Posted by Lieutenant Fihnrilkk’Hob”ledn-ardol (Fin) (Chief Intelligence Officer) in XO’s Office - Hard Lessons To Be Learned

Posted by Commander Jason Reilly (XO) in XO’s Office - Hard Lessons To Be Learned

Posted by Lieutenant Fihnrilkk’Hob”ledn-ardol (Fin) (Chief Intelligence Officer) in XO’s Office - Hard Lessons To Be Learned
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Reilly sat in his office and drummed his fingers on his desk. His eyes watched the personnel files of the Wolverine scroll past the display in his desk and the sounds of an old Earth song ‘Take Back The Power’ by The Interrupters was playing low in the background. The files were certainly not typical of the vast majority of Star Fleet vessels… or even any Fleet ship. It was more akin to a space=based asylum than a Star Fleet Special Missions craft, but that was one of it’s strengths.

Reilly’s eyes lit up and the scrolling stopped. He quickly read and re-read a particular file and then a small smile played across his face. “Well… hope she has her ballet shoes on, ‘cause she is going to a dance.” and he tapped his comm badge. =/\=CIO to the XO’s office in twenty minutes, Lieutenant.=/\= and he then confirmed the location of his unknowing teaching aide.

Reilly, XO

The chime on Reilly’s door sounded exactly twenty minutes later. Fin wondered why he’d called her, as she wasn’t aware of any new situation that required the two of them to meet. He had addressed her as CIO though, so it wouldn’t be anything personal. Right? Fin shook her head slightly. “You never know with, Jason.” She said under her breath to no one but herself.

—Fin, CIO

The door slid open and the sounds of S.O.B by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats came floating out. “Lieutenant. Come on in.” the XO said from behind his desk. He turned off the music and then motioned for her to take a seat. “Hey. I wanted to see how you were settling in and how you are coming along getting up to speed on everything. Any hiccups or bumps I can help smooth out?” His face was completely friendly and his smile easy. His tone was inquisitive, but not pushy. “And no, I’m not trying to peer in your business. But part of my responsibility is to ensure that all our senior staff has everything they need… especially the new ones.”

Reilly, XO

Fin’s head cocked to one side as she regarded him. It could be a genuine inquiry, she supposed, but it wasn’t like the man she remembered. As she took a seat, one brow raised with curiosity. “I’m settling in just fine, Sir. You don’t need to waste any effort worrying about it.”

One leg raised and crossed over the other. “As far as ‘hiccups and bumps’? I have a knack for handling any of those that come up.” Scanning the surface of the desk, Fin wished he would offer her a drink like the last time, but since this appeared to be a ‘professional’ meeting, the chances of that were probably zero.

—Fin, CIO

Reilly leaned back and said “Good. And I am quite sure you can handle… well… whatever gets thrown at you.” and he smiled slightly. “So… have you had a chance for a full tour of the ship? I want to make sure you are familiar. The Wolverine isn’t always just hanging about pleasure planets.” and he rose to his feet without waiting for an answer. “No time like the present. Shall we?”

Reilly, XO

Okay, that was unexpected. A tour. “Alright, but I’m sure I can find my way around a ship this size without help.” Jason didn’t slow down so she followed him. “Okay, I guess you insist.” Early on, he pointed out a couple of lockers with emergency equipment in them that she hadn’t found out about yet, so she decided to try and relax about his intentions and just go with the flow for once. Although she wasn’t keen on spending time with him, maybe this little tour wouldn’t be so bad.

—Fin, CIO

One thing Jason Reilly had an excess of talent in: reading people. He saw the small mannerisms change and the slight decrease in tension in her shoulders and stride. Smiling inwardly, they passed the access hatch to one of the Jeffries tubes. “That, in a pinch, will get form here all the way to the bridge. Hatch there opens just next to the Ops station.” and he chuckled. “Really hoping that fact doesn’t come to the attention of some of our more… ‘colorful’… crew members. Speaking of, have you had the chance to go over the personnel files like I suggested?” he asked nonchalantly.

Reilly, XO

Ohhhh, that was a good thing to know—access right to the bridge! “Don’t worry, I’ll keep that little tidbit to myself. No need for everyone to know about it. And as far as the crew files go, I’ve read about three quarters of them. I was planning on finishing up tonight.” She usually read files as fast as she could process the information, but it didn’t honestly feel that important on the Wolverine. Everyone appeared to be pretty respectful about minding their own business, so far, and it was nice to just relax for once.

Feeling more at ease by the minute, Fin actually wondered if she and Jason could get over their past misgivings about each other and be friendly.

