Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - A Liability
Addison MacKenzie
The commanding officer of the Artemis sat in the library while one of the senior tactical officers was in the middle of laying out a potential training scenario for the crew. As they got deeper into the conversation, it became more evident that there was an issue revealing itself.
Storm: But because the crew doesn’t know if the doppelgangers are their friends or not, they may have to stun them - until they come up with a way to verify who everyone is. Which could cause a problem for someone who wouldn’t want to stun a fellow officer.
MacKenzie: Well, that makes sense. I can also appreciate someone who isn't trigger happy and doesn't shoot unless they've got reasonable suspicion...
Storm: I’m not saying I disagree. But if it becomes a point of doubt that they are who they are …
The commanding officer's lips pursed and her brow creased slightly at the bridge of her nose.
MacKenzie: Do you have reason to be concerned that someone might respond that way?
Storm looked away for the briefest moment before meeting MacKenzie's eyes. In such, she revealed her concern.
Storm: I do. I’m concerned about Lieutenant Bancroft.
MacKenzie once again sat back, crossing one leg over the other and resting her clasped hands in her lap.
MacKenzie: That's certainly interesting... Tell me what happened.
Storm: It was during the phaser qualifications. I had Lieutenants Imril and Bancroft. I was tucked into a small alcove and was tracking Imril, who had stopped. While I waited for them to come into view, I sensed a presence just over my shoulder and turned. Lieutenant Bancroft stood behind me with his phaser trained on me. ::Alex took a quick breath and puffed it out.:: But he didn’t fire on me.
MacKenzie's chin lifted slightly as her eyes narrowed.
MacKenzie: You light him up?
The tactical officer pursed her lips and exhaled, the tension held in her hands noticeable.
Storm: I raised my phaser to shoot Lieutenant Bancroft, and that’s when Lieutenant Imril came out of hiding and shot me instead.
MacKenzie: I see...
Alex stood away from the bookcase and clasped her hands behind her, drawing her shoulders back. MacKenzie wondered why the need for the posturing now, but in many ways, it was irrelevant.
Storm: When we debriefed, Lieutenant Bancroft said he would not shoot a friendly even on stun in a drill. I’m trying to find a way to help him see the importance of acting the same way in training as he would act in the field.
MacKenzie: He would not?
Storm: Response
MacKenzie took a deep draw of oxygen through her nostrils. She had varying opinions of the junior doctor, though this revelation brought into question whether or not he might be capable of overcoming his moral hierarchy in service to the ship. Though she was familiar with his record indicating the opposite, Starfleet also wasn't the place to assert one's moral opinions. Hesitation, in this matter, left it unclear whether or not Starfleet was the appropriate place for him to be practicing medicine, in the commanding officer's opinion.
MacKenzie: You believe he's a liability?
Storm: Response
She shrugged.
MacKenzie: So what are you going to do about it?
Storm: Response
Tag, and TBC!
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A