What The Hell?

Posted on Mon Feb 28th, 2022 @ 10:47am by Captain Garrett Lovejoy [ Taylor] & Commander Kyle Reece

Mission: Season 5: Interlude: Darkness Abounds
Location: USS Elysium, various locations
Timeline: TBD
2488 words - 5 OF Standard Post Measure

Kyle had of course heard that one of his instructors was now in the brig. Vaii's sudden absence had caused a serious issue for his cadets. After securing another instructor to temporarily continue the lesson plan that Jessica had turned in, he made his way up to the bridge to find out what was going on.

Upon entering the massive bridge, he made his way over to the Captain's ready room and pressed the door chime.

Inside the ready room, Garrett sat behind his desk and thought on Lt. Commander Jessica Vaii. Her outburst in the conference room had been unexpected and completely uncalled for, as were her accusations, which were completely untrue. Something needed to be done with her. He was going over various options when the chime to his ready room sounded. Sighing, he sat back in his chair and called out, "Enter!"

Hearing the command, the computer unlocked and opened the doors, revealing the large frame of the Academy Commandant. "Garret," he said amicably as he entered. "We need to talk." Kyle moved closer and sat down in one of the chairs positioned in front of Lovejoy's desk. "What the hell is going on?? I just received word that Vaii is in the brig!?"

"Hello Kyle." Garrett replied pleasantly, "You heard correctly. She's there to calm down and think and quite frankly, she's lucky she's not facing a general court martial for gross insubordination." Garrett answered candidly while still keeping his own temper in check.

"What happened?" Kyle was trying to stay calm. It was a strange sensation to not feel the pulse of what happens with the senior staff any more, now that he was where he was.

"I was giving a senior staff meeting, telling them of a group of Intel operatives coming aboard and to continue to their jobs and comply with any instructions the operatives had when Jessica exploded. Told me I was responsible for Captain Lalor's arrest, charged her with treason and disappearance along with she wasn't going to follow any illegal orders and that I was a disgrace to the uniform."

Kyle sat back in the chair, flabbergasted by what he heard. "I..I don't know what to say. I mean, I know the crew is still very raw from this whole Lalor issue, but, to go this far?" He shook his head. Having never met the former commanding officer, Kyle had no feelings about her or way or another.

Giving Garret a serious look, he asked, "Captain to Captain, did you have anything to do with her arrest?"

Garrett stared at Kyle for several long seconds before he replied. "I did not." He said simply and firmly with no further explanation. Not going into how much he resented the question and Kyle asking it. He changed the subject. "I don't know how Lalor put up with this group of officers. They gripe, complain or question every order they're given. Maybe her disappearance was just to get away from them."

Kyle could sense that he had aggravated Garret with his question. He decided to be more careful. "No offense intended with the question, Garrett. If you were in my shoes, would you not ask it? As for the crew, while I've only been around them for a short while, it has become quite apparent that they are extremely loyal to Lalor. Which makes sense. You don't go through all that they did, and not form a bond of loyalty. I certainly have done the same during my career, several times. It still hurts sometimes that Admiral Sharr is gone. He was the first commander of the Elysium, when she launched, and was my commanding officer before that on the Ragnar as well." He took a breath and released it slowly.

"Certainly, you have a few senior officers that you feel a strong connection to? How would you react, if what happened to Lalor happened to them? And then you were given the same amount of information as your crew has been getting since Carrington took over, and now you? Would you not react similarly to how the senior staff is right now?"

"A few. Gary, Whavi, Ensign Redal and a few others and I am not faulting their loyalty to Lalor." Garrett admitted then continued. "No, I wouldn't. I would not have the trust I had with officers I had worked with obviously, but I would give them the respect and keep an open mind that this is new for them as well and meet them halfway."

Kyle considered the words Garret spoke and then replied. "Is there reason that they, the senior staff I mean, should feel that you are not being straight with them about something?" He raised his hand in a non-threatening manner, "No offense intended, Garrett, again, this is just a conversation between two Captain's. I know all about need to know situations. Is this new mission one of those things?"