—Fin, CIO

They rounded a bend in the passageway and came to a door and Reilly took them into the industrial replication area. A team of four Operations department officers were in the process of replicating and assembling something, and one looked up as the door opened. Elbowing another, he said “XO on deck.” and snapped to attention. Reilly smiled and said “No need ladies and gentlemen. Appreciate the gesture though.” and the four relaxed. Reilly looked around and then asked in a completely normal fashion “Is Petty Officer Marang about?”

The mood shift was instantaneous. All four went a shade paler and swallowed hard. The one who came to atention simply nodded and jerked his head towards the back of the space where the sound of metal on metal could be heard. The other three very suddenly had something else to do and made various jumbled excuses to start moving towards the exit.

Their reaction wasn’t lost on the CIO. The name Marana wasn’t familiar either, which meant she hadn’t read his file yet. That being the case, Fin prepared herself for some unpleasantness. If she was wrong, so be it, but it never hurt to stay on your toes when dealing with an unknown.

As the last one made his way out, a figure appeared from behind the large replication unit in the room. An Andorian… but a massive one. A good six inches taller than Reilly and half again as broad, his one antennae swiveled and locked on Reilly. He wasn’t in uniform, but was instead in a much soiled pair of coveralls. A look of pensive dishumor was splashed on his face and clear to anyone looking at him.

“What you want, Fleet?” he asked in a low growl. Reilly smiled and looked at Fin. “I told you once that this crew isn’t one you can just ‘plan on finishing’ at your leisure. Now I’m gonna show you why.”

“No, that’s not what you sa…” He continued as if she hadn’t spoken.

Placing a hand on her shoulder in a friendly fashion, he turned to look at Marana. “This is the new Chief Intelligence Officer, Mr. Marana. She’s a Lieutenant in Star Fleet and a highly decorated officer. Understand?”

Marana shrugged and said “So what?” and Reilly’s face took on a look of mock-innocence. He released Fin and took a step towards the door while he said “Just wanted her to know that you know exactly who she is.” and he reached the door. “Especially when I tell you that she thinks you don’t have the stones in your slacks to have done half of what you were convicted of.”

Fin’s head snapped in the Andorian’s direction but her words were meant for the XO. “You slimy son-of-a-bi#ch, Reilly!”

He tapped the door controls and the large panels slid closed as the Andorian bellowed in rage and pulled a very wicked looking blade from the small of his back and he charged the CIO.

Reilly took a few steps across the passageways and leaned against the far wall to listen to the war.

Reilly, XO

She heard two things at the same time—the doors closing, shutting off an escape route or getting help of any kind, and the lumbering Andorian closing the distance between them. She was already half crouched and dancing on the balls of her feet when his knife grazed her right cheek. With a motion as fluid as ripples in water, her hand dipped down to the pocket on her thigh and came up with a telescoping, titanium, baton. One flick of the wrist and it was fully extended before Marana even saw it.

In the corridor where the XO waited, muffled grunts and crashes could be heard from inside the room. Fin didn’t waste time with words. Threats were no good in the current scenario and yelling at Jason could wait. Instead, she brought the baton across the Andorian’s jaw with all her might and followed it with a strike to the bridge of his nose.

The fight continued in earnest for several more minutes but eventually there was silence. Fin took a moment to breathe while supporting herself with a bulkhead. She was pretty sure she had a concussion and her face and ribs would need looking after. Slowly, she rose to her full height and straightened her shoulders as much as possible. Then, with the bloody baton in one hand and the other hand protecting damaged ribs, she hit the latch release and the doors opened.

There was nothing but hostility in her eyes when the XO came into view. “You ever do something like that again, Jason, and you’ll wish we’d never met. EVER!” Without another word, she turned and began carefully making her way toward medical. As she moved out of the doorway, he would be able to see Marana, unconscious and bloody, on the floor behind her.

—Fin, CIO

Reilly looked at Marana on the floor, and watched the labored rise and fall of his chest… still alive. Good. Tapping his comm badge, he said =/\= Medical to Industrial Replication. =/\= and he pushed off the wall and trotted down the passageway and fell in step by Fin as she moved slowly along.

“Get away from me, Jason.”

“Our first meeting, I told you that you needed to watch yourself… that this crew wasn’t like the others you have dealt with.” and he put a hand out, gently, on her arm to pause her walking.

Fin stopped but shrugged away from his touch. There was the sound of a snap and the baton retracted but stayed in her hand.

Looking at her, he said “You blew me off. When I told you that there were people here who would knife you just for pissing them off you said, and I quote -” and his voice shifted into a reasonable impression of Fin’s, “- ‘Seriously, Jason? Knife me in the back? Since when does Starfleet condone murder? And for the simple crime of pissing someone off?’… And then you snorted at the very thought.” He stepped back from her and leaned against the wall.

