Troubles of Command

Posted on Thu Feb 2nd, 2023 @ 3:56am by Colonel Galen s'Khev & Commander Vianola Paxidor
Edited on on Thu Feb 2nd, 2023 @ 3:58am

2,388 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Mission One: Goodwill Tour [Part One]
Location: XO's Office, Triton Station
Timeline: MD3: 1330 hours

Between the lavish parties and welcoming events it was hard to get any down time to do anything. Vi had been liaising with her civilian counterpart on the colony. A somewhat tough son of a bitch but they'd been dealing with a lot and with very little support from the outside.

Even though her job was the security of the station and Starfleet personnel she also saw it as an unwritten rule that she try to protect the civilians there too. With that, she had planted a few of her officers undercover within the colony for the civilian security to contact if they needed help, covertly.

She approached the rather stalwart XO and wanted to talk to him with how they could better help their Romulan friends.

Galen finally had a moment to himself after the Captain's frivolities. He sat behind his desk and revelled in the Romulan classical music. It soothed his rather battered soul. The door chime brought him from his relaxation to the present. "Come in..." he called. When the doors opened the Security Chief stood there, he did not know what to think. On one hand they seemed to be on the same page about the Captain, on the other there was the display in the bar. First impressions go a long way especially with Romulans. "Good morning Commander is there something I can do for you?"

"Morning Colonel." Vi spoke as she entered the room. In her hand she held a PADD that held information she'd been collating about crime and what not within the colony and ideas she had come up with to help the civilian population. Supplies to the civilian police and if they needed personnel assistance she could provide. Then there was medical supplies if needed in clinics, and she'd attached some of the data she'd fed the civilian constable in charge.

She could sense something of a distaste in the Colonel's mind and her own did cast back to the moment in the bar. However, she would not apologize for it. She was a stubborn woman, inheriting an Irish trait from her time with them it seemed... although some would argue she was always quite bull-headed. Her Captain had led her down a course of action and being slightly impulsive in nature she followed. To her it didn't matter what people thought of her, if she kept people safe and did her job well then that was enough for her.

"I wanted you to take a look at this." she handed him the PADD. "I have some ideas on how to better help some of the people here."

Despite the distaste for her earlier actions Galen was relieved that she had some actual work to be done. Add to that this work could help turn this madhouse around. "I would love to see what you have." He motioned to a swat in front of his desk. "Care for something, some coffee or tea? I just brewed a fresh pot of Aesollh."

"Yes please, Colonel. Some Aesollh would be lovely." she smiled at the man. She knew he was as tough as nails but Romulans always valued a good work ethic and a healthy respect for regulations.

She sat down, "I have been in contact with the civilian 'police' in the colony. Asked them what kind of support they want from us whether it be open and upfront, or if they want more clandestine assistance. I want to help improve the security of the whole planet, not just ensure we are safe and well inside this rather ostentatious station."

Galen poured the tea and listened. Thus far he rather liked what he heard. What little he knew about El Aurians he knew that they rarely if ever used subterfuge. So Vi must have been on the up and up with her want to help the people of the planet. "Unfortunately it may take some time for you to get anything from the Constables on the planet. They are not used to trusting outsiders so you may have to earn their trust. With their trust will come their cooperation. I know it seems blasted annoying but that is the way of the people."

Vi nodded in agreement. "I thought as much. That's why I placed some undercover officers, some enlisted personnel embedded within the colony just to give justice and safety a little nudge in the right direction until we gain the trust of the Constabulary. It might not be Starfleet's way, but it is mine. Max, Captain Culver, trusts me with security and knows I'll do what needs to be done to protect the people on this planet." She mused to herself that was probably why she wasn't a full commander by now, or even Captain... she wasn't a yes woman.

"How are you adjusting to us being here?" she asked sincerely.

"It is a mixed blessing, your being here of course. We do welcome the help believe it or not. We just do not like having the help. My people are a proud people and will never actually ask for help. That is why the Hobus incident sticks in our collective craws. We asked for help, and you came and then you abandoned us. A word of advice about those people you have undercover. It is a double edged sword. If one of them is found out you will instantly have respect from those Constables. That you had the wherewithal to put people undercover in a Romulan colony. However, they will dislike you for the same reason." The more he spoke with Vianola the more Galen rather liked her. He would never admit this, but his initial reaction to her was wrong and he knew it.

"I don't mind if I am liked or not. I never have. My job has been my life for so long I don't know how to live any other way." Vi admitted. "My people play a good game and they know if they are caught what to do. Fortunately it is only a handful, not enough to arouse suspicion but enough to change the flow of the river." she smiled as Galen handed her the tea.

"I can understand why your people feel that way though. If I had been promised help for it to be pulled out at the last moments by bureaucrats sitting upon high in a far away system then I'd be pissed too. Hell I am pissed... but for different reasons. If Mars hadn't been attacked as part of a covert mission orchestrated by an undercover rogue Romulan posing as our Starfleet Security Commandant then maybe things would have played out differently..." she trailed off thinking of Hevol and the friends she had lost that day.

Galen had forgotten about that incident. His people could make bonehead decisions as well. "That was an operation that I never fully understood. You have to understand that was brought about by the Zhat Vash a group that even we want to get rid of..." His voice trailed off as Galen thought of his family lost when Hobus went Nova and the sister that he cannot find. "...Suffice to say that both of our organizations are in need of repair. Perhaps this is where it starts."

