Why Is This?

Posted on Fri Aug 25, 2017 @ 9:22pm by Captain Madelina Weisz & Commodore Michael Aravan & Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho

Mission: Strange Matter
Location: XO's Office
Timeline: MD 28 || 1400 Hours

Michael threw the PADD he had been reading down on his conference table and ignored it as it slid across the flat, smooth surface and off the edge to hit the flood. He was visibly upset and he didn't try to hide it as he exited the ready room and crossed the bridge towards the exit used by senior officers for the Observation Lounge or Executive Officer's office.

"Commodore on the...." his Yeoman started to call out before he was waved off by the Commodore who exited without a word. "Or not," he finished. Judging by the look and purposeful stride, someone was going to get it.

Michael stormed down the corridor and when he arrived at Maddy's office, instead of ringing the chime, he gave voice authorization to override the lock and entered.

"What the hell happened over there?" he demanded.

Maddy groaned inwardly. He'd gotten that report a lot faster than she thought he would considering how many he got throughout the day. Now, here he was storming into her office like a bat out of hell, and he was pissed. That's the only reason a Commanding Officer would bother to come to someone instead of summoning said person to them. This was going to be about as fun as a Targ finding her attractive during mating season.

"Why, hello to you, too, Michael. It's so nice to see you," she said, putting her desk on standby. After all, something like this would require her undivided attention. "I take it you read my report about our trip over to the science vessel?"

"Is that what that was?" Michael asked. "After reading that, it would appear to be a class trip to a psychotic petting zoo where most of the kids were acting like they've had too much sugar and were given weapons."

"I'm not going to disagree with you there, though, not everyone exhibited such behavior," the redhead stated. "I have already brought everyone in. They're all going to take phaser training, then I'll put them through simulations of my choosing."

"The way I feel right now, I want to volunteer for that and the ones who didn't do their jobs can be the targets," he said. "What the hell were they thinking? The Doctor and Science Chief sniping at each other? The Assistant Chief downloading the database? The Assistant Chief of Sec/Tac acting like it's a family reunion? Did our officers get replaced by incompetent aliens?"

Maddy knew this was a serious matter, but that didn't stop her from getting to her feet to begin the process of making herself a cup of tea. She needed it. "As I said, Commodore, I've addressed the situation, and thought I came up with suitable repercussions. If what was written in my report isn't up to par, I'm open to suggestions."

"I'll be honest with you, Maddy," Michael said. "I didn't even make it to the repercussions area of the report. I threw the PADD and came to see you directly. How....why is this happening?"

"I wish I knew," the redhead said, bringing her tea cup to her lips to take a sip. "We weren't expecting boarders, and I think that might have thrown everyone off a bit. Though, now the Romulans are aware that we were on board the ship, and that the six individuals they sent over didn't come back. The virus took control of them immediately. One of them dropped dead instantly, but the others... they started behaving erratically."

"Is it actually confirmed to be a virus?" Michael asked her as he took a seat and massaged his temples. "Or could it be a biological weapon of some sort?"

"It hasn't been confirmed as of yet, but given the past, I wouldn't doubt it being a virus. We have pretty terrible luck when it comes to those."

"You're telling me," he said. "So about the away team for the moment. What have you got planned for Hartley?"

Maddy sighed and set her tea cup down before slumping into her chair. She gestured for him to help himself to the ready made coffee she kept around for those who preferred it to the replicated tripe. "I don't know. I'm aware that Intel has nifty gadgets that can leave next to no virtual footprint behind, but we don't know that the Romulans don't have something that can detect what he did. His actions could start a war between them and the Federation as a whole. We're talking serious consequences."

"Commander Dukuma of the Eraiko is sure to return, and she knows we had an away team on that ship," Michael said. "Proof or not proof, she's going to scream her head off to anyone who will listen and come back in force. There's no way to convince her that we didn't take data from the Science ship and no way to to convince her that we were only looking for the cause of their deaths. What Hartley did...." He shook his head.

"Gets worse. He uploaded that information to our own computer," she informed her superior.

"Intelligence has its own dedicated system, though, so we can contain the damage there and there's protocols in place to prevent access to it from outsiders," Michael pointed out.

