Lieutenant Vailani Zoyara - One Woman's Hubris
Luxa Lorana
((Transporter Room - Deck 04 - USS Artemis))
Zoyara was beginning to learn that being a department chief was a little different from just being an officer. She’d become almost accustomed to the steady stream of queries, questions and directives that flowed through her PADD and subsequently consumed so much of her time.
There was an almost calming quality to it. Often they presented a series of problems, like small puzzles she had to solve. Ranging from shift rotations and replicator upgrades to more complex issues, such as shipwide system analysis’ and disciplinary procedures.
The latter was exactly what brought her to the transporter room. A puzzle of a more perplexing nature. One of the operations team had, apparently, been locked up in a holding cell by Risian authorities. This, of course, triggered an alert to not only herself but the ship's first officer.
Which brought her to another puzzle. The wrong Betazoid. Talos Dakora stood where she had thought Genkos Adea would be. She had seen that Dakora had been reinstated, she just hadn’t expected it to be this quickly put in place.
At least, on this occasion, he was fully clothed and he seemed somewhat serious.
Dakora: Lieutenant. :: He frowned.:: You’re read up on the situation?
Vailani: Of course, I’m aware of all the details.
There was something more ‘down to business’ than the man she had encountered at the lagoon. It was like she’d been served a familiar dish with a different sauce and she wasn’t really sure how to take it. Besides, he was the first officer and she had hoped to avoid giving him the wrong impression - that was when she thought it was Adea.
Dakora: Good. Let’s go find out which one of our knuckleheads made me waste a perfectly good massage reservation.
She followed him on the transport pad, a nod later and they were shimmering and then…
((Outside RSF Headquarters - Risa))
She found herself in a beautiful, and quaint town square that looked like it had been carved straight out of a history book. The sound of running water drew her attention to an ornate and beautifully crafted fountain that was the centrepiece to the town square.
Several administrative buildings formed the perimeter of the square with the northernmost side dominated by the Risian Security Forces HQ. Even the more functional buildings had that easy, free flowing charm that the rest of the planet seemed to exude. It was a wonder they got any work done at all.
Then, just as she was beginning to think of him as mildly competent, the first officer let out a low descending whistle.
Dakora: Fancy.
Vailani: We’re not here to admire the architecture, as pretty as it may be :: pause :: If you don’t mind I’d rather get this over with, sir.
oO Where was Gila when you needed her? Oo
It was official The Prophets had resumed their favourite past time of making Zoyara’s life uncomfortably unbearable. They began to navigate around the large fountain and as they approached the front steps of the main Administration building, they saw a pair of Starfleet officers - wearing gold. Zoyara frowned and let out a frustrated sigh.
She was only able to see their backs. Seemingly they hadn’t noticed their arrival. One of them was an Andorian, noticeable due to the antennae protruding from his head and the shockingly white hair typical of all Andorians. The other appeared to be a humanoid woman from behind.
Dakora: Ahem. Good afternoon, Chief Ral. ::He checked the Andorian’s collar as he turned.:: Ensign. ::His brow furrowed.:: I sincerely hope this isn’t exactly what it looks like…
When they turned, she saw that the woman was Bajoran and Zoyara stiffened a little, as she often did when encountering one of her own people for the first time. Senior Chief Petty Officer Ral Shaw, whom she recognised from the personnel records she’d studied en route.
Dakora then shifted his focus to the Andorian ensign.
Dakora: Who are you, by the way?
Ral: He’s my escort here, sir. Acting Boatswain's Mate Tho’Bi. We were on our way to review the arrest of Artemis enlisted for a reported barfight. If it is the case of NJP or ADA, we still don’t know, sir. We were on our way to discover the details.
oO and clearly unable to speak for himself? Oo
Zoyara narrowed her eyes as she took in the Bajoran woman, as she tried to get the measure of her. Why was one of her team doing the work of Artemis security. Also, she was intrigued as to the reason why she had suddenly inherited a new officer on the operations team.
Unexpected crew personnel seemed to be the theme of the day.
Tho’Bi: Response
Zoyara remained quiet, although her silence may as well have been a scream as her eyes locked on to the both of them, each and every twitch of their face she observed without so much as a blink.
A technique she had learnt from her father. The stare of death.
Dakora: Wait, hold on. Let me get this straight. ::He pointed a bladed hand at Ral.:: You ordered him ::His hand shifted to the Andorian:: to gear up and accompany you on a prisoner retrieval excursion?
Vailani: I’d also be interested to know what authorisation you intended to use when you stepped into that building? Or did you think you could just walk in and flash your combadge and they’d give you a prisoner?
She’d expect a first year cadet to know better than that.
Ral: Not ordered; asked nicely, sir. He’s an officer.
Tho’Bi: Response
Ral: ::gaze at Dakora and turn her eyes on cobblestone a few steps away:: Can I speak to you more privately, sir?
Zoyara almost balked at the gall of this woman. Not only was she circumventing normal protocol than she was ignoring her senior officer. It seemed that the Operations department on the Artemis had certain notions on how to conduct themselves with senior officers that she would have to rectify immediately.
Dakora: Response
Ral attempted to move off, she clearly had no idea who she was dealing with. As far as she was concerned, anything one of her team was doing was her business unless it was off duty.
In the last fifteen minutes, she’d recruited a new ensign and broken several protocols and potentially had intended to break the law by unofficially releasing an unknown felon from prison.
This was an encounter she wouldn’t forget for a long time.
Ral: ::whispers:: When I got a report from RSF, I recognized that fake name. That enlisted is not an OPS Yeomen; he’s one of yours.
Ral: ::whispers:: Given that fact, I decided to address it without an immediate paper trail before RSF gets time to think differ and start digging into his real name and all. Keep RSF happy. Iron out the problem down here and pick him up if possible; if so, restrict him to his quarters and report the incident up to the department with a boatswain’s disciplinary recommendation so they can handle it in-house as they see fit.
Vailani: I respect your … creativity Chief, but your judgement is way off it might as well be in another galaxy. At no point in this plan, did you think to reach out to Commander Dakora? Lieutenant Silveira, our tactical chief? Myself, your direct superior officer? Or any member of Commander Dakora’s former team?
Dakora/Ral: Response
Zoyara took a deep breath as she listened to the discourse between them.
Vailani: So, as you explain it you recognize a name that you believed could be compromised? When and how did you learn of this name, Chief?
Tho’Bi: Response
Dakora/Ral: Response
Vailani: :: to Dakora :: I think I might have heard enough. Whatever you want to do, I will support you?
Tho’Bi: Response
Dakora/Ral: Response
TAGs/TBC
