Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in pre-sim The Brilliant Lt. Hampton

Posted by Lieutenant William Hampton (Chief Engineering Officer) in pre-sim The Brilliant Lt. Hampton

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in pre-sim The Brilliant Lt. Hampton
(snip)
Casela bit back a smartass remark. Hampton was brilliant and it was rather stupid that no one gave him clearance. And she was not going over to that ship, risking her life, if they could prevent it. She swore to herself. She walked over to his console tapped the screen and pulled up the transmission from the Admiral making sure he could see that she had not needed to use any ‘secret access code’ to do it. “This report, Lt. was not classified and it was shared by the captain at the staff meeting. So I’m not sure what classified documents you are talking about, but I was referring to this.” She as much as…well Hampton hated the intrigue, and secrets, but really. She didn’t have time for petty power plays. “Specifically this part of the report.” She pulled up the information on the oscillating signal. “So Hampton, now you know as much as I do.” She turned to stare him right in the eye, she wanted no question later on. “I am NOT RTF. I might be ordered work with them, but I am NOT one of them. I’ll be a cold, dead, disintegrated pile of dust first. Now I came to ask you, not because I expect you to be anyone’s lackey, but you’re the best. If you can’t or won’t do it, say so and I’ll leave you alone.”
LT. Synthi-er, CNS

William’s personal space bubble had been broken without his permission. William hated having his bubble broken. He met her icy stare and returned it with his eyes narrowed and a gleam of resolve and disgust in them. He rose from his seat, looking down at Synthi-er. “Alright ‘Counselor’” He said using his hands to make air quotes. “I will get this done, you are correct that I am the best and, luckily for you, I love a challenge, so I will help you.” His eyes narrowed even further. “But let’s get one thing clear right now. No matter what you say, or what you do. Your uniform is RTF, your commanding officer is RTF, your orders are RTF, you train with the RTF, and that robot dog is RTF. As far as I am concerned, you are RTF. Your pledges of loyalty to the rest of us may work with the captain, or the XO, but I did not get this far being a gullible and stupid man, and I can assure you, the routine you are playing right now will not work with me.” He took in a deep breath, keeping his tone moderate and reserved. “What kind of counselor carries around knives and does combat training? Your starfleet position, just like every other RTF member of this crew with a starfleet position, is just an excuse to put you on this ship. Cobb may not be able to see it because he wants to feel safe and secure on his own ship, but I do.” He turned and walked towards the other side of main engineering, showing his back to her to drive home the point that he was not afraid of her. “I’ll have a some ideas for you by the end of the day Counselor. I shall inform you when I remember to share them with you and whoever else you feel should hear about it.”

Lt. William Hampton- CE

Casela looked down at her blue science combat uniform. Well she guessed it was similar to the RTF uniform. Hampton was going to be a problem. She could give RTF hell for all she cared, he could give it to her as well, but his…anger, better not hurt the ship or it’s crew. She didn’t care who he hated or why. She supposed as ship’s counselor she was supposed to care, but she wasn’t much for fixing people’s emotions. When Hampton got done talking she slipped away silently, without notice. The dig at her being RTF bugged the crap out of her. 1 year. That was all she had left, and then she was disappearing, one way or another. If Hampton could do it, he would. Whether or not he gave it to her, was another question. Either way she was ordered to go over there. She’d have to hope that her Betazoid senses would give her enough warning before something happened.

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Several hours later Synthi-er received a transmission through her combadge. =^= Hampton to Synthi-er, if you could join me in main engineering again I believe I have found a solution to your problems.=^=

Lt. William Hampton- CE

=^=Acknowledged Lt Hampton. I’ll be right there.=^= Casela got up from her desk and headed to main engineering. If Hampton had actually worked on something to help the away team she was not going to waste his time. Just a few minutes later she walked into main engineering. “Lt.”
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

This time Hampton looked up as the Counselor approached. “I have spent the last couple of hours going over different tech and signals, and I believe there is a way to safeguard the away team from those signals, at least initially.” He turned and pointed to the console behind him, showing a schematic for a small multiphasic shield generator. “I can modify a standard starfleet multiphasic deflector in order to counter act the signals we have detected. The only problem is with a generator that small, it can only extend so far. I am working on the radius of the shield right now, but right now its about 100 feet in any direction. In a sense it would be an umbrella, but if one of the away team members steps outside of said protective field, they would be susceptible to the signals.” He paused, “I’m trying to figure out how to make the generator mobile so that the team can move without throughout Einstein.”

