08-16-2024, 02:23 PM
Sitting back and watching dispassionately, Beka didn’t really have a side she was backing in the argument. She owed Calleja a massive debt, that was certainly true, but the woman was going up against 2 Captains.
Or is she? the redhead mused. She’s not even remotely bothered what Givens seems to think of her. None of that telling-off has hit home. Is she even listening? Or is she pretending just to annoy Givens more? She took another mouthful of popcorn. No, it’s not the latter. She’s only interested in Crawford. Givens really went for her and if Mara had heard any of that, we’d be seconds out for the next round.
"Beka." Robin was sat nearby and her sharp hiss was barely loud enough for the doctor to hear, but she turned her head. "This is a briefing. Coffee is one thing, but you look like you're enjoying some free entertainment. Throw the popcorn away."
The CMO sounded exasperated, and Sydesh decided not to pick the fight. She’d made her point in snack form - Calleja had glared daggers at her - so the small bowl was discretely disposed of into a thigh pocket with a nod that could just about be described as apologetic.
From another thigh pocket, Beka drew out a PADD. She’d treated Mara a few times and knew the Bandaran’s file well. There was a notation on it that the Security chief needed to be kept in contact with the counsellors given some previous issues with stress management. There was enough going on in this meeting that she felt like that note needed to be invoked.
Using the text to speech, the doctor opened a comm channel to LtJG Kuik. The words she typed came through on Kuik’s commbadge as speech, and when Kuik replied it came through as text on the PADD, allowing Beka to have the conversation without making a sound.
[Sydesh to Kuik. Hey Rach. I need a favour please.]
[Kuik here. What can I do for you?] Kuik was one of the Artemis’ counsellors. She was known for having an adaptive approach and finding a way to connect with patients, and that’s what Beka was counting on.
[Are you familiar with Mara Calleja’s file?] she typed.
[The Chief of Security? Yes, I’ve seen it a couple of times. She’s the one with the note in there about us staying in touch with her to monitor stress levels, right?]
Beka smiled faintly as the words scrolled across the data slate’s screen.
[That’s her. I need you to go grab her for a session ASAP please. Commander Mayfair and I are in a briefing with her here, and there are so many red flags waving the base must think we’re sending them a message in semaphore.]
There was a moment’s pause.
[Are you sure you want me to do it? She’s intimidating enough normally, and now you’re telling me she’s about to blow her top.] Kuik’s caution was plain even in text.
[Yes. Sorry, but you’re the one for this job. Calleja is no threat to you. That one has a strict code. And I need someone who can reach her before she talks her way out of her job. Not everyone adapts straight away to a new position and I think she’s struggling.]
[OK. Because it’s you, and you did me that favour when you fixed my husband’s knee. Can you ping me when the meeting is over, and I’ll go and find her.]
[Thanks Rach. We’re even now!]
[Hopefully you don’t end up owing me by the time I’m done. Kuik out.]
Beka looked up to see Mara had taken a different seat at the other end of the table. The redhead sighed and sent Robin a copy of the conversation she’d just had with Kuik, with a covering note that read [I think this is overdue? And if Calleja asks, tell her I did it. You need some plausible deniability. B]
Looking around the room, Sydesh watched to see what would come next. Givens had shown her hand with a volcanic surge of anger, but as of yet Crawford hadn’t. And that was what was going to dictate how this briefing finished.
Or is she? the redhead mused. She’s not even remotely bothered what Givens seems to think of her. None of that telling-off has hit home. Is she even listening? Or is she pretending just to annoy Givens more? She took another mouthful of popcorn. No, it’s not the latter. She’s only interested in Crawford. Givens really went for her and if Mara had heard any of that, we’d be seconds out for the next round.
"Beka." Robin was sat nearby and her sharp hiss was barely loud enough for the doctor to hear, but she turned her head. "This is a briefing. Coffee is one thing, but you look like you're enjoying some free entertainment. Throw the popcorn away."
The CMO sounded exasperated, and Sydesh decided not to pick the fight. She’d made her point in snack form - Calleja had glared daggers at her - so the small bowl was discretely disposed of into a thigh pocket with a nod that could just about be described as apologetic.
From another thigh pocket, Beka drew out a PADD. She’d treated Mara a few times and knew the Bandaran’s file well. There was a notation on it that the Security chief needed to be kept in contact with the counsellors given some previous issues with stress management. There was enough going on in this meeting that she felt like that note needed to be invoked.
Using the text to speech, the doctor opened a comm channel to LtJG Kuik. The words she typed came through on Kuik’s commbadge as speech, and when Kuik replied it came through as text on the PADD, allowing Beka to have the conversation without making a sound.
[Sydesh to Kuik. Hey Rach. I need a favour please.]
[Kuik here. What can I do for you?] Kuik was one of the Artemis’ counsellors. She was known for having an adaptive approach and finding a way to connect with patients, and that’s what Beka was counting on.
[Are you familiar with Mara Calleja’s file?] she typed.
[The Chief of Security? Yes, I’ve seen it a couple of times. She’s the one with the note in there about us staying in touch with her to monitor stress levels, right?]
Beka smiled faintly as the words scrolled across the data slate’s screen.
[That’s her. I need you to go grab her for a session ASAP please. Commander Mayfair and I are in a briefing with her here, and there are so many red flags waving the base must think we’re sending them a message in semaphore.]
There was a moment’s pause.
[Are you sure you want me to do it? She’s intimidating enough normally, and now you’re telling me she’s about to blow her top.] Kuik’s caution was plain even in text.
[Yes. Sorry, but you’re the one for this job. Calleja is no threat to you. That one has a strict code. And I need someone who can reach her before she talks her way out of her job. Not everyone adapts straight away to a new position and I think she’s struggling.]
[OK. Because it’s you, and you did me that favour when you fixed my husband’s knee. Can you ping me when the meeting is over, and I’ll go and find her.]
[Thanks Rach. We’re even now!]
[Hopefully you don’t end up owing me by the time I’m done. Kuik out.]
Beka looked up to see Mara had taken a different seat at the other end of the table. The redhead sighed and sent Robin a copy of the conversation she’d just had with Kuik, with a covering note that read [I think this is overdue? And if Calleja asks, tell her I did it. You need some plausible deniability. B]
Looking around the room, Sydesh watched to see what would come next. Givens had shown her hand with a volcanic surge of anger, but as of yet Crawford hadn’t. And that was what was going to dictate how this briefing finished.