From: Takako Nagumo <tnagumo@pop.pitt.edu> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 02:10:15 -0400 Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: The Science Shuffle
MD 15.1215
Scene: Bridge
Commander Daniel Brennan and Counselor Stavay Tats-Marush emerged
from the Observation Lounge. The delegates were being escorted
directly from the Lounge to the corridor, and then to their
respective quarters for the midday recess. They were walking down
the ramp when they heard Lieutenant Commander Elanna Miris.
"Captain?"
He turned toward her as she rose from the chair. "Yes,
Commander?"
"If I may speak with you for a moment...."
Brennan nodded, a tired smile appearing on his face. "Of course."
He turned to the OPS officer. "Commander th'Tellan, you have the
bridge."
MD 15.1300
Scene: Ready Room
"So, Dr. Ledoux," said Brennan, "this situation won't change in
the near future?"
Dr. Catherine Ledoux sat across the desk from him. Commander
Miris sat next to her, on her right. He saw the doctor take a
moment, then look up, surprising him with her very direct gaze.
"No, sir." There was some regret, but no hesitation. "It is my
professional opinion that Lieutenant Murray is currently not fit
for duty, and, considering recent events aboard the CHESAPEAKE as
well as those aboard the BELLEROPHON, I do not see a quick
recovery."
"Your recommendation?"
"I believe," she continued, "that Lieutenant Murray, and the crew,
will be best served if she were to be granted extended leave from
duty to recuperate from these events."
Brennan glanced at Miris, who nodded silently. He looked back at
Ledoux and tried to smile.
"I believe that is all, then. Thank you for your time, Doctor."
"You're welcome, sir." The doctor stood up, her movement a single
fluid motion. She had taken two steps toward the doors, when she
stopped, and turned back to look at Brennan.
"I wish things had turned out differently for her, sir."
He nodded slowly. "So do I, Doctor. So do I."
Brennan watched Ledoux leave, the doors sliding closed behind her.
He shifted his gaze to Miris.
"Your thoughts are still the same?" It was less a question than a
statement.
She nodded, putting the PADD she had been holding on his desk and
gently pushed it across to him. "Her personnel file only skims
the surface of the Lieutenant's history." She watched him pick it
up as she continued. "Psychological trauma of this kind can only
be exacerbated by denial. She needs time to recover...
elsewhere."
"Elsewhere." He looked down at Murray's jacket again. "Her
staying aboard will be a problem."
"What would be her billet, here, sir?" she asked. "If she cannot
serve as Chief Science Officer, if that is not within the
Lieutenant's capacity at the moment, it is a great disservice to
her department and a greater disservice to the Lieutenant if she
were forced to stay here."
He finally nodded. "Agreed." He sat up in his chair. "I will
notify Admiral Jokinen. He will not be pleased, as this ship has
already undergone more personnel shuffles than some ships put
together, but under the circumstances, I will bear the
consequences."
A small smile played on her lips. "Good luck, sir."
"With CINCGREEN?" His smiled half-heartedly. "I believe I need
less luck than fortitude to withstand the tonguelashing."
"Perhaps." She smiled briefly, then returned to her seriousness.
"As for her replacement, sir," she said, "from all the reports I
have read, Lieutenant (jg) Derek Fielding seems to be the most
viable candidate at the moment."
"Lieutenant Sereh?"
"She is also a viable candidate. However," she continued,
"Lieutenant Fielding has been with the department since
departure. He has good rapport with the staff -- and his
familiarity with the department surpasses that of Mister Sereh's.
And, of course, there is the question of her actions on the
STONEWALL."
"Yes." He stopped. "You are aware, of course, that it was
Commander th'Tellan who went AWOL?"
"Yes, sir, but I believe she was a willing accomplice."
"Do you consider her a security risk?"
He saw her tense for a moment, seemingly considering her words.
"Not at the moment, sir."
Brennan was almost certain that that was not what she was going to
say. "Commander, I need your honest opinion. Is Lieutenant Sereh
a security risk?"
"That was my honest opinion, sir." Her tone was steady now.
"And Commander th'Tellan?"
"No." Her gaze did not move from his. "I do not think so."
He looked at her for another moment, then nodded. "Thank you."
He picked up another PADD, pushed a few buttons on it, then handed
it to her. "Please see to Lieutenant Murray's departure
arrangements."
She took the PADD, examined it cursorily. "Yes, sir." She looked
back up at him. "Was there anything else, sir?"
"No, not at the moment, thank you, Commander."
He nodded a dismissal, and Miris turned smartly on her heels and
departed for the Bridge. He watched her leave.
Honest, straightforward, unafraid of him or of his questions.
Elanna Miris was turning out to be a great Executive Officer.
MD 15.1700
Scene: Ready Room
The chime rang. Brennan looked up from his reading.
"Come in."
Lieutenant (jg) Derek Fielding walked in and approached the desk.
"You asked to see me, sir?"
"Yes, Mister Fielding." Brennan stood up and gestured to one of
the seats in front of the desk. "Please, sit down." He walked
over to the replicator. "Something to drink, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, thank you, sir. A glass of lime-and-cherry juice, please."
