"Executive Investigation"
Previous Post: "Laughing Amongst Friends"
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Bridge
Sitting in the central chair on the bridge of the USS
HATHOR, the ship that she would be commanding during
the next mission, the Romulan/Terran hybrid reviewed
various reports on the status of the preparations.
Hearing the doors at the back of the bridge swoosh
open, the acting CO turned and was pleased to see the
Oltharian stepping onto the bridge. "You wanted to
see me Captain?"
Instinctively wanting to correct the giant for having
called her captain instead of commander, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid realized just as she was about
to speak that the Oltharian had not made reference to
her rank but rather to her position. Inwardly
grinning, the HATHOR's CO made a mental note to get
used to this before their mission started at it would
not be wise to have her fail to respond when someone
called the hybrid by her rightful title.
Inviting the Oltharian to step up to the central
chair, the Romulan/Terran hybrid called up one
particular report on the PADD that she had been
holding in her hand. "Thank you for responding so
quickly Mr. Fairborn, I had wanted to speak to you
about a few things that I have noticed concerning your
report on the engineering preparations."
Appearing more like a priest than an engineer,
partially because of the aura of tranquility that
radiated from him, the Oltharian stood next to the
sitting CO waiting for the Romulan/Terran hybrid to
ask a specific question since his report had been
lengthy and thorough. Taking a moment to bathe in the
giant's calmness, the HATHOR's CO wondered how two men
could be so similar in so many ways and so completely
different in others. David had never been known for
his spotless composure, a quality that the hybrid
found endearing in the Oltharian.
Not wanting to waste any more time than she already
had, or have the giant Oltharian stand there for no
other reason than to be there, the Romulan/Terran
hybrid confronted her CEO with the reason of her
having called him up to the bridge. "I see that you
dismissed the engineering staff that had been working
on the final stages of the preparations on the
HATHOR's propulsion system, may I ask why?"
Looking not at all surprised by the CO's question,
Lt. Fairborn grinned and bowed as if accepting full
responsibility for what he had done and the
explanation that would follow. "The preparations were
proceeding ahead of schedule, so I dismissed the
engineering staff so that they could get some well
deserved rest."
Glaring at the giant in a way that indicated she did
not believe that this had been the only reason for the
Oltharian's actions, the Romulan/Terran hybrid
continued with her investigation. "Lt. Fairborn, your
Starfleet record is lengthy and impressive in many
ways, and one particular note of interest is that you
have never dismissed *anyone* prior to a task having
been completed. Actually, according to your own
personnel file, you are well known for putting in
several days' of continuous work to be able to meet a
deadline given to you by a superior officer. So I
would appreciate you explaining to me why this sudden
change of ways?"
Knowing better than to try to hide the truth from a
superior, not that the Oltharian was to type of man to
be deceitful in anything that he did, the CEO of the
HATHOR continued with his explanation. "I knew that
Lt. Dawson would be in need of work to keep himself
occupied prior to our departure. I thought it wise to
help him in this matter by insuring that some of the
secondary verifications as well as some of the primary
work had not been completed."
Considering the words of her CEO, the Romulan/Terran
hybrid returned her eyes to the PADD and the rest of
the report earlier provided by the Oltharian. "So you
transformed a multi-person workload that would have
taken a few more hours into something that will take a
single person several days to accomplish. That is
taking a risk, is it not?"
Nodding sincerely the Oltharian seemed to quietly be
begging for his CO's forgiveness although he had not
yet openly said so. "The risk was and still is a
calculated one taking into account that the person
doing the work is Lt. Dawson and that I know that
together we can and will have the HATHOR in perfect
working order by the time you give the order to get
under way. I believed that the benefits outweighed
the risks, and if I was mistaken in my evaluation, I
am deeply sorry."
Looking at the standing giant by her side, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid gave no indication that she had
been upset or in any way troubled by the decision of
her CEO. "It looks like I have the services of not
one, but two Cns onboard the HATHOR. Thank you for
your explanation Lieutenant, I see that the ship is in
even better hands than I had earlier anticipated. I
only hope that Lt. Dawson will realize one day what
kind of a true friend you have been to him and further
hope that you will one day return to being a CEO as I
believe that your true talents are there."
Bowing in gratitude for what the Romulan/Terran
hybrid had said, the Oltharian smiled. "Thank you
captain, it is an honor to serve and I hope to prove
myself worthy of your faith in me."
Watching the giant head off the bridge the CO of the
USS HATHOR could not help but think to herself that
the Oltharian already had proven himself and even
surpassed her expectations by not only having
performed his intended role as CEO but also by having
provided a solid foundation for David to begin
rebuilding his character and reputation.
Having taken care of that matter to her complete
satisfaction, the Romulan/Terran hybrid turned her
attention to another matter of interest; that of the
assignment of a new arrival to the position of Ops
officer to the HATHOR, Ens. Carft Kea. Normally the
Ensign would have been assigned to the ANUBIS but
given its current state Admiral Koniki had decided to
have the Ensign join the senior staff during the
shakedown cruise of the HATHOR. Suspecting that this
had been to help the new officer get better acquainted
with the rest of the staff, the Romulan/Terran hybrid
had wanted to make sure she knew as much as possible
on him as she could so as to help make his insertion
as easy and seamless as could be.
Reading that the ensign had majored in the field of
command made the Romulan/Terran very happy thinking
that he seemed to be a perfect fit for the position
that he had been assigned, not to mention that his
arrival had greatly reduced the stress level of Ens.
Summers who had been chosen to take on the role of Ops
officer before hand. Not having to worry about the
ship would give the CMO more time to dedicate to
making sure that the aCEO remained under control, not
that the CO of the HATHOR had imagined that the
Oltharian had not already proven himself more than
qualified to do just that.
Leaving the bridge to head back to her quarters
onboard the ANUBIS, the Romulan/Terran hybrid felt
confident that this mission would prove to be an
enlightening experience for everyone in many different
ways.
/\/\/\
Lieutenant Commander Serenna
Acting Commanding Officer 2005 post #498
Stardate: 60328.2100
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Executive Officer
USS ANUBIS
USS HATHOR
