"We need to talk"

Posted on Fri Aug 30th, 2024 @ 8:14am by Consul Josephine Carlyle-Cragen & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & 1st Lieutenant Joshua Young [Taylor]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 5: A church beyond heaven
Location: Commodore's Cabin
Timeline: MD1 - After Meeting the Diplomat
1870 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Josephine was livid. She was so tempted to ditch the bodyguard but she chose to ignore him. She marched up to the door of the Commodore's cabin, Liberty in her arms and hit the chime.

Phoenix opened it, and frowned slightly at the sight of the slender blonde at her door. "Jo?"

"Is your husband home?" Josephine asked.

Phoenix took a moment to study the face, then with a slight smile stepped back. "Oh MATTIAS!" she called out. "Someone wants to talk to you!"

Josh sighed softly as Josie chose to ignore his advice and went looking for Captain Richardson which meant she went to the suite he shared with his wife Commodore Lalor. He followed behind her and when the Commodore greeted and let her in, he stepped up. He looked at the Commodore, "I am sorry for the intrusion Commodore. Miss Carlyle is quite upset over being assigned a bodyguard."

Phoenix grinned. "Yeah knew she would be." She reached out and scooped up the Baby from Josie's arms. "Excuse me, Libby and I have to have a chat."

Jo rolled her eyes. "A chat yeah right, watch her come back with a whole new wardrobe." She muttered as she waited for Mattais.

Josh let the Commodore take Libby so they could have a chat as she put it. Meanwhile he stood silently by as Josie waited angrily for Captain Richardson to appear.

While he was upstairs, finishing the repairs on their bedroom, Mattias heard Phoenix call out to him. Putting the tools down, he wrapped a rag and started to clean his hands as he descended the stairs to the main level. When he sawAmbassadoe Carlyle-Cragen and Josh, then the look on the young woman's face, he had an idea as to what this was about. "Madam Ambassador, welcome to my family's home. How may I help you?" His tone was both respectful and friendly as he spoke to the younger woman.

She narrowed her gaze at him. Josephine figured now was the best time to tell this man some truths. "I think you have not read my file. I am no wilting flower. I am a fully trained Starfleet officer who does not need a bodyguard. You need to reassign Joshua here to someone else. I am only in the diplomatic team because my ex girlfriend was chief of science and I could not be in the same department. I am not a proper diplomatic officer. I really do not have a diplomatic bone in my body."

Mattias seemed nonplused by her anger. Since becoming the Chief of Diplomatic Security, he had been dealing with one angry ambassador after another. He lifted his hand towards the couches in the living room. "Would you care to sit? A drink perhaps?"

Josephine narrowed her gaze at him. "no I would prefer to do this standing up." She was over men trying to dictate to her.

"As you wish, Madam," Mattias replied politely. "As far as your position in the Diplomatic department, that is not my place to comment. However, so long as you are listed as an Ambassador, it is my job, and the job of my team, toensure your safety. This is non-negotiable, Ma'am. You have your job, and so do we. As I have stated to the rest of the Ambassadors, while you are on official duties, tour protective against will remain close by. When you are on your own time, he will stand down. With respect, Ma'am, that is how it shall be. While Orin is the head of the department, I am head of the protection detail. As such, my decision on how I deploy my personnel in the our duties is my call."

Josie's eyes narrowed. Everyone saw her as the quiet one. Arri had been loud enough for both of them, and she always treated Jo like glass. And it had rankled and had been one of their few disagreements before the whole Cragen-Bishop incident. But she was NOT the fragile one. Not any more. "I do not care, I do not want a bodyguard. You keep him on this assignment I will make his life and by default, YOURS absolute hell." She said it so firmly, it was a vow. "I refuse and you need to change your call."

Now Mattias was getting annoyed. To complain was one thing. To outright try to bully him was something totally different. He stood a bit taller, his tone turning quieter, if Phoenix heard him, she would know it was getting dangerous. "Consul Carlyle-Cragen, with all due respect to your position, please allow me to make one thing perfectly clear. You have no say in how your protective detail is handled. I am the only one who does. Should you have any complaints you wish to file, I suggest you do so with the head of Diplomatic Protection Services, General Theresa Livingston, at Starfleet Command. She us the only one who can countermand my orders. Unfortunately, as we are currently out of contact with Starfleet Command, that makes me the defacto head of all Diplomatic Protection, in regards to all members of the Diplomatic Corps, representing the United Federation of Planets. Should you still have an issue with my decisions on your protection, I have but two suggestions. The first, resign you post as an Ambassador, or two, keep your mouth shut and allow my team and I to do our jobs."

