Captain Michele Winters - Grinding Teeth

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((First Officers Office, Deck 3, USS Octavia E. Butler))

 

 

Michele leveled her gaze at Promontory completely ignoring the fact that anyone else was in the room for the moment.

 

Winters: Is not the safety of the ship and crew both professional and personal for you sir? (beat) It is for me but if you want a distinguishable difference. This is professional.

 

Promontory: I see.

 

Did he. Michele knew Jack and the XO were closer friends than she was with the XO. Jack had been aboard the ship when Promontory joined the Oumuamua and they had even taken shore leave together. Maybe Michele was about to be barking up the wrong tree with the wrong person.

 

Winters: Do you sir? He spent five months as a prisoner of the Zet. How compromised do you think he is? I’m sure you ordered a full medical review and psych review as well but we both know that can be fooled.

 

Sherlock: Michele, your concerns are valid. But Starfleet has protocols in place and we're going to follow those protocols.

 

Winters: I strongly protest his reinstatement at any level. He is a danger to this ship and crew.

 

Promontory: (firmly) I said, we’ll take it under advisement. (beat) Now is there anything else you feel we ought to know?

 

Winters: Only that you are putting the ship at risk by reinstating him.

 

Sherlock: And we will determine that once he's undergone evaluation.

 

Promontory: We have had no evidence that Jack is compromised, but rest assured, as the Commander said, he’ll go through all appropriate and necessary checks before he’s reinstated.

 

Winters: Sir, Jack is compromised whether you want to admit it or not. He convinced you and Commodore V’Airu to allow an unsanctioned mission to rescue supposed Starfleet personnel from Zet forces. A mission that was driven by his desire to find his parents. (beat) What do you think was foremost on his mind?

 

Promontory: As I recall, he was eager to move on actionable intel that could lead to the recovery of a pair of high-ranking Starfleet officers. (beat) I’m sure half a year in a Zet prison has mitigated this drive you speak of.

 

Winters: No sir, that drive is still very much alive in him. Jack does not back off from anything. Especially family. He’ll put more people in danger to go back after them if he found any evidence at all that they are alive.

 

Promontory: And you’re uncomfortable with people being put in danger to save Starfleet personnel?

 

Sherlock: Is it possible that your personal relationship with him is clouding your judgement?

 

Winters: With all due respect Commander, I am not sure that it is not you who is not thinking clearly on this matter.

 

Sherlock: ::firmly:: Your concerns are duly noted, ::beat:: Captain.

 

Promontory: Mr. Winters, Commander Sherlock oO and I Oo have patiently heard you out, but these continued attacks are out of line.

 

Michele did not hesitate or pause as either of the two officers spoke up. She was not going to back down and was not going to let anyone else fall victim to Jack’s pursuits.

 

Winters: Out of line…you bet I am. If a Marine is not out of line in defense of their post then they are not doing their job. Or did you forget what Greaves taught you sir? (beat dropping both hands from her back and placing them on Promontories desk) If you want an officer who is going to say ‘yes sir’ and play nice then go ahead and reinstate Jack. I won’t be that officer.

 

Michele stood upright again and looked back to Sherlock, giving the Second officer a slight nod and then stepped back and placed her hands behind her back again.

 

Sherlock: Captain Winters! (beat) Stand at ease. ::setting her PADD on the desk and standing next to Winters, she spoke in an affirmative manner:: We hear what you're saying, Captain. But you will maintain your bearing, is that understood?

 

Sherlock’s sudden snap to attention demeanor caught Michele slightly off guard. Promontory had left the second officer take on the responsibility of pushing back harder and snapping the Marine back into place. Michele eyed Promontory, not looking in Sherlocks direction. 

 

Winters: (in a flat matter of fact tone) Yes sir.

 

Avander swallowed a sigh.

 

Promontory: Once more, we will take everything you’ve said under advisement.

 

Sherlock: We will make a decision. That decision will be final and it WILL be respected. And regardless of that decision, we will not allow it to affect other departments negatively and cause systemic issues throughout this ship.

 

Michele looked to Sherlock, staying at attention, but locking eyes with the Second officer. Sherlock was offering Michele a way to calm down and to settle this. Unfortunately, Michele’s hot head was not so easily swayed but she had pushed these two as far as she wanted to at this point. They had rank on her and they were the command team for the Butler. Of course there was always another tree to bark up if Promontory let his friendship with Jack get in the way of the ships safety.

 

Winters: (looking to Sherlock) Understood.

 

Sherlock: Now if there's nothing else ::beat:: you're dismissed.

 

Winters: (not saying a word, but eyeing Promontory)

 

Promontory: The Commander said you were dismissed.

 

The tone was set, and for Michele this fight was just starting. If they wanted her as a Senior officer on the Butler then she would make sure they knew that the ship and crew above all else to her was first. Even if she had to go over their heads to ensure that safety.

 

Sherlock: Response

 

Michele looked once more to Sherlock but said nothing. She spun on her heels and proceeded out of the office at a pace that almost sent her crashing in the doors as the hissed open. As she entered the corridor and the XO’s office doors slid shut Michele paced even faster towards the first turbolift she could reach.

 

[END OF SCENE – Captain Michele Winters]

 

Captain Michele Winters

Acting Chief Tactical Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

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