07-30-2024, 02:29 AM
"I have no plans on changing anything for the sake of changing it or making it mine. That's inefficient and counterproductive," the Captain 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."
So same old same old in my case?
Robin again had the feeling that everything was riding on her performance, and one slipup would end with her gone. It was something she hadn't felt since her earliest days on the ship when she had been fresh out of the Academy.
"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?" The Captain's voice was flat and clear. Robin merely nodded. There was no other response to give.
Givens continued. "Alright… I think that's enough Q&A for the time being. Let's more into the next part of the meeting…"
The Captain gave a look to Coleman, then a slight smile. "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."
She slid the small boxes across the table. Robin picked hers up before it stopped moving. "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."
The nurse look at the box and and opened it, saying nothing. She looked at the medal, her second Gold Star, her expression carefully neutral. She didn't have mixed feelings. Instead, bitterness and irritation washed over her.
A show of appreciation? Starfleet sends us on a near-impossible mission, one with bad intel from the start. We failed to save any hostages, failed to capture the Slipstream, and lost a kid fresh out of the Academy. If Jennifer Braggins hadn't basically gone rogue the Cardassians would have those people and the Slipstream. We accomplished nothing. Then they nailed our Chief Engineer and our Captain to the wall and we're told that some in Starfleet think we're 'corrupted?'
Robin was one of the most cheerful and optimistic people on the crew, and definitely among the command staff. She'd been called a 'Pollyanna' once or twice. She really did try to look on the bright side of things. This time it took effort.
The new Captain was trying to make it clear that not everyone in Starfleet thought that the Artemis crew were a bunch of Crawford-trained screwups. That did help, and the young Augment decided to take it for a positive. Regardless, whatever her feelings it wasn't Givens' fault. She was walking into a powder magazine. The CMO wasn't going to make her life worse.
"Thank you, Captain. It's appreciated," Robin said, her own southern drawl a much lighter and softer mirror of Givens' own. "And welcome to the Artemis." She gave the Captain a genuine smile.
Nearby, Emily was looking at the box. She looked hesitant, and the CMO tried to give her a look of encouragement. She'd done well on her first away team, and she deserved the medal.
== Tags ==
So same old same old in my case?
Robin again had the feeling that everything was riding on her performance, and one slipup would end with her gone. It was something she hadn't felt since her earliest days on the ship when she had been fresh out of the Academy.
"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?" The Captain's voice was flat and clear. Robin merely nodded. There was no other response to give.
Givens continued. "Alright… I think that's enough Q&A for the time being. Let's more into the next part of the meeting…"
The Captain gave a look to Coleman, then a slight smile. "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."
She slid the small boxes across the table. Robin picked hers up before it stopped moving. "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."
The nurse look at the box and and opened it, saying nothing. She looked at the medal, her second Gold Star, her expression carefully neutral. She didn't have mixed feelings. Instead, bitterness and irritation washed over her.
A show of appreciation? Starfleet sends us on a near-impossible mission, one with bad intel from the start. We failed to save any hostages, failed to capture the Slipstream, and lost a kid fresh out of the Academy. If Jennifer Braggins hadn't basically gone rogue the Cardassians would have those people and the Slipstream. We accomplished nothing. Then they nailed our Chief Engineer and our Captain to the wall and we're told that some in Starfleet think we're 'corrupted?'
Robin was one of the most cheerful and optimistic people on the crew, and definitely among the command staff. She'd been called a 'Pollyanna' once or twice. She really did try to look on the bright side of things. This time it took effort.
The new Captain was trying to make it clear that not everyone in Starfleet thought that the Artemis crew were a bunch of Crawford-trained screwups. That did help, and the young Augment decided to take it for a positive. Regardless, whatever her feelings it wasn't Givens' fault. She was walking into a powder magazine. The CMO wasn't going to make her life worse.
"Thank you, Captain. It's appreciated," Robin said, her own southern drawl a much lighter and softer mirror of Givens' own. "And welcome to the Artemis." She gave the Captain a genuine smile.
Nearby, Emily was looking at the box. She looked hesitant, and the CMO tried to give her a look of encouragement. She'd done well on her first away team, and she deserved the medal.
== Tags ==