“You used the words eccentric and unique. Said they were an eclectic group. You did say that some of them might knife me in the dark if I pissed them off, but I didn’t piss anyone off. YOU set me up!” She began walking again.

“I know you’re pissed, Fin. And you have a right to be. But you didn’t believe me. And I know you… you wouldn’t believe me if I kept telling you. And sooner or later, you were gonna set off the wrong one. Marana was simple, predictable… others here aren’t. And if you got on their wrong side… you just may not see it coming. Now… a good eighty-five percent of the crew is fine. But that last fifteen?” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small square of red cloth. He handed it to her and pointed at her cheek.

Fin threw it on the ground. “Don’t try and do me any favors now, Jason.”

“Well… I hope you get the idea now…”

Reilly, XO

She stopped and looked at him. “You don’t know what’s in my head! I had the idea already. You almost got me killed for nothing!” Angry with a man she’d trusted only a few moments ago, Fin made a derisive noise and set off to get her injuries checked.

—Fin, CIO

Reilly picked up the cloth and moved to in front of her, blocking her way. “You didnt. And you damn well know it. And I didn’t almost get you killed.” and he chuckled. “What I did do is set you up with one of the most brutish and predictable fighters I have ever met to show you that your attitude of ‘It *can’t be like that because Fleet wouldn’t allow it.’ has no place here.” He looked at her and cocked his head to the side. “You weren’t going to get killed. I may be a bastard, but I’m not one to throw anyone on my team away unless there is a real reason to do so. And unlike some standing in this passageway, if I had to I would at least tell you to your face first.” and he stepped back and let her start moving.

Reilly,XO

She was furious and in pain and that meant she didn’t have time to try and figure out his cryptic remarks. “You haven’t seen me in a couple of years, Jason. That’s a lot of time for people to grow and change. I did believe you. Maybe my comment about Star Fleet was just for your ears—did you ever think of that? I have access to everyone’s files on this ship and they aren’t redacted! I know the kind of people that are on board! You screwed up and I’m not in a forgiving mood.” Stepping to the side, she went around him. Three steps later, Fin turned, he brows furrowed.

“What did that last comment mean?”

—Fin, CIO

Reilly didn’t move to go after her, he just stood and looked at her. The normal nonchalant, smiling, and generally affable Reilly was nowhere to be seen. Instead there was a glaring and very unhappy Executive Officer. To most people, Reilly’s ability to move through personas was highly unnerving. To those who knew him, like Fin, it was expected but still unsettling at times. Reilly looked around to make sure they were alone before he spoke.

“Oh, I know you have access Lieutenant. And I also know that had you bothered to pay attention to what I said your first day here, you wouldn’t still have a quarter of records to review, now would you? No, you would have gone right back to your quarters and dug through all of them… and you didn’t. Now, had you done so, you would have recognized the name of your new friend immediately and would have not allowed yourself into that position. But you didn’t… because it wasn’t what you felt was necessary.” and he took a step forward so he was directly in front of her.

“Lieutenant… you are one of the most intelligent, capable, competent, beautiful, and physically capable people I have ever known. You are also arrogant, flippant, and think you know better than anyone around you what is best in any situation. That is where you are wrong. You don’t take direction, advice, or suggestions unless they come from your handlers or someone who can get you another step up the food chain. That has no place on this ship. We are all… all… sitting on the razor’s edge of what is allowed and what isn’t. Now that you are here, you have to walk that line just like the rest of us. You are no longer the golden child… no… here you are the red-headed step child nobody wants until they need you… just like the rest of us. We do what no one else will because we are, at the end of the day, the most expendable. And while you have not taken the time to review the records of everyone you are working with, I can only assume that you didn’t more than a cursory review of what this ship has done. Well I did. Ninety percent would get everyone from the Captain to the window washer thrown in a penal colony if it ever came to light. Hell, they’d probably arrest the engineers who designed this ship just because. But the ship goes on because it’s very good at walking that line… and so is it’s crew. And so must you be, or you will have a very short tenure here.” His eyes stayed locked on hers for several moments before he took a small step back.

“And that last comment was directed at you, Fin. Because of what you did to me when you changed the rules without telling me. Your actions, had you ever even bothered to check cost me a year and a half of my life cleaning up your mess. I went to prison because of you. But sure… you were just ‘following orders’, weren’t you? And as we know, for you orders come first… even before anyone else.” He turned and started to walk away, calling over his shoulder “Go get yourself looked at, Lieutenant. When you feel up to it, come see me. Captain wants you and I to work together.”

Reilly, XO