Maddy shook her head. "Like that really matters. Their systems are still a part of the ship as a whole regardless if it's separate or not. Any fallout, if there is any, won't come down on a single department," she pointed out. "It will come down on the entire ship as a whole."

"That's true, but we'll have to deal with it when the time comes," he said. "In the meantime, we have to deal with Hartley. I'm going to leave his punishment up to you because of the violation of orders and the fact that he already uploaded the information to the ship computers. What do you recommend?"

"Maybe, we should call Lieutenant Rho in and explain the situation to him. I did say I would show him the ropes and include him. Plus, it's his department we're talking about. Perhaps, he might have some insight," the XO suggested.

"Good idea," Michael said as he came to his feet to help himself to some of the coffee. "Get him in here and see what he thinks."

The Commander tapped her combadge. =^= Commander Weisz to Lieutenant Rho, can you report to my office, please?=^=

As the newly minted Second Officer, Alex found himself on the Bridge more now than before. He wasn't too far away when the Commander called him to her office. He finished what he'd been working on and reset the console to it's previous status that wasn't Intel. =^=On my way Commander,=^= he said, closing the channel. Alex crossed the distance to the doors and rang the chime.

"Come in," Maddy called, knowing who was on the other side of the door.

Alex walked in and immediately noticed the Commodore. It was then that he remembered the Yeoman's call earlier. This is where he was going, he thought. "You...both...wanted to see me?"

"We did," the Commander agreed, gesturing for him to take a seat. "Something has come up, and we want to get your take on it since you're the Second officer, as well as the Chief of Intelligence." From there, she proceeded to fill him in on what happened with Lieutenant Hartley, then waited to see what his take on things would be.

If Alex could have facepalmed three times, he would have. "While Starfleet Intelligence could use the intel on the Romulans, we're not exactly patrolling a Neutral Zone anymore. And the fact that he didn't follow instructions. It's one thing to go your own route when you're on an SI mission or undercover, but you just don't do that in this setting. Here, on this reservation, we're meant to stay on it and follow orders."

"Since you're his department head and the Second Officer, what do you think his punishment should be, Lieutenant Rho?" Michael asked after he took a drink of coffee.

Alex took a deep breath. "Well, if I could, I'd pull him off the duty roster until he completed a refresher course at the Intel Ops training facility that we attend post-Academy. But I'd settle for putting together a holodeck recreation of it since we can't send him back there. That should serve as a reminder to follow orders and to not download an entire opposing power's ship database. It's one thing to search for what you're looking for, it's a complete other to bring back the whole ship. In a sense." He paused a second before continuing.

"The role of Starfleet Intelligence within Starfleet has always brought about some confusion. As a result, some of our officers tend to think that they exist outside of Starfleet Command, their Captain, and their ship. I'm not saying this is the case, but it's a possibility. We have to learn to operate within the Command structure while following orders and gathering intel."

Alex when on with another point and concern of his. "It's true that we gather intelligence as we are able. But we don't go around announcing it to everyone. That's part of the problem I have in all of this. He did it, announced it to the Commander and who knows who else, and then uploaded it into the ship." Alex shook his head. "We have an entire Intel Analysis department that is well trained in analyzing data without putting it out there for all of Starfleet to see. Which brings up another concern. Previous to this assignment, I worked for the Internal Affairs Department of Starfleet Intelligence. Trust me when I say that this is the kind of thing that makes them drool."

Maddy looked thoughtful as she processed what she just heard. "Well, Mister Rho, I trust that this is something you can handle as the ship's Second Officer. I'll leave handing down Lieutenant Hartley's punishment to you. Welcome to Command."

"Internal Affairs," Michael mused with a gleam in his eyes. He looked at Rho with a knowing smirk and tried not to laugh. "So why don't you go Internal Affairs on Mister Hartley? Teach him a lesson in a holodeck. Gas him, transport him there, and introduce him to what happens to Intelligence personnel when they do what they aren't supposed to do."