"I hope so." Vi said steeling herself. "I do not blame all Romulans for the acts of a certain group. I lost my partner on Mars, as well as a lot of friends. I was stationed there but was on Earth doing PT work at the Academy. I've felt guilty for a long time that I don't have the energy for blame." she sighed before realizing she was falling down a pity hole and in front of her new boss no less. "One step at a time and I am sure we will form a good relationship together. I can sense you are a man of honour and I have respect for that."

"You know Commander you and I have a lot more in common than you think. I too lost a lot of people to a tragedy. I too was off planet and on assignment when it happened. And like you I have felt guilty for a long time and no longer have energy for blame." Silently Galen raised his tea cup in acknowledgment for all they shared.

Vianola raised her glass in reply. Loss on any scale was terrible, but the loss of family and friends always hit home far more painfully. "Well, where is it nice to share something in common sir... I do wish it was something a little less morbid." she sniffled a little laugh. She was attempting to lift the mood a bit from where it had fallen to.

"I agree and perhaps we already have that. Our Captain seems to keep us both busy and on our toes. That if nothing else may be a good start for a friendship." For the first time since coming aboard this insipid station Galen genuinely smiled.

"What that a smile, sir?" Vi teased a little. "Did I manage to crack your icy Romulan veneer?" her Irish lilt carrying the playfulness of how the question was intended. "Come now, don't want to ruin that stoic reputation you have."

"If you tell anyone I may have to have you on report." Galen continued with the jest. When the laughter died down he suddenly had a genuine question to ask. "Vianola, that is if I can call you that. I must ask: Is the Captain indicative of normal Starfleet Captains? I have never worked with Starfleet Captains so I am not really sure. Is it normal for them to be so secretive?"

"Vianola, or Vi, is fine sir." Vi replied. "Captain Culver is... unique. In the sense that he is different from the others I have worked with. Usually Captains as secretive by their nature, all that need to know business. By all account his 25 years in Starfleet would have made most species older and wiser, but for El Aurians being the age we both are we are still quite adolescent in our behaviours. I am only 71, and in our peoples eyes I am still the equivalent of a teenager or early 20s by Earth terms. So, you can take from that what you want, but I think behavioural wise we can be quite possessive of the truth, of our secrets."

"Possession of secrets is something I am not a stranger to. In that regard it is going to be like working with a Romulan Commanding Officer. It was my impression that El Aurians are renowned listeners. And yet it seems that Culver listens to no one." Galen sipped his drink and then turned to Vi. "Please call me Galen when not on duty."

"Yes, Galen." Vi smiled softly at the man seemingly wanting to drop rank at the door. "As to our species traits... some make better listeners than others and not everyone follows that 'path' in noble pursuits." she sighed a little at the notion of the many conmen and women who used their pheromones to cheat, lie and steal from others.

"Max listens. It's just sometimes he gets carried away. If you talk to him most of the time you can get him to see your point of view and maybe change his mind... after all he is the Captain. Doing things his way is his prerogative... even if he can be unorthodox at times." Vi added quite diplomatically.

Galen nodded in agreement with the comment about Captain's prerogative. "However, it is my job to advise him on what Romulans would do, and what they expect from him. That is a job that I cannot do if he does not heed my advise. Thus far he has not." Galen sipped his Ale, well sipped is putting it lightly this time he took a gulp. In this moment the usually reserved Romulan Colonel seemed more like a person who was frustrated with their work and had no idea how to repair the issue.

Vianola nodded. She knew all too well how headstrong young El Aurians could be... Hells she still was herself. "I don't know what to say to ya apart from keep chippin away at him. He wants this place to grow and succeed, and desparetly wants to see the Romulan people thrive here as much as ourselves. He's got a big heart... and enthusiasm to match it!"

"None of that is what worries me. Like I said the lack of communication is what worries me. To make matters worse he seems like the type that will not listen when confronted. So, I guess the best thing to do is as you say chip away at him. One hopes that I will not have to chip too much." The oft aloof Galen actually felt good to have a friend at the moment. He took another gulp of his ale as the frustration poured out of him.

"I'm sure you'll persevere sir. You look like a man who doesn't give up easily." Vianola complimented him.

"Indeed I will. However, will the Senators? They have even less patience than I do and I do not see them giving the Captain any leeway. You know that the agreement that brought Starfleet here says that they can have the Captain removed, of course they have to have good reason. But I believe that is not a headache anyone would want to deal with." Galen pinched the bridge of his nose, an affectation that he did when the stress was great and there was nothing he could do. "My apologies Vianola I seem to be unloading on you."

"It's fine. I mean as second officer who else can you vent to?" Vi asked rhetorically. "Max can be very persuasive. Don't count him out with the Senators. He'll have something tucked up his sleeve to get them onboard. Sometimes you got to have a little faith."

"I hope you are right..." Galen said with a resolute face. He reached into a drawer in his desk and pulled out a bottle of Romulan Ale, rather old. "Now I believe we should drink our sorrows." He poured two generous measures. "To new friends." He raised his glass.

Vianola raised her glass too. "And to having unending patience." she joked a little.

 

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