Performance Review

Posted on Tue Aug 8, 2017 @ 2:10pm by Captain Madelina Weisz & Lieutenant Commander Arrda & Lieutenant Commander Kelani Tetanal & Lieutenant Gilah & Lieutenant JG Mirok & Lieutenant JG Jacob Hartley & Lieutenant JG Zander Devereaux & Ensign Athyle sh'Paveress

Mission: Strange Matter
Location: Conference Room
Timeline: MD 28 || 1300 Hours

Two hours.

That's how long the away team had been back from the contaminated science vessel, and everyone made it back in one piece with no signs of infection. For Maddy, though, there was a blood vessel inside her head that was threatening to pop. Maybe the Commodore was on to something when it came to his bonsai trees. Did they make them in miniature versions she could wear around her neck at all times? Somehow, she doubted it.

As she approached the conference room, she paused outside the door in an effort to compose herself. The redhead Commander summoned everyone ten minutes prior just to make sure each individual had time to arrive before she did, and now they were all likely settled around the table wondering what was going on.

"Well," she said aloud. "Let's not keep them waiting any longer."

Maddy stepped forward to activate the sensors that would open the door, then she stepped inside. A quick glance landed on each individual as she moved to the head of the table, but instead of sitting down... she stood, leaning forward to place her hands on the tabletop. "I want each of you to tell me how you think our trip over to the science vessel went," she said. "And don't worry, you're all going to have your chance to speak. Who wants to start?"

"Well, I'd call it another day at the office." Jacob said. "An incredibly dangerous office, mind you. Still, I was able to download their computer data. I've got it on an isolated terminal in Intel, translating it now. Hopefully, it'll be able to provide us with some clue as to what happened, as well as whatever data a science ship might be privy to." Jacob answered.

"It was like a holiday on Cardassia before the Dominion War," Zander muttered, but loud enough to be heard. "I think it could have and should have gone a lot better than it did, but that's how away missions always seem to go. Prepare for anything and be ready for nothing."

Maddy chose to address Jacob first. "Mister Hartley... downloading their computer's data, that was not what I told you to do. I told you, and Miss Tetanal, to find out what happened leading up to their deaths. No where in that order did I make mention of downloading anything. You acted on your own... made an assumption," she said. "I don't give a damn what kind of nifty gadgets the Intel department has, but when I give an order, I expect for it to be followed."

"Mister Devereaux, you would be a thousand percent correct," the Commander said as she looked toward the Engineer. It was clear this wasn't going to be an 'atta boy' type situation for anyone. "While I appreciate you coming to my aid, I do not appreciate you choosing that moment to hit on me. Yes, I know that's what gives you your... charm, but it was completely unnecessary given the situation we were in. Attempt to control yourself in the future."

With two down, there were still a few to go. She looked over the other faces present, wondering which of them were going to speak up next. "Who's next? Tell me what you thought of our task."

"Ma'am, with all due respect, if we want to know what happened, then downloading the computer data is the best way to go. If we find something, we tend to make notes, research notes and sensor scans. I could have spent time learning the Romulan code and searching for the precise data, but it was easier to download everything. It gives us potential actionable intelligence, and we can find out everything they found out about the virus, the device and anything else we need to know to solve the mystery of what happened." Jacob said. "I couldn't exactly ask them what happened, they weren't in a position to tell us anything."

"With all due respect? You know what that phrase really means, Mister Hartley? It means you disagree with the criticisms that have been laid out before you. It means you disagree with what I've just told you. You should learn from them... grow from them," the XO stated. "Now, based on what you just said, we witnessed what happened first hand when the Romulans boarded the vessel. The effects were immediate. There is nothing they could have found out about the virus the moment it was airborne. Which, is why, I asked you to find out what happened leading up to that event."

"You took it upon yourself to download an entire database that you had no business downloading to begin with. Other than learning what happened just before the virus took hold of that crew was none of your concern, and should the Romulans find out that was done by some miracle, you've caused a shitstorm for all of us. Stop making excuses and own up to what you've done."

