08-06-2024, 12:19 AM
Mara was all too aware of the target she’d painted on her own forehead as she sat in the chair. The room was full of silent judgment. That in itself wasn’t a new experience. It hadn’t bothered her before and it wasn’t going to now either, although she had at least learned she wasn’t as close to some as she’d thought.
I’m glad everyone else in here is in full, perfect control of their emotions the whole time.
The Security chief took a moment to rally, cramming her emotions back into the bottle and burying it as deep down as she could. Once this was in the rear view mirror there would need to be a conversation between her and the First Officer about what had happened and how close they’d come. But right here right now, it was all about damage limitation.
So much just changed, and I can’t process that sat here. The last few weeks were all about fuckin’ change. I came to terms with it. I was ready. And now here we go again. Whole new set of circumstances and rules of engagement. I hadn’t even had time to learn the last ones.
When Givens spoke, it seemed the CO wasn’t willing to take her own advice as she took the opportunity to put the boot in. Mara had wrestled her expression back to carefully neutral and she didn’t so much as flicker. She stared straight ahead as every barb moved the newcomer further away from innocent party and head-on towards enemy combatant.
"Personally, I'd rather get this over with and rip this band aid off but I need y'all focused and I need you paying attention. If that can't happen tonight, say as much and we'll handle this after you guys have your heads on straight."
It was Devereaux who spoke first.
“Both barrels would be appreciated. You’ve got my undivided attention. Can process later in the Officers Lounge. If I’m not speaking out of turn.”
“Don’t hold fire on my account,” Mara said, looking up at Cass coolly. “If you want to crack on, crack on. I’ll deal with it.”
There were so many angry retorts that were fighting to leap from the Bandaran’s mouth but she kept a lid on them all. Once this meeting was over, Calleja would have to find a way to safely vent what felt like a warp core breach bubbling away inside her. Until then, nobody was more disappointed in her than she was, and she used that to mentally brace for the briefing to come.
I’m glad everyone else in here is in full, perfect control of their emotions the whole time.
The Security chief took a moment to rally, cramming her emotions back into the bottle and burying it as deep down as she could. Once this was in the rear view mirror there would need to be a conversation between her and the First Officer about what had happened and how close they’d come. But right here right now, it was all about damage limitation.
So much just changed, and I can’t process that sat here. The last few weeks were all about fuckin’ change. I came to terms with it. I was ready. And now here we go again. Whole new set of circumstances and rules of engagement. I hadn’t even had time to learn the last ones.
When Givens spoke, it seemed the CO wasn’t willing to take her own advice as she took the opportunity to put the boot in. Mara had wrestled her expression back to carefully neutral and she didn’t so much as flicker. She stared straight ahead as every barb moved the newcomer further away from innocent party and head-on towards enemy combatant.
"Personally, I'd rather get this over with and rip this band aid off but I need y'all focused and I need you paying attention. If that can't happen tonight, say as much and we'll handle this after you guys have your heads on straight."
It was Devereaux who spoke first.
“Both barrels would be appreciated. You’ve got my undivided attention. Can process later in the Officers Lounge. If I’m not speaking out of turn.”
“Don’t hold fire on my account,” Mara said, looking up at Cass coolly. “If you want to crack on, crack on. I’ll deal with it.”
There were so many angry retorts that were fighting to leap from the Bandaran’s mouth but she kept a lid on them all. Once this meeting was over, Calleja would have to find a way to safely vent what felt like a warp core breach bubbling away inside her. Until then, nobody was more disappointed in her than she was, and she used that to mentally brace for the briefing to come.