"Of course there is Kyle. I replaced Phoenix Lalor, who everyone liked if not loved. My command style is different, and they have chafed at it. If Phoenix gave the briefing I did, no one would have said a word. Yet they gripe and question and in Vaii's case accuse." Garrett paused, "Yes, it is." He answered simply but directly.

"Well, to be fair, you didn't replace her. Carrington did. You were merely promoted into the slot after Carrington's murder. So, with that in mind, I think it's a bit understandable why the senior staff is reacting as they are. One commanding officer that they know and fully respect just vanishes one night mysteriously, a second one comes aboard with the accusations she had about the first, then there's the way she treated the senior staff, that godawful mission to New Canaan, then you being put in the center seat so abruptly...It's no wonder the senior staff is freaking out!" He shook his head slowly. "They don't respect you, because they don't know you, aside from their brief past experience with you. If you want them to meet you in the middle, then you'll have to make the first move. And, forgive me for being blunt, however, a good first move, would be to release Vaii from the brig, without any marks on her file."

"They have made no effort to know me Kyle. They make snide remarks and then flat out lies in Vaii's case and you want me to release her from the brig where she put herself by her own actions. Let me be equally blunt. I will release her if she agrees to get treatment for PTSD which she is showing classic signs of."

"But have you made an effort to get to know them?" Kyle knew that the answer was no. "Any officer that wishes to earn the loyalty and trust of his or her subordinates, must lead by example. Aside from Myne and her whole Super Garret fan club, have you actually sat down and talked, not ordered, but talked to your senior staff? Offered to break bread with them, or even, have a beer or two? I know you will never be buddy buddy with them. As their commanding officer, that's a line you shouldn't cross. Hell, I'm the only one on board that is equal to you in rank, so that makes me the only officer that you can fully relax with. Back to the point though. You can't be too open and friendly with them, however, to be an effective leader, and have an effective crew, you need to be more open to their concerns." He spread his arms, signaling he was finished. "This is just advice from one officer, who has served in front-line commands his whole career. It's up to you what you do with it."

"Kyle, I hear what you're saying and you are correct in saying I will never be buddy buddy with them. I will make a more concentrated effort to know them and as you said break bread. and in that regard, let us go to the brig and release Vaii."

Kyle nodded and stood. "And I meant what I said, Garret, as the only two Captains on board, you can come to me anytime, if you want to talk. I've been in the center seat, I know what it feels like."

"Appreciate Kyle." Garrett replied and did.

*Brig*

Jess finished with the PADD just as the two walked up. She tossed it to them. "My resignation Lovejoy. Congratulations. You never have to worry about my conscience in Starfleet ever again. Indeed, you and Starfleet Command can make anyone dissappear, and you will live with it because you learned to live with it." Jess looked away.

Kyle looked at Garret, then at Jessica. "On your feet, Commander," the command tone in his voice showed that he was serious.

Jess sighed and stood.

"Regarding your resignation," Kyle spoke clearly. "While I can't speak for Captain Lovejoy, as your commanding officer at the Academy, I don't accept it. You have a duty, to both Starfleet and, more importantly, your students, to teach them what they need to know, to become successful officers and leaders, after they graduate and ship out to the fleet." His voice softened slightly, as he dropped the forcefield and stepped inside the cell, gently placing his right hand on her left shoulder in a comforting way.

"However, before you can do that, you need to speak to a counselor. I can see in your eyes that you are haunted by what you have seen. Trust me, Jess, I know that feeling. My door is always open, if you need to talk. But for now, I'm giving you a two week absence from your duties at the Academy. Your second on command, Captain Charles, has agreed to step in during your absence. Please, use this time to heal. You are needed here, trust me."