From her place near Mirok Kelani spoke up, "As far as the collection of data, it began smoothly and was accomplished in spite of the unfortunate arrival of the Romulan boarding party hampering the speed with which we could obtain said material."

Kelani paused, then continued, "After the crisis, we were able to complete the assigned tasks and return to Triumphant."

She fell silent not mentioning Gilah's behavior, over which she was still seething.

"Lieutenant Tetanal, as I've just addressed the downloading of the data, I don't feel the need to again," Maddy stated. "I will address the latter. Were we on the same ship, but I don't think we witnessed the same actions. Once the boarding party was dealt with, we got the probe, the sample, then got the hell out of dodge. Who's to say they weren't prepared to send over more boarders?"

Kelani's syebrows shot up in surprise. "With all due respect, Commander, I followed your orders precisely. I took some tricorder readings just before our return is all. If that was a breach of your orders, rest assured it will not happen again.

Mirok pressed his fingertips together and leaned back in his chair a little. "It was...eventful...to say the least." He continued in Romulan, knowing the translator would help him get his point across, "the arrival of the boarders put a bit on a damper on things."

As Douglas listened to the others speak -- he was purposely holding his tongue for now to hear what they thought before speaking -- he noted patterns. One was that everyone seemed to focus on the Romulan boarding party. Another was that they each seemed to be avoiding the actual question being asked: how d id they feel that they performed. Each seemed to focus on the mission objectives as justification. We completed; therefore we performed well.

Not saying anything yet, he focused inward, analyzing his performance. When ordered, he had followed those orders even though it had taken him away from the others. As Security Chief, he felt that their safety was his primary responsibility; so on that count, he was conflicted. He had left that task, but only because he had followed orders.

The fight, such as it was, had been over by the time he had returned to the bridge. Could he have performed his duty more swiftly? He analyzed his actions, coming to the neutral conclusion that he had been as efficient but as thorough as he should have been. Timing on his part was not a fault of his behavior. This meant that the fight had likely been short -- it had not taken him long to search the ship -- so his arriving when he had was a function of the brevity of the fight coupled with the time it took to thoroughly search every part of the ship -- someone could have been hiding in the crawlspaces, after all.

The rest of the situation had nothing to do with him, so he did not analyze it. That was for the Commander and Commodore to do. He waited for Gilah to state her case now and for the Commander's responses before speaking. She did so straight away, in a voice rather softer than the usual.

"As attending medical officer for the mission my role was completed satisfactorily. However as a Head Of Department and a member of the senior staff there were serious errors in judgement on my part. I'm not afraid to admit that and I will not bore you with petty excuses."

The doctor paused and looked straight at Maddy.

"You have my apology, Commander. Lieutenant Tetenal. Such disrespect will not occur again."

"Your apology is accepted, Doctor," the Commander said, turning her attention to the Klingon woman. "Make sure that it doesn't, or there will be consequences. This is not a threat, but a statement of fact."

"Apology accepted, Doctor," Kelani said quietly. "You have demonstrated your honor in this matter."

Gilah nodded at both in turn as they accepted her apology and went back to staring at the middle of the table as she had been previously. Was the new chief medical officer always this grumpy?

Ensign sh'Paveress sat quietly, observing the group. Only half of them were senior officers, but Athyle had been summoned late to the Away Team's party. Out of everyone in the room, she was definitely the youngest and the most inexperienced. It struck her as odd, then, that the officers senior to her all behaved in such an irrational manner. Bickering amongst themselves, defying orders, and so on. This certainly was not the training that the Academy provided.

"I agree with Lieutenant Devereaux," she spoke up at last. "At the Academy, they do teach us to be prepared for anything. I should have left the Triumphant with a phaser. Instead, by the time I took cover and found a disruptor, there was not much I could do. I did not have a proper vantage point, nor was I able to obtain a better one."