Lt. William Hampton- CE

Casela studied the schematic, careful to respect the distance Hampton seemed to expect: the man was doing her and the away team a huge favor, it was the least she could do. She wasn’t an engineer, but she understood enough to see what he was trying to do. 100 feet wouldn’t give them a lot of room, but they still had a couple days for the team to learn to move within that range. “Mr. Hampton, your reputation does not do you justice,” she said. He’d probably take it as fake flattery but she really meant it. She wouldn’t have been able to do it, and the frequency of those waves could kill someone. They needed something to keep their brains from being fried, long enough to contain whatever it was causing it. “I’m not engineer, but if you need a second set of hands, I offer mine.” He probably wouldn’t take that offer either, but she knew his department was over worked with leaving space dock early.

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Hampton smirked and scoffed. “I am well aware of the Ms. Synthi-er.” He turned and picked up a padd, which the schematics had been downloaded onto. He handed it to her. “Go get this approved by your ATF coworkers that you definitely totally aren’t pals with will you? The more time my team and I have to work on this the better.” He gave a smile to the Counselor. “Besides, I don’t think you really want to work down here. Stabbing things with knives doesn’t solve problems on this part of the ship.” He leaned back against a console that he was standing in front of, arms folded at his torso, the smile still there on his face. “I would appreciate the flattery if I thought it was real Lieutenant, but you already knew I wouldn’t think it is.”

Lt. William Hampton- CE

Casela took the PaDD and glanced over it. She linked into her personal console in her office. She pulled up the appropriate clearance protocols, held her palm flat to the screen of the PaDD. Then she handed it back to Hampton. “Nice thing about being me, Lt. I’m on a higher pay grade than they are. I can approve it myself.” She really probably, according to command chain, blah blah blah shouldn’t have done that, but she WAS allowed. She DID have the clearance to approve it, and she actually only had to clear it with the CO or XO, but for this she didn’t technically need it. She’d get dressed down for it later, but he was right. They needed all the time they could get. “It’s not flattery if it’s true Mr. Hampton. Take it or leave it, you do amazing work. I’ll leave you to it.” She turned leave, “Oh and knives might be one of my better skill sets, but it isn’t the only one. I truly, and honestly, appreciate your assistance on this Mr. Hampton.” Casela turned to go. He probably would always feel she was being false with him, and that was fine. But she gave credit where it was due. Though if she was being truthful she gave a lot of criticism when it was due as well. But right now, Hampton had earned it, and she wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. GAH! Politics!
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Hampton looked at her with an expression that was a mix of a smirk and a frown. “And that’s what makes every single one of you dangerous Counselor. Half the ship can do whatever they want with their own authority. ARU has made sure they take of you people, starfleet is forcing the rest of us.” He turned around and closed the schematic on the console. “To operate in the dark, while you get to look down on us and do whatever you want.” He didn’t narrow his eyes but he did hold a glare, “So even if you aren’t on their side in your mind, your very position serves only to undermine the chain of command on this ship. Whether you like it or not, that is vital to the survival of any crew.” Hampton sat down in a chair nearby. “But, if you are meaning what you say, then I do appreciate it, I just don’t know if you do or not, and trust on this ship is not a luxury I have.” He eyed her suspiciously. “I don’t want it to be this way, I was actually hoping to make some friends on this ship, but instead of being surrounded by like minded allies, I’m inside a den of snakes right now, each one protecting a secret.”