Jess was silent for a moment. "I'm tired of this. Ask Lovejoy what Starfleet did to Captain Lalor." Jess noted. "They won't tell me what happened to Captain Lalor. They just said she was suddenly tried for treason, and quietly tucked away. The starfleet I know doesn't do that, Kyle. And it's already gotten our crew killed. We shouldn't have let those New Canaanites onto our ship. I'm tired of this... all of this."

Lovejoy sighed. "I came here in a gesture of goodwill. To release you from the brig, with no reduction in rank or court martial and you continue to pursue this irrational line of yours. I did nothing with Captain Lalor.." He looked at Kyle. "I am done with this. So much for meeting them halfway."

While still keeping his hand on Jessica's shoulder, Kyle turned his gaze to Lovejoy and gave him a look that could nearly melt duranium. "Captain," he said as calmly as he could. "Perhaps we can table those lines of thought for now? At least until Commander Vaii can rest and speak with a counselor, as agreed?" In his career, Kyle had faced down Tal Siar agents, Klingon warlords, the Borg, even went several rounds with Q. The attitude he was feeling between these two officers was borderline childish squabbling. If he had to be the grown-up here, he would.

Jess stared at him and threw her pipe off. "You see that. He's the worst kind of villian. I'm done with Starfleet, Kyle. Son of a bitch is pretending to be righteous. Drop me off at the next planet. I am sick of hypocrisy and self-righteousness. I'm sorry Kyle. If I could go back ten years. I'd tell myself Starfleet is full of hypocrites."

And now Kyle turned his gaze to his subordinate. "Commander Vaii," he spoke quietly, a dangerous growl in the back of his voice. "You will lock that shit away right now. You may not like the man, but you will respect his rank and position. Mine as well. Now, as I have already stated, your resignation is not accepted. You require counseling. Before you say another word, you will apologize to Captain Lovejoy, the authorized and lawfully appointed commanding officer of this vessel. You will then leave this cell and report directly to your quarters. There, you will remain, until someone from the counseling department can come see you and start helping you through whatever is clouding your better judgment. Do I make myself clear, Commander?"

Garrett stayed silent as Kyle handled Vaii. The question is how would she react?

Jess bowed down and picked up her pips. She began shedding tears. "I'm sorry Captain." She looked at Lovejoy. "Sorry for everything. I've fought for this crew so hard. I even lead them to take this ship back. I cannot do it. I keep on seeing people die every night." She began to cry. Finally breaking down. "Every night is the same. Someone dies in my dreams. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be here."

Kyle softened slightly, pulling Jessica into a gentle embrace. As she continued to weep, he glanced back at Garrett and gave him a look signalli g that he should reply in kind.

Garrett nodded, "I am not your enemy Jessica and your apology is accepted. "Then surprising even himself he stepped forward and gave her a heartfelt and warm hug. "Please forgive me as well." He said softly.

"I do not want to see people disappear anymore. I do not want to see them die anymore." Jess noted. "They took us Garrett... They took us and tortured us... Phoenix didn't give them the time of day." She noted. "By the goddesses, fi they had the Elysium's command codes. We would have been slaves in that nightmare forever. I don't want anyone else to keep dying. And I can't walk away from Man'darr." Jess noted. "I don't want battles where we have to lose in order to win, and I do not want our Federation to become just like their empire." She cried in his shoulder.

Kyle stepped back, giving Garrett and Jessica this healing moment. He was relieved that a bridge had started to be formed here between them. Hopefully, it would only get stronger as time went on. Only time would tell.

Garrett continued to hold Jessica, his hand coming up to pat her back. "I know Jess and I agree completely and it won't I promise you that."

Jess nodded quietly.

Kyle stepped back in. In a calm voice, he spoke to Jessica. "Now, go to your quarters and try to rest. I'll check in on you tomorrow. I hope to hear that you have an appointment set up with one of the counseling staff then."

"Alright... but after it.. I need time... alone..." Jess noted. "... Away from all this around me."

Kyle nodded, then stepped aside, to allow her to leave the cell and head to her quarters.

~OFF~