Maddy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. While she wasn't pleased with how things went, this was something they could all learn from. "I'd like to go on record that I'm perfectly fine of none of you like me. I'm even okay with any, or all of you, talking behind my back and saying whatever nasty and horrible things you wish to. I didn't earn the titles of the Red Queen, the Ice Queen, or Frigid Bitch for nothing," she stated, moving to stand upright. "If any of you are feeling froggy and wish to say something to my face, then by all means, jump. At the end of the day, each and every last one of you has a job to do... orders to follow. I'm no exception. We're a team. Not a bunch of preschoolers that are cranky because they didn't get to their naps. We work together, or we fall apart."

"I've known you...or of you for about two years now, I'd say," Zander said as he came to his feet. "You may be a lot of those things, but you're still one of the best damned officers I know. I may joke and shit, but at the end of the day, if you got orders that I can carry out, I'm going to do it."

He looked at the other officers. "If anyone here got a problem with Commander Weisz, meet me in the gym after the meeting and you and my fists can work it out." He glanced at Maddy. "Unless you don't want me to."

Douglas frowned slightly, his mask of neutrality slipping just a hair. Fisticuffs to solve discipline problems? Of course she would not want him to. He did not address that, however. nor did he ask what hell he had missed that had made her say all of that about liking her. He had been trained that one did not need to like his superior officer; one only needed to respect the chain of command and follow orders. He had done that. "Commander, I cannot speak for anyone else, but I have no problem with you." he said. "Perhaps you are a hard commander, but so was the first one I was trained by." Truth was, Teleth Norr was likely harder than Madelina Weisz, but that was not relevant just now. "I will, and have, follow your orders."

He was aware that he had not addressed her original question, but this meeting seemed to have taken an odd turn away from that subject. If she asked him, he would tell her. Otherwise, he had said what needed saying at this juncture.

"I want everyone here to make sure they're up to date on their phaser certifications. You can see Lieutenants Mallory or Cusack for that. Once I have gotten word that each of you have passed the training courses, each of you will run through a simulation of my choosing, none of which will be the same as the individual before you," the Commander stated. "Does anyone have any questions?"

"Nope," Zander said. "I'll get on that phaser training right away, Commander."

"No questions, Commander," Kelani spoke tersely

Douglas suspected that, since the others were to come to him and Martha, he was exempted from that order. However, he was never one to assume. "Clarification, Ma'am." he asked. "Does this order include myself and Lieutenant CUsack?"

"You and Lieutenant Cusack should be up to date on your phaser training given your positions, unless there's something you would like to tell me," Maddy responded, turning her attention to Mallory. "The simulations will include everyone."

"No, ma'am, nothing." he answered. "I meant the simulations. Thank you."

Athyle nodded, her antennae twitching ever so slightly. She hadn't expected to have to revisit her certification so soon, much less face such a staggering scenario. At least, she thought, this could be far worse. Much, much worse. "Aye, Commander."

Gilah's Badge chirped.

=/\= "Preschool to Doctor Gilah" =/\=

Gilah's face switched from preoccupied to worried, her usual composure now somewhat absent. She pressed the badge.

=/\= "Gilah, go ahead." =/\=

The return message was punctuated by the cries of a child in the background .

=/\= "Yolana is in some distress Doctor and we're not sure what's wrong. We are bringing her to sickbay, can you meet us there?" =/\=

Gilah stood like a rocket.

=/\= "On my way." =/\=

She nearly moved but then stopped, remembering where she was. She looked at Maddy with pleading eyes.

"Commander... my daughter... may I be dismissed?"

"Doctor, if I can be of assistance, let me know," Kelani said, her brow furrowed in concern

Maddy nodded. She understood the needs of family even if she didn't have one of her own. Maybe someday. "Go. Go see to your little girl."

Mirok groaned, "I just passed mine prior to getting this assignment!"

"That was prior to getting this assignment. You will be doing it again," the Commander stated. "I'll be checking in to see how things are going. You're all dismissed."