Changing XO

Posted on Fri 26th Oct, 2012 @ 5:56am by Lieutenant Colonel Cara Karikkar & Colonel Horatio Drake

948 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/2

Cara wasn't quite sure why she had been called in to see Ash and was worried that perhaps she had done something wrong in going to rescue Brian even though it was hers and Dev's forte. Knocking on his office door she fell back on military formality "Sir? You wanted to see me?"

Spinning round in his chair was certainly not a good idea. Every time he shut his eyes, his world started spinning. The effects of the Bretagne were still making themselves more than known to him.

Leaning slightly to the right to try and off set the dizziness, Drake offered Cara a seat through a motion of his hand.

"Please, sit down Major" He smiled and picked up a PADD showing a summary of the main report on the hostage situation that had transpired in his absence.

"Major, I've been reading through the reports about what took place in my absence... in particularly about the rescue mission that you were involved in when Lieutenant Commander Windsong and kidnapped. Did you think mounting a rescue operation in the manner that you did was prudent? Did you involved Major Green at all in the situation?" Drake was frowning slightly and looking down at the PADD.

"Major Green was aware of our activities sir. Lt Kell and myself made a judgement call that as I had a link with commander Windsong we were the most likely to be able to reach him in time to rescue him." She stayed at attention willing to take the flack for the decisions they had made.

"OK, so you had an upper hand... but would it not have been safer to wait for an armed security detail... or, perhaps, a squad of Marines?" He now put the PADD back on the table, he had all the information he needed for what he was going to do.

"There was no time sir Commander Windsong was critical when we reached him and would have barely made it to medical without the intervention he received." She kept vague exactly what she had done as it wasn't exactly legal to be an augment even if it had been done to her by starfleet. "I stand by the decisions we made with the options we had."

"Even if those options resulted in increased danger... and possibly disciplinary action against yourself?" He was testing her now, seeing how far she would go... seeing what her resolve was like.

Cara nodded "Even if I was demoted sir. It was the right call to make and it saved Brian's life ... One Diplomat versus one marine ... plenty of marine officers to train up ... harder to train a good diplomat."

"I don't like your logic, Major" Ashton paused... since losing Patrick, life had lost it's meaning and, as a result, the preciousness of life - even of others - had lost it's importance. Despite this, if one were to compare two lives... ability and standing shouldn't play a part. Or so he would used to think, anyway.

"However... I would like to think that I would have made the same decisions as you. Your judgement was sound and your selflessness for your own safety is commendable.".

He rose from his desk and moved towards to replicator, ordering himself a coffee. A nod towards to replicator, whilst looking at the Marine Major, silently confirmed that she didn't want anything.

Moving back towards his desk, he lent on it next to Cara.

"Major Green has had to take an indefinite Leave of Absence... regrettably his Father is very ill and he has gone to take care of him. Whether he'll return to Protector, or even Starfleet for that matter, is unknown. Protector needs an Executive Officer and we can't hang around for one. You're very young, but you've got a good Service Record. Personally, I think youth is an attribute". He smirked, referring to his own young age.

"Would you be interested in the position, Major?" He asked, taking the first sip of his steaming drink.

Blinking in surprise she nodded after a minute of shock "Definitely sir."

"It's not a glamorous job... God knows there's a lot of work to do on Protector before she's even half of her former self. But it is a promotion in position, nevertheless. And one, may I add, that I think is well deserved". Drake's hard demur broke slightly.

Cara blushed at the complement "Thank you sir."

"It's a pleasure, Major" He smiled warmly at her, standing from his leaning position and extending his hand to shake.

"I just hope you know what you're letting yourself in for!" He injected a bit of humour.

Shaking his hand she quipped back "Lets just hope I'm still standing at the end of a week." Biting her lip she asked "One request sir ... Would it be possible to see Dev reinstated to his rank of Lt Commander and maybe if he is interested back to chief of Security?" She knew she was asking for a big favour.

Reinstated? Why was he ever removed? Drake scolded himself for not reading all the personnel files that he could have since being on board. Having said that, he had been fairly busy and what with the business of the Bretagne... No, he definitely should have read more!

"If you think it's deserved, Major, just get a report together and leave it on my desk. I shouldn't think it'll be a problem though.".

"Thank you sir." Cara almost bounced on the balls of her feet at this. At his nod she placed the report on his desk with a wink and then left. No one could accuse her of not planning some things in advance.

 

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