A Demotion and a Promotion!

Posted on Mon Jan 25, 2021 @ 11:29am by Commander Ajani Carter & Lieutenant Skot Ryder & Lieutenant Commander Dr. Elisabet Intarrah Ph.D MD

Mission: Episode 2: Rising Tides
Location: Forward Lounge
Timeline: MD 06
1478 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Carter had spent at least three hours on subspace with Starfleet Command arguing with the director of personnel about her executive officer. Lise's service record was impressive but the Admiral wondered if her time was better spent in the science lab than the XO's chair. By the end of the call the Admiral have made it an order; but then the ship had been attacked and the Arcadia arrived and Carter had managed to find someone she, and the fleet liked. But First she had to let Lise know that personnel were a bunch of asshats. Ajani was waiting for her soon to be former XO to arrive, at which point she, Ajani, would be meeting her new XO.

Lise walked in with a cappuccino and sat down at a table near Ajani and put her feet on the table. "Need me for something?"

"Yeah, you better take a seat. I will be to the point; the Director of Fleet Personnel has decided to order me to demote you from executive officer." She knew Lise would rather be told bluntly like this than beat around the bush.

"Did he now?" Lise noted and then chuckled. "I was wondering when someone at Starfleet Command was going to get around to demoting little ol' me. Well it's none of my business what some Admiral wants. Bureaucrats... Truth goes into their ears, lies come out of their asses." Lise mentioned without a hint of tact in her usual flamboyant demeanor.

"Oh I agree with you. But I have my orders, if I don't follow them they did threaten to remove you from the Eagle. So, I get to keep you as my Science Chief but lose you as XO. If it helps any" she said frowning "You keep your rank and this wont impact on your service jacket any"

Skot was navigating his way around the ship fairly well, one advantage of a smaller ship. He always liked the versatility smaller ships offered, large cruisers had their place but the smaller escorts and frigates are where the fun happens. After asking around for the Captain's location he had spent the last fifteen minutes making his way to the forward lounge, noting the damaged areas of the ship as he moved along. As he entered the lounge, Skot did a quick scan of the room finding the Captain. "Commander Carter? Lieutenant Ryder." Skot offered a hand to his now boss.

"Surprising." Lise stated. "They would pull me off this ship for a new XO? They really stepped on your shoes with this." Lise mentioned. "Ajani, be cautious with this Admiral. There are quite a bit of flag officers out there that favor a militarized Starfleet." Lise mentioned.

Ajani nodded "I know, but the Eagle was never going to be a science ship. Our missions are not always going to end up being science focused. But as with the blackhole, I will do what i can do to get some purse science into them." She turned to the officer she had told Captain Hawkins she wanted. "Welcome Skot, please met Lise, she is who's shoes you will be stepping into. The request came from Fleet Command but you, Lieutenant are my choice."

Lise slung her head back in the chair and looked at him upside down. "Hey there, Sparky. Welcome aboard. I'd say I got the better part of this deal because you're in for a ton of work. Being XO is not for science girls like me."

Skot's ear perked up when Ajani said she had chosen him. A smile began to form in response to Lise's comment, "I don't know, I do get to be your boss after all."

"Gotta tell ya, this isn't how you usually get promotions. You're not here because of anything you did, It's because of some job I ended up with. Starfleet REALLY does not want me in any command position." Lise chuckled. "Maybe I'll send the admiralty a fruit basket, everybody likes those." Lise mentioned.

"I would try a fruit cake." Skot replied with a chuckle of his own. "Worst case they fire the thing from a torpedo tube to use as target practice."

Carter was starting to think that Starfleet might have a point about Lise. "Well, whatever the case" she started "Skot, you have stepped into a problem. Computer, lock the doors" Ajani didn't want anyone walking on them. "As far as I can gather there is a mid level flag officer with either the Pact or the Union, who is funding these pirates in an effort to destabilize the UFP's relationship with the Cardassians."

Skot listened intently as the Commander spoke. If someone or something was helping destabilize the Federation's efforts to aid the Cardassians, things could get really bad really fast. His mind was already at work gathering what all he would require to unravel this particular spider web. "One thing I've learned over the years Commander, in situations like this you are not going to out fight whoever this person is, you have to out think them. Find the pattern and anticipate the next move in order to drag them out of the darkness and into the light."

"We don't know our enemy, so we do not know how to fight them. We may have to fight in the night, or in the light of day." Lise explained. "I find these recent events.... very puzzling. Be cautious, both of you, Someone at Starfleet Command is threatened by me, and it may be interesting to know who that person is." Lise mentioned. "I will take my leave."

"Try not to piss off the Director of Fleet Personal Lise" Ajani called after the retreating Science Chief, although she had no idea if her warning had been heard, or would be heeded if heard. Ajani got to her feet and ordered from the replicator, while in many places the transporters and replicators meant that you could order and have it appear before you Carter had disabled this feature in the messhall. Lining up to get your order was part of the atmosphere. "Want anything Skot?" she asked as she ordered a lunch.

"A whiskey would be great," Skot responded enthusiastically. One thing was still puzzling him as he sat down at the near by table, "So Commander, why did you choose a Strategic Ops officer for you XO? I'm sure my career file was not as an exciting read as some other candidates."

She order her new XO's drink and brought it to him retaking her seat. "I see potential in you Skot" she said at length "I think that you are ready to progress and having your experience in strat ops will be nothing but useful. The Eagle responds to threats that need to be investigated and hunted down. I suspect our future missions will continue to follow this profile and in your short time with the fleet you have shown you are a very capable officer."

Skot pondered on the words before responding. "You know," he started. "My old boss used to say the same thing. I do not know what you guys see, I'm just someone who comes in and does his job to the best of his ability but if you see something, who am I to judge." Skot picked up the glass and swallowed the smooth brown liquid in one go before placing the now empty glass back on the table, "I will not let you down Commander. Now where shall I begin?"

She nodded. "Getting up to speed on our mission so far would be a grand place to start" Ajani took a sip of her own drink "This has been quite a week for us. The pirates are now down two warships but i suspect that they will have more. Well, we know of at least three others as they have been sighted during raids."

Skot's cheek pulled tight as the corner of his mouth was pulled into a slight grin, "Track them, find them, engage them. Now you are speaking my language Commander, I'll get caught up on the reports and introduce myself to the crew." With that Skot offered his hand one last time before making his way out of the lounge.

Standing she took his hand. "Welcome aboard Skot" Carter wasn't one for nicknames, she call all her officers and crew by their given name. Not as an attempt to befriend everyone, but rather to show that she had made the effort to learn their names. A rank was a fine thing but in some respects it was somewhat pointless. "I will no doubt see you on the bridge shortly" she let go of his hand smiled and then turned back to her sofa and drink. She had some time off duty and so spending it sat reading was the plan before her.