have known already?” Mardusk leaned back and scowled. “You need to get your priorities in order, Kelly.” Mardusk rarely used her first name, and when he did, it was almost always because he was trying to get her undivided attention. “Because of all the crap you got on your plate right now to be worked up over? That shouldn’t even be in your top ten.”

Mardusk, CoS

Kelly waited for Mardusk to finish. Taking a moment she looked at the man across from her. “You are one of the best and brightest security officers I have ever worked with. Your gut and instincts have prevented situations from escalating into things far worse. This is not lip service but fact. Without you on this ship, the Altantis would be at a disadvantage in more ways than I can innumerate however,” she took a breath, “you are informed on some of the facts. So let’s set the record straight on a few of them before we proceed. You are correct in that everyone just had their asses handed to them. The crew is now licking their wounds and jonesing for some payback.” Kelly knew both she and Gravel were on common ground so far. She wasn’t sure how long they would stay on it.

“The casualties in sickbay are distressing but they were Marines. They were sent into an unknown situation with minimal actionable intelligence. From the reports I have received on the mission only their training and leadership by Styxx prevented far more catastrophic consequences. That mission was costly and the Federation owes a debt that can never be repaid but as callous as this might sound, that is their job. Every person under Styxx and your teams for that matter knows they are on the front lines of defense and stepping out of a shuttle or off a transporter pad could be a one-way mission. While the potential for catastrophic casualties in the promenade, thank god it was minimal for what they could have been and we both know that.”

Everything Kelly had stated up to this point was fact or minimally an argumentative point. One death was tragic and unacceptable but space was dangerous. It did not mean people should be sanitized to the loss of someone but it was a fact. A loss of one of her crew hit Kelly hard but she had been in the ranks once and it was a different kind of loss. At the command level, it hurt. At the rank level, it was an open wound that took longer to heal. At the rank level, one could take time to mourn the loss. At the command level, one had to continue to make decisions which is where Kelly was now. she did not want to make this entirely a lecture or discussion but Kelly paused allowing Mardusk to comment.

Bordeaux CO

Gravel listened as she spoke, and then simply shook his head. “The casualties in sickbay aren’t just Marines. They are my Security officers. A counselor. Some parents. And more than a couple’a kids. That isn’t their job, so let’s table the ‘Rah rah take one for the team’ schtick, can we? And you need to add to your list of ‘Things Mardusk Was Right About’ the fact that you damn well know that everyone in that meeting deserved to know whose kid that is. And be brought up to speed on everything that is going on.” and he stood up and looked down at Kelly.

“The folks in that room just got kicked in the nuts for you and Ian and his kid. Your guy’s family shit just spilled over into the crew in epic fashion. And if you think they didn’t ‘need to know’ what the hell was happening? Then you’re a fool, Captain. And I’d really hate to think you are fool after all these years. Because that would mean you are the greatest liar ever and therefore I can’t trust ya. Or it means that I suck at my job, and either way I need to go. So tell me, Skipper… you a fool? Or are you gonna agree that her bein’ his kid is pertinent information for your staff?”

Mardusk, CoS

“And that is their job. Like it or hate it security’s main job is to defend the crew. Do not take it as me being callous but the idea that we are never going to have a single injury in a conflict is ludacris. The Marines are the only recorded death in this engagement so far. The security team that was subdued in the brig, your officers, were found bound but unharmed. The men in your quadrant along with the ones in Styxx’ quadrant held the line but not a single shot that was fired hit one of our people. Those metal monstrosities the aliens called MECH’s deflected or absorbed every shot Rogan and Da Mu threw at them.”

“As for the kids in the pods,” Kelly shot back. “Turns out they were all in stasis. Nash’s own daughter was in one of those pods and he was the one that eventually opened them all up while you were securing the bodies of the two Elders. The kids are upset from the attack but according to every report I have received from medical the kids remember the attackers sliding in and then nothing until they were revived. Being terrified during an attack or a red alert is not singular to this situation. It is a part of life of being on a starship. Just like any other time we have been in a combat situation counseling is available to all of of them. We take every precaution to protect the children but it is not 100% and no one, not even you with all your plans and drills can ensure the kids are going to be living like they do dirtside.”

“As to my priorities, you were completely and utterly out of line announcing that Jessa is Ian’s daughter for public consumption. I don’t care who was in the room. That information was on a need-to-know basis because we are not certain it is a 100% irrefutable fact. Let’s set aside the fact we have a DNA test that claims it. We are dealing with a highly advanced species with medical abilities that far surpass our own. How do we not know she is not a clone? How do we not know those freaking nanobots she has swarming through her blood can’t mimic whatever the hell they want? The point is we don’t know more than what we do at this minute but you just 100% legitimized her parentage to the entire crew whether or not it is true. Do you actually think the crew is going to keep this as top secret as Starfleet command ordered? Remember my comment about payback? Not only have we killed any form of retribution and sense of justice for the crew when we killed the Elders that were with her but Starfleet command has been in emergency finger-pointing sessions for the past week. They are looking for someone to blame and the crew is going to want someone to pay for this and you just plastered a target on Jessa’s back and said here is your patsy and don’t say you aren’t even doing that now.” Kelly’s tone was low and icy.

