07-29-2024, 12:57 AM
Against all odds, her response regarding the fates of Elias and Crawford seemed to be taken as she had hoped they would be. She wasn't here to be antagonistic nor was she here to be a wrecking ball to the culture and community that had been grown on this ship. She was just relieved that the senior members of the crew seemed to understand that she wasn't the enemy here, though she understood there would likely be growing pains.
" Thank you, Captain, I appreciate you answering my question, and I'm with Lieutenant Calleja about how this isn't your fault. Therefore, I'd like to welcome you to Artemis, and I look forward to hearing what our next mission will involve".
There was this tiny voice in her head that considered that maybe they were being too willing to absolve her of guilt or fault. Everything in her research had indicated they were a crew that was loyal to a fault and yet, they seemed to be taking their captain's fate better than she'd expect. The dark blonde wondered if there would be a breaking point in the near future, likely the first time she didn't make the expected decision.
"Thank you," she merely answered with another small smile.
Cassandra's gaze turned to the young acting Chief Tactical Officer as he spoke up, asking a question that likely affected him the most Well, the overt question was harmless enough but she could read under it. After all, other than Miller who had DH experience but little science experience, he was the least experienced and the only one with acting slapped in front of his title. He was ripe for replacement in the wrong regime.
"I have no plans on changing anything for the sake of changing it or making it mine. That's inefficient and counterproductive," she stated to Grant directly before her dark gaze swept over the entire room. "However, with that said, y'all are under a microscope. There's no sugar coating it. There are pockets within the powers that be that feel that this ship has been corrupted from the top down and that there is no fixing it without dismantling it entirely. I wouldn't call them the majority but if y'all give them even an inch this mission, I have no doubt that they'll take a mile and everyone will suffer."
"You all are capable and accomplished but you also have an amazing ability as individuals to do absolutely knuckleheaded things. And if I start to see that, I damn well will make changes if it's going to save the whole. Understood?" For a moment, the warmth had left her voice and had been replaced by an edge that likely harkened back to her roots.
However, she seemed to quickly slip back from that edge, the tension in her shoulders easing and her gaze softening once more. "Alright… I think that's enough Q&A for the time being. Let's more into the next part of the meeting…"
Personally, she still wasn't convinced that this was a particularly good idea but when she'd spoken to Coleman earlier, he seemed to think it would be a good idea or at least, a way to break the ice with the more senior members of each department. For Cass, she wondered if it was just another minefield for her to trapeze through and another opportunity to wonder exactly what Bill was up to by playing this bait and switch on her. Was getting control of Artemis that important?
As she'd considered those questions for the countless time since she'd spoken to her boss last, her fingers had idly flipped open the lid on the small crate that Cera had set at the head of the table. Her expression was fairly neutral as she regarded the contents of the crate before reaching in. The first two black boxes she pulled out, she tucked on her side of the crate as if purposefully keeping them out of sight. The next two boxes, both differing sizes, were offered to Coleman with a knowing smile, almost bordering on conspiratorial.
And then, her eyes were back on the occupants of the room, her smile shifting back to something a little more professional and contained. "Commander Coleman, Lieutenant Commander Mayfair, Lieutenant Commander Miller, Lieutenant Calleja, Lieutenant Harriman, JG Devereaux and Midshipman Star: I am pleased to present each one of you with the Gold Star, presented for actions above and beyond and bravery in the face of unspeakable odds."
As she'd spoken, she'd slid a black box across the table towards each of the individuals she had named. Each box contained a medal that bore the yellow and red markings of the Gold Star. Once she was done, she closed the crate in front of her before looking back up. "I understand that there are likely mixed feelings that accompany these and that's understandable. However, I'd ask that you consider them in the spirit they were intended, as a show of appreciation for the risks taken. While it might feel like everyone has unfairly judged you all for your actions, decisions and willingness to do what was needed, they're only a faction in a sea of opinions."
" Thank you, Captain, I appreciate you answering my question, and I'm with Lieutenant Calleja about how this isn't your fault. Therefore, I'd like to welcome you to Artemis, and I look forward to hearing what our next mission will involve".
There was this tiny voice in her head that considered that maybe they were being too willing to absolve her of guilt or fault. Everything in her research had indicated they were a crew that was loyal to a fault and yet, they seemed to be taking their captain's fate better than she'd expect. The dark blonde wondered if there would be a breaking point in the near future, likely the first time she didn't make the expected decision.
"Thank you," she merely answered with another small smile.
Cassandra's gaze turned to the young acting Chief Tactical Officer as he spoke up, asking a question that likely affected him the most Well, the overt question was harmless enough but she could read under it. After all, other than Miller who had DH experience but little science experience, he was the least experienced and the only one with acting slapped in front of his title. He was ripe for replacement in the wrong regime.
"I have no plans on changing anything for the sake of changing it or making it mine. That's inefficient and counterproductive," she stated to Grant directly before her dark gaze swept over the entire room. "However, with that said, y'all are under a microscope. There's no sugar coating it. There are pockets within the powers that be that feel that this ship has been corrupted from the top down and that there is no fixing it without dismantling it entirely. I wouldn't call them the majority but if y'all give them even an inch this mission, I have no doubt that they'll take a mile and everyone will suffer."
"You all are capable and accomplished but you also have an amazing ability as individuals to do absolutely knuckleheaded things. And if I start to see that, I damn well will make changes if it's going to save the whole. Understood?" For a moment, the warmth had left her voice and had been replaced by an edge that likely harkened back to her roots.
However, she seemed to quickly slip back from that edge, the tension in her shoulders easing and her gaze softening once more. "Alright… I think that's enough Q&A for the time being. Let's more into the next part of the meeting…"
Personally, she still wasn't convinced that this was a particularly good idea but when she'd spoken to Coleman earlier, he seemed to think it would be a good idea or at least, a way to break the ice with the more senior members of each department. For Cass, she wondered if it was just another minefield for her to trapeze through and another opportunity to wonder exactly what Bill was up to by playing this bait and switch on her. Was getting control of Artemis that important?
As she'd considered those questions for the countless time since she'd spoken to her boss last, her fingers had idly flipped open the lid on the small crate that Cera had set at the head of the table. Her expression was fairly neutral as she regarded the contents of the crate before reaching in. The first two black boxes she pulled out, she tucked on her side of the crate as if purposefully keeping them out of sight. The next two boxes, both differing sizes, were offered to Coleman with a knowing smile, almost bordering on conspiratorial.
And then, her eyes were back on the occupants of the room, her smile shifting back to something a little more professional and contained. "Commander Coleman, Lieutenant Commander Mayfair, Lieutenant Commander Miller, Lieutenant Calleja, Lieutenant Harriman, JG Devereaux and Midshipman Star: I am pleased to present each one of you with the Gold Star, presented for actions above and beyond and bravery in the face of unspeakable odds."
As she'd spoken, she'd slid a black box across the table towards each of the individuals she had named. Each box contained a medal that bore the yellow and red markings of the Gold Star. Once she was done, she closed the crate in front of her before looking back up. "I understand that there are likely mixed feelings that accompany these and that's understandable. However, I'd ask that you consider them in the spirit they were intended, as a show of appreciation for the risks taken. While it might feel like everyone has unfairly judged you all for your actions, decisions and willingness to do what was needed, they're only a faction in a sea of opinions."