Posted by Lieutenant Commander Charles Tenkiller (Chief of Security) in Station Commander’s Office - “Captain, May I?” Side Sim

Posted by Captain Mathias McGarrett (CO) in Station Commander’s Office - “Captain, May I?” Side Sim

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Toveka Brine (Chief Science Officer) in Station Commander’s Office - “Captain, May I?” Side Sim
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

SNIP

“Is that something you want the Security Chief and I to come up with? Or would a debrief of my last mission, along with what we can do to avoid the loss of life and shuttle, be sufficient?” She was being serious. But hoped the Captain would choose the latter. She wasn’t even sure why she offered to bring it to Tenkiller’s attention. She took another breath and once more hoped the Captain would simply tell her to reassess what happened last time. It was a worse case scenario. Surely she could use that as a baseline.

Lt JG Toveka Brine

“Good ideas,” the captain said. “The debrief of the last mission isn’t necessary. I remember enough of what happened. But the rest of it sounds great.” Working with Commander Tenkiller was exactly what Mathias was going to suggest. It was always nice to see those under his command volunteer to do what he was about to order them to do.

Mathias quickly tapped his combadge. =^= McGarrett to Tenkiller. Report to my office, Commander. =^=

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

“But I…” As the Captain complimented her on her thinking, she sighed. It wasn’t what she had been suggesting. She had wanted the Captain to allow her to make her own assessment. But one didn’t just come out and say that.

“Yes, Sir…” She said and sat back as they waited on the Security Chief.

The response was immediate. =^= On my way, Captain. =^=

A little over five minutes passed and the chime rang on the door.

Tenkiller, CoS

Toveka’s head went to the door as the chime rang. Great her mind whispered This is going to be very interesting.

Toveka
CSO

“Come in,” Mathias shouted, trying to get his voice to carry around the corner and through two doors.

The door opened, which revealed the captain’s vacant reception room with the long skinny table on the left side. Then a second door opened, revealing the portion of the office Tenkiller hadn’t seen before. Captain McGarrett’s unoccupied desk could now been seen.

When he entered the interior office, Tenkiller would see that the room was L-shaped, with a seating area to the right that McGarrett and Brine were seated at. A coffee table was in the center and there was an open chair next to the one Toveka was sitting in.

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

Tenkiller made his way in and nodded at Toveka before saying simply “Reporting as ordered, Captain. What’s happening?” while he stood behind the vacant chair.

Tenkiller, CoS

Toveka watched Tenkiller enter and nodded. She smiled but it didn’t quite reach her eyes this time. “Sir,” she nodded to him in acknowledgement and respect. Her legs moving to allow him access to the other seat.

Toveka
CSO

“Please have a seat, Commander,” Mathias said, motioning to the chair. “Miss Brine is proposing a scientific mission to explore the debris field of the remains of Romulus. She suggested working with you to assess the security risks of this mission and what can be done to minimize them.”

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

She inhaled a moment not sure if she should correct the Captain or not. She also wasn’t sure what Tenkiller would think of her making the suggestion. She turned and watched to see the Security Chief react.

Toveka
CSO (reposted CO to keep thread straight)

Tenkiller sat and said “Lieutenant Brine suggested that, did she?” and glanced knowingly at her. “Well in that case, I’d be happy to help. Should we start with known issues, or jump feet first into the regs we are gonna have to keep on mind doing this particular survey?”

Tenkiller, CoS

“The known issues,” began Mathias. “The center of Romulan space doesn’t have the governmental oversight that it used to, which brings with it completely different dangers than a trip to Romulus would have used to, with Romulan factions and pirates. But Lieutenant Brine could speak to that better than I can as she encountered trouble the last time she took on this kind of mission.”

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

Toveka had been content with the idea of nodding her head occasionally or offering up a tidbit now and then. But when the Captain spoke of her last foray into the field, she clenched her jaw. The point of this had been to get a shuttle and get off the ship and away from folks. Now she was going to have to talk about her last mission and how it had gone. This was not good.

She glanced at the Captain a moment ten shifted to face Tenkiller a bit more politely. “Duncan, the old CSO and I had gone in to collect samples and get readings close to the center. We were set up by a couple Romulan scavenger ships. A fight ensued and the shuttle was lost. A Klingon vessel, the I.K.S. Khazad’hea that’s currently here, actually, rescued us before out shuttle exploded. Destroyed the Romulan ships as well. Duncan is one of those who helped discover the odd energy readings near the center and why we need to continue researching in that area.” She left out the parts abut what they had found and what had transpired before that. This was a risk assessment meeting, and the rest was her responsibility. But she needed to be sure the Security Chief understood how important it was, for everyone, for her and the others to have access.

Toveka
CSO

“So we should debrief with the Commanding Officer of the Klingon vessel as well at some point. They may have information about… scavenger… operations that we don’t have.” and he adjusted in his chair to face both of them. “But this incident, coupled with the presence of Klingon cruisers and Romulan attack vessels and known pirate and fugitive activity in the area leads me to believe that sending a shuttle into the area with a member of our Command Staff is… well… kinda stupid. Excuse me being blunt, but that’s just ridiculous. Now, I understand there are scientific needs… but doing this in this fashion I simply can’t condone. A single shuttle? With a single occupant? What if you got captured? We know there are hostiles in the area, so it’s not a reach. What if they made you give up your access codes? Whole station is compromised. And for what? Specimens and data? No. Uh-uh.” and he shook his head emphatically. “You want to go, you go out protected. That means a Runabout with shields and some kind of defense and a combat rated pilot… at a minimum. And a Security detail.”