Josie bit back a snarl. "Oh keep my mouth shut and be a good little girl? Go back to being a guarded person, my movements monitored? Why the hell don't you just lock me in the fucking brig! HARD FUCKING PASS!!" The last was a yell. She spun around and stalked towards Phoenix, not aiming for Phee but her child.

While Captain Richardson and Josephine had their discussion, Josh walked over to where the Commodore and Libby were 'chatting' "Excuse me Commodore, can I take a moment of your time?"

Phoenix looked up from where she was sitting on the floor with Libby in her lap. Her own children were asleep upstairs. "Of Course Lieutenant." She waved to the floor.

"Thank you, Commodore." Josh replied gratefully while gracefully lowering himself to the floor. "Um, what I wanted to talk about really ask you is have you seen the Ambassador's quarters? I mean the size. It is barely bigger than an enlisted crewman's quarters. i was wondering if there is anything you could do about getting her bigger quarters."

Phoenix sighed. "She chose them. When we came back up from the Ice world, she chose that cabin. She had been in Lieutenants quarters, but she refused to move back in them when we got back on board. I have tried to get her to move. But she wont."

Josh heard Josie's raised voice and then it got quiet. He knew from experience with Captain Richardsson what that meant. he didn't turn his head to look at them instead he focused on the Commodore. 'Oh, i did not know that. Thank you for telling me Commodore. I just thought she deserved something more but if this is her decision, who am I to question it."

Phoenix nodded and glanced towards the pair. "I told him she would hate it. It would remind her too much of past events."

Whatever else she had been about to say, Josie cut off as she walked up. "Your husband is an arse." she announced. "I do not want to deal with this. You will have my resignation and a request to be dropped off at the next friendly port by days end."

Phee bit back a groan. Oh ffs. She thought as she mutely held out the baby, whose mother scooped her up and headed for the door.

Mattias sighed softly. If it wasn't for his wife, he would gladly be back in a line unit. However, he would do his duty to the best of his abilities. He didn't try to stop the young woman as she stormed out with her child. "Josh," he said instead, waving his assistant over. "For the next few weeks, just give her as wide a berth as you can, while still doing your job. Remember, she's had a bad time of things."

Josh nodded at the Captain's words. "Yes sir. I'll do that." He assured his boss. "I told her this was a bad idea and that you wouldn't change your decision."

Phoenix waited until the door closed behind Josephine. "I knew this would happen," She said softly as she got to her feet. She looked at Mattias. "I bet it give her shades of Arrianna and Cragen."

Josh looked between husband and wife. "Cragen? Kyle Cragen? Admiral Highlaw's contact?" He asked curiosity in his tone.

Mattias nodded, remembering that Josh hadn't been on the undercover mission to Cragen's club, where they had first laid eyes on Josephine, who had been brainwashed into being a loveslave for the man they later captured. "The same. He is also Liberty's father. So, go easy with her. Give her the space she wants. If possible, try to befriend her." He reached out and placed his right hand on the younger man's left shoulder, in a fatherly gesture. "I know it won't be easy. But I trust you, that is why I gave you this assignment. She is more than just an Ambassador and member of this crew. She's family. Don't let us down here."

Josh straightened up even more as Mattias spoke and put a hand on his shoulder. "I heard the name before from the crew member we rescued. Arrianna, I believe her name was." He looked at his boss, mentor and friend. "Kid gloves sir. I'll do everything I can to help her. I can imagine what she is going through. She needs someone she can trust and talk to. I'll do my utmost to befriend her and be that someone for her. I hope she is receptive." He looked to the Commodore and back to Mattias, "I won't let you both down." He vowed solemnly.

Mattias nodded safely and grinned. "We know you won't, Josh. Now get outta here. You've we got your work cut out for you. This will be your only assignment, until I say other wise."

Josh smiled at Mattias's confidence in him. "I'm on my way. Is there anything you can tell me about the Consol? Likes? Interests? Any hobbies?" He questioned.

"I'd say, for now, best you just observe. Don't force anything. As you can tell, she isn't fond of being watched over. Just be polite, follow her lead, and you'll learn what you need to know to best protect her." Mattias released tge young Marine's shoulder, then indicated wordlessly that it was time for him to head out.

"Observe." Josh repeated. "I can do that, and I won't force anything along with following her lead whatever that is." He assured Mattias as Mattias removed his hand from his shoulder. He nodded in response to Mattias wordless 'order' to leave. He glanced at the Commodore and only then did he speak again. "Commodore, a good day to you."

"Lieutenant" Phoenix said with a smile. "Good Luck."

OFF