Posted by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Dotting I’s and Crossing T’s

Posted by Commander Dira Myqian (Executive Officer) in Dotting I’s and Crossing T’s

(snip)

As much as they could dance around the topic, they’d have to address it one way or another. She certainly wasn’t out to punish Bonner for things she had no control over, but putting in in the chain of command required things of Alexis that Dira was slightly uncertain she could handle. “And this project, your research. It was rather all consuming. I know before you were splitting your time, but we have a full crew complement now. More will be asked of you as the assistant to Walker. And with the… security breach, I am concerned about how that is going to impact your ability to do your job. Are you truly up for it?” The thing was too, that Alexis couldn’t lie to Dira, and she really did want an honest answer. Not platitudes.

Commander Myqian, XO

“While I was gone yes, the project was mostly what I worked on. When I was here I was not splitting my time. Ever tried to get me to work on an additional project while we were on the Star Base, I refused. It would have interfered with my work as AMO. The security breach is being handled by intel and Cpt Taylor is aware.” That all was true and Alexis made sure to only focus on the truth of the words. She wasn’t lying but information about the project and the security breach were ‘classified’ and though Myqian could read her thoughts (something that made Alexis’s skin crawl) she was ordered to do her best to not allow the information out, on purpose or accident. “If you are concerned about how this problem will impact my work, I would ask if you have any complaints about my work since the security breach? And if I am up for it, I believe so. I am still the same person, the same doctor, the same officer. Dr. Walker never expressed any dissatisfaction with my performance when I was AMO before, except that he wanted me to make sure I didn’t work myself too much. I intend to put the same dedication and drive into the position that I did before. If you have a more qualified candidate than myself or you feel I am not even a consideration, I accept that and will continue my work in medical research with the same dedication and drive.” There was no deception or pride to Alexis. She spoke the truth even if she couldn’t provide Myqian with details. She wasn’t looking to prime Myqian’s pride or brown nose. She simply knew she was an outstanding doctor, that she worked as hard, if not harder than everyone else, and was passionate about what she did.

Bonner

Sometimes it wasn’t what Dira thought or wanted. In a situation like this, where Bonner had to find her own way forward, it was far more important to Dira that the person know themselves and what they want. Can they articulate it? Full confidence wasn’t required, but there had to be a sense that ‘yes, this is what I want’, not just what someone thought was expected of them. Dira smiled sincerely. “Sounds good to me,” she said simply. “Now, normally, I’d gather a list of applicants and forward the candidates to Walker. But if you go talk to him and he says yes, we’ll consider this a done deal. Work for you?”

Commander Myqian, XO