Tenkiller, CoS

That was it. There was the gut punch she knew today would end with. A runabout, and detail an pilot. An inhaling of breathe was all she had that gave away her mixed feelings and anxiety. “That’s up to the Captain,” was all she could say. If she argued, it would get worse, perhaps even end in a flat out refusal. But if she offered more, she would also be shooting herself in the foot.

She was trying to think of ways to get her agenda into the science computers so flight plans, collections and gathering all went ‘according to mission plans’ rather than try and create convenient excuses on the fly why they should head that direction just a couple more kilometers.

Mathias folded his hands together as he was beginning to get the feeling that he was going to play the role of a diplomat before the conversation was over. “Yes, Lieutenant, it is up to me. And I do agree on every point Commander Tenkiller is making. I didn’t send you out there alone last year and there’s no reason to do so this time either. The last mission we sent you out with a shuttle and you weren’t able to come back with it. Something with more defense capabilities will be needed. Perhaps a runabout or maybe even taking the Lancer. Or if a cloaking device is needed maybe you catch a ride with the Klingon ship. And I completely agree about having the security presence. At a minimum we’ll have the best security officer we’ve got go with you, whoever Commander Tenkiller says that is.”

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

She glanced at Tenkiller when she had steeled her features once more. “What else do you recommend?” It was partially a query to see what other restrictions he was planning to impose. But it was edged with a bit of frustration and was probably a bit more sarcastic than she intended it to actually come out, regardless of her true feelings on the matter.

Toveka
CSO

“I’m not recommending anything. I stating out loud for the record the minimum that should be used for your trip. What I recommend? Don’t go. Use probes and remote vehicles. That’s my recommendation. But I doubt that will work for you. You have a noticeable emotional investment in this.”

Tenkiller, CoS

Toveka kept her features as blank as she could. Nodding to the Captain, she tried to remain calm. “Yes, Sir. Hopefully we don’t need the aid of the Klingons. But I will agree that perhaps a runabout with weapons capabilities is a wise choice. I see no issue with those stipulations. And I agree we need to be careful out there. It’s why I prefer to go rather than send one of the Junior Officers. I have more shuttle time and believe I can think better in a dire situation.” She glanced at Tenkiller. “And I do not say this to brag, I say it as fact. If I were to get someone in my department with both inquisitive level headedness, and skills in a shuttle or runabout. Or even experience in combat beyond fighting over petre dishes, then I will consider swapping off collection duties with them. Till then, I will be the one taking the escorts,” she looked back at the Captain with reluctance, “and the pilot.”

When Tenkiller mentioned her investment, she lost her cool for a split second as she turned to head to him. The calm, focused, iron exterior cracked. It showed a flash of pain in her eyes and anger in her hitched breath and white knuckles before it faded as quick as it came. “Would you not be emotionally invested if it was Earth that was shattered out there?” She took a couple breaths and looked back at the Captain realizing her tone had risen. “My apologies, Captain.”

Toveka
CSO

Tenkiller looked at her, then the Captain, and then back. His voice was calm, and his words even. “I absolutely would be. But I would also know that taking unnecessary risks for whatever purposes wouldn’t bring it back. And throwing my own life away would just add to the loss.”

Tenkiller, CoS

“Indeed,” added the captain. Mathias may have spent all his time bickering with Ciara and he may have had too large of an age gap between him and Lucy to have had much of a relationship with her, but he still knew the protective, caring concern of a man who had grown up an older brother. It was out of that kind of concern that he spoke to Toveka, who at least in this moment he was viewing like he would have one of his younger sisters. “Miss Brine, you don’t have to apologize for being emotionally invested or reacting like you are. You’re as driven and passionate as any officer that I’ve known and that’s to your credit. But you do need to be aware of the complications being personally invested this deeply bring.”

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

She looked at the Captain hard and sincere. It took her a moment to reassess her knee-jerk reaction to be defensive. They were looking out for her. She knew that. She wondered if they knew how hard it was for her to concede to the concessions and rules that were being discussed here. “I understand that, Sir. Duncan and I never took the necessary precautions and we learned out lesson. It’s why I am here trying to find a way to make my needs known and met without causing more issues.” She glanced at Tenkiller. “I agree to the stipulations and regulations we are setting here. I will always remain passionate. But I can also assure you, and Duncan can attest to it, reckless I am not. And I give you my word,” she couldn’t believe she was about to say this, “If I am given leave to search where I need to search, to get the answers we all need, I will allow the pilot or the guards you send, to dictate my actions when things go sideways.”

Toveka turned back to the Captain. “And you as well. I will listen as long as it comes from a protective point of view and not a personal ‘I don’t see why we need to do that’ point of view.” She hoped it was enough. In all her time here, she had never give kind of solemn promise, or this much control, to anyone. She vaguely wondered what Duncan would think if he heard her now.

Toveka
CSO

“I’m satisfied if you are, Commander,” said Mathias to his security chief, a bit relieved that this didn’t seem to be quite as difficult as he had been expecting. “My question to you is if you’re satisfied with using a Runabout for this mission. We have a Pendragon class battle cruiser ready to go if we’re worried that won’t cut it. Though the Lancer wouldn’t go unnoticed as easily.”

Captain Mathias McGarrett, CO

Tenkiller looked at the Captain and said “I think sending in a battle cruiser would send the wrong message, Sir. If we are doing scientific research, then a Runabout would be more appropriate to the task. But having the Lancer on standby to respond while the Runabout is active would be a good idea.”

Tenkiller knew from Toveka’s original reaction that a big ship would only hinder her and make the situation all that more difficult. Compromise… everything starts with compromise.

Tenkiller, CoS

Toveka let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Had they really managed to agree on this?

She nodded and glanced at them both. “That’s acceptable. And I will pray the crew is bored because we never need them.”

She wanted to get out as soon a possible but quietly let her restless mind know it would likely be tomorrow.

Toveka
CSO