“Every comment you have made here has pinned Jessa as some evil mastermind that was able to stage an attack that kicked in our teeth but Jessa was not responsible for the Marine casualties boarding the alien ship. I made that call. Think Gravel,” Kelly locked eyes on her security chief, “are you going to tell me you think that some twelve-year-old kid who can’t read or write our language was able to orchestrate a takeover of the bridge? She then used the transporters which she clearly has zero understanding of their use to send herself to her ship, reprogram the transporters to allow weapons on the ship, where she then broke out her people, decided to take a stroll through Marine country, and then split her forces up into four sections on the promenade?” The insanity of what Kelly was proposing would have been comical if it did not happen.

“Was she involved yes but Jessa had help and that help came from this ship. It came from within your ranks along with medical, engineering, comms, etc. You blindly assuming you have all the facts is lunacy. You don’t have all the facts so don’t lecture me about my baggage spilling over. It was contained until you took it upon yourself to give a hypothesis complete and utter validation.”

Bordeaux CO

“First of all, Captain-” Mardusk said through clenched teeth, “-I didn’t tell the whole damn crew, now did I? No. I told the people you should have told in the first place. And second, you don’t get to play both sides here. Is she an innocent child? Or is she part of some elaborate scheme from an advanced species we know next to nothing about? Because you just fu<&ing said she was both! So pick one, dammit! Or are you just gonna throw accusations around until something sticks?! And your baggage wasn’t contained for shit, Captain! Because your baggage is that girl, and that girl brought death and destruction on this ship because of your fu<&!ng husband! If she wasn’t his, she wouldn’t be here; now would she? No, she wouldn’t. So you can get off my ass and handle your sh!+, and I’ll go handle the cleanup of Ian’s mess like I’m supposed to.” He stood up straight and glared at Kelly. “This is the second time you’ve used me as a punching bag, Captain. Third time and we are done, got it? Now if you’ll excuse me, Ma’am*, I got some crap to deal with.” and he turned and headed for the door.

Mardusk, CoS

“You are not dismissed. You have nothing to deal with right now that can’t be handled by subordinates with cooler heads,” Kelly said in a firm tone, “and if I am going to sit here and allow you to speak freely to me you can do the courtesy of not walking out as if we are in a civilian organization where the rules of rank don’t apply.” If Mardusk was going to throw profanity she would gently remind him who actually was in command. She despised those that threw rank around and hated pulling the rank card but even in her hottest moments she had never walked into a commanding officer’s space and acted as he had. The only reason he was not sitting in the brig was that Kelly knew he was suffering like the rest of the crew.

“As for telling the entire crew about the child, go monitor the comms. Did you really think saying something like you did was going to stay under the radar? Your statement is spreading faster than a red alert so figure out how you,” she raised her voice a little more, “are going to handle how people are going to react because there are enough people on this ship stupid enough not to think rationally. Your comment about being used as a punching bag proves you are letting your emotions run your mouth instead of your brain.” Kelly took a breath to avoid saying what she actually wanted to say. Mardusk wouldn’t admit it but all his actions and words indicated he was looking for payback just like the rest of the crew. Luckily his training and intelligence were keeping him in check which not everyone on the ship had.

“No one is blaming you or making you a punching bag. You are doing that to yourself but it ends now. If you want to lose your $hi+ over what happened then get it all out of your system now and within these walls. You are part of the command staff. You don’t get the luxury of brooding in the halls from a bruised ego like the rest of the crew does. You don’t think I want to crawl up with a bottle of something and drink myself into a stupor?” Kelly understood the situation far more than Mardusk seemed to think she did. She left her question open just long enough for it to be known it was rhetorical.

Kelly did not harp further on the fact his actions and speech were broaching insubordination. Instead, she proceeded to get him back on topic. “As to whether or not she would be here if she wasn’t possibly Ian’s kid hell yes she would. Hate me all you want but she is a twelve-year-old child that has been indoctrinated since birth into a tyrannical theological civilization. What would you have me do? Eject her into space like you did her companion? How about we throw her in the brig as an enemy combatant? You might be fine locking her up and throwing away the key simply because you don’t agree with her religious beliefs but I prefer to give her a chance at redemption.”

Kelly Bordeaux CO

Mardusk stopped at the door and turned around. “You still don’t get it, do ya?” he said. “I didn’t say anything to anyone that shouldn’t know about it. Not a one. The fact that you are so worried about the fact getting out tells me more about you than I care to know, Captain. That you and your husband’s embarrassment is more important than sharing vital information to your Department Heads and Command Staff. And if it got out from that meeting? Well, then maybe you should be crawling up someone else’s ass for blabbing. But that’s your problem, not mine. And as to whether or not she would be here? On this ship? No, she wouldn’t. She even said when she first arrived that she was looking for a particular person. If that particular person was someone else, she and her band of merry men would be someone else’s problem. But since Ian couldn’t keep it in his pants or was careless with his DNA, here we are. And I actually do have work to do. And I don’t care that you didn’t dismiss me, Captain. Because right now I’m so damn disappointed in you I think it’s best I settle this situation and maybe then take my leave… permanently. See ya, Skipper.” He didn’t wait for a response. He simply walked out the door and let it slide shut behind him.

Mardusk, CoS