Dealing with the BUPERS

Posted on Wed Oct 27th, 2021 @ 8:17am by Captain Garrett Lovejoy [ Taylor]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS Elysium Corridors
Timeline: Day 8
852 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

"Shaleena... Stop!!!" Jessica followed one of her cadet pilots through the ship.

Shalenna turned around. "Why should I?" She noted. "That bitch Carrington had just enough time before she croaked to ruin my career. Yeah sure I'll graduate, as a shuttle pilot."

Jessica spoke. "Cadet. I'm trying to turn this around. You're not going to pilot a shuttlepod for the admiralty."

"Oh get over yourself, Vaii." Shalenna noted. "Didn't you know what they want out of a starfleet officer? Perfection. They might as well inject us with our nanoprobes and assimilate us.. I'm going to use my skills for something worth while, and if it's not in starfleet... So be it." The cadet walked away.

At that moment Garrett Lovejoy appeared in the corridor. "A problem ladies?" He asked even though he had overheard the entire exchange. He wanted to see how forth coming the pair would be in telling him of the current situation and problem.

Shalenna spoke. "Captain Bitch-Bligh ruined my career because I just wasn't perfect enough for her, and Starfleet Command. I survive fighting the Terrans and now I end up chauffeuring a Admiral around? I'm a combat pilot, not a taxi service." The Cadet walked away in total rage and Jess kicked in a bulkhead. "She's done this to two of my pilots before she went to lunch, Commander."

Lovejoy watched her go before turning to Jess. "Explanation please. What is the problem with the cadet and her attitude?"

"We better hope we keep Shalenna Vais in Starfleet Commander. Cadet Vais is not just a pilot. She's an artist at flying a fighter. She has the makings of a true ace." Jess noted. "Either we keep her, or someone else will get her, and she can keep up with even me. I haven't tested her against Gary yet."

"I see. She is that good? What did Captain Carrington do to upset the cadet so much?" He asked he needed facts and details if he was going to help.

"Carrington has been scrutinizing my pilots. Almost too well. She had it in for them. See my cadets aren't the cream of Starfleet. I've taken the undesirables so I can make them shine."

"Commendable Jess. However I will not tolerate the cadet or anyone else disrespecting Captain Carrington. She died protecting this ship and crew. A fact the cadet needs to remember." Lovejoy said firmly. He looked in the direction of the departed cadet. "Can she match with Gary?"

"I might just put Vais up in a one on one with Taylor." Jess mentioned. "If anything it might teach Shalenna some perspective. Walk with me, Commander." That was Jessica's phrase for a frank discussion."

Lovejoy nodded and fell into step with Jess as they walked the corridor.

"Garrett, I told Carrington the reason I withdrew my team off that planet, and she invited them for tea and scones based on the say-so of that idiot in the diplomatic corps. Goddess dammit! Do you know how many of our crew they mercilessly butchered." Jessica noted. "I think some people on the Federation Council are correct; they have dangerous genetic engineering technology and we need to deploy troops to this world. How long until they develop warp drive and betray again."

''Personally, I agree however it is in the hands of the Council now Jess. It is their decision to make. We have given them the facts and they are well aware of the number of dead and wounded. We can only hope they make the right decision and quarantine the planet as well as remove any advance technology they have."

"There's also something else you need to know." Jess mentioned. "You're not going to get much sympathy for Yasmine Carrington. Some of the crew thought of her as a bureaucratic pencil pusher. They will show up for her funeral, but that will never erase the fact that Phoenix Lalor was whisked away God knows where, in violation of God's knows how many articles of the Federation Charter."

"Right now, I'll settle for respect and hope with the passage of time, the crew come to soften their view of Captain Carrington. She wasn't a bad captain. She just had a different command style and the misfortune of following Phoenix Lalor." Garrett replied.

Jess responded. "On the contrary. Yasmine Carrington put a knife into this ship's heart and soul. The people who served with Lalor don't trust these new officers that have recently come onboard, and the new crew wonder if the vets need a psych eval. I'm sorry to respectfully disagree with you. But I don't want the crew to start distancing themselves based on their opinion on Lalor or Carrington. Meanwhile, I'm going to have Taylor talk to Shaleena."

"You are entitled to your opinion Jess. I just don't share it. Carrington's command style was different than Phoenix Lalor's. She spoke her mind. She didn't care if you got upset or not. Just do your job. Her skill in the art of tact was lacking." Garrett changed the subject. "I think that is a good idea. A very good idea."