Brennan refrained from commenting and produced the glass of juice,
as well as some hot chamomile tea for himself. He handed the
glass to the Lieutenant, then sat down behind the desk. He took a
small sip of his tea, looked over the rim of the mug at the young
Science officer.
"So, Mister Fielding," he asked, as he put the tea down, "how is
the Science Department handling Lieutenant Murray's imminent
departure?"
His expression changed. "Very we--... I mean, better than I had
feared." He seemed to be talking into his glass.
"I see." He had heard that, definitely. "And Lieutenant Sereh is
readjusting to working in Sciences again?"
Fielding's expression brightened a little. "Lieutenant Sereh was
a great addition, sir. She's doing very well with the students,
and we haven't had a mishap in the student laboratories since
she's arrived."
"That is wonderful news, Lieutenant." Brennan smiled, hoping that
it would make him more comfortable. "And how are you handling the
department? With Lieutenant Murray so often... unavailable, you
have been doing much of the administrative chores."
"I... I think I'm doing well, sir, under the circumstances." He
paused, then looked up to see Brennan's steady gaze. "I mean, I
don't particularly like tooting my own horn, but... I think I've
handled things quite well, so far. Considering...." His voice
trailed off. He took a sip of his juice.
"Considering what, Lieutenant?"
"Well, sir," he continued hesitantly, "Lieutenant Murray is a
brilliant scientist, but... well, she could be a bit difficult to
work for, sometimes."
"I could see how that could be, Mister Fielding." Brennan took
another sip of his tea. "And do you believe you have better
rapport with the department?"
"I... I think so, sir. I mean, I don't think... at least, I
haven't observed anyone who has acted in a way that would indicate
I didn't."
"And as a scientist, you do base conclusions on close observation.
Is that not so?"
"Yes, something like that." Fielding finally smiled back.
"I'm very glad to hear that, Lieutenant."
Brennan put the mug down on the desk, then pulled out a desk
drawer, retrieved a small box from it. As he stood, Fielding put
down his glass down on the desk and stood as well. The Commander
walked around the desk to stand in front of the Science Officer.
He saw a flash of recognition on Fielding's face as he came to
attention.
"Lieutenant (junior grade) Derek Fielding, it is my honour and
pleasure to grant you a brevet to Full Lieutenant, with a
confirmation of the promotion at a time to be determined."
Brennan opened the box and presented the full pip. Fielding took
the pip, removed the half-pip from his collar, and replaced it
with the new one. He put the old one back in the box, closed it,
and held it in his left hand. Brennan looked at the newly minted
Full Lieutenant (brevet) as he continued.
"You are also hereby assigned to the billet of Chief Science
Officer, USS CHESAPEAKE, Task Force Bravo, Green Fleet." He
smiled and extended his hand. "Congratulations, Lieutenant."
"Thank you, sir." Fielding seemed to have gained a bit more
confidence than a few minutes ago as he took the proffered hand.
What a new pip does to an officer, the Commander thought in
passing.
"Well, Lieutenant," said Brennan, "I believe you have some work to
do. I will not keep you."
"Yes, sir."
The Commander nodded a dismissal, and Fielding left, a slight
spring in his step as he stepped through the opening doors and out
onto the Bridge.
Respectfully Submitted,
Takako Nagumo,
CDR Daniel J. Brennan
CO, USS CHESAPEAKE (NCC-31813)
Task Force Bravo, Green Fleet
NRPG:
All: Let's try to wrap up the reception by Friday. I promise to
post something to it myself, then move us to the sessions on MD
15. <G>
Greg, Trevin: As soon as the proto for the MD 15 session (just
afternoon, probably) is done, it'll be on its way -- I'm hoping
later this week.
Masako: Congratulations on Derek Fielding's brevet. <G> Consider
Anne Murray off the ship as of the end of MD 15. The CHES has one
of DELTA's D-Warps -- she'll be leaving on that, I guess. :) I
hope that I did not misplay Derek.
Matt, Greg, Trevin: Informal dinner for Brennan, Miris, Livia, and
Meredith evening of MD 15? I could just picture Falgor/Coltair
and Yoshida/Dixit sitting nearby, trying to overhear
everything.... <EG> NRPG coming soon. Or if you have other,
better ideas, drop me a line.
Matt, Chris: I hope I did not misplay Miris or Ledoux.
Naomi: Welcome back. :)
Jari: What do you mean, one doesn't speak of Admirals that way?
::IL::
--
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Takako Nagumo <tnagumo@pop.pitt.edu>
http://www.oocities.org/TimesSquare/6318/
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CDR Daniel J. Brennan CO USS CHESAPEAKE, Green Fleet
LCDR Sian-Mairead Flynn, MD CMO USS ALEXANDER NEVSKY, Green Fleet
MAJ Anastasia K. Vansen MCO USS CORONA, Green Fleet
LCDR Duncan A. Morrell Instructor ALB Holodeck 4
CDR Julianna M. Sforza COMREC Commander, Starfleet Records
Civ Meyran Cates Semple Undersecretary UFPDOCA
Civ Carolina Maria Garces Director-General UFPESCO
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