Alex nodded to Commander Weisz, "Thank you, ma'am. I'll take care of it." He then turned to the Commodore, "I'll make sure he gets the point, sir. Using my Internal Affairs background is most certainly a possibility." Alex smirked back at the man. "He has already experienced the Intel interrogation chamber by accident. I could arrange an accidental transport back into it for the duration of handing down the punishment?"

"Whichever way you think is best," Michael said. "I'll leave that to you, but make sure he learns his lesson."

"I understand, Commodore. He will. In my opinion, nothing hurts an Intelligence officer more than being grounded and his wings pulled, as your fighter pilots would say," said Alex.

"Thank you for coming so quickly, Mister Rho, and please... keep me updated on all progress with Mister Hartley," Maddy said, looking at the two men present. "Is there anything else we need to discuss while we're together, or are we good?"

"I will, Commander," he said to the redhead. "I have nothing else."

"I think I'm good, Commander," Michael said as he stood up and took the coffee cup to the recycler.

"Actually, while you're here... what are we going to do with Zahara? She's been in her prison for eighteen days," the redhead woman spoke. "Should we let her stretch her... wisps?" What else was she supposed to call them?

"I'm still leary about that and there's no real way to know if she'll try to kill everyone again," Michael said. "Yes, she surrendered and voluntarily allowed confinement, but that doesn't bring back the two hundred and one personnel who lost their lives."

"No, it doesn't," Maddy agreed. "We do have her prison, though, and if she were to pose a danger to any of us, she could go right back into it. As the CO of the ship, the choice is yours to make, but I've made my peace with what happened to me and hold no grudges. I'm forgiving like that, though."

"Who are you and what have you done with the Red Queen?" Michael asked her.

"What?" the redhead questioned with an arched brow. "I take it you would like me to be less forgiving, and figure out a way to take her out for good? I'm not the killing sort, Michael. Not unless I have no other choice. Zahara is alone in the galaxy. We have no idea where any other Thasians may be to return her to. She was living in an old satellite. The only home she knew for a long time, then I disturbed it by ordering it to be brought aboard."

She took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. "I don't agree with the way she handled things, and we lost good people we're never going to get back, but why is she back on board the ship if we aren't going to release her?"

Alex's paranoia was off the charts. "Yes, she can go back in her prison, but what's to keep her from starting it again? We could capture her and imprison her a second time, but how many more lives would she take before that happens?"

"I'm going to talk to her, but it counts that she voluntarily turned herself in and agreed to go into the cube for rehabilitation. Subjective time, it's only been eighteen days, but it's been eighteen years for her."

"She deserves a second chance," Maddy pointed out, and this was coming from someone that was nearly killed. If she had it in her to forgive the Thasian, then maybe others would, too. "Of course, her release should depend on her complying with a few conditions. No access to ship systems, absolutely no admittance to restricted areas, and no becoming one with the ship or critical systems. Should she hurt anyone, it's back to her prison."

Alex was still cautious of the whole thing, but.... "Well, if there are severe restrictions regarding access to just about everywhere critical and the Commodore will have a talk with her, then I suppose it's acceptable."

"The moment she acts out is the moment we'll put her away for good," Michael said.

"Then that has been settled," the Commander stated. "We give her the opportunity to coexist with everyone, and should she mess up, she goes back inside. I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt, though. I don't think she wants to let any of us down."

"I hope that she doesn't," said Alex. "There's a lot riding on this." It was then that his combadge went off and a message from his Assistant Chief came through. Alex tapped his combadge in reply, "I'll be there in a few moments, Lieutenant. Rho out." He looked at the Commander, "It looks like I'll have my chance in little bit."

"Go, Lieutenant, and thank you for your help with these matters," Maddy spoke. "Keep me updated."

"You're welcome, Commander." He looked from her back to the Commodore. "Is there anything else either of you need from me before I go?"

"That's all," Michael said. "I need to be go see Zahara and see what she says. You have the bridge, Maddy."

Alex nodded a 'thank you' and headed out the door. He had 'teaching moments' ahead of him that he hoped wouldn't turn into a pissing contest. If it did, well, there was always the null G interrogation chamber.

Maddy watched the two men leave her office and took a minute to woosah. When she was okay, the Commander rose to her feet and made her way onto the bridge.