Lt. William Hampton- CE

Casela couldn’t do anything about how he felt right now. He wouldn’t believe her if she told him she was forced into this position rather than be allowed to resign. So it wouldn’t do any good to tell him. What was it T’Jal had told her? There will never be a time, in this job, that you please anyone. Just make sure you do the right thing.
“Believe it or not Hampton, I feel the same way. I know how dangerous we are. I don’t like it, but it is what it is. If it makes you feel better I’ll even remove my approval. Though I’m operating under the COs orders to make sure we minimize the physical and mental damage to the away team. But I’m not taking this to RFT or ARU. They will have even less understanding of what you’ve made here than I do. Cobb ordered us to be prepared to board the Einstein. That’s who I take orders from. I’ll take it to Cobb directly. He’ll understand what you’re making. And last I checked, Cobb is in charge of this whole ship.” She held her hand out for the PaDD. She would remove her approval and go find Cobb. If that made Hampton feel better about doing his job, then as CNS she’d do it. As former Intel it made her grind her teeth at the waste of time, but Hampton was too brilliant and such an asset to this crew.

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Hampton looked at her hand and shook his head. “No I’m afraid that your authority, however despicable I find it, is legitimate, so might as well use it for good this time. He kept the padd in his hand. “I don’t have time for the captains approval right now if yours is just as good as his.” He looked down at the padd. “Cobb may be in charge of the ship, but the our resident borg has authority in our missions and assignments. I think that’s worse,” He looked up, “Don’t you?” He smiled, a somewhat insidious smile. “This ship is full of people who have sold their souls to something or someone else. We have very few people who are real on this ship. I believe Cobb is one of them, and if there is one thing about the ARU I have observed.” Hampton’s smile turned to a smirk. “They don’t want too many real people on this ship. They certainly don’t want these real people in positions of power.”

“I have only met the CSO in passing. I have yet to actually meet any of the science or ARU staff. It always makes me wary when people can’t show up for simple standard evaluations. A pain they might be, but required they are, of everyone and without it they can’t report for duty.” Casela grinned wickedly, “and that time frame for ley way comes to an end in about....12 hours. And I still haven’t heard from some of your staff. Fairy warning.” Casela shrugged, “Though as over worked as they are I’m willing to give engineering an extension. People who work hard deserve to be respected for that.” She nodded towards the PaDD, “I’ll keep your preference for approval in mind next time.” If there was a next time.

Hampton began to feel a semblance of sympathy for Synthi-er. To him it seemed she was a pawn to the ARU, an extension of their power, and nothing more, her soul had been taken long ago. She may have had one, and a career and her own ambitions, but the RTF had long since hijacked her life. Hampton knew how it felt to be truly powerless, and he began to detect that Synthi-er, at some level, with all her privileges and authority, felt the same way. She was nothing more than a puppet, played by an unseen performer. He suddenly felt new appreciation for his past. Hampton may have been socially outcast and deemed hostile by his crew and class mates, but he came onboard Leviathan with no strings attached, something he was beginning to appreciate more and more.

Lt. William Hampton- CE

Answering his more direct question, “What is that old saying....A house divided against itself will fall.” Casela motioned in the air to indicate the whole ship. “This house will surely fall, if all the parts can’t find a way to work together. I knew, the second I was forced to take a position on this ship, we were being sent on a suicide mission. What type of ship has a subordinate that without the rank actually outranks the commanding officer?” It was a rhetorical question, but it left no doubt as to how Casela felt about all the hands stirring this pot. “I just want to make it out alive.” And with that she unknowingly confirmed Hampton’s thoughts.

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

“The quote is a house divided against itself cannot stand,” Hampton cheekily corrected her. He listened to her dialogue and grinned when she finished. “Despite all your perks, you don’t have any real power. Despite my lack of privileges, I hold the only real power on this ship. Autonomy. Thank you for this conversation counselor, it has lifted my spirits.” While that may have sounded sarcastic, it was certainly not. “Just know, if this house does fall apart.” He continued. “I won’t be going down with it.” He smiled, again, but this was a genuine, almost playful smile as if to convey his teasing was nothing more than that.

Lt. William Hampton- CE